A few of our favorite things

That bite is COLD!





I took a few pictures today (ok 60) of David Franklin's favorite activities- eating and bathtime! I gave him a bite of my fruit bar, it was really cold and he made a hilarious face, but guess what, he kept wanting more! Bella pretty much permanently sits at his feet when he eats to get what he drops. He also he holds his hands over and lets her lick them. All those years Franklin was so strict on no people food. Oh well!

We are heading up to Fayetteville tomorrow and I have been packing but it seems like there is still so much that needs to be done. I think all we really need to take is an umbrella!! We are going to attempt to take David Franklin to the tailgate and the game for a little bit. I am hoping he and I make the first 1/2. That would be great with me. I can't wait for him to experience Razorback football. He didn't mind the noise at the Astros game but his parents weren't cheering and yelling in his ear so this could be entirely different. We'll see...... GO HOGS!

Oh happy day

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my first shot this morning!

I GOT IT!! I can't remember the last time I had a big item that I wanted as a gift...even before my teenage years I think. For at least the past 10 years, clothes and money have been great with me (still are). But this year, as everyone knows, I really wanted a new camera. I got the Nikon D40- exactly what I wanted. I did lots of research and reading and discovered this would be the best fit for me. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Franklin!!!

I had already taken 81 pictures by noon and even got an adrenaline rush trying to get certain shots. Hahaha! The quality! The detail! I have never been able to capture these expressions before. It's a very overcast, yucky day today so I am using the flash but even the color is so much brighter and clearer. I have SO much to learn. I've watched a beginner DVD twice, and have manuals all over my desk and the editing has totally lost me- I have no idea how to even do the basics yet. I can't even find the crop! Hours and hours of fun to come figuring this all out. To say I'm thrilled is an understatement!

Now I get to capture my favorite gift in better photos every day! What a happy day for me, it's been wonderful. Not just because of my new camera but I am in a good place. I'm in the last year of my twenties, which is strange but I'm happy about it. The past decade has provided many joys and many sorrows. I know who I am so much better nearing the end of this decade than I did entering it, but I'm still learning. I'm going to live this last year in my 20s to the fullest- before I'm officially OLD :) Love you all, many thanks for making this birthday so special and my life so blessed!

As far as our bug is concerned, DF and I are doing better but Franklin has just informed me he's not feeling so hot. Uh-oh, this is one nasty virus!!

We've caught the BUG

No new pics today because this weekend hasn't been our best. I woke up Thursday night sick as a dog and it has continued (although getting increasingly better) all weekend! My mom had to take DF to work with her on Friday with her so you can imagine all she got done, but it was a lifesaver for me. Friday night, Franklin and DF went and spent the night with Meme and Grampe which was also a good idea.

Franklin went to Marianna hunting with his old buddies and Blaine and Tanner and the kids came and stayed and went to a wedding on Saturday. I rallied pretty well, and even went to the wedding but skipped the reception. Franklin got home today just in time... David Franklin took a 3 hour morning nap, which has never happened. When I fed him his lunch, he threw up a little bit on his high chair. This concerned me but it wasn't much so I just thought maybe he was unsettled. A little later, Franklin walked in the door and picked him up and then it really started. He threw up ALL over Franklin...I guess I was contagious!! I feel so bad. My poor baby! I have been on the phone with the doctor, doing laundry galore, spraying everything with Lysol and praying that Blaine's kids don't get sick! Now we are crossing our fingers that the Pedialyte stays down and Franklin doesn't catch this. What a weekend- I sure hope tomorrow is better ;)

P.S. Happy Grandparent's Day!!! We love you, and appreciate you, and could never make it without your love and support!

This is my first attempt at email blogging... Today is David's
birthday. Mom, DF, and I spent the afternoon at Lake Hamilton (which
is one of his favorite places on Earth). We loved looking at this view
and seeing God's beauty and knowing that the view David sees today is
even more beautiful than we can even imagine. We are thankful.
Thankful for the day of his birth, September 10,1982.

11 Months Old

David Franklin is 11 months! I could easily cry right now if I wasn't telling myself not to be dramatic and get a grip. This may also be because at school today they told me he took steps, is going to color with crayons next week, ate meatloaf for lunch (real, not baby food), and fed himself his milk out of a sippy cup, not a bottle! Is this the 1 year old class or kindergarten? Franklin and I are so strict about what he eats that when I told Franklin he ate meatloaf for lunch, he bust out laughing. Good attitude, I think. I stopped in front of the Old Country Store today for his pictures because the brick is painted the prettiest turquoise color.

So here is what Day-Fray or The "Woob" is up to as of late:
-Size 4 diapers
-3 teeth and another busting through now
-Taking steps
-3 8oz. bottles a day- I just weaned the 4th.
-Self Feeding a lot
-Eating more table food (more than we know apparently)
-Can high five, clap, wave hi and bye bye.
-Not very verbal, only says Ma-ma when he needs something.
-Bath time is his FAVORITE time of day. He sometimes crawls to his bathtub and beats on this side.
-Still likes his thumb when he gets sleepy/hungry or upset
-Still happy all the time
-Sleeping from 8pm-7am all the way through, but wakes up 30 min. early some days.
-Naps are 2 times a day anywhere from 1-2 hours each, but school only does 1 nap so were are struggling there....I like 2 naps!
-He loves books and music
-He loves kisses and leans in or opens his mouth to give them to you...yummy!
-Very affectionate and snuggly (even his new teachers say so)
-He can climb up a flight of stairs (not down...he has no concept of feet first or fear of heights)
-He is very determined and has a sharp memory
-Smiles and crinkles his nose
-Is very ticklish all over
-Loves to be bounced or get tossed in the air or on legs


I could go on and on, so I will stop myself for your sake and mine. We are so blessed by him and love him so much our hearts could explode!!

This weekend was a whirlwind! Let me tell you why- 2 of my college friends and babies came and spent the day and night with us Friday. It was pretty last minute, which made it even more fun. We spent the day together just laying around, talking, eating, cooking and playing with babies. We went to the playground before we started dinner all had a big time!! I forgot how much fun swings can be. Apparently so did Rach- Check out that dismount!

Saturday, was also a big day. It was one of my oldest high school friend's wedding so almost all of my girlfriends were in town. We had breakfast together and looked at buckets of old pictures and laughed our heads off!! WOW is all I can say....and we thought we were so cute! Saturday afternoon, we went to a birthday party for Meme and had cake and ice cream with the Vaughts. Hallie and Robbie couldn't believe how much David Franklin had grown. They both said he looks like a big boy now. Robbie saw him taking steps and said, "can he run yet?" Soon Robbie, very soon. Happy Birthday Meme, WE LOVE YOU!!!

When we came back from "breakfast with the bride," David Franklin had a crowd and was really showing off. He is getting pretty steady and is taking several steps in a row. We caught 12 on video and have to show you! We are so proud and he is also proud of himself. He claps his hands and just beams, but you can tell he's not exactly sure why we are so pleased with him.


The wedding was so much fun and beautiful! I loved being together, telling old stories and the comfort of old friends. There is nothing in the world like it, and I got to do it all weekend!! Franklin said to me today, you were so happy being with your girls all weekend and I really, really was.

School can be cruel

Not really, but that's what I felt yesterday. It was quite a day- Pap has been in the hospital all week due to back pain and had surgery on a budging disk in the morning. I left after my classes, went to H.R. only to be informed I was going to have to wait on my paycheck which wasn't the news I was expecting. Then I went to the hospital to check on Pap. He was still sleeping but restless and very uncomfortable. I hate to see him like that. It breaks my heart, so I was sort of down already yesterday mid-day.

Franklin called as I was leaving the hospital and said something is really wrong with our dog. He had come home for lunch and she was barely moving and twitching. I had taken her to get an injection just the day before, because she has been in some pain. The vet thought it would help tremendously, but she seemed to get worse. I started trying to figure out how I was going to get her to the vet and pick up Day Fray (early) because I want to ease him into the whole situation. We called the vet and they said to just watch Bella for the rest of the day, so no trip to the vet was necessary just yet.

When I went to go pick up David Franklin, I was so ready to see him and get him home and put him down for a long nap. When I walked in, I saw a red mark on his forehead. I thought he must have just woken up - and then the lady began talking and I knew it wasn't a sleep mark. She said "David Franklin got a little beat up today." He was crawling under the little table and tried to crawl through the mounted little chairs and his head got stuck. Ok, I thought I know he tries to climb and go everywhere, this must have just happened. But then she said it happened hours ago (and was still EXTREMELY red), My stomach sank. Then she continued, "Also, there are little teeth marks on his hand. We don't know who bit him, he didn't cry out and we didn't see it." (He has been with the older kids for 2 days, because my school started early. The babies are moving in his room next week, thank goodness. Neither injury broke the skin, or his spirit for that matter. He still was happy as could be. They filled out and "Accident Report" and put it his cubbie. I said all of the right things, and things I do know in my head to be true...."It happens, thank you. Ok... " But in my heart it made me so sad!! I got in the car and drove straight to the bank and barged in Franklin's office in tears. Franklin saw DF's head and was on the phone but his jaw dropped. DF is fine, I knew it then and now. My tears came because it was just an accumulation of events, and the surprise of it, but I was pretty done in at that point.

I got him home and in the bath tub, rubbed all sorts of ointment on his spots and gave him a big ole bottle. Than we rocked ourselves to sleep in his room. I felt much better after hugging my baby and our little nap together.

He looks MUCH better this morning. He seems to feel just fine. Now, we're off to the vet to take care of Miss. Bella and on to the hospital to check on Pap. I am also feeling much better, he handles things much better than his emotional Momma!

*I know school isn't cruel- I think it's actually a really good, loving place. It's going to be really good for him in a lot of ways. In others, we (I) have some adjusting....

On a happy note- 5 tiny little steps were taken this morning!!!! His daddy was totally walking at 10 months and I think he may follow in his foot steps- pun intended :)