New Home - New Start

First step in a new direction! Of course i'm scared shitless wondering if it is the right direction! So much in my life has changed over the past few weeks that my world has become very unfamiliar! It's time to put on my big girl pants and take it in stride, knowing that all good things will come in time, and wait is not a bad word!

I have so many things to be thankful for, and i have been genuinely blessed with a wonderful support system! This entire weekend was spent nesting, and making this new place feel like home...now the time has come to do some internal nesting for peace to take over my soul!

Charlie is almost 5!

Okay, i have been up since 4:45am looking at lots of pictures of my little man from his first five years. So, i have decided to post some of my favorites...starting in utero...

This is the night before i went to the hospital...looks like i could tip over at any minute! How the heck did i paint my toenails...at this stage i didn't even know i still had feet! Mom must have done them!


His precious nursery!



Waiting...not dialating, but i have good drugs. See, i'm still smiling!

After an obscene amount of time, during which i got really sick, was still not dialating, and started running a high grade fever, it was time for eviction via c-section!

Finally here! 8lbs 6ozs!

They got him cleaned up, and at long last i got to hold my beautiful baby!

So handsome!

Getting some rest after our long night!

The next few weeks brought lots of sleeping, feeding, and coming into our new roles!

Bailey had an instant new buddy!

I spent so many hours just looking at him, amazed that i took part in creating this darling bundle!

This was after his first real bath! It took FOREVER for his cord to fall off. It is obviously time for another feeding!

The constant protector!

Chunky monkey!

Six-month-old pics!

Look at those big baby blues!

I think we started calling him the Michelin Man around this time!

Gangsta!

Charlie's first trip to Florida! We had his dedication in our family church with his cousins Cole and Hunter...Then went back to the Home Place for a reception!

LOVES bathtime...still does!

First Birthday! I had a co-worker make his cake!

Time to make a wish!

Too much birthday fun! Looks like someone needs another nap!

Christmas 2009 - here, there and everywhere!

After a fun morning of playing in the snow, we finally ventured out to go meet Marty for lunch on Sunday, December 20.

Marty and I did our Christmas shopping for Charlie together to make sure we did not duplicate any toys. We decided to get him a Leapster2 to give him from us, together. We gave it to him at our "family" lunch at Cracker Barrel.

Becauase Charlie was coming to Florida with me for Christmas, he went home with his dad after lunch so they could have an early Christmas...his dad coordinated with Santa!

Here is Charlie with his Leapster2 carrying case...with his name on it!

We made sure each grand parent was given a different game to purchase to again avoid duplication...we were successful!

Yay, Leapster2...aka: crack for kids!

That boys loves him some cornbread...i think this was his third piece! Two handsome, blue-eyed fellas!

My little sweet patootie!

So, Charlie came back to my house on Tuesday night, and i cooked dinner for the three of us. Marty and I spent $100 on each other for Christmas, and we exchanged our presents. I can't wait to use the pull cart for my golf clubs! Walking the course is so much better than driving a cart...in my opinion! Also, the automatic putt return is a huge hit, but Charlie will not let me play with it...yeah!

On Wednesday morning Charlie and I hit the road for the long drive (625miles) home to Florida. As he has been on the past two drives down this year, he was a perfect little travel buddy! He did, however, start asking in NC if we were almost there (i started saying yes in SC)...he was so happy to make it to Meme and Papa's house!

I have not been home for Christmas Day since i was 19-years-old, yep, 12 years! It was so special to be with my family in "our" church, yes, it belongs to the family, to celebrate the reason for the season! This is our church in Bryceville!

Charlie taking a seat at the front of the church before the service started.

After the service, we all went to Rick and Nan's house to exchange gifts, nosh on some goodness, and partake of the tradition that is...eggnog! Here with my cousin Laura!

Laura's son Weston showing off his muscles. Her son Cole looks so much like her brother James, who would have been 31-years-old on December 23...sure do miss him!

Charlie Bost looks so handsome, and Andrew looks like he is up to something!

Cousin Rick was NOT very pleased at how "active" all the children were being in his house...just smile and nod.

My cousin Bryan, and his partner Kevin, with Ali and I!

As i was getting Charlie all snug in our bed, and putting on my Christmas jammies, he said i needed to put on his tie so i could be handsome like him...i am so toally coordinated! Check out the socks...rockin' the holidays!

My pretty momma!

At 5-minutes to 7am, my mom was in our room waking US up...she said she could not wait any longer...Seriously! It actually was quite a struggle to wake Charlie up...i think he is on sleepy Christmas overload here!

Okay, he is awake now!

What better way to spend Christmas morning than to climb some palm trees! Love my Gator Santa hat!

That's a keeper!

Daddy LOVED his new coffee maker!

Duh nah, duh nah....if ya ain't a Gator you're Gator bait...and if you ain't in a Gator snuggie, you're a cold Gator! Wait, Gators are reptiles...oh well, Gator Snuggies are AWESOME! It was great to watch the Sugar Bowl beat down in!!!!!

Serious family pic!

Silly family pic!

Sleepy sisters...who have had some wine!

Met my girl Lauren so we could commiserate our lives with an adult beverage...we are all about getting 2010 started, and putting 2009 behind us...FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ali and I met Mark for lunch on Monday, December 28...before this I had not seen Mark since August 2000. I've known him since i was 12-year-old; he was 31 when i met him...

I KNOW, it's hard to believe that he is 50! After lunch i took off with him to the beach to run some errands and chat about life. We grabbed some coffee, and i got to see all the changes that have taken place from Jax to Atlantic Beach...we drove by his old place on Pine Street in Neptune...ahh, the memories!

This was our last night at home...mom and I are having a chat, and waiting on their super cute neighbor to bring over the feast that he had spent the day preparing! So sorry my dad had to work, because it was a great night!

Mom did a FABULOUS job decorating for Christmas! Everything looked beautiful!

Getting warm by the fire before dinner...it was nice to have a few 70 degree days, but it started getting cold at the end of the trip...and it followed us back to VA!

We are somewhere in NC on our way back to VA...so wish that i could sack out too, but i've had enough energy drinks to power a small factory, and i have show tunes to sing!

Happy New Year!