A Sip and See, the Masters, Professional Pictures, 2 Months and Easter

Whew - that is lot!  Here's a recap:  We took our first trip to Georgia when Joel was 6 weeks old!  We went for a sip and see that my mom and great friend from high school hosted and for the Masters!  Joel and Tucker rode in the back seat of the truck together for 6 hours and did wonderful - even on the return trip!  Joel met is great-grandfather, Papa Ouzts, and all of his aunts and uncles on Andrew's.  He met all of his great aunts and uncles on my side.  I had the great pleasure of running my first 2 miles since the c-section while in Madison.  There is nothing like running at "home."  I just love it.  We also had professional pictures taken while in town.  She makes our crew look awesome!

The Masters was a bummer.  Gary won tickets in the lottery for Monday practice round, so we went - but it rained and stormed and rained and stormed and they kicked us out by 10:30 and closed the gates at noon.  We made the most of our 2.5 hours there by walking as fast as we could around the course and we even managed to see Bubba (the eventually winner) playing a practice round!

Joel's two month pictures also happen to his Easter pictures.  Call me what you will but when he started tipping over - I kept taking pictures - I couldn't help it!

A little update so I will remember - Joel took his first round of shots like a champ!  He weighed 12 pounds at 6 weeks.  He is starting to sleep for about 7 hours most nights!!  And is really starting to smile at us!  It has been amazing to watch just how quickly he is growing.

FYI - Tucker is a-okay.  Don't you worry about that dog.

I apologize for the picture overload that is about to occur - enjoy!

Great Grandparents and Life

My mom's parents - Joel's great grandparents - came to visit us a few weeks ago.  Not sure who was more in love.

 Can't believe it but it has already been 6 weeks!  Here are his pictures from one month.

At 2 weeks - just for a comparison.  I would say he is getting plenty to eat.

The First Few Weeks

We are adjusting well to life with Joel.  He is a fairly laid back little dude, which makes it less stressful and more enjoyable.

My mom and sister have been out to visit and take care of us.  It has been such a blessing to have family that will come cook and clean for us so that we can enjoy Joel-time.  Granted they don't mind as much because as soon as I say, I'm going to take a nap - they grab him up and snuggle.

We have trouble with napping during the day.  He prefers to sit up and wave instead.

 But when he naps, he sleeps like a rock.  He likes for his arms to be out of the swaddler so he can prop them beside his head.  Several times recently I have spotted Andrew and Joel sleeping just like this - wonder where he gets that from.

 Aunt B finally had the chance to sit down and read a magazine - but she wouldn't put little man down.  She also thought he needed to be covered by a blanket so I wouldn't notice that she was holding him.

 "CiCi, I really like this hat you made for me but do I have to wear these pants?"

 And yet another person he likes to sleep on.  He has his daddy wrapped around his little (but very long) fingers.

 Our first real bath!  He actually really enjoyed it - although the deer in headlights look might suggest otherwise.  He didn't cry or fuss at all!

 Finally - Tucker loves little man.  He has to check on him all the time.  He couldn't stand not being in the room while Joel was enjoying his bath.

Protecting little brother is hard work.

Welcome, Joel Watson!

Andrew and I welcomed Joel Watson to the world last Thursday.  He was a big, ol' boy for this momma - he joined us at 8 lbs 11 ozs and 21 inches.

Joel has been a dear blessing to us and we are so thrilled to be momma and daddy to someone other than Tucker.

 Funny story - I remember the nurses telling Andrew to put these scrubs on when it was decided that I would be having a c-section.  They said to go ahead and get started so he would be ready when they took me back.  Little did those nurses know- Andrew has experience in "scrubbing up."  He was ready in 30 seconds...they asked - are you a doctor - hahaha!

 Joel wore the cap that his CiCi knitted for him home from the hospital.  She has made one for each of her grandchildren and all three love them.

 Joel and CiCi.  Mac was there but I don't have any pictures with him because he hasn't sent them to me.

 After flying home from Aruba and driving through the night and having their starter go out at the rest stop on the interstate - Andrew's parents finally made it to the hospital on Saturday morning.  They were just a little sleepy.

Tucker has been wonderful!  He loves his little brother and is very protective.

 This is a very common position for the little speedster.  He loves waving his arms.

Unfortunately, we had the "treat" of using a bilirubin light blanket for 48 hours.  You better believe we kept Joel on it around the clock - I even figured out how to change is diaper without taking him off the light - so we could have some freedom away from a machine and, of course, to get the bilirubin out of him ASAP.  We were successful and Joel is a free man!

While we work...

and are acting as responsible adults, I see pictures like the one below posted on Facebook.

Yes, this is my grandmother riding on a sled (I am certain it is a "homemade" sled, not a real sled) while my uncle pulls her on the 4-wheeler.  Keep in mind, y'all, there are no kids at home.  All of the grandchildren and great grandchildren are either in college, live in Atlanta, or live out of state.  So what you see here is a bunch of "adults" with nothing better to do than act like children.  And boy do I hope that when I am her age (hint: her oldest child will be 60) I can have as much fun as she is having!

And while this crowd up in Bostwick is goofing around with 4-wheelers and sleds, my dad is acting just like his father.  If there is a storm, you must immediately venture out to check the damage.  I pulled this picture from his facebook post that informed his friends and clients that a) they could call his cell phone (which is an excuse to "try and drive somewhere") and b) his trusty, rusty Wanda the Honda will never let him down. 

He joked (not really a joke honestly) that if I went into labor while they are "iced in" he would put the snow chains on Wanda and drive to Mississippi.  Good or bad - I know it is true.  Thank goodness Mom isn't going to have to ride to Mississippi in Wanda with her rusted out floors.

Rodeo and Staying Warm

MB, Hugh, and the kids went to the San Antonio Rodeo over the weekend.  John needed new boots so she took him to pick some out - he ended up picking out the pearl snap shirt, belt and buckle, and wranglers...dude knows that you can't just wear boots and be a cowboy.  One day last week, John had rodeo day at school so they had to dress the part and had a "real, live cowboy" come talk to them.  Anyway - she sent us these pictures of their outfits.

 Anyone know what happened to my sweet little Lizzie Gray??  She was only born in September - she looks like a toddler.

Sorry - I couldn't help myself...it is too funny not to post.  Not sure if John was loving on her or "loving" her.  Either way, the look on their faces is priceless.

And then there is this.

Tucker offers this demonstration to help our family and friends in Georgia that are under an inch of ice this morning.  This dog and his owners are not right.