Jr. Handstand King

David Franklin has gymnastics at school and today was their program and awards. They went through their whole routine which had lots of songs and wiggle dance moves. At the end they stood on the podium and received their medals and awards. David F. got Jr. Handstand King Award because apparently that is what he always wants to do. He was pretty proud and kept saying "watch me mommy." He also wanted the spotlight and would go up to the podium when a couple of the other kids were up there and say "my turn"- trying to steal their thunder. The boy likes attention, but he would clap and cheer for the other kids, too.

Family Fun

this is usually how I end a hole of putt putt too- just putting it in the hole.

Haha! Meme was NOT drinking beer, just picking up the trash. Just noticed that in this picture.


These boys are all only a couple months apart

We took David Franklin to play Putt-Putt golf for the first time. It is really a nice place at Pirate's Cove. The last time I was there, I was on a double date my sophomore year of high school- wow! What a totally different experience!

We breezed through that course (which was fine with me). He was to interested in the next hole, hill, waterfall, or tunnel, that he could barely finish, or rather wait on Franklin to finish the hole we were on. It was a fun family night though that ended with Chinese food.

We've also been on a boat ride, had playdates, went to a birthday party, and have been enjoying our family and friends time. We will be trying to pack even more of it in this week, all while going to bed early and get some good ZZZs while we can!

Both

New baby brother or sister will be joining us very soon. I know the ticker on the blog says 16 days but really it's only 10! At my last doctor's appointment, he decided to schedule our day to induce- Monday, May 23rd. He said if not sooner and Franklin thinks it will be before then, but I don't. I think May 23rd it is. I am happy with the date because David F. was born on October 3. He's the 3rd, Baby number two is the 2-3rd. Very appropriate I think- and easy for a mama to remember.

We have also finally decided on our baby names. I am pretty hard set on only using family names and I like old fashioned ones. We wanted to pull from different sides of our families since David Franklin both came from our dads' sides of the family. David (my dad) and Franklin(Franklin's dad). After naming David Franklin a name so rich in history and meaning, I didn't want to slight the second one.

The Ligons are very important in my life, and I couldn't pick just one that I wanted to honor so Ligon was an easy choice because it's gets them all. Ligon is my mom's maiden name so it's after her, Mam-Maw, Pap-Paw, Aunt Lois and my brother Jason, as his name is Jason Ligon Morphew. I'm thrilled with it and so is Franklin. He has met and had relationships with all of them and now enjoys working on Pap-Paw's farm so he's proud of the Ligon, too.

We've had _____ Ligon Bass for a while for either boy or girl, but the first names were harder, not to mention pretty important!!

We have decided for a boy it will be Charles "Charlie" Ligon Bass. That is after Franklin's grandfather, Mitzi's dad, Charles "Charlie" Eugene Watson. He was a great man, a strong man, an extremely hard worker, and one that Franklin admired and loved for many reasons. We think this name is a classic and one that will stand the test of time and remind us of people we love. I also think it sounds really friendly. I would want to be friends with Charlie Bass.

We have decided for a girl the name will be Nora Ligon Bass. Nora Bernice Cook Sparkman is Franklin's great grandmother, or how he refers to her "Corpus Mimi." This is Mommie Boo's mother and she also was a fine Christian woman who worked hard, and cared for and loved her family deeply. It is also through her that Franklin was introduced to Sparkman Ranch in George West, Texas. This place is VERY dear to his heart. We think it's a beautiful, classic old name that isn't too common, and would be cute as a little girl and sophisticated as an adult. I think a Nora Bass would be pretty irresistable, to us all :)

So....what bun is in this oven and who's been baking in there?? Charlie or Nora? I'm so excited to find out I can hardly stand it! It sounds strange but David Franklin has been saying for months when people ask him about if he wants a boy or a girl- "both." He now does it because he gets a laugh out of everyone when he says it. I have now thought about the possibility of a girl and a boy for so long that I am kind of with DFB, and I want both. I have visions of Charlie and visions of Nora and have pictured life with either of them and now I kind of want them both. I know there is only one baby in there and I don't mean I want twins....don't get me wrong. It's just he likes boys and girls, he likes them both and it doesn't matter to him. That's how I feel, too. Maybe David Franklin's response should have been mine all along. (Although instead of making people laugh, they would probably think I'm crazy). I want both, I want either, I want this exact baby that I've carried, whomever it may be. I'm already in love. Pink or blue, I like them BOTH.

Happy Mother's Day

(Not the best pic of any of us, but it was at the end of a long day)

The stepping stones that we made as gifts with our crafty friends- they were a hit!

37 weeks


Mother's Day was yesterday and I have been truly blessed with phenomenal women in my life. My own mother blesses me everyday through her love and encouragement and support. She has always sacrificed herself for her children and she still does so to this day and it does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. My grandmothers have both taught me so much in very different ways. My Mam-maw to work hard, get an education, and love the Lord and your family fiercely. My Grands Ellen, to laugh and embrace yourself, and enjoy life and all of the beautiful (and glitzy) things in it. My Step-Mom and Mother in Law are both loving, incredible women that I am lucky to have to lean on and ask questions to, and get advice. God really knocked it out of the park as far as the ladies go in my world and I love them all!

Being a mother is such an honor and a privilege and I treasure motherhood. I know it's such an important and delicate role and I pray that I can do the best job I can for David Franklin and for the new baby. I have never felt more like a mother than when I am carrying a new life, so this one is extra special being SO pregnant.
Happy Mother's Day to all of my beautiful Mama friends out there!!

Lazy family day

Yesterday Franklin was taking David Franklin to the farm and at the last minute, I got invited. Boy was I glad I went. Not only because I caught the biggest fish, WAAAAY bigger than Franklin's :), but it was a fun, relaxing day spent together as family. Every time I go to Glenwood or the farm I can't help but reminisce about my grandparents and my childhood. It's really something that David Franklin now gets to make similar memories there as well.
We had a picnic, fished, they took a spin on the tractor, and then we took a new way home which ended up in us driving around some bumpy country roads just talking and taking it slow on our way home while DF napped. Then we watched the Kentucky Derby and finished the day with a sunset cruise on the lake with Meggie and Chad and Brendy. It was a great Saturday.

First Movie Date

Today I decided that I wanted to take David Franklin to his first movie. I am trying to pack in some quality one on one time with him before my hands get really full and new baby gets here! We went to see the matinee of Rio. He did great, and sat through the whole thing but did not want to wear the 3D glasses so he saw a somewhat blurry version. He loved the popcorn and danced through every song. There were some kids behind us and if he heard them laugh, he would fake laugh too. I'm not sure he really got that much of the movie, but he liked the birds and the dancing. It was a great first date and I hope we have many more! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Crawfish Salute and Easter!

A group hug/huddle with David's friends and mom :)

Several of David's high school and college friends with mom



The crawfish race



This was a really big weekend for our family. The Hat Club of Little Rock had their annual Crawfish Salute and this year's honoree was David. The charity that it was benefiting is Big Brothers and Big Sisters. We think David would have really liked that since he had a love for children and loved teaching them tennis. We felt so honored and touched that they selected David as their honoree. We were also moved by how many of our friends and David's that came to support this cause and event. The Hat Club did such a great job of throwing a wonderful event but also making us feel so special. They are such an impressive group of guys and do great work!

Today is Easter and we celebrated big! The Easter bunny came to our house and we opened his presents this morning. David Franklin said "but I didn't see him anywhere." :) Then we went to early church, home for an attempted and unsuccessful nap and then to the club for lunch with Meme, Grandpa, Mommie Boo (who as of Monday is an Arkansan and has moved to Hot Springs which we are thrilled about it), the Vaughts, and Mammers. Then we went back to Mammers house for an Egg Hunt, hitting the pinata, and eating of the bunny cake that DF helped decorate and cupcakes. Our bellies are full of chocolate and sugar this afternoon!












We are most thankful for God's ultimate gift of life everlasting and Jesus' sacrifice for us. It is neat that these events fell of the same weekend. As we miss David, what hope we have because of the Resurrection, of getting to Heaven and seeing our loved ones again.