Dementia

Clay's Papaw has been struggling with dementia for about three years now. He had a stroke that led to alziemers like behavior. He has recovered from the stroke but at 87 years of age, his mind just isn't what it used to be.

One major quirk is that he tells the same two stories over and over.

One story is that he was a battery salesman and traveled all over the nation. No one is sure why he is telling this story because it never actually happened.

Another story is that my father in law (his son) stole his car and sold it. This is somewhat true-Papaw was getting lost and running off the road so the family decided to take the car.They sat Papaw down and explained that it wasn't safe for him to drive anymore and that the car was being taken away.

Papaw doesn't seem to remember this conversation-nor that the whole family was involved. He will wave his cane while ranting and cussing and then rant some more about his "good for nothing" son. He has tried getting lawyers and police involved but since they all KNOW our family and the situation, they just listen sympathetically.

These stories are told at every opportunity. The mailman has learned to run, the pastor gave up being polite and ignores them and the family...well...we just deal with them. The children love him, we love him, and we just try to accept that this is Papaw.

However, sometimes it gets to be a bit much. A few weeks ago it was my brother in law's turn to take Papaw to the doctor. This is an all day event and while I certainly don't advocate TAKING Valium, this situation makes you consider it!

Papaw had been going on and on about the car theft for several hours. He told the nurses (who had heard it many times before), the doctor (who tried to run but was blocked by the cane), and my brother in law who just wanted to knock himself unconcious with the cane. He talked and he talked and he talked.

Finally, in a burst of desperation, my brother in law shouted, "BATTERIES!"

Papaw very smoothly changed the subject. "Did I ever tell you I used to sell batteries?"

Easter 2009

It's a full week after Easter, but with all of the plastic eggs and candy still hanging around my house...who knew?

Laura Grace had a "fabulous" (her words) Easter party at school. They died eggs (I had to Google the best way to boil 6 dozen eggs) and hunted Easter eggs.

GRRRR....Blogger is acting up. Will try to post more later :)

We have a name!!

Thank you for all of the suggestions :)

We are naming our little boy...

William Thomas!

William was my grandfather's name and Thomas was Clay's grandfather. I know several little boys named Will so I hesitated picking this name (because of the popularity NOT the little boys. Well...okay, one made me hesitate HA!). However, it is Clay's favorite and he has started calling my stomach "Will" and after days of that the baby has become "Will" in my mind :)

I am still playing around with calling him "Liam" but Clay says he has to see if the baby LOOKS like a Liam.

Men.

Denim Jumpers

There is something to be said about them.

They are modest, forgiving of curves, they don't cause the much feared muffin top, they hide EVERYTHING (guess that is the same as modest) and they are voluminous.

I am hoping voluminous is a word. I don't like spell check.

The best thing about a denim jumper? Goes with everything.

Seriously!

Put on a colorful tee, some cute earrings, flip flops and you are good to go!!

I think we should all wear them.

Then we would all look equally fluffy, no matter if we are pregnant or not.

Sigh....

Can anyone tell I am struggling here?

Maternity clothes are awful. On a girl who can barely claim 5'2, it is impossible to find JEANS THAT FIT. Regular jeans have always been hard enough. But maternity jeans? Heavens.

You have two choices-so low you could model for a plumber's calendar or so high you put Steve Urkel to shame. Please tell me that I am not the only one who watched Family Matters...

The PICTURES of maternity models crack me up. Here are these tiny, tiny girls who have this tanned, glowing skin in their tight maternity pants. No muffin top to be found.

I don't usually have a muffin top. I feel as if I should tell everyone this. But when I am pregnant it as if my jeans don't understand that they shouldn't be too big everywhere else but still squeeze my stomach in half and cause these bulges that aren't quite muffinish but grotesque nonetheless.

How do those models get those taught, tan tummies anyway? I wish someone could come airbrush me every morning...

And maternity TOPS!??! The maternity fashion industry (if you can consider it fashion) does not seem to understand that maternity tops do not have to be dresses. Why can't Old Navy make petite maternity tees? Why do they have to go to my knees in this obscene tunic look.
Tim Gunn clearly said on his guide to style show that petite women should NEVER wear tunics or capris but you know what? That is all I got people.

Oh, and some kick butt yoga pants. I don't see myself wearing them all summer.

This led me to thinking about bathing suits. I will not go into that disaster of a moment.

That crisis brought me to considering denim jumpers. I may join the movement...

Ah well. If you can't diet while pregnant, you can eat. I have some WONDERFUL Pampered Chef recipes on my cooking blog...

What's In A Name? Please Vote!!

I am sending out a bloggy S.O.S.

Our new little boy, at this rate, will be born nameless.

Now, I know I have five months to go and I am being a tad bit frantic...

but I need to plan and know what to call this child.

Now that the baby is moving and kicking and I FINALLY look pregnant, I need a name.

"Bean" doesn't cut it.

We thought we had a name. It seemed good, I was content. Then...I started thinking. And realizing that I say that name far too often at preschool. I really, really have said that name a lot lately and don't know if I can bear to say it for the rest of my life. You see, when you teach children, certain names lose their appeal. Not that I don't LOVE this little boy, he is just a whole lotta little boy. I don't know if I can bear to set that precedent for this sweet, precious, calm, easy going, and surprisingly well rested life inside me.

Can you tell that I am already trying brain washing? I figure if I believe it...it may happen.

I really, really need a calm, placid child. I am not sure how to make one of those...

Anyway.

Names.

I need ideas! I like more unique ones-but no off the wall ones... I love the names Caleb, Jacob, Eli, Samuel, and Benjamin but there are lots and lots of them in this town and while I don't want my kid to be the one with a weird name, I do like originality.

Ideas?! I am putting some of my ideas in the sidebar... let me know what you think!

A New Blog!

Ashley has a new blog! It showcases her nursery art and scripture art. Go check it out! All proceeds go to charity.

Ahhhh....

Is what I feel like right now.

Did I just come back from a spa?

I wish!

The salon?

Nope. Although I need to go desperately. I keep avoiding it because I have this horrible tendency to hack of my hair when I am pregnant. I keep looking at my moon face after delivery just to remind myself WHY short is NOT good on me.

Ahem.

So why am I so relaxed?

I just spent the morning with my sweet husband.....ALONE.

That hasn't happened in awhile! Clay is in the middle of opening a new store in Memphis. The business has expanded (Thank God!!!) and Clay will be running the Memphis location. He had to go check on construction progress this morning and run a few more business related errands and invited me along. So, after dropping off Laura Grace at school and Layton at his great-grandmother's house, I went!

I didn't take a book for the drive, much to Clay's shock, and instead decided to spend the hour commute actually TALKING to my husband. We had one of those deep conversations that make you feel connected and SO excited to be married to each other. Ya'll know what I mean.

Want to know what the second best part of the trip was?

Target.

I love that place.

When I walk in the doors I seriously get really, really excited. I am not kidding when I say our checking account has done much better since moving to small town USA where Target does not exist. The rumors that one is coming do! But an actual physical Target? Not so much.

I spent an hour walking the store and just breathing it all in... I am weird like that.

After shopping, errands, and lunch we drove home. I slept the entire hour while Clay listened to Rush. It was heavenly. Naps are wonderful things.

Now I am home and facing breakfast dishes that were hurriedly left and a laundry pile the size of Mount Rushmore. Layton is happy-he likes to drive over the pile with his dump truck. Oh, and then there is the dust and the vacuuming and the....

I'll stop. It was worth it!