Our News

So, a few weeks ago I ended a post with Maybe we'll have some exciting news in the near future but for now, we just wanted to say hi to everyone!

At first, we were in denial. Three pregnancy tests, two blood test, and the final proof of an ultrasound and audible heartbeat confirmed it. Now that the shock has worn off, we are happily settling into the reality that number two is well on the way. Our little surprise bundle of joy is expected sometime around April 8th.

Chatterbox

Many of you know how terribly concerned I have been about little man's speech development. I know he is a boy and boys develop later but when his daddy dropped him off at school one day and his little friend Alex (yes, a boy) said "That's Philip's Daddy" we got a little more concerned. We are happy to report that Philip seems to be recovering and making up for lost time. We don't always understand it but we are relieved that something has clicked, and he now understands that talking gets him places.

"Atticus, where are you?" (Atticus the cat claims the first prize for Philip's first four word sentence)

"More, more, more!" - Little Philip
"More what, Philip?" - Big Philip
"uuuummmmmm, Daddy?" - Little Philip

"Riley go out" - Little Philip telling Riley to leave the kitchen while we eat.

"My Mommy"
"My Daddy"

"More juice please."

"Dirty whocks" - (dirty socks)

"sticky whiaper" - (stinky diaper)

And when we say our evening prayers, we always thank Jesus for all eight of our cousins, naming each by name, and then thanking Jesus for Mamie, Bop Bop, Mama Em, Papa Papa, MeMe, Uncle Jamie, Aunt Emily, Uncle Roy, Uncle George, Aunt Bevery, Uncle Robb, Aunt Ellen, Aunt Lizzy, NeeNee, Poppy, Mama Gel, Papa Bear, Memaw and Papa Julian.
The names help us work on pronunciation.

Once down to bed, we listen for at least an hour each night as Philip talks and sings himself to bed. Man we love that little boy.

BSC Move In Day

Today, I welcomed 507 new students to the BSC family. That's a record number in the 151 year history of Birmingham-Southern College. This is my fourth BSC Move In Day. This is the year the freshman that entered BSC in my first year of employment, will be graduating. Already, I'm sad to be seeing so many wonderful students leave the College but I also know that they are doing what it is I, and others at the College, have prepared them to do. Many will be doctors, lawyers, accountants, missionaries, ministers, among the many potential career paths available to BSC graduates.

At the new student convocation, I teared up as usual, looking around at the faces of all the new parents, preparing to leave their sons and daughters in our care for the next four years. Now that I am a mother, I understand the reason mothers in the convocation dabbed at the corner of a their eye with tissues, even catching a glimpse of a few dads doing the same.

It's another great year on the Hilltop!

The Importance of Reading Food Labels

Daddy was sweet and brought home a fried chicken dinner tonight, grabbing some green beans to make the dinner a bit more nutritional than simply potatoes and chicken. Dill green beans. They might be the most disgusting thing we've ever attempted to eat.

Nothing Much

Nothing much to report from the Mosses lately! We've just been enjoying the last few glimpses of summer before the new academic year begins at MSU and BSC. Little Philip is growing like a weed, babbling always, using words often, and making sentences rarely but with persistence. We are finishing up some work on the house, painting the fascia boards around our roof (new roof, not a fun purchase). We are considering taking down the only three trees in our front yard because they have severely destroyed our sidewalk and driveway, and some roots are pointed towards the house foundation. It's a big cost so we are trying to decide whether or not it is worth it. We can't fix the sidewalk unless the trees go. But we love trees, even the ugly half dead ones we can claim in the front yard.

It's hot in Alabama. It was 103 today and we are expected to have 100+ days ahead as well. The drought continues and that means our entire backyard is a complete lost and part of our front yard is finally surrendering to the heat as well, turning yellow quickly. It is killing us but there is nothing we can do under mandatory water restrictions and heat that will not let up. So, we plaster on the sunscreen and bugspray and muddle through.

All this is to say, the break in the blog is due to nothing more than "nothing much to say" lately. Maybe we'll have some excited news in the near future but for now, we just wanted to say hi to everyone!

Over the River and Through the Woods...

Little Philip has returned from almost a week away (as in out of state, somebody get proud of mommy!) with Mamie and Bop Bop Moss. He had a wonderful time in Brownsville, visiting all of his cousins and getting lots of love and kisses from his grandparents. Daddy was in Starkville and around Mississippi all week for a staff training retreat. That left Mommy at home, alone, up to no good. Yep, this wild woman had it made and made the most of it. I removed old caulk and re-caulked the tub, organized all the closets, and did a little laundry. I know what you're saying "whoa there, Mama! Don't over do it!" But it felt good to live a simple life, exercising a bit, but not enough. Cleaning a bit, but not enough. And sleeping without the white noise and occasional toddler noise on the monitor next to the bed. I took up the entire king size bed, and all the pillows. If only Direct TV has a sleep button on it, I would have had it made.

By Saturday I was losing it and ready to have my men back. I missed my husband terribly and really learned to appreciate the little things he does. I hate taking out the trash, trying to get the lawnmower up the deck stairs and into the backyard, changing the litter, picking up the newspaper out of the front yard. It's pathetic, I know.

We drove to Florence on Sunday to meet the Mosses and MeMe Floyd to pick up little Philip. He was a little confused when I picked him up. He fussed and reach for his Mamie. It was very sweet and I'm so glad he bonded with his Mamie and Bop Bop! We can't wait for pictures!

Six

Philip and I celebrated six years of marriage on Saturday. We celebrated by having a night out together, sans Little Philip. NeeNee and Poppy Porter spent the night at our house to take care of little one while we went out for a good movie (Evan Almighty), an excellent dinner at Village Tavern, a late night coffee, and a luxurious stay at the recently renovated and restored Historic Tutwiler Hotel. I wish our bedroom and adjoining sitting room (wait, we don't have a sitting room) each had their own plasma TV.

It was wonderful being alone again, just the two of us, trying desperately not to talk about our wonderful son or to call home and check on him. We need to do it more often. It reminded us how important it is to be husband and wife before father and mother.