The Promise Land

  Okay you can call me crazy or brave, but I decided to go to Oxford for the Ole Miss vs. Texas game.  So 100,000 people were estimated to be in the Grove this weekend and I felt like I needed to be included in that number along with my boys.  Yes, plural… my boys.  I did take my 3 month with me and surprisingly he was wonderful.  He’s not a bad baby by any means, but you have to prepare for the worst when taking such a field trip.

I put my game face on and prepared for the worst with traffic, parking, feeding John Brantley, no naps, and the crowds of people.  The traffic wasn’t bad at all and we found a parking spot right by the SAE house (which is close to our tent). 

Ford was catching up on a little pre-game gossip here….

 

What happens when you put a baby down on the ground??????  People flock to him….

 

Or smother him…

 

Puddin and John Brantley

 

And things aren’t going so well 5 seconds later…

 

My favorite part of the day was when my sister in-law, Ashley, saw “Colonel Reb” walking by.  I told her to go take a picture with him.  Well, she skipped off and got his attention and then yelled for ME to come take a picture.  I wasn’t taking one alone, that’s for sure!!!  Obviously it wasn’t Colonel Reb, but I think the old guy was a bit flattered!!!  I’m just glad we could help. 

 

Ford, Jack, Molly Cate, me, John Brantley, and Caroline

Ford stole a random wagon and had a large time attempting to pull it thru the grass.

 

Aunt Ashley talking to Ford

 

I had a good idea to carry Mr. Big Stuff through the Grove in this handy dandy carrier, but as you can see, he didn’t approve.

Instead I decided to go against my better judgment and push him through the sea of 100,000 people in a stroller.  Smart idea, right?  WRONG!!!!  There were people everywhere... . literally everywhere.  John Brantley was so tired that he slept as we crept through the crowds.  Eventually we decided to go down through the middle part of the Grove and get off the main road.  WHAT were we thinking???  Not a lot apparently.  John Brantley woke up and he was TICKED!!!  Then I decided I needed to get the heck out of there and lost Trey and Ford.  I had to pick John Brantley up because he was red faced and yelling like he had just gotten those 8 week shots all over again, and I was being stared at.  I am pleased to announce that the extra baby weight I complained about 2 blog posts ago is now GONE.  I was sweating like a Mexican trying to cross the border.  I think people felt sorry for me.  I had John Brantley on my left arm and I was pushing a stroller with my right.  They were moving out of my way.  Eventually I found Trey and we headed back to the promise land (tent). 

Ford decided he’d take advantage of the stroller since Toto was being carried. 

 

Pops and his boys

 

HOTTY TODDY!

A thumb sucker with big cheeks

This has kind of been a lazy week at the Lamar residence.  On Monday I was busying myself around the house and I got a message from Ford’s teacher at school to call her.  I thought “oh great!”  She said he had a stomach ache and I told her I’d come get him.  I got there and he acted all pitiful and needy, BUT when we got home he was flipping on the couch, squealing, and watching his Mickey Mouse Club House.  On Wednesday he asked me if he felt bad again if I’d come get him.  I said no.  He acted upset and I told him if I came to get him again we were going to the doctor to get “40 shots”.  40 is his new thing… He is always saying we will do something in 40 days or 40 weeks.  Needless to say NOTHING was wrong with him on Monday, he was just being scandalous and I fell for it.

 

The other night I was cleaning up the kitchen while holding John Brantley.  I decided I could do it a lot faster if I put him down.  I laid him on his stomach and he was “MAD”, but it only lasted about 15 seconds and then there was dead silence.  I got very concerned and I ran over to the blanket and I saw this….

 

He was passed smooth out with his thumb in his mouth.  Forget a pacifier, he is a thumb sucker!!!  I think it’s precious. 

 

On Tuesday we took a field trip.  Ford had never been to Chuck E Cheese and a friend invited us to go as a reward for him getting rid of his pacifier.  We were happy to help celebrate and went along for the ride. 

 

You think JB needed a new diaper!!!???

 

Napping… this doesn’t happen every day anymore either!

 

My baby is 3 months old today!!!!  It’s hard to believe he is that old, yet it seems like forever ago I was in the hospital.  We have made it a long way in 3 months.  He has developed such the personality.  He laughs and squeals all day.  We were playing this afternoon.  I love to make him laugh!

 

Tell me you wouldn’t just love to kiss those big ole cheeks!!!!!!!

I told Ford he could play in the mud today.  We don’t have any mud so he had to make some mud.  I didn’t realize the water hose would make such a lovely hole in my yard.  Oh well!

 

Ford does and says stuff all the time that I want to make sure and remember.  In an effort not to forget I take notes on my phone.  These are some things about Ford that I have jotted down…

He calls John Brantley the wrong name just to tick me off at least 10 times a day.  He calls him John Bradley.  When he does this I call him Fred. 

The other day we were riding to my parents’ house.  S(ome of the way is hilly and curvy.)  Ford has told me several times that hills make him tired.  I find that odd.

If a word has a “th” in the middle he pronounces it as a “d”.  Examples:  Weather is weader… When he says the prayer at supper he says “God our fodder (father).

I dry Ford’s hair every night otherwise it’s a mess in the mornings.  He usually gets annoyed so in an effort to get his mind off of the task at hand and add some educational value into the time we practice our counting or ABC’s.

He is currently obsessed with Mars.  We can thank Mickey Mouse Club House for this new obsession.  He always wants to play like we are going to Mars and we talk about it most of the day.

I have noticed that Ford is paying a lot of attention to the TV and radio lately.  The other day a commercial came on for a type of bra.  I saw Ford looking at the TV and I sort of panicked and tried to get his attention away.  The next thing on the screen was about Prince Harry’s wild weekend in Vegas.  That was it.  I turned the TV off.  You don’t realize what trash is really on there until you watch it with some little eyes.  He has also asked me about some songs on the radio and now we usually just turn it down and talk while we are in the car.

 

As for me… Let’s TOOT TOOT my horn because I have already bought a Christmas gift!!!  I know its impressive being that it’s only September.  Maybe this year I will finish early so I can enjoy the holiday season and not stress out.  That’s always my plan, but it doesn’t happen.

And on a sad note, my hair is falling out.  Yep, I thought I was in the clear since I didn’t have an epidural, but apparently a spinal tap has the same results.  Maybe I’ll get that wig I always wanted after all!!!

No title is appropriate

Sometimes there’s just no easy way to say it.  There is no need for sugar coating… it is what it is!  I have thought of several titles for this blog and couldn’t decide which was the most appropriate.

The Battle of the Bulge
Hefty
Big Buns
Super Squats Won’t Make Those Pants Fit
The Biggest Loser
Just a Jiggling
Lots to Love On

Can you guess what this is about??????!!!!!!  Yep, my extra baby weight that is CEMENTED on my body and isn’t even thinking about coming off.  Have I tried to get it off?  Yes and No.  The first 5 weeks I was cautious of what I put in my mouth since we had our family vacation to the beach.  I dropped 30 pounds like it was nobody’s business.  With vacation came some scrumptious food, which I ate, and then I kind of didn’t care.  Have I worked out?  Nope!!  Why?  Well, time is a factor.  I KNOW, you aren’t supposed to use “time” as an excuse, but I am.  I get up about 5:00 every day to get ready before the boys get up.  Its 8:00 before they are both in bed and most of the time I pull a 15 hour work day because someone won’t nap (Ford) or they don’t nap at the same time.  So tell me when am I supposed to do some cardio????? 

Getting out of the house is torturous.  I feel like I have about 3 outfits that don’t make me look like I have a swim ring glued around my waist.  Ughhhhhhhhhh I didn’t have this problem after Ford and I only gained 8 more pounds this time.  I think I need to put on a sweat suit, gloves, earmuffs, a scarf, and a fur coat and go run.  I might sweat off a few lbs then!  It’s FRUSTRATING!!!!!!! 

So on a lighter note; Someone requested that I put a recipe on my blog since I haven’t in a while.  Makes, sense… I am complaining about being large and in charge and now I will blog about a casserole…

CHEESEBURGER PASTA

1 lb. ground beef cooked and drained
1 onion sautéed in butter
1 12 oz. box bow tie pasta
1 lb. Velveeta cheese
1 can Rotel tomatoes
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp. garlic powder

Cook ground beef, onion, and noodles.  Put Velveeta and rotel in the microwave until cheese is melted.  Mix all ingredients together.  Add milk to thin it out a bit.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly. 

Another personal favorite of mine this month is chess squares.  They are definitely helping in the shaping process of my waist line!!

Ford had a BIG week now that I look at the pictures I just downloaded. My friend, Amy, invited us to go to her dad’s work to see all of the cool cars he has. This was like a dream for Ford…

The next day Trey came home and told us they were driving the combines out at the farm.  Ford couldn’t wait to go help them pick the beans.  Naturally Trey decided they would go in a few hours and not right away.  Do you think Ford Lamar took a nap????  Not a chance.  It was like telling a child Santa is coming. 

John Brantley has just been hanging out and being precious.  He likes to eat his hands and suck his thumb. 

 My baby is losing his hair at a rapid pace. The top is balding. Soon he will be nothing but cheeks!

I told Trey it just wasn’t possible for me to stay home today.  When I say that he comes back with, “Well, you are the one who BEGGED to stay home with the kids.”  Then I reply with, “I know I did, but when going to Kaye’s Food Mart to buy milk is the highlight of your day then you know you need to get out.”  With that being said we (me and the boys) took a FIELD TRIP today to Olive Branch and Germantown.  Germantown had their festival with crafts, food, and games.  Ford was only concerned with the games which is highway robbery. 

 

This little jumping device was $5.00.  He needed to do it twice.  He was very proud of himself for doing this.

 

They wanted 3 tickets (same as $3.00 to take your picture here).  We snuck in!!!  Free shot!  I really didn’t realize until after I took the picture that it wasn’t free.  Oops!

Ohhh and tomorrow (Sunday) is Grandparent’s Day!!!  I have two grandparents left, my mom’s parents are both still living, and Trey has his mom’s mom still alive.  We LOVE our grandparents!!!  I don’t think mine even know I have a blog, but Trey’s grandmother, Bobba, reads my mess so HAPPY GRANDPARENT’S DAY BOBBA!!!!

We are also thankful for our children’s grandparents; Gran, BoomPa, Puddin, and Pops.  I actually tried REALLY hard to get a cute picture for y’all.  It didn’t happen.  This is what I got….  (disaster). 

JB got hot so he had to shed his attire.  I got frustrated and Ford wanted to watch TV.  We shall try again another day!  BUT HAPPY G-PARENTS DAY to all!!!!!!!!  WE LOVE Y’ALL!!!