Oh my!

In my original post, I was going to show off my newest endeavor, making Jackson's baby food. I felt very domesticated on Tuesday when I pureed my son's green beans and banana. I was (and still am) planning to start doing this on a regular basis. I am planning to buy little ice cube trays that I have read about and prepare his meals myself. All the while, I have been very excited about doing this for him. It seemed to be a bit more economical and wholesome, right? I looked down at him today, and noticed he was chewing on something. Dog food. Disgusting, golden retriever, Bi Lo brand dog food. So much for wholesome and homeade. Boys will be boys, right?

Fun in the Park

Tuesday night, Blake and I took Jackson to Coolidge Park and to ride the carousel for the very first time. The weather was perfect, and we had such a fun time. We parked on High Street, and walked across the Walnut Street Bridge. Then we rode the carousel, and walked around the park. We walked back across the bridge, around the Riverfront, and then back to High Street. Blake and I then treated ourselves to coffee and dessert at Rembrant's. I had an decaf iced mocha and chocolate chip cookie, and Blake had a strawberry Italian soda and cheesecake. We had such a fun time.

Another Tale on Blake

Jackson was crying about 3 a.m. a couple of nights ago.....Blake hit the snooze button on the alarm clock to soothe the crying child. I guess that was my cue. I guess Jackson is indirectly our alarm clock.

Silly Boy

Jackson is scooting around all over the place. I have retrieved him out from under a rocker, his bed, and changing table. Last night, I walked into the kitchen, and heard him whimpering. He was not too happy that his head wouldn't fit under the couch in the living room. It was prohibiting movement! He cracks me up!

Picture Day

Monday was picture day at Mother's Day Out. It was about 85 outside, and I just could not bring myself to dress him in proper fall/winter attire for the occasion. So, he wore a fire truck outfit. What do you think Uncle Brad?

I am so sleepy....

Road Trip!

Jackson and I met Blake at work Monday afternoon, and went to Nashville with him. He had a meeting with the State Dept. of Ed. on Tuesday, so Tiffany and her family invited us to come to their house in Murfreesboro, so Blake wouldn't have to drive into Nashville from Chattanooga on Tuesday. We had such a fun time! Monday, we went to a wonderful Mexican restaurant, Camino Royale. They serve the best taco salad I believe I have ever tasted. She also introduced us to a new flavor of ice cream, Mayfield's Blueberry Cream Pie. I was a bit skeptical of the flavor at first, but it was incredible! I highly recommend it!

While Blake was in meetings on Tuesday, Tiffany and I had a fun time with our baby boys. We walked around the mall, and she took me to a place called "The Avenue" that just opened a while back. It is an outdoor mall, with lots of the same stores at Hamilton Place, but they have courtyards and an outdoor playground in between some of the stores. It was really neat. We had lunch, and of course, made a Starbucks run, and she showed me the town square of Murfreesboro, and the old houses in downtown. It is a really neat place to live, but I still really miss her, and wish she lived closer! We did have a fun time with our boys, and talking new mommy talk. It has been the coolest experience to go through our pregnancies together, and now raising our babies together (they are just 3 weeks apart). She bought these matching outfits for the boys when we were pregnant....we had to have picture time today!

My Favorite Things

How many of you have ever seen the movie The Sound of Music? I am going to confess to you that even though I am a 28, soon to be 29, year old man, The Sound of Music is one of my favorite movies. I am not sure why? Part of it has to do with the fact that my mom to this day can recount for you the almost pilgrimatic experience she had when she went to see the movie with her friends. Another reason is because I am a musical person which gives me a love for the way that music brings the Von Trapp family together.

However, one thing I have never understood for the longest time is the song titled My Favorite Things. In the scene, the children are scared because of a thunderstorm and all run into Maria's room. She begins to tell them how when she becomes scared, she simply remembers her favorite things, and then doesn't feel so bad. It has always been a concept I have understood. The part where my understanding goes astray is when Maria begins to describe her favorite things:

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things"

Earlier in my life I would look at this song and think "HOW LAME!!!" How in the world could things like this be your favorite things. I never could understand this concept. I always thought that favorite things should be things that are on a grander scale, i.e. travelling around the world, working at an incredible job, becoming a VIP in your respected field. The list could go on. See, this is what is engrained in our minds as young, vulnerable adults. The things that matter are position, power and monetary objects.

Oh how wrong I was. Don't you wish that you could have the perspective in your younger years that you have now? The ability to sit back and see what is truly important in life?

As many of you know I recently changed jobs. Changed from a job that I had been in for six years into a position that even though it is what I wanted has been sort of a challenge. There have been times that I myself have felt like I am in my own thunderstorm, unsure of what the outcome will be, unsure of what this storm will bring. It has been through these times that I have begun to see what exactly Maria was talking about when she allowed extremely small things that were her favorite things to help her not feel so bad.

As I sit at work, it is not raindrops on roses or whispers on kittens that come to my mind; however, there are small, simple things that in my younger and more vulnerable years I might have overlooked. What do I think of? What are my favorite things? Jackson's laugh when I kiss him on his neck. Walking around the neighborhood with Alisha and Jackson in the evenings. Conversations with my Dad while we ride down the rode together. Sitting with Alisha on the sofa and watching her fall asleep with her head on my shoulder. My mom calling me in the mornings to tell me to have a good day. Watching UT games with my brother and talking to him more than paying attention to the game. Staying up with Jackson early in the morning when he can't sleep. Jackson's excitement when I come home from work. Holding Alisha's face in my hands, even if only for a few minutes, and telling her I love her.

These are a few of my favorite things.

Thanks Maria!

Blake