Let’s Get Real: Part 2

 Pregnancy….

Before I begin please do not read this as Jill Lamar hates her life and she is complaining about being pregnant.  I am not “complaining” about being pregnant I am merely documenting my thoughts and feelings thus far.  After all, this is my blog and I am writing this to remember things for the future.

I know that no two pregnancies are the same.  AMEN… I am proof of that.  Ford’s pregnancy was a breeze.  I honestly think I was only tired with him and got a little swollen towards the end.  Round two is another story.  I feel extremely obese and even think my ear lobes might be beginning to swell.  The simple act of bending over is a major challenge.  One morning in the shower I was “attempting” to wash my legs and realized that it’s not so easy to bend and wash those things anymore.  I have developed a hernia, the baby is STILL on my sciatic nerve (shoot me now), and apparently after talking to the doctor I have a little carpal tunnel syndrome.   I have googled that and it is common in pregnancy which makes me feel better.  Hopefully the numbness and tingling I feel in my arms and legs several times a day will eventually go away.  My stomach is so tight I often times think that my skin is going to rip open and out will POP John Brantley.  I miss the simple act of lying on my stomach to sleep and doing small tasks without feeling like I have run a 5K.  He is the most active child I think God has ever but inside a uterus.  His movements are so big and strong that they literally hurt me.

People who are forgetful truly annoy me.  I would like to think under normal conditions (being not pregnant) that I am reliable and a very scheduled person.  I have just never been able to relate to people who “don’t get it”.  Well, apparently I fit into their group somewhat now.  The other afternoon Ford and I were playing inside after school.  It started to rain and I asked him if he wanted to go sit outside, eat a popsicle, and watch it rain.  He thought it was a swell idea and off we went.  We were in deep conversation about the usual, tractors, all the while I am thinking this child needs a haircut.  Within seconds I jumped and screamed, “We’re late!”  Oh we sure were late.  We were one whole hour late for his haircut appointment.  All I could do was apologize and claim ignorance for missing it.  Luckily she still squeezed us in.

I also think that it should be a law that you must remain with your buggie at ALL times while in Wal-Mart.  I really don’t like going to that store, but when you throw in all these people who abandon their carts so that I can’t get through I get very frustrated.  I am not the smartest human being for going on Saturdays anyway.  I am afraid that my pregnancy Wal-Mart rage might come out on someone one day.  I pray it doesn’t.  Under normal circumstances I would be just be annoyed and not vocal… but it might happen.

Enough complaining/venting/or relieving of my frustrations… 

Yesterday was a busy day.  We had Mayfair in Mayberry, 2 birthday parties, and an engagement bbq deal.  My doctor would be soooo proud that I am not obeying her orders of resting.  The lady already told me to quit work a week ago and I didn’t and now I am running all over tarnation doing as I please.  ToTo will come when he wants regardless. 

While at Mayfair a man stopped us and asked to draw Ford’s picture.  I wasn’t interested and then he said he’d only charge me $10.00.  It turned out pretty cute….

 

He looks ticked in the picture.  He wasn’t exactly fired up about sitting there for 10 minutes.  He desperately wanted to get back to the bouncy houses.  And like any good mother I bribed him with getting to play some more if he’d sit still. 

Thursday he had the stomach bug for 6 hours straight.  It was fantastic.  I was sure I’d get it and go into early labor.  Thankfully, the Lord spared Trey and me from the virus.  I don’t think I could have coped with that and all my other issues.  We have less than 6 weeks until John Brantley arrives.  Honestly, I think it could be any day, and apparently others do too based on the way they look at me!!!  We will see….   

Construction Style

As I previously mentioned, Ford turned 3 on May 1, but we had to wait until Daddy was done with his Representative duties before we could have the party.  You know I read lots of blogs, stalk people’s pages on Facebook, and attend parties myself so I have a good idea of what all goes on at these birthday parties now a days.  However, actually throwing one yourself can be exhausting, especially when you are 33 weeks pregnant.  If I had any sense I would have done it somewhere other than my house and preferably inside at that.  But I don’t plan well, and I decided to try to pull it off myself.

Ford had a wonderful time.  We had around 20 children attend his construction birthday party.  They brought riding toys to drive around the cones in the driveway, made construction hats with name tags and stickers, played in the sandbox and wrote with sidewalk chalk all over my driveway. 

CAUTION:  PICTURE OVERLOAD……..

I loved Ford’s cake.  I found a picture of this cake on the internet and asked the lady who has made off of his cakes if she could do it.  She did and it was wonderful!!!  

 

Construction cookie party favors

I did not make these either.  The new bakery, Southern Sweets, in Mayberry made them for me. 

The presents that Lord knows he didn’t need.    

 

Construction hats

 

If you look you can see the orange Home Depot vests hanging on the fence that were also party favors. 

 

Ford hugging his 9 year old girlfriend, Anna Katherine

After all of his friends left we opened up the new slip-n-slide from his great Grandparents, Grandmother and Granddaddy, and he had a big time with his cousins. 

Caroline (4 yrs old), Jack (1 yr old), Molly Cate (5 yrs old …6 in June), and Ford (the big 3!)

Happy Birthday to the spunkiest little man I know!!!!!! 

I don't want a forehead

I am a little behind on blogging for me.  I can think of like 4 different posts I need to be writing, but I only have so much energy.  Last Tuesday was Ford’s third birthday.  Unfortunately, Trey wasn’t here to celebrate because that was his last week in Jackson so we had to wait to have his party until Daddy got home.  On his actual birthday I did send some treats to school for him to enjoy with his friends.

 

Ford picked out Capri Suns, popsicles, Ruffles –Cheddar and Sour Cream chips, and iced cookies.  Oh and I mustn’t forget the Thomas the Train napkins and plates. 

 

Mayberry has limited dining experiences; therefore, we eat a lot of Mexican.  Ford thinks Rio Lindo is food at its finest and begs to go weekly.  Gran and BoomPa drove down to eat supper with us and Pops joined in as well.  After we ate Ford was ready to go, but I had other ideas in mind.  I asked the waiter if he would come and sing to Ford.  I knew it wouldn’t go over well, but I wanted to go through with it anyway.  Ford was a nervous wreck the entire time they were serenading him, and I believe he even wanted to cry.  He wanted no part of that sombrero either. 

Last week another student’s dad brought his tractor to school.  When I found out about this I knew I needed some pictures of the occasion.  His teachers said he was equally as excited about the 18-wheeler that brought the tractor as he was the tractor itself. 

 

Ford and his teacher, Mrs. Linda

 

Ford and his teacher, Mrs. Jennifer

 

Four months and 120 days later Trey is home from Jackson.  When Trey first mentioned running for State Representative I never imagined that when he was gone I would be here in Mayberry pregnant with a 2.5 year old.  Ford and I did fine and we made it through our time here alone.  It was very difficult at times when he would cry for his Daddy and he just didn’t understand why he wasn’t here or when he would be home.  We were fortunate that we saw Trey every weekend and were even able to make a few trips down to Jackson ourselves.  I asked Trey if he was glad he had decided to run and if he’d do it all over again.  His response was, it was different than I thought it would be, but the Lord had me there for a reason, and I hope he used me well.

While he was gone I did have to get some outside help.  I leave home for work at 6:45 in the mornings and Ford can’t go to school until 7:30.  That posed a small problem for me.  We found a high school girl who was willing to come to my house at 6:45 in the mornings, get Ford ready, and take him to school.  She was really a life saver.  I don’t think I would have been that disciplined as a junior.  We love Miss Jodie!!!

Some things Ford said today…..

I have no alone time.  There is no such thing as privacy in this house either.  Ford followed me into the bathroom and said:

Ford: “Momma, when you ride the 4-wheeler do your panties shake?”  (I was without words!!!)

Ford:  “Momma, don’t go tee tee.”  Me:  “Why?”  Ford: “Because I am tired of you going tee tee.”  (Lord help me I am too.  I got up SIX times last night).

Tonight while lying in the bed Ford says…

Ford: “Momma, I don’t want a forehead.”  Me:  “I’m sorry, buddy.  All people have foreheads.”  Ford: “Can you go see if Delta has a forehead too?”

Me:  “Goodnight Ford I have to go do something on the computer.”  Ford: “No, momma.  The computer makes me nervous.”  Me:  (lying) “Okay, then I am going to take a shower.”

My baby is THREE

Well, this time three years ago I had no idea what was in store for me.  It was a Thursday and I had been at school, done some shopping at Fred’s for wrapping paper, eaten supper at a catfish joint (I actually had steak), went home and hopped in bed.  I slept for a total of 30 minutes when I realized I already needed to go to the bathroom.  Before I made it down the hall I “thought” I had wet my pants.  At that point I got mad and said to myself that it was ridiculous for a 26 year old to do such.  It later occurred to me that it was “show time” and we needed to head to the hospital.  I woke Trey up and told him the news.   He showered, packed his bag, and filled the car up with gas all the while I am calmly shaving my legs in the shower.  I nearly gave him a heart attacked since I was so calm and taking my sweet precious time.  I am ALWAYS the one who is rushing, stressing, and freaking out while he is Mr. Calm.  I guess you never know how you will react until its game time.  Seventeen hours later we had this little guy weighing in at 7.6 pounds! 

 

I had to throw this in there.  This is what 17 hours of labor and a c-section will do to you.  Life wasn’t too pleasant at this point, but it was ALL worth it! 

 

I do believe in love at first sight…. How could you not if you’re a mom!!! 

The first year passed by quickly and he turned 1. 

Then he was two…

And tomorrow my little man will be THREE years old.  This is the last picture taken of Ford when he was two. 

Ford is such a sweet child and has forever changed our lives.  It’s hard to remember life without the little guy. 

He talks more than any other human being I know.  He has energy that can last for hours on end from the minute he wakes up until he crashes at night.  Ford is tender hearted and genuinely cares about other people’s feelings.  He cries if someone else is crying and will worry about them until they act happy again.  Ford is obsessed with tractors, 4-wheelers, trains, dirt, trailers, the colors green and blue, the farm, sweet tarts, cinnamon rolls, gum, riding his bike, yard tools, Delta, his paci, his blankie, and critters.  He can throw a fit at the drop of the hat or sit so sweetly in my lap and tell me he loves me.  He is a big momma’s boy and loves to cuddle and rock.  He also loves to help Daddy fix things, mow the grass, and clean the animals he kills.  Ford loves life more than anyone I have ever seen.  He doesn’t miss an opportunity to have a good time and has a contagious energy about him that draws other people to him. 

I am excited to see him continue to grow into a little boy and one day into a man.  We are proud of our baby and look forward to many more birthdays with Fordman! 

** Two posts in one day.