Sicker than a Bulldog

The same day our family from CA left, Jamie, Macy and I traveled to Athens, GA. Jamie had an interview there the next day (July 31st). They put him in a hotel for two nights, so Macy and I went with him (6 hrs each way), while Jadon stayed back with Auntie Em, Gramma and Grandpa.

While we were thankful for the opportunity to interview and had fun seeing the sights in a new city, it was no fun at all to be away from Jadon. I cannot tell you how thankful we were that we made the decision to leave him back though because I ended up getting sick Thursday night. When I say sick, I mean like I threw up the most I think I ever have in my life. While I laid in bed, I had so much anxiety thinking how in the world I would nurse Macy even one more minute. I kept picturing Jamie having to carry Macy into his interview in the morning.

I wondered if it was going to be God's plan to get a sympathy vote for him, you know, carrying a crying baby into the interview, wearing a new suit with snot and slobber all over him. I could hear him explaining how she will soon starve because she is breastfed and her mother is back at the hotel dying from some aweful food poisoning she got from the protein powder in her sugar-free vanilla latte from Starbucks on the way there. He'd then tell them of her inability to eat solid food and unwillingness to drink from a bottle. Poor thing. I could see the interviewer and her staff oohing and ahhing over Macy, as they placed the "Super Dad" cape around their new Administrator-in-Training's neck.

As I laid there, clinging to my life, begging God for mercy (okay, so I'm being a bit dramatic), I thought to myself, "I'll do it, God. I'll take this one for my team. Jamie needs and wants this job. I'm willing to be so sick and send Macy wailing into the interview with him, in order to secure this opportunity." Well, thanks to three extra-strength Tylenol (because I had a SEVERE headache, bodyaches, and a FEVER!), taken ONE at a time, since I'm nursing(!!)...and also thanks to spewing everything I had eaten and drank in...oh, I don't know, a month...I felt OKAY enough by morning to care for Macy. Ahhh! I should write for All My Children, yes?

Jamie went to his interview at 3pm, was back around 4:30pm, and we were able to drive around Athens and investigate areas we might like to call our temporary home, grabbed some decent Chinese at the mall (which is not as nice as I thought, but did have a Macy's), and stopped at a HUGE Starbucks, before calling it a night. In the morning, we went to the most awesome local coffee shop. They have tons of organic foods and drinks, vegan pastries, and the cutest brick patio out front with umbrella seating. We could see ourselves having breakfast here on Saturday mornings for a while :) We grabbed a treat for everyone back home, and then went to tour the downtown area that is home to the UGA campus. I thought Myrtle Beach was humid! Ha! We were dripping wet within 10 minutes, but snapped lots of pics, before Belle fell asleep in the stroller and then we headed home.

We got a bit off track on the way back, and passed a place you will NOT likely see on the Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives anytime soon..."The Possummm Grille and Cafe" (or something like that) in Rayle, GA (yes, Rayle). We were both annoyed to be so far in the backwoods of nowhere, to say the least. Jamie was ready to toss the GPS out the window, when it told us to turn right in 500 feet onto a road that didn't exist...but we figured it out, thanks to my mom, and we made it back to our baby boy after only 7 hours on the road. Looong time with a nursing 6 month old, but we would definitely do it all again. Too bad we had to return that sweet '09 Camary we rented for the trip.

I really could have skipped all of that and said, "Here are some pics from our trip to Athens, GA a few weeks ago. Jamie had an interview, and we hope to hear something by next week. A few in-house people have decided they wanted a chance at the position, but thankfully, even if he doesn't get it, God is still good and we may have a backup plan in NC." :)

Salamanca Vacation '09

The relatives came (Nanay, Tatay, Kuya Justin, Uncle Allen, Auntie Lily and baby Sydney in the womb). They were here from July 18-30. We ate at way too many restaurants, traveled to Asheville, NC to the Biltmore Estates and also to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, NC. There were movies watched, a new flat screen TV bought (thank you!!!), shopping at the mall and outlets, a trip or two to the beach, two cookouts at Gramma and Grandpa's house, lots of playtime with Macy and Jadon, and many memories made. We love and miss you all so much, and can't wait to see you (plus baby Sydney!!!) next year! We are so very grateful for our families on both Coasts :)

4th of July

Make a Smilebox slideshow

...and the Living Is Easy

It's not a bad gig living here in the South, especially when we have two little kids to keep entertained. Saturday, the pool. Sunday, church and playin' outside. Tuesday, FREE fireworks and fun outside until 11pm. Thursday, the beach...

After the fireworks on Tuesday night, Jadon ran around and tested out some of the rides at Broadway at the Beach. Even though it was a late night (until 11pm), Jadon and Macy both did great, and neither of them cried the entire time we were out...way past their bedtimes. My pics of the fireworks are AWEFUL, but I was able to capture the awe in Jadon's eyes still. Jadon was EXHAUSTED, after the pool on Saturday and the beach today. He was out within 30 minutes of coming home both times...on Saturday with Gramma and today in Macy's swing with her caterpillar.

Bright, Sunshiny Day

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

I'm way behind on this, so there is more to come, but I wanted to get something posted. It's not for lack of love, Mom, I assure you! Happy Mother's Day! We love you so much!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Gone Fishin'

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Green Acres is the Place to Be!

Can you believe it? We actually made it to NYC and back (13 hours each way) with a 10 1/2 month old, and we lived to tell about it! We left late Wednesday night, and drove thru the night, arriving in Brooklyn at 10am. We were exhausted, to say the least! Thankfully, Jadon was in need of his mid-morning nap, so Gramma and I got some much needed rest. Auntie Em got home from work around 5:30pm on Thursday, and we didn't stop running from then until we got back home to South Carolina!

I figured our trip could best be summarized in a slideshow, since I took 297 pictures, during our four days there! So here it is...enjoy! *If you want background music, just click on the little speaker icon in the bottom, left corner ;)

A few things worth mentioning: Jadon was a trooper, during our trip! Even though he was only able to crawl around less than two hours each day, he was in a fairly good mood each day, though he was more fussy than usual. He's very squirmy, when he needs some crawl-on-the-floor time. Auntie Em learned quickly how much harder it is to have a baby around 24 hours a day versus babysitting for a few hours :) It's okay, Em...I also learned that I have no desire to EVER live in the city with a baby! Man! (Parents who use public transportation are my heros!)

I also learned just how overly attentive and concerned with Jadon's needs that his Gramma is. My mom can be quite the nag, when it comes to Jadon ;) "Is he too cold? Mommy, he wants milk! I think he needs some socks on his feet! Awe, come here, baby...are you Gramma's boy? Poor baby!" Goodness gracious!!! I am sooo thankful that she loves him though. I don't know how we would have done it without her :) Love you, Mom! (Lord knows Auntie Em wouldn't have been able to handle the stress of a baby in the city without you ;)

Emily's boyfriend (AKA Uncle Robert) is such a sweet guy. I swear someone is paying him to stick around and put up with my sister ;) (just kidding...well, sort of) Jadon really loved him, and even took a nap on his shoulder, while we walked around Times Square :) He and Emily went shopping for toys and snacks for Jadon, before we arrived. Emily says he even chose 'organic' animal cracks for Jadon :) Hopefully we'll be seeing more of him!

Everywhere I went, I missed Jamie :( This is the longest I've been away from him, since he had training for work in Atlanta back in November 2003. I thought of him constantly! Since Jamie's favorite thing is to eat, I felt guilty when we went out to restaurants in NYC. I did, however, bring him back lots of food from Carmine's :)
Jadon was so excited to see his daddy, when we pulled into the driveway!

Jadon had a few firsts, while we were gone. He started saying "Neeneeneeneenee," which I think means banana, but I'm still trying to figure it out. He likes to feed his mommy cheerios now :) He also does the motions to the song "Bringing Home My Baby Bumblebee" now, and he calls his Gramma "gee". He tried some new foods too: grilled red peppers, feta cheese, couscous, and Jamba Juice :)

The best part of the trip was that my sister was baptized on Sunday. Yay! Emily has grown a lot in her walk with Christ at her church in NYC. She is part of a "growth group" on Mondays, which she loves so much, she volunteers as an usher on some Sunday mornings, and she's going on a mission trip to South Africa with a group in July. She says she feels more at home at this church than any other she's attended :) We're all very proud of you, Em! It was a blessing to be there to witness such a monumental moment in your life.

I have more to post from the trip, but it is kind of separate stuff. I was able to visit one of my very best friends in this entire world!!! So I'll post more about that later. I have to get busy unpacking now :/

Thank you to my mom for driving us and helping take care of Jadon. Thank you to my sister for the presents for Jadon, paying for our Metro cards, and for your desire to be a changed person :) Thank you to Em's roommate Lydia for playing with Jadon so much :) (Congrats on your baptism too!) Thank you to Robert for being so sweet to Jadon and for putting up with the insanity that comes along with our family ;) Thank you to my life-long friend Heather Wolfe for supporting my sister at her baptism. And last, but certainly not least, thank you to my wonderful husband who helps me realize there is "no place like home."