A first...and a last.

Total warning up front. This is going to be wordy. But I know one day this will be all but a memory and I want every detail to be remembered. thankyouverymuch. 

A couple of weekends ago the boys and I hopped in the car and headed to Arkansas...leaving my dear sweet husband/tag-teamer/daddy extraordinaire at home. I was nervous about the trip to begin with, but there was no way I wasn't going. You see, one of my besties since freshman year of college had just had a baby a mere week earlier. Since I think newborns and new mommies are just about the best thing since sliced bread, I had been ITCHING to get there. We left after a big breakfast on Saturday morning and I knew I would have to feed Cade once during the 6 hour trip, but was thinking I would just delay his late afternoon feeding by an hour or so and wait until we got to my mom's. Gotta love my naive positivity :). 

We were about a whopping 20 miles down the road when I realized I had forgotten to make Connor go to the bathroom before we left. I had to pick some lunch up for Cade anyway, so I stopped at Kroger. Connor was not excited about going in because that meant he would have to stop watching his movie, so I told him he could pick out a treat. I was thinking some M&M's, Starbursts.. something along that line. Homeboy picked out a peas, spinach and pear puree. HA! He picked it because it was green and green was his favorite color. Totally wasn't expecting that win, but I took it. I also decided that I would put the cash I was carrying on a gift card so that I could better keep track of what I was spending (because we all know cash just stinkin disappears). I grabbed my gift card and checked out feeling very proud of myself for thinking of such a good idea. Got some gas on the way out and 35 minutes later was back on the road. Two minutes later Cade starts screaming out of pure furiousness and I adjust my mirror to find this: 

That is his sleeve he is holding. His arm is no longer in it. I guess he was trying to tell me he was hot? It was a bad spot for it to happen as I had nowhere to go, so at the stoplight I threw the car in park and just went ahead and took his other arm out. Commence smiles and gurgles of happiness. 

About an hour out of Nashville I start seeing signs about interstate closing 60 miles ahead. I call Matt faster than I can even think about anything else and start mapping out an alternate route. It was being reported that it would be clear by the time I made it there, but once I got there it was not. I made a u-turn and followed some other cars up a ramp...going the wrong way. After about an hour detour, I stopped at a gas station to feed Cade and let Connor and I eat lunch (that I had packed). This is where I think I missed Matt the most. Here I was with a 9 1/2 month old that could not stand on his own and an almost 3 year old that touches EVERYTHING. I am going to the bathroom, holding Cade and trying to keep Connor from touching everything in sight in that nasty bathroom. Cade is squriming around and just about sticks his leg in the toilet, Connor is pushing the lid on the trashcan and all I can do is laugh. In hindsight I should have left Cade in his carseat (and did the rest of the trip), but I just felt so bad for him being stuck in it all day! We went back to the car and I got comfortable in the front seat nursing Cade and popped a movie in for Connor. I didn't start the car so that I wouldn't run out of gas. Finished feeding Cade, put him in his seat, got Connor buckled in and hopped in the front seat ready to go. Tried to start the car and NADA. Battery dead. DUH. I let him watch that DVD.. on the power of a battery that had died 3 days earlier. Awesome. Got both kids back out of the car and walked our way back in to try to find someone to jump us off. Thankfully, the first guy I asked had some and we were on our way. 

We were just to Memphis and I start thinking that I should probably get gas and feed Cade. Due to that 2 hour delay, there was no way I was going to be able to wait to feed him until we got to Arkansas. It was then that it hit me. That awesome idea I had of putting my money for the trip on a gift card was awesome...except I put it on a Kroger card and not just a standard Visa. After a quick GPS search of Kroger, I found one only 5 miles off an exit. Which also had a Starbucks across the street. Yes, please! Got gas, gave Connor a potty break, fed Cade and 40 minutes later were on our way. Finally I started seeing the signs to point me in the direction of Arkansas. I take them and what do we see? Stand still traffic. There were two lanes closed, which is Memphis traffic is a big deal. You better believe I rode that empty lane until I couldn't move an inch forward without hitting those big orange cones. I know that people were not happy with me, but after being in the car 6 1/2 hours and at least 2 to go? I didn't care! 

After one more detour in Arkansas (the only one I was expecting) we finally pulled into my mom's house at 7:20. We left at 10. That was a 6 hr drive that turned into NINE HOURS AND TWENTY MINUTES. Needless to say my dad and husband were fit to be tied! They were worried to death and very relieved that we were there! I have to say, the boys were absolute angels. They both took their normal naps and never once cried. 

I got a lot of quality friend time (read: two separate meet ups, both sans kids!!!) while we were there, which was SO refreshing to my soul. I sure do love those girls and am so thankful for what they bring to my life! Of course, the main reason for the trip was to meet sweet Shelby June. Oh, sweet Shelbs. She was soo teeny tiny and absolutely perfect. I was absolutely amazed at how aware she was. I got to rock her to sleep and cuddle and see Lana being a mommy... well there are not enough words for how happy that made me.  

Lana is gorgeous anyway, but man alive does motherhood not make her look radiant?! And y'all. She had that baby girl only 11 days prior and you couldn't even tell. Shame on you, Lana,  for making it look so easy! ;)

The trip home was MUCH less eventful. The only crazy thing that happened was Connor slipped his arms out of his harness and FLIPPED HIS LID when he couldn't get them back in. This time it only took 7ish hours! Matt was at the back door waiting for us to pull in and was so excited to see his babies (me included I'm sure.. ha!). Cade would just look at him and laugh for the first 10 minutes we got home. He had missed his daddy and I think it goes without saying that I had missed him, too!!!

The trip that didn't happen

I spent almost all day Wednesday getting ready for a long weekend trip to Arkansas. The boys and I were going by ourselves, so I wanted everything I might even think about needing within arms reach. By Wednesday night I had the car entirely packed besides the things we would need for Thursday morning. You see, we were going early to surprise my dad for his birthday. It was going to be brilliant, because I had just talked to him on Wednesday and he was saying how he guessed it was going to be Christmas before he saw them again. Just made me that much more excited to surprise him! I also had one of my best friend's baby shower on Saturday to go to that I had been counting down the days for since I found out about it. Not to mention that Mom and I were going to go shopping on Friday. I was excited all around! 

Cue Thursday around 10:15. My first little wave of nausea hit, but I really just thought it was because I had only eaten a bowl of cereal while drinking a cup of coffee. As the time came for us to leave, I was scarfing down lunch hoping that would help. It didn't, but I threw the boys and the remainder of what we needed in the car and went on my way. 

The boys were great. I told Connor that he needed to close his eyes and take a nap before we would watch a movie and once I stuck my iPod, with the white noise app going, in Cade's carseat they were both out before we were out of Nashville. I was still having some pretty strong waves of nausea, but I was determined to keep going. 

Then we got to Paris (about 1 1/2 hrs out of Nashville) and I had to stop and feed Cade. We went inside so I could get a Sprite and try to stop Connor from touching everything in the store. I fed Cade and I don't know if it was the moving around or what, but I started feeling horrible. I just knew I was going to be that mom that was standing in the parking lot holding her baby getting sick everywhere. I put him back in the car, got a movie going and got back on the road. I called Matt and told him that I wasn't sure if I could keep going. I was to the point where I was figuring out where I was going to get sick if I needed to. It was AWFUL! I called my mom and I knew if she agreed that it would be best for me to turn around that is what I needed to do. I saw a sign for Nashville that said 100 miles and she and I both agreed that is what I needed to do. By this point I was starting to ache all over and seriously thought that I might be coming down with the flu or a bad virus. I knew if that were the case that I just wanted to be home and didn't need to spread that around anyway! 

Connor was NOT happy about turning around. Bless his heart, he did not understand! He kept saying, "I want to go to Papaw's house." So did I, buddy. So did I! We made it back home around 5:30 and I didn't hear a bit of crying out of the boys until 5:10. 5 hours in the car (for absolutely no purpose) and they only cried for 20 minutes. Thank you, Lord! 

I feel better today, just exhausted. I am trying really hard not to be sad that I am missing everything I had planned this weekend. Unpacking for a trip that I had so highly anticipated wasn't that much fun, either! I know it could be worse, though (hello, I could have really had the flu!), so I am just thankful for that. Well, that and I'm not going to be spending any nights away from my man ;)

I hope y'all have a great weekend! 

Labor Day-Arkansas style

There are no words to describe the tired I felt today. Shoot. That Connor felt. Brother was struggling to recover from this weekend. I don't blame him. It was about 10 kinds of crazy! 

We left Friday afternoon to go to Arkansas. There is a big baby boom (GOD IS SO GOOD!) with all of our friends there and, of course, we had to show Cade off to them as well. In addition to our friends, my grandma and aunt had yet to meet him. 

Friday night was the first Tennessee game, so to support Daddy and his Vols, I put the boys in their UT gear. I might or might not have worn an orange shirt, too. It's all in the name of love, folks. ;) I wanted to get some pictures before we left, but can we just be honest for a minute? Pictures with both of them just about wear me out. BUT, all it takes is one. 

And sometimes the outtakes outnumber the good ones. See the following, starting at the top right: 1)Cade's hands CONSTANTLY in his mouth. 2)The 2 year old "cheese" 3)Your son's classic "I'm so excited I can barely contain it" grimace. 4) The "maybe if I close my eyes this will be over" look

Thankfully, Matt was able to leave at 2, because we sat in standstill traffic for 2 hours between Memphis and Little Rock. I eventually got Cade out of his seat and we watched a movie. Poor Matt was up there by himself, but I don't think he was in the chatty mood anyway ;).  What is usually a 6 hour drive was an 8 1/2 hour drive. EEK! 

Saturday morning we got ready to start our weekend of baby hopping! First stop was my friend Amanda's house to meet Cade's birthday buddy, Reagan. She was SO cute and dainty!!! It was funny just to see the obvious difference of boy and girl between them! Cade LOVED her and her bow :) Every time he would see her he would just start talking and smiling.. and as soon as he would get close, starting going in for the bow. 

Valerie stopped by to see us, too and I was so glad to see her! She just got married in June and it just made my heart happy to see her so happy! 

After leaving Amanda's, we headed over to Carrie and Hunter's house to meet Lee and Weston! They were born 5 days apart! 

This is Lee and his parents Lori and Trevor. I am in LOVE with all of his hair!!!! He was so itty bitty and sweet. I held him and he just curled up into me. I already miss having a 2 week old! They were all astonished at how much older Cade seemed at a mere 4 months. Things change so fast in those first few months! 

This is Weston! His daddy, Hunter, was one of Matt's roommates in college (as was Trevor) and his mommy, Carrie was one of mine! I got to love and kiss on him, too! I'm so sad I didn't get a picture of Cade with them, because I just know they will be hunting buddies one day! Probably all going with their daddies!!!

After visiting for a couple of hours, we figured we better head back to my mom's so I could feed Cade and he could meet my aunt and mamaw! Connor had not napped all day and bless his little heart. He fell asleep with his head on his knee. I could not get him to stay sitting up! I called Crystal on my way and her crew met us at mom's house. Cade loved Chloe! He would just laugh and smile at her so big!

Cade meeting Mamaw for the first time! His middle name, Daniel, is named after her husband whose name was Dan :) I never got to meet him, but after hearing all the sweet stories from everyone I knew it is someone I would love for one of my boys to be named after! 

Aunt Cheryl with her granddaughter, Chloe and her great nephew! Sweet Chloe. I just want to eat her up! 

That night we left the boys with mom and headed to yet another baby celebration!! This time, we went to Lana's gender reveal party. Y'all. I did not take one single picture. In my complete and utter nervousness, I left EVERYTHING in the car as I got out and pretty much ran up to the house. I was so anxious to wrap my arms around Lana and rub on that itty bitty baby belly!!! And to hear what she was having, of course! They had a pinata filled with candy (pink for girl, blue for boy... obv.) and their dads  hit it. I thought that was a precious idea and those grandpa's got into it! After the 3rd swing, that thing busted open and out flew PINK candy!!!!! She is the first friend in Little Rock to have a girl, so I have a feeling she is going to be covered in the frills and bows department :) And boyfriends, although I have already staked a claim on that one for Cade (or Connor if she digs the older men..ha!). I am just so proud for them and cannot wait to celebrate that sweet baby girl come November!!!

Sunday after church, we headed back to mom's to eat lunch with mi familia. Chloe loved on Cade again and he just ate it up. 

After lunch, we made our last baby stop to meet Beau and Caleb. Well, and Dylan since we had never met them either. Beau is the sweet doll baby of Lindsey and Drew and Dylan and Caleb are Jonathan and Rachel's baby boys. (Yes, a 3 yr old is still a baby to their momma's! Right, Rachel?!) Dylan is 3 and Caleb is 10 months and they have almost the exact age difference that Connor and Cade have! I only took one picture while we were there and it is of Beau and Dylan. Dylan is SUCH a little lover and so good with babies! He just kept going around to everyone and giving them hugs and kisses. And he is so gentle, too. It is obvious he has a little brother (who isn't seen in the picture because brother is a mover and a shaker with that army crawl. I have seriously never seen someone so fast!!!)

Before this hug, Dylan was just sitting there talking to Beau and Beau was completely still and staring right at him soaking in every word. It was absolutely precious!!! Beau reminded me so much of Connor at that age (9 months). Jumping like crazy in your arms or the jumperoo! I told her that Connor is still a bundle of energy, but I think it attributes to him going to sleep so easily by himself! I'll take that any day!

I was so, so excited to get to see and love on all of these babies (and one still growing in her mommy's tummy!) that I have prayed so hard for and will continue to pray for. I am so thankful for the friendships we have there and the fact that they have remained unchanged even after going so many months without seeing each other. God put them all in our lives and I can see His hand over us all as our lives change so much. Every single time we leave Arkansas, Matt and I spend a majority of the ride home reflecting on how blessed we are that they are in our lives. I am already counting down the days until November and I can see them again!