Beach Adventures

Thanks for all your sweet texts, comments and tweets! B and I had a fantastic time at the beach - such a great time, in fact, that I took exactly three pictures. Too much fun to slow down for a camera, I suppose.

I walked on the beach, lazed by the pool, enjoyed yummy seafood, tore through a long book, took naps while B had meetings, dressed up to dance and dine, swung by the outlets and basically soaked up adult conversation all weekend. (Not to say we didn't talk about Mac; we absolutely did. It's amazing how quickly kids come up when you meet new people!)

You've already seen one of the pictures I snapped last weekend. Food was clearly high on my priority list; I'm paying the price for it at the gym this week.

Here are the other two - proof that I did indeed wear a bathing suit and indisputable evidence that chivalry (ha ha) is not dead.

Don't worry, Mom, I packed my sunblock!

You can't make this stuff up. I'd call but I'm no super model...

Wordless Wednesday: A Delicious Weekend

Follow Friday

Follow Friday is a weekly Twitter happening; people list their favorite "tweeps" so others can follow them, too. It's a great way to "meet" new people and spark interesting conversations - the whole point of Twitter.

Today is Friday. Since I'm currently on a beach applying SPF 900, thus unable to think of anything else to discuss, I thought I'd bring this trend to the blog world and share a few suggestions with you.

My interests (blog-wise) include public relations, current events, cooking, meal planning, theology, marriage and family, advertising, pop culture (a little less than my pre-baby days, to be sure), nursing, bargain shopping, fashion, interior design and anything that involves Christianity, Clemson or the South Carolina coast. As such, the blogs I follow run the gamut.

Here are a few favorites, plus specific posts that have stood out to me lately:

Stuff Christians Like: hilarious satire that hits home because it's very, very true

• Mother's Day vs Father's Day Sermons: I loved this because it's spot on the sermons at the churches I've been to on Mother's and Father's Days over the years. "Get it together, Dads!" versus "Moms, we couldn't live without you!"
• Fixing It Versus Being Forgiven: This was a great reminder to me, a textbook people pleaser, Type A personality who mistakenly believes that she is in control. I look at my life, now and in the past, as something I can manage or fix. That's not how it works...
• Doubting God's Goodness Wow, am I guilty of this sometimes. I don't believe in "karma" and would absolutely tell you we serve a loving God. So why did I flinch when Bradley talked at length recently about how wonderful our life is, how very blessed we are? (Also, the phrase "pull the sheets back and show you the spiders in the bed" represents one of my worst childhood fears. Another store for another day... Made the post even more powerful for me. Eek, spiders in the bed!)
  

Seattle Mama Doc: thoughtful advice from an expert

• 2 is the new 1 Moms, PLEASE read this. Your baby is 75% less likely to die or be seriously injured in a car accident if he stays rear-facing until the age of two. Seventy-five percent. With a statistic like that, the least we can do is research our options and make an educated decision. I won't be flippant about the decision, that's for sure.
• If you're going to buy organic, here's where to start. This was very helpful for me as I begin to navigate the waters of feeding "real food" to a baby and taking a closer look at what's on our table.
  

PR Breakfast Club hit the nail on the head with their post on mad libs press releases. Remember how fun Mad Libs were growing up? Turns out we've been doing them for our clients without realizing it...

Sweet Amy at Chapters wrote about God's eye being on the sparrow - and what that means for her, and for each of us, really, as believers. I can't express it nearly as well as she did, so please read it and see for yourself.

What's on your virtual reading list today? Any suggestions for blogs I should be following?

(Not Too) Far and Away

In a few hours, Bradley and I will drop our little man off in Columbia for three nights of grandparent bliss: non-stop kisses, rolling around, new toys, another puppy to play with, outside adventures and fresh furniture to drool all over. It's going to be baby heaven.

B and I will be out of town until Sunday, the longest we've ever left him. We're eagerly anticipating some time in the sun and a few grown-up conversations, but we miss our monkey already.

I'll miss the way he stretches when he wakes up.

I'll miss his belly laughs at the silly things his mama does.

I'll miss his turning a bib around when it's time to stop drooling and get down to business.

I'll miss little previews of what he'll be like as a boy, turning pages and 'reading' intently.

I'll miss the way he pounces on this poor, defenseless tiger and growls as he gnaws on it.

I'll miss his lunges toward the camera whenever it appears.

I'll miss him splashing in the tub while enjoying a gourmet dessert of rubber ducky.

I'll miss trying to sneak a picture of him sleeping in the backseat.

(Photo courtesy of Wendy at A Southern Accent)
I'll miss him 'telling' me what's on his mind. Can't you almost hear him talking in this shot?

(Photo courtesy of Wendy at A Southern Accent)
I'll miss Mac's sleepy cuddles, when he wants his thumb, his lovey and his mama - in that order.

Thankfully, I know I'll get to see and do all of those things once we return from our little getaway. In the meantime, I can rest assured that his Mimi and Grandpa are reveling in every moment with their sweet grandson.

If absence makes the heart grow fonder, it's hard to imagine how excited we'll be to see our boy when we return!!

Until then, I'm going to spend a little (spit up-free) time with this guy:

Despite the expression, I promise he likes me back. Well, I'm pretty sure, at least. Happy almost weekend, everyone!!

Wordless Wednesday: Holdin' Hands

(Precious baby Reagan courtesy of Liz Fisher.)

Happy Father's Day, B!

October 5, 2009

The moment you met Mac, you became the wonderful father I already knew you'd be.

Looking at you now, no one would guess that you had never diapered, dressed, bathed or even kissed a baby before your own. I'd say you're a natural but I also know the heart and attention you put into every part of being Mac's dad.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for loving our son the way you do. For caring and providing and praying for our family. For being a partner and a role model and a leader. Mac already adores you - and he doesn't yet realize how blessed he is to have you as his dad.

Happy first Father's Day, B! We love you.

Also, a very, very happy Father's Day to my precious dad, Mac's Grandpa, and Bradley's wonderful father, Mac's Papa. We're all so blessed to have you in our lives! xoxo

Because It's Friday...

Just because it's Friday - and also because few things are cuter than a dancing baby!

I'd love to see this little man in Zumba; I bet everyone would really step up their game! He could definitely samba circles around me...

The moves he busts out starting around the 2:15 mark absolutely kill me. Still in diapers and already way more skilled at shaking his hips than I'll ever be. What a killer workout, too - he must have quads of steel!

Enjoy - and happy weekend!