Real Men Wear Pink

A warm spring day + A strawberry push-up= One happy, messy boy

Things I didn't know...

I have been around children my entire life. Every job I've ever had has, in some way, involved children. Prior to having one of my own, I'd like to think that I was pretty baby savvy. However, after I had The Shoog, it turned out that there were LOTS of things I didn't know or expect when that sweet, yummy smelling baby was placed in my arms.
(Excuse the pics. Most were taken with my phone.)

Taking apart/"fixing"/reassembling technology is a universal boy desire.


Football comes fairly primitively as well (Thank you Lord!)


When I imagined breastfeeding a baby, my visions were those of chubby baby hands cupping my face, grinning up at me as he drank greedily. Not. So. Much. In reality, he couldn't have been more distracted. If that milk was coming from a dog's butt he wouldn't have cared, as long as the milk was coming. The "cupping of the face" was more like digging in my nose or trying to pull my eyelashes out. No joke. This was taken in the hospital. I was laid up for almost a week with complications following my thyroidectomy. It was definitely my breastfeeding low point. Ugh. I dreaded feeding him in that hospital, but clearly, it did not bother my boy.


Wade had never been around kids and, while I didn't think he'd be bad, I was not prepared for the awesomeness that was about to unfold between that man and his boy. He adores the child. I have never seen such patience, awe, and pride seep from the pores of one man. This pic was of Wade on July 4th. It was the first time Ev spent the weekend away from us. We had a party at a friend's house and Wade found the lone kid to play with. Even when he had a break, he opted out. Yep, that's someone else's pride and joy.

Now, this here is our pride and joy. Have you ever seen such pride in the face of a Dad?! Not only that but he still loved our boy even while he was sporting an Ole Miss polo. That, coming from an LSU alum Dad, is love if I ever saw it.


The wall always wins.


Grandparents are quite fond of their "second generation babies." Grandbabies can inspire you to fight like you've never fought, to live fully without a complaint, and to cherish every single extra minute you have. Grandbabies can force you to get out of bed, even when in a chemo-induced hangover, and laugh like there's nothing wrong. Grandbabies, I've been told, can inspire you to look terminal cancer in the face and tell it, "Kiss off. You've messed with the wrong Granna."

Honey do....

We hosted a honey-do shower for one of my "daughters" at work. See, I'm an old lady in the PICU now and have had a hand in training a good portion of the nurses, making them all my girls. I even have one son. Anyway, one of my babies is getting married next month and I couldn't be happier for her. I was really excited about decorating for this and had many ideas that I couldn't wait to try out. Google is quite lacking in the "honey-do shower ideas" category so we were pretty much on our own. We ended up having a ball coming up with decor. They registered at Home Depot and Lowe's so most of the decorations are from their registry and they just took them home at the end of the night!

Their invite:
"Hang a picture!" "Hang a curtain!"
She'll ask it sweetly I'm quite certain.
"Weed the garden." "Paint that wall."
He'll do it quick and never stall.

It's time to celebrate Courtney and Lee.
At this shower, you'll need to be.
A blender, mop, or hammer, if you choose.
Help Courtney and Lee fulfill their honey-dos!


A grapevine wreath wrapped in the extension cord they registered for, along with two screwdrivers and, if you look closely, some needle nosed plyers. We also put their monogram on it to jazz it up a bit! Oh and the rake was theirs too!


Chocolate cake with chocolate dipped pretzels in planters. I ended up wishing we had done the pretzels a little longer so you could really see them but, oh well! The bride is a choco-haulic, just like her Momma!


The living room all spruced up. We used two of their patio chair covers tied to my dining room chairs for their seats.


Pics of the couple along with gardening utensils.


The table with more pics of the happy couple and tools tied to the chandelier (and adorable hostess Courtney Jane Carter Boatright who just so happens to be another of my "daughters" that married her sweetie last August! They're all growing up (tear.))


This one totally came to me in my sleep. I woke up and had to try it. I tried to think of the things we used alot of in that first year and we always seemed to be changing/buying lightbulbs. Perhaps because, in addition to being a choco-haulic, I'm also a lamp-ahaulic. Anyway, I wanted to get them lightbulbs but make it cute. This was 60 and 100 watt lightbulbs with a lighter and sprinkler that they registered for placed in one of my big vases. A little twine (I do LOVE some twine. I mean you can use that stuff for anything. It's like the string version of duct tape.) to make it fayn-cy.

I hope Courtney (yes, I have two "daughters" named Courtney) and Lee had a fab time. We can't wait until April!!!

Toddling: to walk with short, unsteady steps

At fourteen months, our boy finally started walking without holding on to someone or something. I am immensely proud of him as he has finally gained a shread of independence. However, I have started to notice some things around the house have started turning up in strange places. Since Wade has been walking for 30 some odd years and we've lived together for over 5 and has never put my shoes in the tub, I can only assume the culprit is our toddler. I have yet to catch him in the act but, rest assured, when I do....I'll probably laugh alot. Here's my evidence.

My tennies in the tub.


A few books in Ev's dish drawer.


Sesame Street channel changer in the pantry.


Our Willow Tree in the towel cabinet.


My flip flop in the dirty clothes hamper.


A high heel about to take a dive into the tub.


And last but not least...a few Mardi Gras beads in my hair fixin' drawer. Now that I'm thinking about it, I do usually fix my hair without a shirt on. Hmmm (scratching chin), maybe it is Wade.