Celebrating SAM

Now, let's get to the reason for my trip to NC. To help my childhood BFF, Jessica celebrate the upcoming arrival of Samuel Abram Martin. Sam, yep, his initials are also his name. Pretty cool, right? My Mother and I along with the help of a bunch of other wonderful Clinton ladies hosted a baby shower brunch at my Mom's house last Saturday. Jessica is due May 3rd and at 34 weeks (now 35) she is pretty ready for this little guy to make his debut. She looks wonderful and is positively glowing! I enjoyed being crafty and making decorations for the shower while actually having the time to do so with the extra hands to help me with Grant last week.

Let me tell you how wonderful it is to have one of your college roommates engaged to a Clinton guy because Grant and I get surprise visits from Meagan each time we come home and I hope this continues throughout the years! Meagan was also able to wish Jessica well and enjoy the baby shower for awhile! Afterall, her future Grandmother-in-law was a guest!
My first attempt at making a diaper cake for our safari themed event. It was a lot of fun and turned out pretty well if I do say so myself!

I also made a diaper wreath, first time for this as well. I had to watch a tutorial on youtube. The links were my own personal touch that I had not seen done before. They gave the wreath the pop of color it needed and plus, links are one of Grant's current fave toys.

Cupcakes got their own safari touch. Yep, made these as well.

The spread. I love having "brunch" showers because the food is sooooo good. Breakfast casseroles galore!

Now on to the Mommy-to-be! Check out the coordinating corsage. Doesn't she look fantastic?!

Grant had a "WILD" time watching his Aunt Jessi open all of her gifts!

He also loved flirting with her niece, older woman, Clara Glynn.

Sleeper from yours truely.

She really racked up! I think Sam will for sure be welcomed in style!

Group shot of all of my high school gal pals.

My other childhood BFF, Ashley, due a week before Jessica with a baby boy as well. Good luck ladies, so glad I could help celebrate your upcoming special deliveries!

*On a side note, all this blogging is wearing me out. But, I feel inclined to offer you a detailed account of our trip and busy, we were. There's more to come, stay tuned for my trip to Greenville!

Clinton Visit

Grant and I spent last week in Clinton with my parents. It was wonderful having the extra help with my baby boy and the week flew by with all of our comings and goings. My parents enjoyed every second with Grant, my Mom actually missed three days of teaching because she couldn't bear to leave our little one at home. She kept saying, "I'm not going to leave my grandbaby from Alabama!" We had an incredibly hard time in the sleep department though. Grant just could not get used to sleeping in his pack and play and as a result woke up three to four times every single night we were gone and refused to nap. I think he was overstimulated from all of the attention and honestly did not want to miss out on a second of togetherness. EXHAUSTED is all I can say. The first night we were back home, what do you know, he slept through the night! I'm extremely thankful he has settled back into his routine so well. Enjoy the pics of Grant with his Grandmama, Granddaddy and Uncle Jeff.

Mom enjoyed bathing Grant in the kitchen sink. I had baths here too as a babe.

My Dad is so in love with our little guy. He calls him his buddy. "How's my buddy?"

Jeffrey came home twice from Fayetteville to visit with Grant. He couldn't get over how Grant had grown and changed since Christmas. He is one proud Uncle!

Wilmington Playdate

After leaving Mt. Airy, I was chomping at the bit to get back to Wilmington to meet my friend Carmel's newest edition, Emory Katherine. What a gorgeous little darling she is and Grant was smitten! Emory was born on January 20th and is such a lucky little girl to have such great parents!
Look at that little face, I could just eat her up!

Carmel and Grant

Brooke came over with Borden and Maggie in tow. I honestly do not know how she does it with two little ones. I can barely handle Grant! Borden is such a smart little cookie. He knows the entire alaphabet and can even pronounce the sound each letter makes. Here is our attempt of a group shot of the kiddos.

Emory (two months) Grant (six months) Maggie (nine months) Borden (two)

Brooke says, "Borden, show me your teeth!"

Grant wants to explore Maggie's mouth and Borden the big brother says, "Back off, Buster!"

Borden says, "I'm outta here! Bye bye Babies!"

Grant is such the ladies man.

Sweet Home Alabama

Grant and I are finally back in Alabama after spending 10 days in North Carolina visiting our family and friends. It was wonderful reuniting with Ron, afterall, he was concerned Grant wouldn't remember him, but we all know better!

Grant and I embarked on our trip on Friday, March 12, it was his third trip by plane and we flew into Charlotte to spend the weekend with the Yaeger's in Mt. Airy. Aunt Lesley, Uncle Lanier and cousin George traveled Friday night to be with us for the weekend and we had a wonderful time catching up. Grant was delighted when he got to Mimi and Poppy's house to find his new exersaucer Mimi had bought for him to play in at her house! George and Grant had the best time playing together. Grant watched George closely all weekend and enjoyed being able to sit up and play with him.
George and Grant love their Poppy and George loves loving on
Baby Grant whom he calls, "Gant."

We all walked to downtown Mt. Airy also known as "Mayberry" and enjoyed a day of eating and shopping. Here we are enjoying our lunch at Leon's.

Grant loved all of the attention and loved spending time with his Aunt and Uncle.

George can't get enough! These two surely will have fun together in the coming years!

Grant's really excited about his California Burger!

I love this little boy, he is growing up so fast and is into everything!

We enjoyed playing outside and watering plants.

Also, blowing all the leaves

while Grant and Mimi watched.

Here is Grant in his Daddy's baby shoes. His feet barely squeezed into them but we put him in them long enough to take a photo. Jody found a bunch of Ron's old baby clothes for Grant to wear, my favorite is a 1981 vintage Lake Placid Olympic T-shirt that Grant can wear this summer.

Check out Grant's new sneakers his Mimi bought him.

He looks like such a big boy in these shoes!

The weekend flew by but it was great spending such wonderful quality time with our family. Thanks for a great weekend! We miss you already!

Sweet Home Carolina

Grant and I are in North Carolina visiting our family and friends! He was such a trooper on our flight and got a lot of attention. We have enjoyed a great weekend with Ron's family in Mt. Airy and are about to leave to go to Clinton to visit my parents. We are having so much fun with everyone but wanted to say a quick hello! More to come!

Belly Laugh

Grant got carried away over a yellow frisbee on the beach Saturday. Luckily, our friend Matt was able to catch the action on his iphone which now I'm obsessed with. I must have one! Enjoy the footage of Grant's belly laugh!

Like Father, Like Son

Last week, Ron and I had some work done in our backyard. Our lot needed to be regraded. Grant oversaw the project while Daddy was away at work. This was Grant's first job as a construction Project Manager-in-Training and we were delighted with a job well done! Grant wants to be like Daddy but Daddy wants Grant to be an Orthodontist.

Grant tells the men, "Get to work!"