Spilling the beans

Just to back track a little bit, I have to tell the story of how I told Cory I was pregnant.

I took a pregnancy test the morning of Cory's birthday (August 16).  The test came back VERY FAINTLY positive but positive nonetheless.  I debated all day if I should tell Cory or just take another test the next morning and see if it was any darker.  By noon that day I had convinced myself to wait and tell him tomorrow.  However, once I got home and made his birthday dinner I decided to just go for it.  So, when he got home we had dinner and he opened presents.  After he opened all his wrapped gifts I told him he had one more gift in the kitchen.  He said "O, did you make me a cake?"  I just laughed it off.  So he looked around the kitchen a minute and then I said, "You have to look in the oven."  So when he opened the oven door this is what he saw...

It took him a good 5 or 6 seconds before he turned around while still hunched over and said "Are you for real?"  I busted out laughing.  {It is a "bun in the oven" in case you are confused}.  It is VERY rare that I can truly surprise Cory so this was a classic moment.  He was of course very excited and I was glad I was finally able to tell him after keeping it a secret all day!  I did explain to him that it was faintly positive but that I took the test WAY early so it could be wrong.  Although I felt like I was pregnant.  I took a test the next day and it was much darker.  I then had my blood drawn twice within 48 hours and all my levels were doubling like they should. 

Next, we were on to tell our parents.  We waited about 2 weeks later {Labor Day weekend} to tell our parents.  My parents were coming up for the weekend and I had been feeling pretty sick so I knew I would have to tell them or they would figure it out.  When we told them we were pregnant with Lincoln we gave them a heart-shaped box (since my due date was Valentine's Day) with Baby Ruth bars in them and the ultrasound pictures.  So this time we decided to again be creative with the delivery of our news.  We brainstormed ideas and decided we would go with an "umbrella" theme since the baby was due in April.  We also decided to keep "Baby Ruths" as part of it too since we did that last time.  So Cory came up with the idea of tying the Baby Ruth candy bars to the underneath side of the umbrella so they would dangle down when opened up. 

So, on Friday night after my parents arrived we chatted for a little bit and then Cory brought up to my dad (the weather buff) the topic of all the hurricanes hitting the East coast.  Then Cory walks in the dining room, opens the umbrella with dangling Baby Ruth bars and walks back in the living room.  He then says "Well I hear there is a big hurricane coming next April called Hurricane Babe".  My mom got it right away but not so much my dad.  It took him a little while to figure it out.  I was sitting the couch crying I was laughing so stinkin hard!  Here is a picture I took later of Cory with the umbrella.

Cory told his parents using the Hurricane Babe story too but over the phone.  His dad caught on pretty fast but his mom cracked us up.  She did not get it at first and told Cory there was no way that the weather people could predict this far out about hurricanes.  We were rolling on the floor.

We have definitely had fun with sharing our news!

Happy Birthday, Cory!

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful husband and father!

  

We love you Cory!!

Love grows.

Last year Lincoln was only 3 days old.

And this year he doesn't even hardly resemble that 3 day old baby.

I am a lucky lady to have two fella's to call my Valentine!

And tons of family and friends that I love very dearly and chose to love me back!

HAVE A HAPPY "HEART" DAY!

17 December.

17 December 1916. My grandmother's birthday. My dad's mom. She was one of the kindest, most gentle yet straight-forward ladies I have ever known. She loved her family, grandchildren and always asked us grandchildren when were going to give her great-grandchildren. The last birthday that she celebrated here on earth was her 90th. This picture was taken that day at her party in 2006.

17 December 2004. The day I said yes. Cory proposed on this day 6 years ago and luckily I chose what was behind the last "door" in his homemade version of lets make a deal. The "door" was his closet door and on the chair was a ring box but no ring. When I turned around to tell him how rude that was to get my hopes up he was on one knee with the ring asking me to marry him.

Honeymoon in Ocho Rios, Jamaica in June 2005

17 December 2009. Our friends and awesome neighbors, The Paslays, welcomed their son into the world a month early on this day. Erin had extremely high blood pressure and her doctor decided that Will need to enter this world immediately via an emergency c-section. Erin continued to have high blood pressure for several days afterwards and remained in the hospital while Will spent 10 days in the NICU as well. They arrived home in time for the new year to start their lives as a family of three. We cherish this family and have felt a true blessing and gift from God to be able to live next to them for 3.5 years. This past week they moved to Memphis where Justin took a position at Bellevue Baptist Church. We are extremely sad to see them leave but excited for their future. And look forward to future visits.

Will and Lincoln, July 2010

Lincoln and Will, November 2010

17 December 2010. Today. The day that Lincoln got tubes in his ears. We checked into the hospital at 5:30 a.m. this morning. They took Lincoln at 6:49 a.m. back for the procedure. We waited in the waiting room till 7:20 when Dr. T came to talk to us. We were told it would only take 15 minutes so the 31 minutes of waiting was a little more than I had prepared myself for. I was pacing the floor. I had a feeling that something had not gone quite as planned. Not a really bad feeling but just maybe a small setback. Sure enough, as Dr. T. walked us to Lincoln's recovery room in the OR, he explained. He confirmed the opinion that our pediatrician had told us -- Lincoln has "tiny" ear canals. Once they started the procedure they discovered that they needed smaller instruments and a smaller set of tubes. Despite the small ear canal size, Dr. T said that the inner parts of the ear look normal size and in perfect shape. Dr. T did say that his ears were very infected and to expect lots of drainage.

Lincoln was definitely upset as we entered the room but calmed down pretty quickly and easily as we held him. We were in the OR recovery for about 30 minutes before they wheeled us back up to our hospital room. I laid up on the bed with him and he fell asleep on me for about another 30 minutes. Once he woke up he cried a little more but nothing major. Cory fed him his bottle and soon after we were told we could go! He was more sleepy today than normal but otherwise he acted extremely happy. We are optimistic that this will help Lincoln out tremendously in the days and months ahead.

What a sweet little guy playing with his teddy bear the hospital gave him.

Me with my little patient :pre-tubes:.

Looking forward to what future December 17ths may hold for us.

The Rock.

Two weeks ago Lincoln and I packed up and headed to Central AR for my professional organizations fall conference. Lincoln did not attend b/c that would have just been hilarious but instead he stayed with Gigi and Papa. It was my first time to be away from him overnight so I was slightly nervous. However, I felt that it was time and this would be a great opportunity. I had a stellar and much needed girl time with friends from work and Lindsey who was the hostess with the mostess! We enjoyed hours and hours upon conversation, eating and of course a little shopping. I think I had the best two nights of sleep I have had in a year or more between pregnancy, waking up to feed a baby and now waking up to hearing Lincoln talking at all odd hours of the night! It was very nice.


One evening after the conference was over I took a stroll through C-town to see what all had changed. I went by to see the duplex that Cory started our married life together! It was a surreal feeling to be back there realizing that it has been over five years since we lived there and one child ago!




Cory came down for the weekend and we decided to keep the streak going and visit yet another pumpkin patch for the third weekend in a row. Lincoln enjoyed the swing, petting the goats, hanging out with Papa and Gigi, and riding the cow train with the best dad in the world.

I just love this time of the year.

Happy Birthday to my MAN!

Happy Birthday, Cory!!

Off the top of my head, here are some things I love about Cory:


1. He helps with EVERYTHING and never complains.
2. He listens to me ramble everyday about my analyses of the latest situation I am facing.
3. He loves sports but he is not overly competitive.
4. He has surprised himself with how much he loves being a dad. Lincoln likes Cory A LOT, but can you really blame him?
5. He genuinely cares for the needs and well-being of others. When someone is hurt or has made a mistake you can see the look of compassion on his face for them.
6. He hearts the Razorbacks and always knows what newest recruits are on the horizon. In fact, the other night in a local Mexican restaurant he pointed out the Razorbacks newest recruit that will be a senior at the local high school. He knew what the guy looked like in street clothes, his name, about his family and his stats.
7. He likes to help cook.
8. He has learned to love a to-do list as much as me.
9. He grocery shops for our family.
10. He can laugh at anything.
11. He has the ability to make the simplest thing hilarious.
12. He gases up my car for me.
13. He never makes me have to wonder if he loves me!

Here are some fun pictures I found of us over the last several years --

2005

2006

2007

2008

We love you Cory!!!

1st Father's Day!

Today we are celebrating Cory's 1st Father's Day!!

Cory has by far blown me away with how well he has adjusted to fatherhood. He has jumped right in with both feet from Day 1 by standing beside me for 16 hours during birth while we waited on Lincoln to arrived. He never hesitates to change a diaper (well maybe the really poopy ones!), wash bottles, fold his clothes, entertain him or go buy diapers and formula for him. He is 100% hands on with taking care of Lincoln and I would want it no other way! I think Cory has even surprised himself with how much he adores Lincoln. And I have thoroughly enjoyed watching this relationship blossom and look forward to seeing the two of them grow together in the coming years!

Minutes after Lincoln arrived.

Cuddling with Lincoln in the hospital

Leaving Room #15 to take our sweet baby home.

Taken care of his boy!

Lincoln was doing the "fencing" reflex and Cory thought it looked like the Heisman pose so he was imitating him.

Lincoln hanging out with his daddy
Cory and Lincoln watching their first Red Sox game together.

Today on Cory's First Father's Day.

Cory,

Lincoln is so blessed to grow up with a daddy like you! I love to watch you interact with him, make him smile and make him laugh. I think its special that his first smile was at you! I know you cannot wait to teach him the finer things in life -- how to throw a baseball, what channel ESPN is but most importantly of our Savior. Thanks for being such a great daddy to Lincoln. We are both blessed to have you in our lives.

Happy 1st Father's Day!!!

This one goes out to the one I love....

Five wonderful years ago today, I lived every little girl's dream by walking down the aisle of a big church with my daddy to marry the man that makes my heart putter!

June 18, 2005

And he still makes my heart putter to this day!