War Eagle!

We knew it was going to be a good one.  The atmosphere all week has reminded me of my freshman year in college when Auburn was on probation and it was Terry Bowden's first season coaching.  This game was going to be special.  Melinda and John came over with their two babies (FC and TJ) and Nate and Ashley brought NE in addition to their TV so we could watch the game on something respectable.  (Every now and then a big TV comes in handy)

I can't say I really got to watch the game much...trying to juggle two toddlers and three babies and four puppies was a little crazy!

And hopefully, we didn't scar Matthew for life with all of our yelling and screaming on that last drive.  The look on his face was priceless as he watched all of us adults hoot and holler at the tv!  Here are a few fun pictures of all of the babies!

War Eagle!

If Aunt Melinda is ok with popcorn so am I!

And apparently Matthew LOVES it!

NOM NOM NOM NOM

So, Charlotte, do you think Auburn can win this game???

Apparently Natalie and Charlotte were just as shocked as the rest of us, that YES!  Auburn won!

Six Months Old!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

So humbling...

This parenting gig is so humbling. At Matthew's 18 month checkup his dr indicated that we had a window between now and his 2nd birthday to get him potty trained. So we started reading up on this next milestone. There were some indicators that he might be ready. He definitely had the potty language down! Stinky. Pee pee. Potty. So we decided to give it a go. 

Potty training a boy has definitely had some hysterical moments. The most surreal moment was when i found myself in the bathroom with Paul poised over the toilet, I was at the sink and Matthew in between us and I had the distinct honor of narrating every move Paul was making... I found myself in stitches describing a man's play by play in front of the toilet!!! Oh, the joy! 

We also asked his teachers at school to take him with the other kids. Within a few days he was peeing in the potty like a pro. On demand even. This lasted for about a week and i couldn't believe how easy this potty training thing was going! Then everything came to a screeching halt and he started playing the wet noodle routine in front of the toilet. So we backed off. 

And now I am that mom. I KNOW he knows what to do. He can stop things mid stream in the tub. He can hold his stinkies too...

So I pulled the old bribe trick out tonight. "If you go potty you can have cinnamon toast crunch." Worked like a charm!

TJ and Natalie's Baptism

Football

Today something interesting happened.

I was in the car and happened to hear the beginning of a commentary about an article that Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe wrote a few days ago.  It was a complete fluke that I was even listening to this station and I didn't even get to listen to the commentary but I wrote down his name and looked up the article when I got to my desk at work.  Read it here. It's about how brutal football is and how mothers of America could end football as we know it.  Today.  At the end of the article I said a quiet, AMEN.  My son will not play football.

Then, I ran across this video a few minutes later.


Cool trick shot from TheAuburner on Vimeo.

As I listened to the music and watched that miracle at Jordan Hare play in slow motion, i felt myself tearing up and getting all emotional.  What an incredible turn around for the Auburn Tigers. It truly is great to be an Auburn Tiger.

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.  How incredibly hypocritical.

You see.  I love football.  Maybe not as much as my dad or my brother but I do love football.  I can't say I really understood it until I had this boyfriend that was a crazy Alabama fan.  (Yes. I finally understood how this game called football really worked on Alabama football. But that's another story*)

So fast forward to today.  When we are learning about how brutal the game is on the players' body and brain.  As the article says, it's just a matter of time.  Not "IF" but "WHEN".

So, if football is so bad, and I refuse to allow my child to play, then how can I continue to be entertained by this sport?  How can I possibly justify this?  And it's personal.  My dad has Alzheimer's.  I want to do everything I can to protect my son's brain.  And allowing him to get hit over and over again just seems wrong to me.

Any thoughts?

Pop Up Park!

I love what's happening in downtown Huntsville. When Chuck (head of our Huntsville office) came and showed me the Pop Up Park flyer organized by Downtown Huntsville, Inc I was thrilled!!! OF COURSE I wanted to participate. There is nothing like being directly involved in building your community. Our office had so much fun designing the zen garden, constructing and assembling it and then maintaining it every morning.

Once it was up, Matthew had so much fun exploring ALL of the parks! Can you tell which one is his favorite?

Here ia a link to the event.

 

A few of our favorite things

You know...a while back...Erin told me that Abby's favorite letter was "k".  I didn't doubt her, by any means, but thought it so random and so very specific.  And I couldn't wait to find out what random favorites Matthew might develop.

Well, it has happened.  His favorite utensil is a knife. (huh??? random, I know) He tries to use it like a fork and has yet to understand exactly what to do with it.  But we must have a knife at every meal.  I repeat.  We must have a knife at every meal.  So incredibly random.

And of course, we have other favorite things...but they are somewhat expected.  Dinosaurs.  Rockets. Cookie Monster.  And just about any kind of vehicle!

I love watching this little boy discover the world around him!

Saturday afternoon with Daddy

Matthew (and Paul) were tired of hanging out at home watching football on Saturday afternoons so they headed out to Bridge Street for some adventures!

There is this cute little train that comes around...

Waiting on the train!

Ooooh. Train!

All aboard! 

More. (It's the only sign he still uses :)

So? What's the hold up???