ALAS,

a new blog.

[PREFACE: I tried about 15 times to get the spacing right on this post, but my changes never would stick to the final published post...please excuse the extra-long paragraph in the middle of the blog.]

I apologize for the delay, but I have been on a rampage trying to get caught back up from being away, and I am on a mission to finish moving into my house. It's been in pieces too long, and I can't take it anymore. Danny and I are working hard to get some finishing touches taken care of so that we can get the garage in working order (so that we're not embarrassed to have the garage door open!) and start working on Tyler's room. We should be making some excellent progress by the end of the week.

Now, allow me to back up to the week before last when Danny and I decided to make a trip home to Georgia.

Danny earns 2 1/2 days of leave per month, but he can't carry over more than 60 days in a fiscal year. The fiscal year ends the last day of September, so any days that he has over 60 at that time, he loses. No need to waste perfectly good days off, right? He had 8 days to use or lose this year, so we decided to put them all together and make the long drive home. It was well worth it, let me tell you.

We started off in the Atlanta area visiting my grandparents. As many of you know, my grandparents have both been in feeble health in recent years, and my grandmother has recently had to begin chemotherapy to combat the return of her lung cancer. It was important to me to spend some good quality time with them, and I am so glad I did. We really enjoyed our time there.

The last part of the week, we went to Milledgeville to visit Danny's old stomping grounds (and mine, too, for that matter!). Mama Janet wasn't there because she was still in North Carolina helping Lou Anne get ready for the birth of her third baby (who might come this week!!), so we had a heaping helping of Papa Joe! We got away without having to endure his cooking thanks to Uncle Bubba and Aunt Nita, Aunt Millie and Aunt Sue, and Ms. Bobbie and Mr. Fred! Don't get me wrong--we LOVE Papa Joe. We are just frightened by his kitchen concoctions!

While we were in Milledgeville, we got to visit our dear friends at Northside Baptist Church, the Baldwin County Courthouse, and Waddell and Associates. AND, we got to eat at The Brick, which was beyond fabulous, as usual. We also had some beautiful maternity pictures made by our sweet friend and budding photographer, Kyle Hitchcock. She's so amazing!

I also got the greatest gift anyone could ever give me on the Saturday morning we were due to leave. Joy and I had already figured out that we were going to be in town at the same time because her high school reunion was that weekend. We struggled to find a time to get together, but I refused to leave without seeing her and Jason and that sweet Addie. So, Danny and I decided we would leave a little later on Saturday so that we could meet them for breakfast before we headed out. Boy, did I get a shock when I walked in that IHop. I really thought I was dreaming. Jason, Joy, and Addie were sitting on the bench by the door, and I greeted them as I walked in. The sun had been in my eyes when I was coming in, so I couldn't see too well for a minute. When my eyes adjusted, I saw Julie and Hendley Boucek and Dr. Carter and Jeffrey standing in front of me, and Kyle had come to join us, too. My heart must have skipped a hundred thousand beats that second.

Understand that Julie Boucek is the closest thing to a big sister that I have, and I haven't seen her since she married Bill in February of 2005 (I think that's the right year) and moved to Virginia. I most certainly had never met her sweet baby girl, Hendley. I had only seen her in pictures, and it was almost surreal to see her in person. I was just in awe that they were in the same room with me. Those of you who aren't familiar with Dr. Carter, she served as our surrogate mother in college. Not only was she one of our journalism professors and the advisor of The Colonnade, she was there to see all of us meet our future spouses and watch us grow from "we think we know it all" college students to "oh my gosh, the real world sucks" adults. She's fabulous. She's wonderful. She will always be a part of our extended family.

Anyway, Joy is always up to something, and she really got me this time. They were so sweet to take the time to visit with us while we were in town, and they even gave me a little baby shower. So sweet! It was sad to have to drive away; I wanted to stay with them for the rest of my life because they all bring me such happiness. But, we had to travel on down the road, sadly, and get back to Texas.

Texas has never looked so terrible as it did when we returned. We had been filled with such love and joy and pride while we were home, and it made it more obvious to us what we miss while we are away. We treasure our time with our families and friends because the moments are all too brief.

Here are some pictures from our trip:

Me, 24 1/2 weeks

Grandmother and me--I shaved her head the day before this picture was taken because her hair falling out was driving her crazy. I think she looks cute in her head scarf! Danny and I even bought her a Braves cap with a pink "A" on it...that one is her favorite!

Granddaddy, Grandmother, and me

This is Angel. She's the dog I got when I was 15 years old. She is living with Grandmother and Granddaddy for a little while since my mother just relocated to Mississippi. She's not too photogenic!

Another Angel shot...

Danny and me at The Brick...YUM!

Following are my favorite pics from the maternity photo session we had with our sweet friend, Kyle Hitchcock. If you ever need some gorgeous photos, check her out!

http://www.kylehitchcock.com/

Yes, that is one of my actual ultrasound pics of Tyler. So cool, huh?

My Saturday Surprise...

Here are Addie and Hendley meeting one another. They are adorable!

Miss. Addie having breakfast. I think she would have preferred pancackes...

Sweet Hendley Caroline...

Such an angel!

Joy and Addie (I think Addie had just told someone a secret!)

Julie and Carter

(she is only DR. Carter in formal situations...otherwise, it's just "Carter"-plain and simple.)

Joy and Kyle

The whole surprise group (minus Jeffrey...he was ready to go!)

L-R: Carter, Hendley, Me, Julie, Kyle, Jason, Addie, and Joy