Having a Ball of a Time!

Where oh where did you go March? The month seriously zoomed by as I chased goats, changed diapers, prepared for parties, decorated for holidays, cracked up with the babe as she learned to crack up herself, and marveled at the thought of having a nine year old. Such fun!

That's right, I did say NINE! My sweet, sweet baby boy went and had another birthday on me. And now I have to learn how to parent a 9 year old. A whole new array of challenges arise with each passing year. I'm expecting this year to bring the discovery of lots of unknowns for him. Topics that were once easy for me to just bluff off will have to be explained. For example, while at the Dr.'s office today, Colton took Fletcher to the restroom for me while I stayed in the waiting room with the girls. He came back from the bathroom holding a shiny blue condom wrapper asking "mom is this one of those napkin things" (wet nap). "Uhhh... NO!!! Colton go put that back where you got it. QUICK!" I know if we don't explain certain things about life to him soon, then he'll find out from someone else which is NOT what I want to happen. That is bitter sweet for me. In some ways it's exciting to see him emerge from young childhood to a person who "gets" life. It makes for some fun and... let's just say very interesting conversations. Am I ready for all of this? I guess I got to be. Ready or not the time is here.... or near.

It's strange how it seems like yesterday I was lying in a hospital bed in the middle of the night as my 6 pound 12 ounce baby locked eye contact with me. Through my blurry tear filled eyes I stared at the boy who I would raise to become a man. I think about that special moment often as I'm staring into the eyes of my boy who is not so little anymore.

Seeming like yesterday yet I can hardly remember life without him. Life before I became his mama. That seems so foreign to me. Me with no kid on my hip. No sippy cup to fill. No tear to wipe dry. No I love you - I'm proud of you - good job little one, to say. That's a life I am glad to no longer know. And the sad part? The life I now live is only a small chapter in my life and one day, not long from now, the life I'm living will be a life I no longer know. (oohh... a tongue twister. I love those!) To be completely honest, it makes me a tad bit jealous of Michelle Duggar. She has been able to hold onto childhood for so much longer than most of us get to. So, so much longer. Most people would think I'm strange for feeling this way and simply just wouldn't get it. But that's okay. I don't know why God gave me the heart for little ones but I am grateful for it. It is such an honor and a joy to spend my days with these precious children He has entrusted me with. I get such a thrill out of it and I can't imagine living my life any other way. I will say It's made for an incredible chapter of my life so far! It's a journey for which I feel very blessed, yet extremely inadequate to be on.

We may be doing it all wrong but I trust that as long as we're seeking God's direction in how we're doing it, we can't be doing all that bad. Right? (this is where you nod and just agree)

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While we were trying to celebrate Colton's birthday, stomach bugs and ear infections were attempting to crash our party. Maggie had been extremely irritable, like screaming all day miserable so it was all I could do to take care of her. Then on top of that we all started to not feel so good which later that night we learned was the start of a vicious stomach bug. I was a tad bit overwhelmed to say the least and was not functioning well off of hardly any sleep from the "baby no sleep" night before. I just couldn't pull it off. Thankfully Colton's birthday wasn't a complete flop as God gave me AMAZING in laws who quickly came over and took care of every single detail to make his day extra special. The smiles in the above pictures are the proof that it was a great evening. Josh and I were walking Zombies so I'm glad to have had these pictures to look back on since I barely remember being there at all.

We waited to do his friends party until his cousin Dillon came into town from Gainesville with his mom Kim. We were so happy that my Grandma and Aunt Janet came down with them. We had a great time being together as always!

My mom's mom Marjorie has always been so special to me and I admire her dearly. She lived on a farm in south Georgia and had a huge beautiful garden that I could only dream of having one day. I can still hear her voice coming in to wake me up in the morning saying "rise and shine! The blackberries are waitin'"! Or her ringing that old farm bell telling us it was time to mosey our way back to the house. Oh... the simple days of life on a farm. That place was a dream. Floating in the pond on a black inner tube one minute then catching fish in that same pond the next. Going on moped rides down those red clay roads letting your hair blow wild and free. Swinging with a farm cat on your lap on the back porch watching Grandma pin the clothes on the line. And those evenings of eating Papa's homemade caramel corn while watching Lawrence Welk. The good ole' days. The type of days I'm trying to bring back and give to my kids. 5 acres might not quite do it but it's a darned good start I say. By the way, if you ever stumble across one of those farm bells give me a holler. My poor strained voice would greatly appreciate it!

We had such a blast with this group of boys. This was by far the simplest and easiest party yet. I'm sure that's because I didn't do a darn thing except for make the phone call to set it up with the alley and make Colton's request of "dirt" for dessert. Josh and I took separate vehicles and drove all the boys except for two brothers who's mother brought them. So it was pretty much just Josh and I, the kids and an awesome young party attendant that works at the Stuart Lanes. I'm starting to wonder if all of these extravagant (not to mention pricey) parties that we throw for the kids really mean that much more to them than a little get together like this. Colton seemed on the top of the world that night and talked about it for days. Doing something he loves with some of his closest friends, I don't think he could have ever imagined anything better.