My First Baby is a "Baby" No More

     It is hard to believe that 13 & 1/2 years ago, Erin Madison came into my life.  At only 22 years old, I barely was old enough to even have a baby.  WD & I were driving blind when it came to parenting (we still are in some aspects, as we learn as we go).  I remember how I was terrified to cut her fingernails because I didn't want to hurt her.  I also remember getting her ears pierced at only 6 months hoping that she would look more feminine only to have my precious girl look more like Mr. Clean (although her bright blue eyes gleamed bright enough to distract from her smooth bald head)!
     My nostalgia stems from a request that I got from one of Erin's 8th grade teachers.  Being the last year in middle school, the technology teacher compiles an 8th grade video for the kids/parents.  I think they'll even have an 8th grade ceremony near the end of the school year before they enter high school!  Yes, I said high school... I can barely say it out loud! The request from the teacher was for me to email 3 baby photos of Erin.  I sifted through a few piles of photos last night, and ultimately allowed Erin to select the 3 she liked best (it was too hard for me to select only 3).  Here are the three she selected:

   My favorite is the third one in her pink gingham dress with the white eyelet ruffles.  I see glimpses of that little smirk every once in a while now, especially when I catch her overhearing conversations that aren't meant for her. She insisted on including a dance photo although I advised her that that was not a "baby" photo.  She was 3 or nearly 4 years old in that photo.  Of course the top photo just cracks me up.  She was wearing one of my favorite onsies... "Don't Tell Me I'm Cute, I Wanna Be SMART!"

     As you can tell I'm very proud of her, not only then, but now too.  She is smart, compassionate, beautiful, and a natural peacekeeper.  Don't get me wrong... she tries my patience from time to time with her teen-like forgetfulness, roller-coaster moods (our household can only handle one member who does that & I was that way first :-), & sassy attitude that peeks out every once in a while.  Overall, I'm very blessed to have her, and I'm glad to call her my daughter!

Halloween 2009

Halloween is a time for pure silliness (for both adults & kids)! We had such a fabulous time selecting our costumes, carving pumpkin, filling treat bowls with lots of yummy candy, and hanging out with kids & friends. Erin & her girlfriends were amazing in their costume selection! Amazing because they pulled off the least expensive costumes using clothes they already had, but purchasing little nerdy glasses/socks. They made being a nerd "cool"! Dylan opted for a scary jester outfit.  I don't even think he knew what a jester was, but he just loved the costume.  WD & I did a couples outfit (my husband was a great sport this year... typically he wears a t-shirt that says, "This is my Costume").  Doctor & Nurse Davis! Too much fun!

We started the weekend off Friday night by stomping through the rain to our neighbor's house. Yes, the weather was terrible, but with my daughter's suggestion (using Walmart bags, tying one over each shoe) & balancing hor d'ovres & the umbrella we made it down the street without getting absolutely soaked.  Erica & Ray hosted the neighborhood Halloween party this year.  They did a fabulous job decorating & providing their place where we all danced, karaoked, & acted like kids ourselves.  It was such a good time that didn't end until wayyyy too late.

Today, after sleeping late, Dylan, Erin, & I went over to P'ville Middle School to sign Dylan up for basketball season in Ascension Parish.  We've tried almost every other sport, so hopefully this might be his "thing".  We'll see.  We ran a few errands.  Lunch was on the run where we splurged on Sonic cheese sticks & leftover pizza.  (I'm trying to shock my body's system into breaking my weight loss plateau with a 2-day splurge... crazy maybe, but I don't know what else to do.) After the kids changed into their costumes (WD & I opted for comfy clothes... jeans, t-shirts, sans the medical attire), we lit Dylan's pumpkin & headed out to the street.  Erin's a bit old for trick-or-treating, but she & her girlfriends roamed the neighborhood giggling in their nerd-wear. Dylan & WD went door to door collecting all sorts of treats while I sat in a line with my neighbors handing out candy from huge tubs to all the kids who came our way.  After closing out trick-or-treating, WD, Dylan, & I cruised on over to Cracker Barrel in Gonzales for a late supper of chicken & dumplings for me, meatloaf for WD, & pancakes/bacon for Dylan.  Yummmmmy. 

Don't know if we can ever do it up as good as we did this year, but we have an entire year to plan for Halloween 2010!

SoBe World

Ok... those of you who know me, know that I don't do "designer" drinks... you know drinks like "Monster", "Red Bull", etc. I don't drink coffee; not even the flavored stuff from Starbucks/CC's.  I don't like "Gatorade" or any of those types of drinks, either. I just haven't been able to tolerate their taste much less their increased caloric-content in many cases.  Well I finally found one that I just LOVE!  It's called SoBe lifewater.  It's a zero-cal, vitamin enhanced, flavored water.  Now I'm starting to sound like a commercial! No they haven't employed me in any way.  Anyway, while at Target the other day, I bought one at the register just to give it a shot... after all it was no-calories & it looked so refreshing.  Crazy enough it has a lizard on the bottle!  What a lizard has to do with water, I have no idea.  It was great.  I saw a display of them at Walmart the other day, so I  picked up a couple of different flavors to try.  My favorites are Yumberry Pomegranate & Fuji Apple Pear, although I don't know what the hell a "yumberry" is... it tastes yummy-licious though!

Love the Fall (Halloween, too!)

Although our days of "cool" weather are few in number, it is so exciting to get a day where the temp drops below 70 (even if it is only for the evening/early morning hours).  Along with the cooler weather, Halloween preparation makes for more excitement.  Erin's a bit old for traditional trick-or-treating, and Dylan is approaching the "too old" age, too, but we still have fun with it! We took them to shop for costumes yesterday.  Erin's determined to make her own costume this year... she wants to be a nerd and is convinced that the thrift stores will have "nerd-wear" like suspenders, glasses, & pocket protectors.  Dylan opted for a spooky joker character. Very cute! WD & I are even getting in on the action, but we aren't revealing our costumes until the Eastside Halloween Party which Erika & Ray so graciously have offered to host at their house. I can't wait because it is rare to get WD to play dress up :-)

Another fun thingy for us & the kids is getting "boo-ed"! Last night while watching the Amazing Race, the door bell rang wildly... ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong... really fast & quick.  Of course Chewee was up barking & rushing to the door.  WD was like, "Who the hell rings a doorbell like that?!?" Erin opened the door to find a precious little Halloween gift bag on the doorstep.  It had a sign to post in our front window, letting the neighbors know we've been boo-ed, and in the bag was fun little trinkets & candy! Very cute! We get to "boo" two other neighbors within the next couple of days.  I can't wait!  I've gotten the treats together & now need to print out the signs/directions.  I'll leave the running, dropping the treat, & ringing the bells for the kids to do!  Happy Halloween, everyone!

Martha Jane Murray Cutrer (1930-2009)

This weekend was very long. WD's grandmother passed away.  She was known to us as "MawMaw Cutrer". Although we didn't have a deep relationship with Mawmaw (she was Mom Aleta's mother), watching other family members grieve the loss was emotionally draining.  I pray for each of them now... may God grant peace & joy in knowing that one day we will be reunited with Mawmaw in Heaven. I know that this temporary season of grieving will fade away to an eternal hope.

Mawmaw was obviously a caring & compassionate woman... she raised her own children & then even raised a couple of her grandsons, too.  The thing I recall most about her were her yearly Christmas cards.  She would send Dylan & Erin their own card every year which would just thrill them (they loved getting mail addressed specifically to them). I'm thankful for having known her & hope her legacy makes a sustainable impact on her children & grandchildren. You can read her obituary here.