Just a little cut

Last week, I took Sam for his first haircut. Can you believe it? Yep, it was time. At least according to daddy, who couldn't stomach the crazy long hairs peeking out everywhere especially around the ears. He was incredibly good during his first haircut. He sat so comfortably with minimal wiggling. And this was after having gotten 4 shots and a finger prick. What a sweet little boy. I'm sure I'd eventually grow weary of changing his diapers, but he and his big brother are at such fun ages...I'm looking for the 'pause' button! I'll let you know if I find it!

A Reason to Smile

Some days you just need a reason to smile. And seeing these two brothers together is usually enough for me. Especially when they are laughing like this:


Swinging Away from Laura Garrett on Vimeo.

A few more...

Check out a few more of the photos Sue Ann took of Sam on Saturday by heading over to her blog.

Picture Perfect

So, the other part of our weekend was spent with our favorite photographer. We had a lot of fun capturing the smiles and watching yet another cake smashing. Sam may begin to think he will get to do that every Saturday! I've only seen a small sneak peek of the photos, but I'm already excited. Thanks, Sue Ann! 

Coming Home

After spending a better part of our weekend driving between home and Athens, it's good to be home again. I'm so glad I went back today for Mama Dy's Celebration of Life service. It was a blessing to attend the graveside where family members and close friends shared some of their favorite memories and life lessons learned sitting beside Mama Dy in her big front porch swing. She was a woman who wasn't in favor of formality and her family honored that in the visitation and memorial services as best they could. There were plenty of tears, but there was a whole lot of laughter too, which is definitely the way she would have wanted it.

Bittersweet Ending

It seems to be a common theme with endings...bittersweet. Especially when saying goodbye to a loved one. A very sweet friend of mine, Terri, lost her mother today after a long battle with cancer. Although this friend and I don't talk or see each other as often as either one of us would like, I'm aching with her today. At the same time there is much rejoicing going on as her mom is no longer in pain, but instead basking in the glory of her heavenly Father.

To know Dyanne Mize was to love Dyanne Mize. A mom to three girls, she was a second mother to countless others. Whether she was hosting a dozen girls for a sleepover for her daughters or chauffeuring us all to the pool, she was a guiding light for many. She wasn't just the sweet mom of your friend, but the kind of mom that wasn't afraid to put you in your place too. So, yes, there were times when I rolled my eyes behind her back...just like I did my own mom. That may sound bad, but really it just means I knew she was right and that I respected her discipline, opinion and advice. I'm not sure many folks could have spent any length of time with Dyanne and not come away respecting her.

It wasn't until she became a grandmother that she earned the affectionate name Mama Dy, a most appropriate title. By that point in time, she had served as a second mom to dozens of girls (and probably a few boys too!) I'm grateful for the fond memories I have with my sweet friend and her family, especially Mama Dy. Thanks for being a sweet mom and friend to those who knew you. There's a definite void in this world without you here, and you will be greatly missed. But, as your life and couragous battle taught us, we must put our hope in the Lord. There we will find our strength.

Look who is ONE!

So, today officially marks Sam's first birthday! Our little baby is one. We celebrated in a big way last Saturday with family and friends. I made a little slideshow of photos from Sam's first year. We've been so blessed by this sweet little guy. How can it be that a year has gone and yet it seems he's been a part of our family forever? We love you, little guy!


Sam's First Birthday Tribute from Laura Garrett on Vimeo.

What more could I be thankful for this Thursday?

Still Going...

Well, my 365 project is still going although it's already lost a few days here and there. I've decided I will continue on and ignore the fact that there are indeed whole days that have disappeared. Oh, well. If you still care about browsing my attempt to capture a photo a day, take a look.

You'll see several photos like this:

Nice it is!

So, it's Valentine's Day, and I feel like I've eaten sweets all day long. And it took every ounce of restraint to keep from eating a slice of leftover birthday cake when I got home from bible study tonight. While contemplating what sort of sweet tribute to blog for my valentine this evening, I was reminded of a song that we enjoyed during our courtship.

I'm sure you're familiar with the song, "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by the Beach Boys. Well, I'm more than familiar with it. The song was basically my mantra for a particularly tough span of time during our dating years. After dating for two years, Josh moved nearly two hours away to Augusta to attend medical school while I stayed behind to finish my senior year (and a half...but who's counting) at UGA. Long distance relationships are a lot of work, but add in a medical student who is studying most waking hours of the day and the typical requirements of senior classes, and you have a recipe for limited time together. We worked to find as much time in our schedules to see each other. Usually once every two or three weeks, I would venture to Augusta for the weekend or he would make the trek to Athens (especially during football season). To say the Sunday afternoon goodbyes were tough for me would be an understatement. The Beach Boys ballad seemed to be the only song to appropriately capture my feelings.

Wouldn't it be nice if we were older, then we wouldn't have to wait so long.
And wouldn't it be nice to live together, in the kind of world where we belong.

You know it's gonna make it that much better, when we can say goodnight and stay together

Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up, in the morning when the day is new.
And after having spent the day together, hold each other close the whole night through...

We could be married, then we'd be happy.

I remembered the other day how much that song meant to me during that difficult time. It also made me think about the fact that now that all those things I was waiting on and wishing for to hurry up and get here, are now a reality. And, I'm ashamed to admit that I don't appreciate them as much as I should. I'm glad I got  that reminder. I not only have my forever valentine, but I get to fall asleep beside him and then wake up beside him for the rest of my life. Not only could we be married, but we are. And, we're happy. And, nice it is!

I love you, Josh!

Cake, Anyone?

Well, the balloons are no longer flying high. In fact most of them are barely hovering above the ground. It's been a fun, but exhausting day...so, for that reason you'll only get one photo for now. It's safe to say that Sam loved his cake!

Happy Birthday, Grandmommy!

Josh's mom's birthday was Friday. We were so glad that amongst all the festivities for Sam's first birthday that she let us squeeze in a little fiesta for her too. Think she enjoyed the dinner we had at El Campesino?

Taking Notice

What better way to summarize a few funny, quirky and obviously random thoughts than a sharing them in a list of things I've noticed in the last couple of days!

• I realized today that almost every time I reach the final bite of a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, I wish there was another! PB&J just hits the spot sometimes.
• I shutter and shift between pride and sadness when I pick up on Jack saying something correctly that he previously said incorrectly. You moms know exactly what I mean...those mis-sayings are some of their most precious creations. Just like how he says, "I do it my by self!" I almost never correct these slip-ups because they are so endearing. Just last night at dinner, he asked after he finished if he could have a "ba-zert?" It melted my heart, and he of course got a reese's cup shortly thereafter! :)
• How can it be SO much more fun to cook for 240 people than for 4? I guess it doesn't hurt when you've got a fun group of girlfriends gathered in the kitchen to work alongside!

Stay tuned for many more random thoughts!