Bradley is the greatest

OK--so I KNOW I haven't been the easiest to live with this pregnancy. The first trimester was a roller coaster of exhaustion and nausea. We had some relief from month four through the third week in November--then we got hit with the whole "signs of premature labor" drama that pretty much knocked me out of being much help around the house at all, including being able to pick up Charlie Mac at all for about three weeks until things settled down again. I still can't hold him for more than a few seconds, but I keep trying (I know, I know--I'm not supposed to). On top of all of this greatness, I've become a slave to the most vicious mood swings--I am like a toddler myself; if I am tired or hungry--watch out! It's truly embarrassing!

Bradley has trooped right through it. He has always been a very hands-on daddy--which wasn't so easy with the school and work schedule he's had--but during the first trimester and now he is doing almost everything. He's the one who gets up as early as 4:30 with Charlie Mac and fixes us all breakfast. When we get home from work he's the one who's bathing, dressing and reading stories to Charlie Mac while I sit nearby. He's the one who fixes our supper while I sit nearby, often grumpy. He's the one who has rearranged all the furniture and built the nursery. He's the one who patiently waits for Hurricane Mood Swing to pass on over and somehow manages to love me just as much--and for all this I love him even more.

Thank you Bradley!! You are the best husband and father in the world!!!!

Willa Ann is SO busy--she takes my by such surprise a lot of the time! We are getting her room ready (a 8X9 walk in closet in our room with a window that we pulled all the shelves, etc out of--perfect!). It's three colors of purple with plans for a mural of flowers and vines below the chair rail. Her bedding/curtains will be sage green. We got a hood for her bassinet, so, it will be a little dressier than it was for The Iddle. I've been told I can't do much of anything by my doctor, so Bradley is putting it all together while I'm annoying him sitting in the doorway.

Charlie Mac is becoming such a little boy! He lives for cars, trucks, trains and tractors (gwaks, trachks, choo choos and traches)and you'd be amazed how many tractor advertising videos are on Youtube--serious entertainment. Try it--it's shockingly addictive. He has a pair of boots we got him for winter at the hunting camp that he wears all the time. He eats with a fork and spoon and puts his napkin in his lap. He refuses meat except for two occasions: once with fried catfish and once with a chicken nugget. He goes to ceramics twice a week where he paints a bisqued piece and he goes to story time at the Bookstore and Library twice a week where he has friends named Graham (Gam), Luke and Thomas. He had a playdate with Mamie and now asks for her all the time (Meme). We got him a lot of unbreakable Christmas ornaments that he hung on the bottom of the tree. Mostly on one particularly stunning branch. He had the best time! We decorated gingerbread men two Sundays ago and that was seriously a blast too. Raisens make great "eyyyes." He recognizes the letters "O" and "I" and the colors "rojo," "boo" and "gee." All blonds are named for his aunt "KayKay." But purely for the sake of convenience--he certainly knows who the real one is! When he talks to his Aunt Augusta on the phone, he asks about "Teensy." And when he hears my voice on our answering machine he says "Muhm" which is what he has named my mother. (Our voices sound alike, and since I'm right there in front of him, he figures that Muhm is calling out from that machine.) He also recognizes his Pawpaw on the phone. He calls my dad "dada" or "nahdada" (not dada), I can't wait to see what he ends up calling him! Roberts is Rara, and often so are fellas on TV that look like him. He also has called his Aunt to be, Frankie, "Rara", so who knows where that's going! "Augusta" is hard to say, but he probably will call her Teensy until he figures something better out. Maybe if she spends less time sleeping and in front of the TV over Christmas than she did at Thanksgiving, he will come up with something.....hmmmm Bee?

Thanksgiving catchup

Allrighty, the Cowboys are 7 and 1, Ole Miss is, well, ahem, and we are just dandy!

We have been working on Willa Ann's nursery when we can--Bradley is still working at Square Books and I found that permanent job I was looking for at Senator Lott's Oxford office about a month and a half ago. I can honestly say I've never loved a job more. We have cleared it out and on Monday Amber H. and I textured down to where the chair rail will be. I'd never done that before and as my daddy put it: "y'all are having fun playing with mud pies in here." It's so easy I am tempted to start a side business. If we ask Charlie Mac where his baby sister is going to sleep he leads us in there and points to her bassinet. So sweet. I'll post pictures when we get it finished.

For those of you we haven't talked to about it, we are naming our daughter after her mother as is our family tradition (where else would we have gotten the 3 Roberts, 7 Elizabeths and 10 Augustas?), but are calling her "Willa" for Wilson and "Ann" after my mama. I thought I was being so original with the "Willa" but learned that some Elliotts named daughters that back around 1900 (I guess after they'd already named one Augusta? Ha!) as a feminine form of William. I chose it in lieu of "Willow" which was a little crunchy-even for us.

Bradley's birthday and the LSU game are this weekend and we are so excited! Our friend Susannah is coming in from Dallas for her first ever Grove experience (It's like 'the lot' for grown ups) and we just can't wait! Roberts and Frankie are coming in from Colorado for the first time since they were engaged and we are so happy to get to hang out with them as much as we can. Maybe they can get it together up in D.C. and Augusta will be able to make it down, too!

We are headed to the Delta for Thanksgiving and then to Dallas for our friend's Lauren and Chad's wedding the weekend after and it's going to be so great not only to see two wonderful people start their lives together, but to see some old friends and our Texas family as well--things ain't slowin down around here! I'm sorry that the posts have been lacking in imagination and frequency lately, I'll try to be better about it!!!


XOXOXOXOXOXOXO,
Elizabeth, Bradley and Charlie Mac

Punkin Time!!!!






ok.

Talking, Dancing, Playing and Painting

Sounds like I'm writing about myself, I know--but I'm writing about our Iddle Biddle. Over the last couple of months we have seen a developmental explosion from which Charlie Mac has emerged quite the party guest. He not only is talking so much more, in a wonderful combination of English and Iddlese, but is so EXPRESSIVE! Two days ago, he pointed at his lamb that my dad gave him and with his eyebrows up, nose down and a very serious tone informed me that "dis is Baa" wherupon he tucked the newly christened critter under his arm and requested to be removed from his bed.
Yesterday I heard music coming from the back of the house and through very little investigation found a rave going on in our bedroom--Charlie Mac and hid daddy were jukin' up a storm with impressive moves that included spinning, arms in the air like you just don't care and a head twist that could only be accomplished with a mop of golden curls. Mama and her belly joined in with what she could---let it suffice to say that Charlie Mac looked a lot better snapping his fingers than I did.
His favorite song is that Wilco song about walking by yourself and within the first three beats he is rocking out like nobody's business. I need to get that on video for sure. He sings along with the bass at the end "duh duh, duh duh, duh duh" while nodding his head in time and I swear it makes me want to scream like I'm face to face with Jerry Garcia. Like I've told him since he was born, he's better than any band I ever saw.

PLAYING! Everywhere all the time--he especially enjoys Falkner's yard where he literally blows kisses to and says "bye" to every tree before he leaves (where does he get that?) and the swings at our church. He goes to story time every week with his nanny Amber H and a paint your own ceramics place too. He picks his project and his colors and goes to town.

Well, it's time for me to get ready for work now--I'm going to post some pics that Amber H. got amongst the oak trees the other day very soon!

Much love,

Big Boy with his fork

Wow! We have sure been busy in our new town! I am almost thankful for the threats I have received from Augusta re: this blog because otherwise I may not have sat down to post for another month!! We are getting settled, Bradley is loving working for Square Books, I loved my time in Senator Cochran's office and have started permenant job hunting (hunting for a permenant job that is, not permanently job hunting I hope!), Charlie Mac has made some friends at the church nursery and beyond and will hopefully start his music class at the Yaknapatawpha Art council soon. I hope that suffices as an excuse for the lack of frequent updates here.
SO, without further ado...




Here we are on our way to church--lots and lots of young families that we are getting to know!




















Charlie Mac loves to get into the doggie treat cabinet and Guero loves it too!


















We still love choo choos....















Ole Guero can get his lean on like no other dog I've ever seen....

















Big Brother would like to show everyone how his new little brother or sister is growing...

Apparently I'm the only one who needs to "adjust" to babysitters....

Well, we are finally getting settled here in Oxford. As I write this, Bradley is driving the most enormous U-Haul and towing a trailer here from Texas. I can't wait until he gets here! He's been gone a week and we sure have missed him.
I've been working for our Senator Cochran in his Oxford office and I love it. I get to do a lot of work with constituents and knowing that I'm actually helping people really makes me happy. I'm just in here for the summer, so I am still looking for something permanent. Bradley starts at his job as assistant to the General Manager and Buyer at Square Books on Monday. It's a perfect job for a literature buff like him--and I know he is going to enjoy his duties of working with and entertaining the visiting authors most of all.
Charlie Mac has taken to babysitters like a duck to water...if I weren't so happy about his apparent well adjustment my feelings would be hurt! Every morning he greets his sitter (we have three different ones) with a smile and a request to be picked up. He does this by tapping a leg and saying "up" while lifting his arms. Soon after that he starts kissing the air in my direction and saying "bye bye!" Today I actually had to ask for my kiss and was presented with his cheek! I said "nuh uh, Mama needs her kiss! And then he giggled and kissed my face a couple times--much better! What's a mama got to do to get some love around here? Apparently waiting on someone hand and foot doesn't get what it used to...well, I'm sure any of you moms reading this are just laughing right now. I'm sure mine is!
He at least gets excited when I get home....most of the time.
I think his great experiences with Kristin in Georgetown have helped to make him this way--so thankful for her in so many ways!
His Aunt Katie will be here soon and we are counting down the days to her return!
I'll post some pics soon,
love, elizabeth

Addendum:
When I went home for lunch today, he wouldn't go down for his nap, so he was awake when I left again. He chased me to the door bawling. While I of course can't stand to see him cry, I have to say that my confidence in his love for me has been fully restored!

Fried Pies and Butterflies

No Iddlemethis fans, this is not a recollection of one of Lizzie's world-famous dreamscapes ~ it is daddy's first authorial cameo. Indeed, brace yourselves, I do know the excitement may be difficult to contain but we must - neighbors, the general public, and above all else the man don't take too kindly to pandemonium in the streets, so let's keep our thundering cries of supreme joy to gentle whimpers of undying enthusiasm. Onward...

Last weekend, in order to acquaint ourselves to our new satellite metropolis Memphis, we loaded up the gang and, three hours later, hightailed it northbound up I-55. Our plan included a brief stint at the Memphis Farmer’s Market (the Oxford version is a little on the small side and leaves a bit to be desired) to pick up some fresh veggies. We hoped for a king’s bounty an indeed found a cornucopia fresh, local, and tasty summer veggies –tomatoes, okra, eggplant, beans, and more. However, the true paragon of local delectability was found as we made our exit – a true fried pie, so damn good it was just downright sinful. (I almost slapped Lizzie, but after considering how hot is was outside, decided it wasn’t the best day for a walk to Oxford.)

Though the Farmer’s market was quite a time, and Charlie did get to do a little dancing - number 3 on his “Favorite Things to Do in the World List” – behind (#1) snuggling with his mama and just barely losing out to (#2) screaming bloody-murder five minutes before we are done eating in a restaurant – we were off to the main attraction, the reason for the season – Charlie Mac’s first trip to the Zoo!

This is an event not without much anticipation as yours truly has somewhat of a, how shall we say, obsession with “The Zoo” and passing on a somewhat unhealthy love for a place that smells like the business end of an elephant is just something that fathers are for. For an added bonus, Charlie Mac has recently become quite fascinated with the animal kingdom, not just mimicking their noises, but just watching the little fellas run amuck. In fact his new entertainment during our walk through the woods is doing a bit of bird and dog-rabidly-chasing-poor-innocent-squirrel watching. To be honest with you, the whole event was just amazing – it’s proving a task to provide a linear recount of the hours we spent there so I’m just gonna let it go. Flamingos – um yeah, pink giant birds (I feel for some odd reason I must describe these to you (unhealthy attachment I say)) - blew. CharlieMac’s. mind. Simply greatness. [Aside] There is nothing like blowing a toddler’s mind. Whether it is giant pink birds or a water hose, the look in their eyes, the stillness combined with that tangible appearance of a running mind – my God, it is better than fried pie. [End Aside]

I'm on a tiger, not on a panda, I'm on a TIGER, not on a panda, not on a panda, not on a panda...

The butterflies deserve their own paragraph. Love may not be the right word, and obsession is too grown up of an idea, just innocent OH.MY.GAWD. may be the best way to describe Charlie Mac’s reaction to the butterfly area. We have some great video of this and I will get this up here, as well as sending it to every news station in the WORLD because my baby is the CUTEST THING EVER. Sorry, that happens every once in awhile – parents, you understand. Strength in unity. Meanwhile, Charlie Mac’s chasing butterflies all over the place. He’s telling everyone about it, shouting it from the highest mountain “SSZzzzDAT! EEEEEEEEIIIIII!” Next time we go to the Zoo – it’s a nice picnic lunch, maybe even some blue-cheese stuffedolives, a spot on a corner bench, and hours spent watching our pride-and-joy chasing what seems to appear to him as little bursts of sunshinebeautifuljoy floating around in the air. In Charlie Mac’s eyes, and in ours, it was the Memphis zoo’s pièce de résistance.

There were other encounters – monkeys, penguins, fish, turtles, giraffes, elephants – which in their own right were exciting but as we spiraled into a tired, sweaty abyss of getmetothecarbeforeidie, we powered up for the pilgrimage to the Choo-Choo. Again, I promise to have some video up of the ride (knowing me let’s safely say sometime before next President’s Day.) It’s interesting how Charlie Mac developed his love for Choo-Choos – he never really watches Choo-Choo shows and only recently has had the toys – but the Choo-Choo is his thing. Some of us covet our jewelry or patchy pants – but for CMac it’s gimme Choo-Choo or gimme Choo-Choo. And, as we all well know, the Mecca of 18 month old Choo-Choo lovers is, without a doubt, the Barnyard Choo-Choo ride ~ A real life Choo-Choo, a real life cow, a real life goat, a covered bridge, a waterfall ~ somebody call the fire department because THE ROOF IS ON FIRE!

If you are wondering, we did make it back to the car in 3 pieces - 3 whole somewhat soggy pieces. But not before a gloriously failed attempt at the Barnyard animals show. Sorry to offend any Komodo Dragon lover’s out there - nothing against their cold-blood or prehistoric existence – but give me a break…and some of that sweet, sweet AC.

5 minutes later – approximately 54 seconds into our car ride home – we turn around and are blessed with this sight. Better than fried pie and butterflies.

Hooooome on the train, won't you put my monkey on the train...

Beachside fun

While our house was on the market we realized that there was no way we could live in it and keep it staged to the point where we could zip out at a moment's notice to show it. It's too little and we are just too "active." So, at times like these it's best to go to the beach.
Charlie Mac really got into the fun that is the Gulf Coast a lot more this time and it was just a blast to watch. Bradley and I got to have some fun crabbing and visiting with our friends the Weirs and their daughters Kathryn and Lucy along with the rest of the Frye clan who were staying a couple houses down from us. Brad and Trey has some luck night fishing and it was great for me to sit around and gab with Susan and Kathy. From Lucy Charlie Mac has learned that high chairs are so last month and that forks are where it's at. He's not really good at it, but he tries his darndest!
We stayed through the 4th of July and the fireworks were pretty, even if the Iddle wasn't as impressed as we thought he would be.

Here are some pics from the pier and the beach:


sleepy puppies on the road

Leaving Las Georgetown

We are in the process of selling our house in Georgetown--in escrow now, woo hoo!--and before we put it on the market we "staged" it to sell. For those of you who are less obsessed with HGTV than I am, that is the process whereby you take the "you" out of your home and make it a more generic place that potential buyers can imagine their own happy lives in. There were parts of it that were really hard (like Charlie Mac's room--boo hoo) but all in all, it was really worth it--here are the final results in a totally random order: