The Barber Family Blog: May 2008

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2008

Memorial Day Weekend the Barber Family decided to take a side trip to the Atlanta Zoo! Riley Jack loved it....so much, that we are considering getting a family membership. Riley Jack's favorite animals were the Orangatans and the Gorillas. Unfortunately, the Lions were away for the day and the Tigers were slumbering too far away to get a good look at.

Can you hear Riley Jack ROARING!!!!!

A miracle....everyone is smiling.

Riley Jack posing with Willie the Gorilla.

Cheryl and Buddy drove up from High Springs late Friday night. A very last minute trip...but as I always say, BaBa can't stay away from her Riley Jack for more than three weeks (the last time she saw him was the last weekend in April). Don't worry BaBa, you will have enough "love, time, laughter" to share with the new baby Barber. Thanks Pops for fixing our front window. (while spring cleaning around our front bed, we discovered the wood had rotted...yuck and needed to be replaced) Michael enjoyed every second of using the skill saw. Cheryl...thanks for helping me to haul down all the baby clothes and getting the room ready for the new arrival. Trust me...I am much relieved.

31 WEEKS AND COUNTING

Michael made me take these photos.......I'm going to the Doctor every two weeks now and will go back on the 29th. All is well, my blood pressure is fabulous, and the baby is moving around like a dancer. The heart rate remains between 145-150. I'm definitely carrying this one totally different from Riley Jack. Overall, I feel great, just sleepy, as my nights continue to be interrupted by a large head pounding on my bladder.....The joys of pregnancy.

Just another Windy Day in Georgia!!!!

Just as we were about to sit down to our fabulous Mother's Day Feast (which Michael had prepared all by himself), the phone rings. Sara Beth, our neighbor informs us our Bartlett Pear is down.......literally. High Winds that afternoon left us with several large branches broken from our tree. Those of you who know......Bartlett Pears are one of the last trees to loose there leaves in the fall.....and what a mess they make. So, it didn't hurt my feelings at all to lose a few branches. Luckily, our other neighbor Rob (and Jenn) had a friend in the neighborhood who needs no excuse to "break out" his chainsaw. The men had the mess cleaned up in no time. Thanks Pat for coming to our rescue. Another exciting day at the Barber house.

Happy Mother's Day 2008

What Mother's Day means to me...........

A day to reflect on what being a mom truely means. Pure JOY! I just peeked in on Riley Jack as he slept, and the feeling that welled up inside of me was one of pure JOY, wonderment, and AWE

Forget the sand that is all over the house (thank you daddy for filling up the sand box under the play ground ), that I had to feed you each bite of dinner in order to get you to eat....or that there are easter eggs and easter grass still strewn all over the house....even in my shower. (I'm too big to bend over and pick it up and I couldn't tell you no when you wanted to play with it, even though it was already packed up)

JOY! is what I feel when I reflect on being a mommy.

Jordan and Riley Jack you have been a blessing and I love you more both each day. You make me extremely proud.

JOY, when Riley Jack buries my feet in the sand, or sits in my lap for a snuggle. JOY, when Jordan calls everyday on his way to the bus stop.

Wonderment as I watch these boys grow and mature. A tween to a teenager, YIKES. A baby to a toddler, and soon a boy.

AWE, as I look forward to their futures and what God has in store for them. AWE, that God trusted me to be a mom. AWE, that God will continue to stand in the gap, when I struggle.

Jordan, you are turning into a mature and wise young man, I can't wait to see what God has planned for you. The love and patience you show to your little brother makes me smile. When I watch the two of you together, I observe a selfless young man putting the needs of a three year old before his own. WOW!

Riley Jack, you are my doll baby. You are such a smart little boy, I am amazed each day by your vocabulary and your capacity to show compassion and love towards others.

As we await the arrival of our new addition, I anticipate new challenges and new rewards. I willingly look forward to them. Being a mommy has and is my greatest accomplishment. Though I will choose the wrong battle and mess up I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will strive to be the best mommy and seek daily HIS guidance.

Thank you boys for my fabulous Mother's Day present.......I love it.

13 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP!

I wonder how many photos we have of the five of us together? Dozens probably. This is us standing on the dock of Grandma Bert's Withlacoochee River House! After much wishy washiness (is that a word) we decided to meet in FL. We stayed in Dunnellon at Grandma Bert's (Michael's late grandmother). Thanks Cheryl (Michael's mom) and Uncle Rudy for letting us stay there. While our time was short.....we managed to see historic Dunnellon, enjoy a fabulous dinner at The Ivy House, and witness a real live RODEO! Good ol' Williston (which incidentally, is where I taught my very first teaching job...thank you Williston Middle School and Ernie Korgein) was putting on a high school rodeo. This was my first opportunity to view such a sight. It was both entertaining and lively. I can't wait to go to another one. I hear J.R. Miller park here in Marietta, GA can put on a doosey of a rodeo. Anybody game? One memorable event of the evening, .......the slaying of one poor opossum. Sorry, little guy, but my brother taught me never ever and I mean never......swerve. So, I didn't. The racket as it went under the van was atrocious.

Sunday, we enjoyed a wonderful day basking in the sunshine at YankeeTown Beach. I was threatened with bodily harm.....if I posted any of the photos taken with us in our bathing suits. So....you will have to use your imagination. Thanks ED for sacrificing your time in getting the boat ready for us. Don't be too hard on yourself, the main purpose was for us girls to be together. (the original plan was to leisurely coast up the Withlacooche River, but there was a problem with Ed's boat) We feasted on a luncheon fit for Queens and eventually headed back to civilization. We parted ways shortly after and all but Terri feasted at The Front Porch know for it's delicious pies.