the 44th president of the united states!

• barack obama - his vision, his clarity, his hope, his commitment.
• the american people for being willing to be ready for this change!
• nathaniel in his tie dye onesie this morning to celebrate!

right now

miss faye and the wee one

• 
  finally got the bottom lip picture. too funny!
  
  
  nathaniel having the perfect place to go everyday.
• miss faye who loves on him and takes care of him and bathes him after each poop.
• his smiling or sleeping face each afternoon when i pick him up and his smile each morning when he sees her.
• poop!
• g diapers. flushable, biodegradable, soft, lovely diapers to cover his hiney.
• not having to buy diapers yet!
• sleeping the night - other than him getting up to eat at 3:30 this morning - he's slept the nights through since i went back to work. jacked up bottles for long sleeps rock!
• cuddles
• coos
• big d's birthday today - dinner with he, shelbs and nathaniel.
• a fun trip to the mountains for big d and shelbs. a cabin and harmon lodge and the fox fire museum - doesn't get much better.
• fresh apples for us from the mountains
• being able to ease back into work w/o a lot of expectations that i should still know what the hell is going on!
• in advance: being fully prepared to take the certification test next tuesday - passing of which is a pay increase and incentive package.
• preparation for a promotion in the coming months.
• candice passing her cert test last week.
• candice and mandy taking such good care of my people that no one dropped off.
• a paycheck tomorrow!
• in advance: tropical storm hanna staying a tropical storm as it comes on land in the next day.
• in advance: hurricane ike slowing down and turning back into the ocean without hitting any land
• and a safe place to go to poppie's mountain cabin if we have to evacuate.
• flowers when i got back to work from janet - yellow roses
• karen karen karen - her insight and love
• health insurance that covers all that i've needed it to over the past few months.
• a medical savings account that covers what the insurance doesn't.
• a plan for seeing mamma mia this weekend finally with the wee one.
• family time.
• david making the bottles every morning for miss faye's.
• david and the bobo.
• you, my little g diaper, you!

faith

nathaniel and shaelyn at a folly wedding

naked baby! he covered himself up!
ready for church


i'll have to admit that waking up this morning i wasn't too sure of how i would feel. today is carson's 4th birthday and having nathaniel here hasn't lessened the pain of losing carson - not that i thought it would - i just am surprised how much the pain hasn't been lessened.


when i got up with nathaniel at 5 this morning, i was most grateful for him and the love i have for him. and i was most grateful for the love i have for carson and the lessons he taught me through his pregnancy and through his death. he's definately made me a better mom for the turtle tot. so today i am most grateful for:

• patience and reflection
• faith
• nathaniel
• 3 poops at 5am!
• david
• sam and ben's arrival - although very early - the happy outcome. 2 months in the nicu is ahead of them, but in advance, grateful that they will be well taken care of.
• nicole and eric's faith and determination to add more to love into their family.
• miss faye - i couldn't have imagined or dreamed someone better to take care of my boy when i'm at work.
• having the summer to spend with nathaniel - to love on him and smooch on him and nap with him and play with him.
• nathaniel's smiles.
• an almost giggle this morning when the outfit didn't fit and i started laughing.
• david planning for us to go to magnolia gardens today as a family to play.
• you, for being supportive and loving us always in all ways.

nathaniel's summer party week or michelle and craig come to folly!

the party is taking it's toll by thursday night!

aunt michelle

papa and baby
candice and mom at taco boy
papa, aunt michelle and uncle craig

grandma and her boy
ready for a big night out with mommy

just hanging around

uncle craig

partying is so tiring
daddy and baby

mom and aunt michelle

celebrating the people that i love!

auntie sugar and her boy.

grandmama b

aunt tina and elizabeth

little cheryl

• little cheryl's surprise 30th birthday party saturday night. her family went all out - big italian spread, firefly sweet tea vodka, amazing cake by her sister lee. . . she was very surprised. we took the wee one and he danced and laughed and smiled at the pretty girls. AND he slept so good after partying so hard!


• ms dority's birthday yesterday. a surprise visit from dave and the girls and lunch with them and dinner with tom and wendy and the girls and tommy and ms dority and us at the olive garden last night. haven't been there in a while - it was good!


• saturday at the ripley beachhouse. uncle john and aunt tina's seafood night. spending time with rip and corey.
• chandler's perspective.


• nathaniel being so sweet at the restaurant and loving on daddy after his mini-meltdown (the baby's - not david's)


• nathaniel's 8 week birthday.


• michelle and craig coming on saturday - i cannot stand myself i'm so excited.


• dad and chris putting an offer on the house in beaufort.


• new formula and 3 poops all by himself in 2 days!!!!! poop is joyous!!!!


• good sleep last night.


• nathaniel's new awareness to his surroundings and smiling and giggling.


• eye contact with an 8 week old.


• mom's willingness to keep him saturday night so craig, michelle, david and i can get into some trouble.


• loving people who just want to get their hands on this child!


• dr kline.


• you, my 3 a day pooper, you!

9 lbs 8 ozs!

nana and baby
in the water with daddy
our morning nap
is that a smile?
the first family portrait

• the turtle tot eating well and gaining weight!
• smiles that aren't connected to poots.
• smiles that are connected to poots.
• the hummmn hummmn hummmn when he eats.
• poop
• snuggles
• morning naps
• my weekend sleep - a lot last night!!!
• gas drops to ease his belly.
• thank you notes going in the mail.
• getting announcements started.
• nathaniel and i planning our afternoon outing to see mamma mia this week.
• the visit last week from grandpa and grandma chris.
• saturday with grandma and pa pa.
• sunday with nana and big dad.