Almost There....

Trey and I are meeting with the Landscape Designer in less than one hour.  We're almost half way through the house renovation process-YEAH!  The fireplaces are 85% complete, front porch is 75% complete, outside wood repairs are 100% complete, exterior painting is 50% complete, front door is 0% complete, laundry room is 0% complete, landscaping is 0% complete...
This process moves slow one day but extremely quick the next day.  We need to find a dining room chandelier while we still have workers around to install one... BUT WE ARE GETTING CLOSER!!!

Emergency Room Scare

Drew gave me the worst scare last night! He loves to take a bath-always has. (So why he didn't love his pool last summer I still do not understand??)

When I started the water for his bath last night something went wrong--I still don't know what he tripped on or how he fell, but he tripped and slammed his face into the side of the tub. At first I thought his bottom teeth had gone through his chin--but I really couldn't tell because he was screaming and clinging to me. I screamed for Trey to come help fearing the worst. To my surprise, he was fine. Thank heavens-I think he had just scared himself...He calmed down and took a bath...Whew...

Boys are rough! He's constantly got new bumps, scrapes, and bruises. I'm sure we'll have to go to the Emergency Room one day-thankfully that one day was not last night!

Just Another Monday

Mondays are....well, Mondays are Mondays...they are hectic!!! Work was crazy--and when you work with your spouse there's really no relief when you go home--both parties had a busy day. Most days around the Cockrell Law Firm it's like a zoo-and today was no exception.

This past weekend was enjoyable. Friday night I had hoped to attend the County Relay For Life, however the day had been crazy (are we seeing a pattern) and Trey didn't want to go--and I didn't want to go by myself. We went to dinner at a local restaurant-and had a delicious meal. When we got home I went for a run--the joys of living in a small town--you can run at 9:30 at night and it's safe! We hung around the house on Saturday-Trey had to do a real estate closing at the office Saturday morning. I cleaned the house up from the weekly mess--which is even greater now thanks to construction mess. We headed to O'Charley's in Monroe for dinner. (You're seeing a pattern of me NOT cooking...) Drew was awesome at both meals! It really helps if the restaurant has booths! He's been in a stage where he was awful to take to restaurants--maybe we're out of that stage. YEAH!!

Sunday was Mother's Day. We headed to church and on the way stopped at the high school to take some photos in the Wildflowers. I have some great shots--I haven't found a short cut to upload lots of photos-so I narrowed it down to a few.

This first photo really shows how photogenic and cooperative Drew is in the photo taking process. PLUS there was a baby bird that he was terrorizing, hence no smiles....

Drew and Trey-what a handsome pair!

Drew and me (he had already paused his running around to take photos with Trey, so he was not cooperative to take a few with me!)

Drew's Dedication

One Year Ago

You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around – and why his parents will always wave back. – William D. Tammeu
s

Never in a Million Years

When I was a little girl never in a million years would I have chosen the name "Melvin Wayne" as the name of my first born son. I probably would have laughed in your face. However, when I married Melvin Wayne, III it became quite clear that there probably would be no bending on a Melvin Wayne, IV. So--I did what any creative person would do--I googled nicknames for the fourth--and that is how Melvin Wayne, IV became to be known as "Drew".

He has quite a few nicknames--Little Bitty Melvin, Bitty, Drewsy, Drew-cifer, Drew-bug, Bubbie... He answers to them all!

He's a photo of Melvin the Third and Melvin the Fourth taken the day the Original Melvin was laid to rest.

Little Bit of this...Little Bit of that...

I'm not quite sure what direction this blog is going to take...I'm going to try to post photos frequently for everyone in Texas, Washington, and Oregon to see Drew growing up. Right now, I'm playing a bit of catch up....

SNOW

WE HAVE HAD SNOW TWO YEARS IN A ROW!!!! This is a BIG deal for this Lowcountry Girl! Last year the most excitement from the snow was a car hitting our office...This year we got to enjoy watching Drew go sledding with Walker and Daniel. He had a blast--I'm hoping to get him out to Oregon to ski with his Uncle Stephen and Aunt Terry!!

Pastor Dan, Trey, and Daniel helping Drew get started.

Half way down the hill.

Chasing after Daniel and Walker--they're so much fun!

Birthday

I haven't done a BIG party for Drew. He'll probably need therapy for this later in life. But for now he'll have to deal with it! His first birthday fell very close to Easter-so I cheated and had a celebration for him with my family at Easter. His second birthday was celebrated twice-once in Houston, once in Beaufort--Two for Two.

Blowing out the candles with Dad.

Opening presents with Mom.

Easter

Here's some shots of Drew in his Easter outfit-Thanks Gigi!!

House Renovations

I don't have alot of before and after shots of the house. This is a during...Fireplace done in the dining room; Fireplace in progress in Family Room. Front Porch -gone!

Lawyer in Training

Last but not least--Drew was catching up on some light reading--"Insurance Law"

Enjoy!

Weekend Round Up

This weekend has been like most weekends in our lives--eventful! We were lucky to start our weekend early--Thursday after work to be exact. The initial plan was to head down to Beaufort Thursday evening. (I'm bummed I didn't get to see this cutie--but we'll see him in a few weeks for his Christening)

The renovations of the day left (seven yucky fireplaces that need some love--everyone keeps telling me to take some before pictures so we'll have something to compare the after to--but I don't want to be reminded of the before) the house a little turned upside down as well as there was soot everywhere not to mention that we hadn't packed-so we stayed at home for the evening. I attempted to clean-FYI soot is not easy to clean! (We'll be heading home tonight - to what I don't know!)

Friday morning we headed out early--first stop--Bridal Brunch for my dear friend Jennifer in Mount Pleasant. Trey and Drew stopped in to visit with Mama while I dined on fabulous food! Next stop--Jacksonboro to meet Gigi. Drew headed to Beaufort with Gigi while Trey and I headed downtown Charleston to Hyman's. After Trey had a delicious meal--I was still stuffed from the Brunch--we had a quick stroll through downtown Charleston. We stopped in for Trey to see St. Mary's (my great uncle Msgr. Simonin was the pastor at St. Mary's for many years and Trey had never been inside the church). Next stop--The Pavilion at Pepper Plantation for Jennifer and Larry's wedding.

Final Stop--Beaufort.Bed.

Saturday we visited with my parents in Beaufort. Trey was hoping to purchase a new gun at Bay Street Outfitters that he had seen on a previous visit. He's very bummed that the gun was sold-I wasn't as bummed. I picked up Trouble the Water for book club next month. Saturday evening Trey and I took advantage of Gigi and Papa and went to dinner without Drew. We headed to Bay Street and ate at Saltus River Grill.

We'll be on the road home in a little while heading home. Sad to see the weekend go so quickly! But looking forward to starting a new week.

PS: Per Trey, I can't include a picture of Cooper and not include pictures of Drew.

Last weekend:

One year ago:

Blind Date in the Capital City

I have been reading other blogs for months-normally when I should be working. I came across Kelly's Korner Blog which I love and am finally encouraged to start my own. So here we go-"Show us your life-how you met your husband" I am going to keep this short and sweet since I've used up most of the morning getting this blog up and running...Trey and I were introduced through mutual friend's Jennifer and Chad Hutson. (They need to get a blog--baby boy number three is on the way!)
I was working in Columbia and Trey was working in Chesterfield (little over an hour distance-depending on who is driving). Trey was very eager to meet me-having heard about me through the Hutson's --I was looking forward to a month of going to the beach every weekend to visit family (hence, not looking to start dating). He called me up out of the blue wanting to go out the weekend coming up (June 2007). I was shocked and unexpected to get his call (Jennifer hadn't given me any advance notice). I already had plans to go to the Isle of Palms for the weekend-but was interested in meeting this guy who would just call you out of no where. I had planned on taking a half day at work that Friday, but rearranged the day so I could go to lunch with Trey...and the rest is history.
We got married in October 2007, welcomed our precious boy Drew in April 2008 and moved into our dream home in July 2008. Life is crazy, full of ups and downs, but I wouldn't have it any other way!