Country Livin'!

I love where we live - it's peaceful and quiet, we have wonderful neighbors, great wildlife, and it will be a great place for Cole to grow up and roam, BUT...we have snakes! Luckily, I hadn't really had to deal with the creatures....until today. (YUK...gives me goose bumps just thinking about it!)

It all started because I thought I needed to do some yard work. I decided I would weed the flowerbeds; it seemed like a great idea at the time - a little sun, some exercise! Anyways, I made it through one of the beds with no problems. Keep in mind though, I'm keenly aware of where we live so the entire time I was weeding I'm also keeping my eyes open for one of the cold-blooded-hole-livin'-nightmare-given-belly-crawlin' suckers. I'd even gone so far as to pick up the "Claw" and rattle the bushes before sticking my hand in the beds. I really was taking precautions.

So, let me set the stage for you...the particular bed I'm in is at the base of the yard - about 50 yards from the house. I've managed to pull one side of the bed and I'm moving on to the other. I get around and rattle the bushes and nothing creepy crawly comes out, so in goes my hand. I hear something rustling, but I kinda just thought it might be some of the leaves falling from the bushes I'd rattled. About that time, I look down and there was Mr. Copperhead....yeah, you heard me, MR. COPPERHEAD!! I drop the little shovel I have, scream "$%^t" a few times, and take off toward the house in the fastest sprint a flip-flop wearing, shivering woman can do. I run in the front door, completely forgetting that Cole is sound asleep in the living room on JT's stomach, and yell "Snake...big....BIG....oh gross...SNAKE," all the while whithering around and totally freaking out! JT of course, being the Great Outdoorsman, immediately goes to get his shotgun. He's totally not concerned about whether I might have gotten bitten or if I'm going to have a heart attack...no sir, he's got something he can shoot!

JT takes off up stairs to get his gun, then out to the barn to get his ammo (keep in mind, I haven't seen him move this fast since the day I called to tell him I was in labor). He gets out there and looks around and, of course, the thing is gone. I know I should have stayed put and watched where the sucker slithered off to, but I don't generally make it a habit to stay too near snakes.

So, long story short, this thing, which was larger around than a garden hose, is somewhere in my yard. I hope our creepy owl (I'll save that story for another post) gets this thing for dinner.

I bet I have nightmares tonight...

P.S. I'll post some pics of the house and the wildlife soon! On the up-side, we have a doe and a baby deer!!

3 Months Old!

Our little guy (and I use "little" loosely :) turned 3 months old today! It feels like just yesterday we were nervously loading Cole into the truck to bring him home from the hospital. He looked so little and delicate - I was afraid that we'd break him. Today, he isn't quite as fragile...in fact, he's a little bruiser! Just get a look at those cheeks! Instead of a baseball player like Daddy, I'm thinking linebacker (or, if he keeps up this appetite, lineman).

All kidding aside, Cole, you are the love of our lives. We are so blessed to be your parents, and we look forward to every new day and all the wonderful and amazing things you are discovering!

"I caught a fish and it was this big..."

"See ya later!"

Buddha Belly!

Excuse the fact that my child is only wearing a diaper (this is when I lovingly refer to him as my white-trash baby), but I just have to know, is it me or does this kiddo have a BIG 'ol belly??!! I have a feeling I'll be spending a lot of money on groceries in the future!! He's only 12 weeks old, weighs in at almost 14 lbs, and is over 24 inches long...Holy Cow!!

Fantastic Fourth!

Every year my parents have a 4th of July party, and every year we have a GREAT time. Mom and Dad live across the street from the city park, where the local firework display and celebration occur. Their house is a great place to congregate and watch the show. Some years we've had as many as 50 friends on the driveway. Each person brings a side and Mom and Dad always prepare the hamburgers and hot dogs - let me tell you we have A LOT of great food, and this year was no different. I've never seen so many great desserts - pies, fruit salads, cakes, brownies, etc! None of which is on the diet of a woman still trying to lose her last 10 pregnancy pounds!

The evening itself actually turned out decent, too. A breeze rolled in and everyone stayed relatively comfortable, even Mr. Cole! I must say, Cole did really well through the fireworks. The only time he got fussy was right at the end when the displays were progressively getting louder and closer together. I know it will only be a matter of time before fireworks won't bother him at all, and he'll be throwing pops at my feet in hopes to watch me "dance"!

Check out some of the pics from the evening!

Pictures of Cole

Cole looks so grown up!

Wide-eyed! He HAS to wonder what that crazy box

with a blinding, flashing light is, and why his

Mommy is always behind the silly contraption!

The sweetest tootsies I know!

Getting a bath by"Shampoo-Man"

at Gee-Gee and Poppa's!

Four Generations

About 5 days before Cole was born my 87 year old Memaw fell and broke her hip. Her surgery was a success, but during rehab (and due to the incompetence of the hospital) she fell again and broke her leg. This fall set her back SEVERAL weeks, and only recently has she been up and moving about. Memaw is still in the hospital, but will likely be discharged sometime this week into my mom's care. Last weekend Cole and I went to the hospital to visit and here is a picture of four generations. (Please excuse the way I look...)

Happy Birthday Mom!

This post is a little late (as are most of my posts!), but I wanted to wish my Mom a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You wouldn't know it by looking at her, but on June 27th my Mom turned 60! We celebrated with a surprise party at a local restaurant in Wagoner, The Pink House. Everything went off without a hitch UNTIL my cousin (who evidently can't tell time) was standing in the parking lot when we arrived...way to go Kelly! At that point it was evident to Mom that something was amiss considering we see Kelly MAYBE once a year at Christmas, but we managed to get her in the restaurant anyway. Take a look at some of the pictures from the evening...we had a really great time and I think Mom enjoyed her day!

Kristin, Mom, and Arlene

Cheryl and Mom