Poppa Tree and His Little Shrub Rosa Jane

And on her sixth day of life outside the womb, Rosa Jane donned her first tree outfit. She took to the colors like white on rice and we know there are many days in her future when camo will be called upon time and time again. Good thing it looks so good on her. All hunters know "safety first!" so that's why she wears a highly visible orange bow in her hair. Be sure to see all the photos in this set. There are lots of gems. Just click on the picture to the left ===> over there.

Testing

This is a blog test from Miss Sally. I'm signed in under KBR's name for the one and only time setting up her flickr/blogger account. This is a test. This is only a test. This is a blog test from Miss Sally. I'm signed in under KBR's name for the one and only time setting up her flickr/blogger account. This is a test. This is only a test. This is a blog test from Miss Sally. I'm signed in under KBR's name for the one and only time setting up her flickr/blogger account. This is a test. This is only a test.

Finally, a morning that says "Fall."

There are thunderstorms in the area this morning and temps are in the 60s. We enjoyed the morning out on the patio then I gave Rosa Jane her first sink bath. For her privacy's sake, we'll keep those photos to ourselves. I think the dogs were glad to see that they aren't the only ones we torture with baths.

Happy Birthday, dear friend Ellis. What a great day to celebrate a fabulous girl friend!

Who Do You Think Rosa Jane Looks Like? 

RJ's place of sweetest dreams 

This one is blurry, but it's Hank's first look at RJ in her new bedding and crib 

Another one by Honey 

Photo Credit: Honey Brown. She's the best honey any one could ever ask for. 

Baby Girl Outfits and Feeling No Pain

Over Labor Day weekend, I was talking with my cousin's girlfriend when she told me that up in her attic she had kept every lil thing that her baby girl (now 7 or 8, I think) had ever worn. I thought to myself, I'll never be that way. However, it's day two at home and I'm thinkin' ever lil thing we put on her is adorable and I only want to remember how cute and little she is and was while wearing these precious bits o' cotton.

Last night we received our bedding package from Javis Davis in Alabama. The patterns that Sally and I picked out (which did also get the thumbs up from husband and my mom) turned out so cute. I will be posting pictures of her room soon.


My dear friend, Robyn, came to stay with us yesterday and last night. She brought the most beautiful yellow roses I ever did see to the most beautiful little girl on the planet.


Thank heaven for little pink pills of feel good. RJ had a perfect trip to the pediatrician this morning.

I hope everyone out there is doing well.

love is a little bitty peanut. 

Who doesn't love feet?? 

Rosa Jane, almost 3 days old. 

My niece, Bree, and Rosa Jane 

Sweet Baby Rosa Jane 

"Congratulations on Your New Texan!"

This was written in 22 pt all caps on the back of our birth certificate registration form. We laughed and laughed about how serious Texans are about being Texans, especially natives.

Rosa Jane was born Saturday night at 11:08 tipping the scales at 7 pounds 14 ounces and some 19 inches long. She is the most beautiful and amazing person ever. I haven't had a chance to get her pictures uploaded here, but rest assured, they will come.

We just got home from the hospital and boy, oh boy, is it good to be home. My mom and dear friend, Mickey, are here with us -- escaping Rita's destruction of Liberty (no electricity for at least a week).

Stay tuned for more details to follow...

The Real World

Birthday treats:

1. calls and messages from friends and family
2. sushi lunch -- don't worry, everything was cooked.
3. delicious red velvet cup cakes decorated with sprinkles!
4. a convertible ride in the wrangler
5. a pedi and mani at deluxe nails.
6. dinner at pappasito's and being glued to the coverage of Rita
7. a drive by the real world house
8. a convertible ride home listening to the sound of the tires and crickets in the
trees.

It's good to be queen for a day.

Two, Four, Six, Eight, Everyone Evacuate

What normally would take my parents under 3 hours to drive took them 6 and 1/2 hours yesterday and last night because of all the traffic evacuating the Houston area. The best thing to remember in this time is that you can rebuild homes and businesses, it's the lives that you can't.

They probably left my cat. She lived through the flood of 1994 and came out the other side with a complete personality change. Pretty strange.

I watched a show on National Geographic the other day about a wild animal rescue service that didn't know what to do with their animals when there was a threat of serious flooding. Since then, I haven't been able to get the images out of my head. Crazy tigers and lions mad as all get out that they were trapped in a cage. You know the animals sense bad weather. What the heck does the Houston Zoo do with all their animals? You can't exactly put them on a leash and head out.

We're on the books to be admitted to the hospital next Tuesday night. Women do this everyday, but I'm feeling pretty scared.

To be continued ...

"So this is what it feels like to have an execution date."

On the way home from the doctor's appointment, I was sitting in the car looking out the window thinking to myself how much I really don't want to do what the doctor has suggested when Don says the above aloud. The Doc has set an eviction date for Rosa Jane. One week from today, but we'll go in on Monday just to make sure. I'm looking at it like it's just Plan B. Plan A, of course, would be to avoid induction better yet, maybe just run away. Think good thoughts and surely, all will be fine. Just fine.

At any rate, with all the rushing around and upheaval we've been through this summer, you'd think the least RJ could do would be to cooperate.

I'm reminded of one of my favorite quotes. How do you make God laugh? Make a plan.

It's all happening

fire up, buttercup

Don was offered the job at Vignette today. Fire up, Buttercup! It's definitely all happening!

Texas: One Month

fire up, buttercup

We realized last night that I've been out of Massachusetts for one month, which means I've been in Texas for that same amount of time. Crazy describes how fast the days fly by.

Here is what we're looking forward to in the days and month ahead:

1 day until Rosa Jane's Due Date (and another doctor's appointment).
2 days until Banky's Day (and a visit from the cable guy).
3 days until my 29th (round 3) birthday (and delivery of an ottoman).
30 days until our 4th celebration of monkey love wedded bliss.

My mantra these days? "Be brave, little buckaroo. Childbirth will be just fine and I'm sure it will look good on you." Somebody's gotta get'er done.

Don puts the finishing coat of paint on Rosa Jane's brand spankin' new dresser/changing table.  

"The Best Half of Your Life Starts Right Now"

fire up, buttercup

This was the reply from Texas Department of Public Safety Stall #4 when Don told him how hard it was for him to give up his Massachusetts Identification because it was where he had spent the last half of his life.

My new license expires in the year 2011. I wonder what the view will be like there.

Go ahead, Texas. Express yourself. 

state of the arts

fire up, buttercup

Slowly but surely we're getting ourselves converted to the Texan's way of life. We picked up our new auto plates from Audrey Hepburn at the tax office. Audrey was pretty hilarious and gave us some real good advice. The best tidbit of course was where the nearest Sonic was to her location. I don't know why she wouldn't give us her real name. I thought we had something really special.

At the end of our doctor's appointment today, Doc said she'll probably be seeing us in the office next week, too. Sigh. I'm getting really tired of all the poking going on.

Our open house was only mildly successful. Sunday was a gorgeous day in Boston so not many people were interested in touring open houses. It turns out that at least two other units in our building are for sale and ours is priced as the first to go. Which makes the other sellers a little grumpy. As little outdoor space as we have, it looks like a ton when compared to none that the other two units have.

Here's the link: condo listing

Open House and I'll trade you two MA IDs for the Good Life

Meanwhile, back on Beantown's harbor, our house is open for the first time in 13 years. I keep thinking of that cute pad and get a little sad. I am hopeful that it will go to some nice folks that will really enjoy it for all that it is worth.

On Thursday, we were heading out the door to convert ourselves to fullfledged Texas ID residents as my MA ID expires on my birthday. We shared some quiet moments and pictures with our MA selves and then Don took to the task of putting the dogs in his office while we were gone. For those of you who don't know, Hank is hugely, larger-than-life motivated by food, and so when he realized it was treat time he scrambled to get there first and was so excited that he cause a bit of a ruckus when he body-slammed into our biggest piece of framed artwork that was leaning against the wall waiting to be hung. The glass shattered into bits everywhere and Don felt like it was symbolic of our Boston life. I told him it was okay to cry. Lord knows I cried when I had to trade my TN ID for MA ID just a couple of days after moving to the snow-covered land. Talk about pain and torture!!

I guess the good news for Don is that we got turned down by Texas DPS because although Lyle Lovett sings "That's Right You're not from Texas, but Texas wants you anyway" they make it supercalifragilisticexpialidocious hard to become a resident in a day. First you gotta get the ol' automobile inspected and registered before they will grant an ID. We didn't have time for all that, so we just got the car inspected. Our inspector couldn't believe the tears on the wiper blades and said we'd surely FAIL inspection if we didn't spend the $11 bucks to replace them. I liked that he was so dramatic about it; it made us laugh. Come to think of it, we laughed a lot while we were there. We tried to tell him great stories of all the snow those wiper blades had bravely pushed aside. He replied his fam has already booked tickets to Colorado this winter to "look at all the snow." Don said we have plenty of gear you can borrow and the man said, oh, no, we've already bought all that.

In other news, we're trying to enjoy these last days as just being a couple, but RJ is extra active and making it not so easy to just be. Our latest shake up? We went to see Charlie and Chocolate Factory spontaneously last week at our new favorite mall just minutes from home.

Project for the week: paint an unfinished dresser for RJ. We went to Home Depot last night and picked up about 25 color chips. I know my indecisiveness is driving Don bonkers, but he really is being a good sport.

Take this ID and shove it. I ain't a-livin' there no more! 

We will have to pry this one from his hands. 

hippy dogs

fire up, buttercup

On our way back from the doc's office, we made a hard break for Bark N Purr because they advertised having the perfect remedy for your flea problems. Ten minutes later we walked out with some homemade products of Garlic powder to sprinkle on the pups food and a special flea-X shampoo. So far, we haven't noticed any improvements, but their breath sure is stinky.

connected in more ways than one

super star michigan state spartan mark came to our rescue yesterday morning and finally connected our home to the information superhighway (look both ways before crossing the street, rosa jane!), cable television, and phone service with unlimited calling.

later that day two nice gents from sears delivered our ultra quiet super-shiny washer and dryer (in the perfect shade of champagne) to our very own enclosed laundry room. i stuffed the washer with as many things as i could find just to see if it would really work. when don unloaded it, he said, "what the hell???" i laughed, heck, i'm still laughing! he wasn't supposed to see that. the good news is that it worked! it cleaned two bed sheet sets, 6 t-shirts and other assorted goods. kenmore rules.

today we are waiting patiently for another furniture delivery from our friends at rooms to go. then we have to pick up our new office furniture and get to the doctor by one. it's time for another weekly check up. i can't believe i've been here for 3 wednesdays already. time flies when you're having fun.

today was my first walk or waddle, if you will, around the neighborhood. i saw my first "friend," heather, out on her front porch.

i have to send out a huge ol' thank you to all the people named Sarah who helped me move-in. Sarah M. rocks the alphabet when it comes to dvd organization. Mama Sara made so many things happen it was unreal and Sarah "Sally" kicked my furniture into shape and made this a really comfy place to be. Our nursery is going to be "sooo cuute!" in the words of the woman from Javis Davis, thanks to Sally and her keen designer eye.

And if you really want to know the definition of cute: look up Francis Gulde on the Gulde site. She graced Austin with her presence and charmed us all with her amazing sense of style and good sense of humor. She's a doll.

labor day weekend with the fam was great, but definitely more subdued and with less pictures than ever before. i just wasn't in the mood.

company v. and donr are looking like a match made in heaven. he has his 4th interview on friday.

my hometown population increased by at least 300 with katrina survivors last week. mom went from helping me in austin to feeding them at the church and helping them to find new homes, if only temporary. it's really heartbreaking to hear all the stories. and i thought my last trimester was hard... i can't imagine all the NO pregnant mamas out there and what they must be dealing with.

we're about two weeks away from rosa jane's debut. and i know i should be used to the idea by now, but every now and then, it still blows me away.

pictures of stuff will be added soon. stay tuned.

the beautiful doublewide.  

life is easy in richland 

kristen with taylor, liz, and tori. Cuz Liz is due in December with a little boy. It's exciting to think about our babies growing up together.  

cutie brett, neighbor ray, my swollen, achin' feet, and don 

the browns 

cuz kyle with our newest hunter from singapore, brad. 

Caren telling a joke for Jake. 

Pow, Pow, Pow...Pow (some guns were delayed by the safety button) 

7 guns x 3 shells = 21 shots for our dearly departed friend, Jake at Jake's Junction on No.2; Richland, Texas. 

Uncle K wanted a picture with his family on "this side of the grass." Richland Cemetery, Hern Plot.