For Nana

While many of my mommy friends get to experience the joy of their little ones smothering them with hugs and kisses on Mother's Day, for the last 2 years (my only 2 Mother's Days so far), I have had the joy of sleeping in and spending the entire day with only my husband. That's right, even he gets to enjoy Mother's Day. Why? Because I have the best Mom ever and Savannah has the greatest Nana on earth. For the last two years, Stephen, Savannah and I have spent Mother's Day weekend at Amelia Island where my mom has a beautiful condo. The Saturday before Mother's Day, my mom takes Savannah back to her home in St. Marys, GA and Savannah keeps Nana entertained until it's time to drive back to Atlanta. As much as I love Savannah and motherhood, I have to admit, that I have really come to appreciate these motherless Mother's Days. So I want to say, "Thank you!" to my mom (and Papa Bob) for creating a very memorable Mother's Day for me.

Here are a few pictures from our weekend...

Savannah and Papa Bob viewing the elephants at the Jacksonville Zoo...a very nice zoo I might add!!!


Mmmm mmmm good...strawberry icee at the zoo! Thanks for sharing!


Holding Daddy and Nana's hands on our beautiful walk to the beach.


Watching the ocean...


Finger-painting with Mommy yesterday. Daddy drew an airplane because I'll be taking my very first flight to Ft. Myers to see my Granddaddy, Uncle Patrick and Aunt Terri and the newest Barnetts, Aidan and Emily!!! I can't wait! See you all soon!

Reader's Digest

I was only 9 when my Granddaddy passed away. He was the greatest man that ever lived. I was one of the fortunate kids who got to spend just about every day with my Grandmommy and Granddaddy before I started kindergarten. He was the man who knew it all when it came to science. He was fascinated by technology. He used to hold out his hand and with his other hand show me how small a "chip" there would one day be that would be able to hold all kinds of information...this was before CDs, the internet, digital cameras, cell phones, iPods and iPhones. If he were alive today, he would be 91 and would have been blogging long before it was cool. Anyway....I digress. 

One of the funnier memories I have of my grandfather is that he used to fall asleep on the toilet lost in a Reader's Digest. I would walk back to his bedroom and I could hear him snoring through the bathroom door. Well, not sure if genetics are to blame, but Savannah has picked up on this habit -- she reads while having her diaper changed. Although we are Digest subscribers, she prefers Fortune magazine. Stephen took this picture while I was changing her diaper the other day and it immediately reminded me of my Granddaddy. 

A new Barnett

It's true! Savannah is going to be a big sister!!! Stephen and I are super excited to complete our family of 4 (plus the 2 felines whose house we invade). We're expecting an early December baby. 

If she had any idea just how much her blissful world was about to change, Savannah would not be so happy wearing this shirt. She gets jealous of Elmo when he sits in my lap. 

I'm thrilled to have children who will be just 2 1/2 years apart. My sister and I are 4 1/2 years apart and we were never close growing up. Then one day I left home Athens-bound and all of a sudden, she liked me. Now Melanie is my best friend. I don't know what I would do without her.

Here we are way back when....

And here's one of Stephen and his older brother, Patrick.