Trip to the Big City

Last weekend we packed up the Dodge and headed to the big city to see my brother and his family. As you know Mike and his wife Tara had Evan on 12-12-06. We headed out Friday morning. I was hoping that we would be on the road by 9 but we left just after 11. After two stops, and super slow Henry county traffic we made it there around 5:00. Derrick G was very excited to meet all the family. I was excited to see them all again. Tara you look great!!!!!!! I could not believe how much Evan has grown. That night, we all went to dinner at this super Italian restaurant. My brilliant self somehow packed my bright orange makeup bag instead of the black formula bag. Good thing there was a Pulbix next door. Thank you again Mike and Tara for dinner.

On Saturday my dad and his wife Jackie drove down to spend the day with all of us. Derrick was so happy to see his granddaddy again. He was just smiling away at him. Nana Jackie was thrilled there was another baby she could be a Nana to. After a great dinner Mike and Tara had made for us, Tara and I dressed up the boys in the matching outfits. We did buy the froggie butt sleeper together. The other outfits happen to be a coincidence.

On Sunday Mike had to work. Dad and Jackie came back over and hung out till we headed out to the new GA Aquarium. Tara, Evan, Derrick, Derrick and I all had great fun there.There was so much there to see, I think Little D liked it the few times he was awake. His eyes were wide open when we were checking out the reef. I can not wait till the boys can really see and understand the displays.

After the aquarium, we met up with some friends of ours from college. We stopped in to a Mexican restaurant in the highlands for a bite. Kelly is keeping busy with work and with Kevin and his musical endeavors. Kevin has a new band that was featured on TBS's Storyline.Check them out on http://www.jacksoncountyline.com/

Happy St. Patty's Day

Here is to wishing all of you a Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Have fun and drink a green beer but please, drink in moderation.

I guess Derrick already does not listen to mom.

The Name Game

Here we are just hanging around.

I realise after reading my past blogs I have called my son a few different names. Spot, D3, Third Rock, Diggies, Derrick, Little Derrick and Little Man just to name a few. Sometimes he is called Harry Redface because that is what he looks like when he is mad. Grey, George, and Georgie Porgy are a few more we call him at home. The Grey name came in because of a few reasons.

1. What do you get when you mix black and white? ______.

2.What TV show has doctors George O'Mally and Derrick McDreamy? _______'s Anatomy.

3. What color are his eyes?______

The answer is Grey or Gray for all 3.

The Grey or Gray really does not stick that well. I love the Harry Redface nickname, but Big Derrick said it will give the baby a complex.

Do Not Try This at Home

This is one of our dogs Sasha. She really does not make a good baby sitter but is a good baby pillow. Get it sitter, pillow. I am so funny!!!!

Welcome Margery!!

This last weekend was a busy one. On Friday Derrick's step mother flew into town. It was great to have he here. We had not seen her since the wedding in September 2005. She was so happy to meet out little man. On Saturday we all packed up the Dodge and headed to Drexel Park where the seventh annual Azalea Festival was being held. I love how the city plans the festival the exact week the Azaleas look the best. Anyway, the festival has many vendors from all over selling super yummy food and some of the most creative crafts.

Marge, Derrick and Derrick

There was a booth that sold embroidered cloth diapers for spit cloths with the cutest sayings like "Party at my crib 3 AM" and "if you think I am cute you should see my dad" I fell in love with the one that read:

The design was super cute too. Marge was kind enough to get it for us. Thank you! I wish I was that creative to think up things like that. I can barely thread a needle. I am improving on that. I did buy myself a sewing machine for Christmas.

Anyway Marge left us on Monday. Little Derrick and I drove her to the airport. I was hoping that he would be awake enough to see the airplanes but we were not that lucky. After saying goodbye we went up to my restaurant to eat lunch. Amber and Katie, two of my girls, were there too for lunch and joined us. Derrick was awake foe the ladies. We hung out there for a few hours and saw a good few of the staff. They all are not surprised on all the hair Derrick has after watching me eat Tums like candy for the last 2 months. I was glad to be out of the house for a few hours.

Derrick, Amber and Katie

I am a Proud Aunt

Here is Evan Michael!
These lovely ladies are Kathryn and Elena (Laney)

I am very proud to be the Aunt to these 3 lovely children!!!!

A few more trips out

We have made a few more trips into the wide wide world. Little man and I made it to Kevin and Lisa’s all by ourselves. We made the trip on Sunday evening to drop off their wedding gifts. Kevin and Lisa were there and so were Jason and Christina having a cookout. We hung out for a couple of hours and headed back home.

Monday our friend Shannon came by to hang with us after she got of work. We decided to make the trip out into the world for dinner. We packed up the cars and headed out. Dinner was great. DG slept most of the time so that we could all eat dinner.

After dinner we stopped into my restaurant for some dessert. It was good to see all of my old staff. Jackie joined us after she got off of work. We hung out there for a couple of hours.

While I was there I found out that one on the other manager’s girlfriend had been in the hospital with a collapsed lung and a handful of other medical problems. She was recovering from surgery. I am waiting to get the ok to make a trip up to the hospital to visit with her.

The BIG Trip

OK so it was not a big trip but we did go out. Let me tell you about it.
Grandma left town around noon on Sunday. I decided that is was such a super nice day outside that Little Man and I needed to go for a walk. The plan was to make 3 stops. I packed up the stroller and attempted to leave the house about 5 times. I finally thought I had everything and was ready for the world.

We began the journey walking in the street with the stroller almost in the gutters because there are no sidewalks in the area we live in. First stop was Molly's. We met up with Nicole there so I could check out her wedding dress(Molly was storing it there for a few days). The dress is gorgeous!! We hung out there and talked for a good bit.

Next stop Keri's. She has a 13 year old son who is eating her out of house and home. We stood in the yard and talked for about an hour while her son and some other boys were rollerblading, skateboarding, biking and hopping on pogo sticks. After watching them I was officially scared to see Derrick grow in to a boy.

Derrick G was an absolute angel. He slept most of the way but would wake just enough to say hi to all the folks we had visited with. Then he turned in to a baby.

Third and final stop was Jamie and Gabby's. Just after we arrived, he woke up with the "I am hungry grunts". I was ready with the bottle. He began to inhale the bottle like he had not eaten in days. The half way burp resulted in massive spit up. Once again prepared with a sturdy spit cloth. Finished the bottle and once again spit a good bit of that up too. As the burping was going on my little man began to cut the cheese. I thought he was cutting the cheese. Guess what! It was not gas. I was prepared for that. OK almost prepared for that. I had the diaper, wipes and even a bag for the dirty diaper. We were missing a changing pad. Hey it could have been worse.
We made it home soon after Derrick G stunk up Jamie and Gabby's. I do have to say it was not that bad of a first trip in the neighborhood. We might begin power walking later this week.

My Hands Are Full

Here we are now with a 3 week old little man. I fall in love more and more every day. I know it has been a while from the last time I sat down and typed up my daily activities. I will give you all a basic recap.

Feed him, burp him, change him, hope he goes back to sleep, pump, wash bottles and repeat.

My dad finally made it out of the hotel that Wednesday and stayed with us until the following Saturday. He was a super help. Big Derrick started back to work and having my dad there was such a great help. He was up with Little Derrick if I was not. Boy was Little Derrick up. Dad just sat up with him rocking him in the recliner, patting him on the back, you know all the things granddaddies do. Dad spent a great deal of time in the kitchen. He cooked so many great meals. I wish I was half the cook my dad is. Each night was an adventure. One night dad said that we should get out of the house for dinner just Big Derrick and I. We had to refuse. Dad's cooking was better than any mass produced chain (don't tell my boss I said that).


Derrick and I did have a little outing on our own while my dad was here. We were able to go to Kevin and Lisa's wedding. The wedding was great. Kevin was my roommate for about three years and was one of the groomsmen in our wedding. Kevin and Lisa had dated fro 5 years and he decided to make a honest woman out of her this past fall. Congratulations!!

Derrick's mom came in this weekend. I am happy she did. I was not sure if I could handle 3 days in a row with Derrick at work. She drove up from south Florida Friday and has spent almost every moment with Baby Derrick in her arms. I left the house for the first time by myself today. I am scared to death to leave the house with baby in tow solo. I was able to get some groceries and make a trip to Target. I was happy to be out of the house and away from the baby, but that lasted about 30 minutes. I kept looking at all the other babies out on a Saturday afternoon and began to miss my little one. Baby Derrick's grandma will head back out Sunday and his step mom will be here next weekend. I do not think my guest room as seen so much action.