Happy 60th Birthday Dad!

Today is my dad's 60th birthday!! We went to Aiken this weekend for a "burnin'" and a little Halloween party. Everyone had such a great time. He was on call and was called out for a robbery just before the party so we were a little anxious but it worked out perfectly. Dad got home just in time for us to have set up the decorations and food outside, for everyone to arrive in costume, and for Justin to get the fire started.

I brought my camera with the best intentions on getting great pictures but we were so busy enjoying on another's company, I completely forgot. Justin went as an angry bird. I went as a skeleton with a skeleton baby. Mom was a Clemson fan, Katie a witch, John was this big scary thing dressed all in black with red glowing eyes. I'm still not sure what he was but he scared Sadie (zombie cheerleader), Izzy (dinosaur), and Hunter (batman) to death. Lots of fun. Aunt Susan and Uncle Keith (Fred and Wilma) came too! They had the best costumes!

Around the fire we had big pots of chili, all the fixings, s'mores, dips, cupcakes, apple turnovers, etc. I haven't eaten that much in a long time! The kids loved making s'mores and did really well around the fire. I have to say I was really nervous with all that flammable material, especially with a dinosaur tail! I think Dad really enjoyed himself, I know I did. This year is going to be great...he'll go from "dad" to "grandpa" in a matter of weeks! Or day (wishful thinking) ;o)

Dad you're one of the greatest men I've ever known. I'm so thankful God saw fit to let you be my dad. I'm even more thankful that He's kept you safe through the years--you didn't make it easy for Him ;o)--so that we could enjoy all these moments with you. I hope this year is your best yet. Love you very much!

"Papa-Papa-Papa-Archie!"

Justin sang the above mentioned phrase "Papa Archie" to the tune of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" as he put together Jack's crib night before last (10/18/12). I have to admit, it was pretty funny. Not as funny as watching the faces he was making as he huffed and puffed with all the heavy lifting.

Things got tricky there for a moment as he tried to balance the springs on the car seat base while he screwed the springs into the crib. Just for the record, I offered to help...SEVERAL times. But "Papa Archie" wasn't hearing any of it. :)

At long last (well, really only 20 minutes) the crib was assembled. I have to say that a nursery looks like a nursery once the crib is up even if there isn't much else going on. I am so in love with Pottery Barn after purchasing the nursery furniture. The instructions were easy to follow, the crib was assembled in 20 minutes, it only took 12 screws (sometimes less is more), and it is gorgeous and super sturdy.

So is the rest of the furniture. The dresser/changing table arrived yesterday and plenty of other gifts and goodies keep rolling in.

Aunt Tara and Aunt Britt had the sham embroidered and sent the cutest fabric boat basket.

And last, but not least, let's take a look at the dining room, shall we?

Yes, this is ALL for Jack. This collection of baby paraphernalia continues down the hallway. He is such a loved baby and he isn't even here yet. :) But he will be soon. Only 5 weeks and 2 days left but I keep telling Justin I think Jack will be early or maybe that is just wishful thinking since sometimes I feel like I'm going to deliver this baby with every step. We'll have to wait and see!

Saying Goodbye

My grandmother passed away the day we were discharged from the hospital, 10/7/12. She was laid to rest on 10/11/12. It was the most beautiful day and the weather was perfect. She wouldn't have wanted anyone to be uncomfortable. Justin served as one of the pallbearers along with John, Grant, and my other cousins (Bryan, Travis, and Houston). After the funeral, my aunt Susan's house was full of people and good food. My grandmother would have loved all the laughter and visiting that took place in her honor. I'm not one to notice these types of details but her casket was a beautiful dark maple color with a gold shell detail. Mom said Dad picked it out because it reminded him of trips to the beach.

Every summer when I was little, we would take a trip to Myrtle Beach. Papa and Granny would sit under the umbrella. I think this is one of my favorite pictures of them because Granny has that look on her face protesting having her picture taken.

We'd also take a trip every fall to the mountains. I remember resting my head in Granny's lap because I was so carsick. I asked Granny once why she never got carsick and she said she would look out the window and follow the streams that ran along side of the roads.

Some of my dad's best childhood memories are of these mountain trips. Papa was very spontaneous and when he would hear of snow in the mountains, he'd gather the kids up, Granny would pack a block of cheese, box of saltine crackers, and gallon of milk, and they would head up there just to see it. When they had more time to prepare, Granny would make fried chicken and potato salad (a legendary Granny dish). I remember countless picnics in the mountains eating fried chicken and potato salad. On one such occassion, Granny got an itch to climb a tree. I believe she was 70 at the time. She got stuck and Dad and Kebo had to get her down. She laughed so hard she could barely help them. That was one of my favorite memories of her.

Papa passed away 10 years ago when I was 19 and at Clemson. It is very difficult to loose the first grandparent. Especially someone as young spirited as he was. Papa was 81 at the time but would have kept going to 801 if he had the choice. The last thing he said to me the weekend before he died was to get my education because that is something no one can ever take from me. He only finished the 6th grade, as I recall, because he was needed to help work cotton fields and in the mill to help bring in money to the family. He also told me I was the apple of his eye. I've always loved that expression.

Papa and Granny belonged together. I've never seen a more devoted wife in all my life. After Justin and I were married, she'd often tell me that there's nothing in the world worth fussing about. I have so say she is absolutely right. There isn't anything that loosing tempers or raising voices has ever solved. She'd also say when we'd get off the phone to take care of each other. A simple suggestion but very powerful,  and very indicative of her attitude towards marriage. Her love for her husband and children came in every meal she made, drink she refilled, and load of laundry she washed (and line dried--she had the best smelling laundry). I hope to be as committed and gracious a wife and mother as she was.

There are several things I miss about her already. The way it took about 20 minutes to wrap up a phone conversation, the way she was so excited to see me or talk to me on the phone (I was always greeted with a big "Hey Jes!") and the funny poems she would make up for us on our birthdays. I'll be 30 this year and I really would have loved to know what she would have come up with that rhymed with 30...I have a feeling the word "dirty" would have been used somewhere. I am sad that she couldn't meet Jack but I know she and Papa will be looking out for him.

I love you both very much and am so thankful to have had you in my life and to have been a part of yours. You made me feel special and very loved. I'm thankful to have been one of the older grandchildren because I have the most precious memories of you. I look forward to the day when we see one another again. I'm so glad you are together again, I know it has been a long 10 years apart. 

The Shower That Wasn't

Sometimes the best laid plans often go awry. We have spent the last month planning and prepping for the baby shower of the decade. We were so excited for our big day and everything was ready, well except for the ribbon I needed to pick up for a banner at Walmart. On my way to Walmart, this happened...

I was hit by a girl in a hurry (much like myself) not paying attention and with too much on her mind. The car spun a full circle and came to a stop against a telephone pole. At first, I had full clarity. I climbed out of the passenger side door as I couldn't get the driver's side door open. I walked around the back of the car to find the candy for our delicious candy/dessert table scattered on the ground amidst a sea of glass (from the car and all the gorgeous apothecary jars we planned to display the candy in).

It seems that all the items in my trunk had taken flight including framed maternity pictures and my little blue elephant given to the baby by my ailing grandmother. At first, I kept thinking, "How can I salvage this day?" I can probably find more orange gummy bears at walmart. Then, I realized the magnitude of the mess and just wanted to get my blue elephant out of the road.

That's when the sweetest man/guardian angel came up to me and convinced me to sit down. I took a seat in my car in the passenger seat and another sweet angel came to talk to me. I don't remember much after that. I remember seeing Justin come flying to the scene asking if anyone had called 911. Then there is a memory of firefighters asking me questions that I couldn't answer. It is terrifying when you don't remember how many weeks gestation you are (33 to be exact). Then things went blurry.

My next memory is being in the back of an ambulance in a cervical collar and strapped to a board. I saw Justin and said, "Someone I know!" but I couldn't remember how I knew him. Just that he was good and I couldn't let him leave me. EMS let him ride with me to the hospital and he kept talking to me so I wouldn't get anxious. I just kept thinking that I couldn't feel the baby move and that I shouldn't be lying on my back. I was terrified that he wasn't okay and that today would be a day we would lose the baby we loved so much when we should have celebrating his near arrival.

Time flew by in the ED. The first order of business was to check on Baby Jack. He had his own nurse too. Her name was Lynn and she was absolutely amazing. They hooked me up to a fetal monitor and as soon as I heard that healthy heartbeat, all was well. I can't tell you how much a relief it was. I was completely at peace regardless of what the rest of the day was going to be like. Justin's uncle Myron brought everyone in to the bay and said the most beautiful prayer for us. We had so much to be thankful for.

Apparently, I was there for nearly six hours but it seemed like 2 hours at most. I was nauseated and the lights were giving me the worst headache. My CT came back clear and I was finally able to get the cervical collar off. The baby shower was officially cancelled and I was admitted overnight to monitor my contractions. Keeping a pregnant woman NPO for over 24 hours should be criminal but thankfully they never needed to intervene. The baby did fantastic.

On the plus side, we had an impromptu baby shower in the hospital room. Katie when to the Harbour Club and picked up all the food which I was told was delicious. I found out later it was, in fact, incredible! After a short visit, everyone packed up and headed home expect Katie, Sherry, and Cliff. I don't know what we would have done without them. Katie helped pick the house up, walked the dogs, and packed an overnight bag. Sherry and Cliff stored all the food, cleaned up, stayed the night with the dogs, and helped us the next morning after we were discharged from the hospital. Even brought us breakfast. I have amazing family!

Justin, I have to say, was absolutely wonderful, throughout the entire day. He stayed by my side, kept me calm, updated everyone, and did everything he could to keep me and baby comfortable. He jumped out of bed once in the middle of the night when my blood pressure ran a little low (I was sleeping) and called the nurse. Nothing was going down on his watch :) When we got home, he was going through the scratched maternity pictures and said, "What if this was all I had left?" It broke my heart and it was honestly the first time I considered the fact that the wreck and outcome could have been so much worse. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, my wonderful family, and the people that God put in my path to keep me safe and calm.

The one man I mentioned earlier, went around and picked up all the baby shower decorations, candy, etc and put them in Justin's car. He even kept Justin's car at his apartment complex so Justin could ride with me in the ambulance. I was told he even offered Justin deer meat (if you know me, you know why this is funny). However, super sweet and he is going to get a huge thank you from me!

I learned so many things from this experience...

1. God is always in control. His timing is perfect. Injury, illness, and death are never convenient but they are all in His time and often, I think, perfectly timed to get your attention and make you realize what a blessing life is and just how fortunate we are to have who we have in our lives.

2. Never let a celebration become bigger than an event. I feel that we often times allow ourselves to be consumed in the planned, me especially. I allow the stress to overshadow the joy and this experience was a reminder that no party or baby shower is worth losing sight of the miracle of our little bundle.

3. Always wear your seatbelt. This is an obvious one.

4. Never leave the house upset. I've always heard never go to sleep angry. It's even biblical but I have to say that sometimes the best thing I did in an argument was just go to sleep. You have a chance to rest, cool off, and often times I'm far more forgiving in the morning after a restful sleep and cup of coffee. Leaving the house angry is an entirely different thing. You have no guarantee that you or your significant other will return. Never, ever leave the house angry.

I am so incredibly thankful for the family and friends who helped Justin and I through such a stressful weekend. While I'm disappointed that the shower didn't happen, I'm absolutely convinced that it just wasn't meant to be. I was wrapped in so much more love this weekend than I ever expected.

Well those are my thoughts on the shower-the-wasn't. If you made it to the end of this entry I am super impressed with you! I leave you with a picture of the most precious cake you've ever seen...