My life just got a bit busier...

Beach Trip

We went to Panama City Beach in late April, and I gotta say, it was one of my favorite trips ever.

Beth made Eli's sun hat.

We all have the same expression.

The water was cold, and those waves just kept wappin'.

Long walk on the beach.

Just beautiful.

Rosemary Beach.

Eli sings the blues.

Relaxin beachside.

Eli ate alot of sand.

Getting Close!

Notice the Matrix-style camera moves.

Thoughts on Blogging

Okay, so I've been a little bored with blogging lately.  Can you tell?  It feels like a hassle.  I was thinking about it while sweeping yesterday (I sweep alot these days... two dogs plus one almost crawler means a mess!)  I was thinking about my friends who blog so well and why I don't.  I don't have the clarion insights of Katy, or the deep political questions of Alina, and I am not half as productive in a day as Clare.  Or, to stop the tide of reassurances from nice people, if I have these things, I don't have them on the blog.

As I was sweeping, I thought to myself that it is because I am a conversationalist.  I have been chided for the fact that on our blog, all is sunshine and light and bouncing baby boy.  No doubts. No troubles.  We appear to be living the dream.  Now, we are blessed... deeply... but I also haven't figured out how (or why) to take a picture of the 3 AM cry-time or the winter-time, new-baby blues.  The funny thing is, when I am discussing things with people (in person), I tend to focus on the hard parts. Bryce says that I make it sound like we fight all the time (though he calls them "discussions") because I like to talk about our "discussions" with other people so much.  Also, I never know what I think about a book or a movie until I talk about it with someone.  But, my blog doesn't feel like a conversation to me.  More like a monologue.

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE to talk about myself.  I embody the narcissism that blogging was made for.  Me Me Me. But I just enjoy being narcissistic face-to-face.  So, I will keep up this ol' weblog, mainly because I enjoy the logging part of it.  I like seeing what we planted last year, what Wee looked like 7 months ago.  It is fun for me to look back.  If I come up with an interesting thought I might share it, but I am just more likely to hit upon those in the company of others.  So let's just get coffee instead, shall we?

For making me a mother...

I thought this picture was appropriate for my first mother's day.  

Especially since our current conundrum of mothering is how to remind the baby boy that eating at 3 am and 6 am is not that great.  He remains unconvinced.  But he is so snuggly and cute that I really don't mind.  For the next 18 years of his life (and more), I will think back on these days of feeding him in our big ol' bed and then falling asleep with his little fingers in my palm, his pokey toes in my stomach and his breath three times faster than mine.  Like Paul says, "You are the burden of my generation.  I sure do love you, now let's get that straight."

Baptism

I know, I know.  Way behind and all.  April was a lovely month and I am going to post these pictures, even though we are well into May flowers... (so far, more showers than flowers, though).

Eli was baptized in April, right before he turned seven months.  The day was just perfect, in my estimation.  Baptism represents God's promise to his people, his covenant community, that He will do a work among them.  He has brought me to Himself, and we are honoring His power to bring Eli to Himself, in His time.  

We had family come from far away to be present on this day, and we so appreciated being able to celebrate with so many people.  We had a small lunch before the baptism, and then filled up a couple of rows at church that night.  The most true and deep-reaching part of the service was when Craig (our pastor) asked everyone who committed themselves to bringing up this child in the truth of the gospel to raise their right hand.  Seeing all of those hands in the air, committed (in whatever way) to our son was sobering and humbling and encouraging all at once.  It is amazing the way so many of these people have shown up in our lives and in Eli's life already. 

I have been calling the gown the "5 Generation Christening Gown." I made the gown from fabric my mom provided, adorned with lace that Mam-maw gave me... lace that was made by her mother (the lace near the hemline of the gown) and by her grandmother's sister, Aunt Sarah (the tatting on the sleeves and neckline).  Now we have an heirloom for all the grandchildren to wear when christened.
Chara, Bryce's sister and her family (sweet Sofia and Alejandro) came from Acworth.  Sarah 

(my sister) made it in from her weekend in Missouri, Kay came from Eufala, AL and Bryce's parents came from Atlanta.  And don't forget the contingent from down home Dickson, TN!  We are so blessed and thank God for all of you every day.