birthday celebration

Lofton's mom, commonly referred to as Mimi around here, celebrated her birthday on Monday.

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday {hello abscess on my right tonsil} and she insisted volunteered to drive over and keep Reese.  I took this as the perfect opportunity to prepare her a delicious {and well deserved} birthday dinner.  Lee even drove over from LaGrange to partake.  He's a sucker for my cooking. 

Reese and I whipped up this delectable cake from my Bon Appetite Cookbook:

It's a lemon blueberry cake with a white chocolate cream cheese frosting.  Ummm... yummy.  I made a few tweaks to the frosting cause I've made their frosting before and hated it.  Mine was better.

Oh, and for dinner I served Lasagna Rolls from Giada.  Love her too.

Dinner was a success and Reese impressed Mimi and Big Daddy with his mad verbal skills.  I'm telling you, this kid has picked up at least five new words in the last two days.

We're headed to P'Cola tomorrow to celebrate the upcoming wedding of my dear friend Brittany.  She and Dave are tying this Fall.  Last time all the friends were together I looked like a beached whale.  Hooray for trading pregnancy for a super cute kid like this:

Next up... War and Peace.

at last, he speaks

My heart and my head have been at battle for some time. Reese's speech has been a constant worry, something Lofton and I have fervently prayed over. My heart knew it would come in its own time, my head couldn't help but agonize and fret. We were actually scheduled to attend a speech screening at AU on June 4th, however life interceded and our appointment has been pushed back to the end of the month.

As is usually the case with this headstrong little boy, he is showing me that he'll do things when HE wants, not when I want. I'm learning God, I promise.

Over the past few weeks we've noticed him saying more and more real words. He still doesn't talk as much as I'd like {lofty goals}, but we are a far cry from where we were a few months ago.

In the last few weeks he has started saying-- clock, mimi, car, book, night-night, golf club, thank you {unprompted and in the correct context I might add}, i love you, baby, Ashley, mine, and hey boo {which is what I always say to him}.

He still says-- hey, hello, bye, ma-ma, da-da, please, juice {which means cup of milk and/or cup of juice}, moo-moo, nonna, buck {which now sounds like bach not buh}, ball, and bah {our beloved pacifier}, and bath. Buck and Moo Moo are said in one breath, as almost one word. Woof-woof means dog and Meoooow means cat.

He moos like a cow, growls like a lion, and simulates a trunk like an elephant. And if you mention giraffes he'll stretch his neck really long and make a goofy face.

You have to know him quite well to distinguish between ball, bath, and bah... which basically means Lofton and I have to interpret for anyone else other than my parents.

He has also started singing along to the radio in the car, so we will be carefully editing the i-pod selections from now on!

Life is about to change around here now that the little ears are repeating what our big mouths say...

summertime...

... and the living is easy!

What a beautiful Sunday we're spending together.

duck, duck, goose

While we were in Cleveland, Mama and I got out on the sweltering heat to take Little Boo to feed the ducks. When I was a little girl duck feeding was one of my favorite activities.

We would scrounge in Granny's cabinets for old crackers and bread. Then we'd head to the park, treats in hand, to feed all the ducks and geese. There was one unfortunate incident with my finger and a goose, but otherwise it was my favorite thing to do during the summer.

The park is no longer as magical and the pond has been overtaken by thousands {i'm not exaggerating} of turtles.

Reese enjoyed himself though.

More than the ducks, he loved the new playground equipment. His Moo-Moo was a trooper and climbed on all the tall stuff with him.

This is one of my favorite pictures. It perfectly captures how much fun they are having together. They are really the best of friends.

I did not enjoy climbing on the tall stuff. Nor do I enjoy being outside in the sweltering heat. I'm a weenie like that.

Two things I wondered while at the park:

1. At what age do children realize it's hot outside? I can attest that my little hot box shows no signs of slowing down despite the 100 degree temps outside. He would bubble mow the grass, kick his ball, and dig in the dirt for hours. I, however, can barely breathe due to the oppressive heat.

2. When did playgrounds become so scary? I climbed up the stairs to slide with Reese and was literally paralyzed with fear. And the swings? I almost got motion sickness. Is it because I'm now a mom? Or am I just wacky? Never mind. Don't answer that!

delta detour

Situated somewhere a little east of the Mississippi River is a little town called Cleveland. My mama grew up here, met my daddy here, and my uncles live here. It’s also the home of my grandparents.

Mom and I headed that way on Thursday. We had lots of time to chat in the car as we passed field after field of soybeans, rice and corn.

It’s almost like time hasn’t touched these small delta towns. It’s beautiful-- in a desolate kind of way. And it reminds me simultaneously of how little --and how much-- times have changed in the last twenty years.

As a little girl, I played in the fresh picked cotton when Daddy worked at the gin. Cotton fields have gone the way of built in car phones as textiles are produced more economically overseas.

One thing that hasn’t changed? The mosquitoes. They are super sized and a bite like the devil. And they always find me. Always.

Mama and I {plus the tiny toddler} were able to sneak away for some shopping Friday. Who knew this small town had such cute stores? I’m bringing home lots of treasures... including a few for little Boo.

Notice the big boy backpack?

Saturday we attended Aunt B’s service at a little country church in Bethlehem. Bethlehem is home to our families annual homecoming {which we rarely go to} and the final resting place of most of my mama’s family.

The service was beautiful. The pastor perfectly captured B’s essence-- you could tell he really knew and loved her, too. We saw lots of family, and ate lots of food, then traveled back to Cleveland for some more fellowship.

Reese slept none, but that was pretty par for the course most of the trip. He slept great at night-- not so great during the day. Especially if we were in the car.

Monday we traveled down the highway to an even smaller town called Mound Bayou. Home to the always unbelievable Peter’s Pottery. The Wood’s brothers do phenomenal work using the rich Delta Clay. They are world famous for their pottery and I feel lucky to own two of their pieces.

Now I own two more. I call them investment pieces.

For lunch yesterday we indulged in a sampling of treats from the Airport Grocery. Umm, delish is about all I can say. Mama and I split hot tamales, onion rings, and the most amazing cheeseburger I’ve ever eaten. I would have licked the plate if the restaurant wasn’t so crowded. Reese had a grilled cheese. He had no complaints.

Even better than food and shopping was the time we spent with my grandparents. Papa had never met Reese, but it’s safe to say he fell in love. He and Reese hit it off. Papa even let him pick some tomatoes from the garden.

This smile and those twinkling eyes will get ya every time!

Granny read book after book to our little nerd-- and introduced him to ice. Granny and Papa have an ice machine in the kitchen. Reese may need one now too.

It was a great trip and we were sad to leave, but all good things must end. We packed up the car and headed back home today.

Home to our Buck and Uncle J... until tomorrow when Buck returns us to our real home. This lady has really missed her man. And I’m pretty sure the youngest member of this posse has missed him too.

AND our house is now a different color. Evidently boredom led Lofton to productivity!

first leg

I know. I said I wasn't blogging for a week or so, but----

Just wanted to let you know we made it to Pensacola safe and sound. Buck picked us up early this morning-- and we were ready to go-- his whole car was LOADED with our gear. What can I say? I like to be prepared.

After we got to town and ate a quick lunch, Reese and I headed over to see Nonna {aka, Moo Moo}. She was uber-excited to see us, but not so excited about Little Albert Einsteins crazy mane.

It was off to Laurie's for a trim. Oh, who am I kidding, it's a cut.

Not the best quality {the picture not the cut}, but you get the idea. He's a stud.

Up and at 'em early in the morning. It's a zillion hour drive to the middle of nowhere Mississippi.

friends, family, and a farewell

This is going to have to be quick. I have lots of packing to do.

Reese and I are headed out tomorrow for a trip to Mississippi. Although we had planned to travel there this upcoming weekend, our schedule has been adjusted.

Sadly, my great aunt B {Elizabeth} passed away Saturday night after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's.

She was quite a woman. Feisty, funny, and a devoted member of two churches. Never married, she loved all of us like we were her own children and grandchildren. To know her was to love her. She would have been your best friend.

The last time I saw her was in July. It was hard, but I'm so, so glad I went. Reese went too and you should have seen her eyes light up! He has that affect on women.

Reese and I are going to ride with my mom to Mississippi, so my daddy is coming to pick us up in the morning.

I'm taking my computer but probably will NOT be blogging. I'm fairly certain my grandparents are not a wi-fi hot spot.

The weekend was spent with lots of friends and a smattering of family. It was lovely.

We watched a dear friend tie the knot, I went to a movie with sweet Morgan, and Sunday we played at the lake. Last night we traveled to Montgomery for a delicious meal cooked by Mary Beth and Holland.

We were busy all weekend-- but together-- and surrounded by people we love. It was perfect.

Goodbye for now! We'll meet again soon.