Birmingham Getaway

I left both kids with Michael for the very first time (overnight) and flew to Birmingham last weekend to meet sweet Baby Hayes! Whitney was my best friend in college and was my roommate from my sophomore year to my senior year at Harding. She is still one of my very best friends today. She had a sweet baby boy on March 12, and I couldn't wait to meet him! Andrea also flew in (from Texas) for our little reunion... Ani was our suitemate the 2nd semester of our junior year after Whit and I returned from Greece. She quickly became one of our closest friends. Now we're all moms! We each have a baby boy, and I have a baby girl to boot!





Getting to love on sweet Baby Hayes! Andrea and I both arrived Thursday, April 23. Friday we went out to lunch and shopped around B-ham. (below: Hayes, Whit, me & Andrea at J. Alexander). Hayes is super-sweet and easy going. He was a good shopper, but at home he must be held at all times! So Andrea and I both got a lot of one-on-one time with Hayes.





Whitney snuggling one of their two big 'ol dogs Adler (we were gabbing late at night after Hayes went to bed). I loved staying up late talking... I thought I'd miss the kids like crazy but being around Whit and Andrea I felt like I was back in college and almost forgot that I had kids! It felt so natural to stay up talking to Andrea into the wee hours of the morning (Whitney usually cut out around midnight but Andrea and I stayed up until after 2 a.m. almost every night!). I didn't start getting homesick for the kids until Michael e-mailed me photos on Sunday afternoon.





Friends Then & Now (spring 2001 and spring 2009). Saturday morning we took Hayes and the dogs on a long walk. We walked from Whit's house to historic Ross Bridge, which is the only surviving structure built with Confederate government funds. Very cool... wish I'd brought my camera. Saturday evening Whitney's parents had us over for dinner. I have made such great memories in that house over the years, beginning with my first visit freshman year in 1997 or 1998. I loved spending the evening with my "college in-laws." They will always be special to me.



April 26, 2009





Okay, I totally wasn't going to put this in the blog, but this IS a mommy blog, and there's nothing a momma blogga loves better than a good poopy story! We were at a restaurant after church Sunday morning, and Hayes blasted through is outfit. We decided to just hurry home to clean him up, and as Justin slid his carrier out of the booth, he slid right into a HUGE puddle of poop! The poop actually dribbled down the slit that the buckle between his legs goes through, and there was an actual puddle on the bench! My kids have never permeated a carseat before. Well done, Hayes! I've had two babies and they've had their fair share of poopy incidents, but I have to say that Hayes takes the prize! Whitney & Justin were glad I was there to show them how to remove and wash a carseat cover... one of the few things in which I have obtained superior knowledge! We had to borrow a neighbor's carseat so we could go to dinner while Hayes' seat cover dried.





Whitney loving on her sweet baby boy. She's a natural momma! The Hardy Family - Adler, Whitney, Hayes, Rez & Justin





I searched my photo albums for the earliest shot I could find of Whit & me. This one is from 1st semester of freshman year when we were both 18. I think November 1997. We weren't even roommates yet, but we were instant friends after meeting at Summer Impact, and we bonded over communication classes our 1st semester at HU. I have not doubt that God put Whitney directly in my life. What a blessing her friendship has been! 12 years later at ages 29 & 30... we've traveled the world together (Greece, Israel, Turkey, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, England... ), lived out the glory days of our college years together, consoled each other following breakups, shopped for wedding gowns together, served as bridesmaids in each other's weddings, and now are sharing the bond of motherhood (poopy stories included!). God is good! This photo was taken right before Whit dropped me off at the airport on Monday. We ate at a little place called Tip Top Grill on a mountain high above the city with a gorgeous view of Birmingham in the valley below (see first photo of this post).





My sweet babies were waiting for me at the end of the tunnel when I walked off the plane! Wesley made a splendid scene running for me and loving on me, and Anna Kate kept holding my face next to hears and squeezing our cheeks together. She immediately pointed to the first chair she could find and ordered me to "Sit!" She wanted to make sure I wasn't going anywhere! She continued to order me to "Sit!" for the next two days, when we got to the car in the parking garage, when we stopped at Cracker Barrel on the way home from the airport... I feel so loved! Here's Anna Kate lounging on the baggage claim thingy (don't worry, it wasn't moving!) & Wesley being my "happy helper."