Oh the places Myrtle the Turtle has gone...and it's only Tuesday!

This week is Ethan's week to take care of Myrtle the Turtle from his Sunday school class...At first I wasn't sure what Miss Roberta was thinking giving Ethan Myrtle the Turtle. But let me just tell you, Myrtle goes EVERYWHERE with Ethan. It's actually kind of nice - Myrtle has gotten Ethan to drink his milk, sit in his chair like a good boy and even eat lunch and dinner. I thought that I might be able to tell Ethan to leave Myrtle in the truck when we go in stores, but no, Myrtle has to go with us (and she comes with her very own pink bag with a big "M" on the front). Oh, Myrtle isn't a real turtle, if you haven't already figured that one out on your own. Mrytle went to Garden Ridge last night, she has been on the back of Poppa's trailer, she really enjoyed Booya's (local burrito place) with Nona and Poppa the other night, sleeps with Ethan and of course, eats all her meals at the table right next to Ethan. Tomorrow we have a playdate with some kids from church and I'm sure Myrtle will be right there in the middle of it all! Check back for more adventures with Myrtle...like I said, it's only Tuesday - you never know where else Myrtle might go!!!

Ethan's first week away from home

Ethan spent last week in Georgia with Nona and Poppa. He had a wonderful time (despite an ear injury from a q-tip before he left Memphis). He went to his first Vacation Bible School and loved every minute of it! He played with his friends, went swimming, played in Poppa's garden, worked puzzles and read books with Nona, watched Finding Nemo with Poppa, ate at Chick-fil-A and of course, went to the bank. Mark and I missed him around the house, but it was nice to get some projects done uninterrupted, go to a movie (Evan Almighty - just rent it when it comes out on DVD), eat out without crayons on the table, carry on adult conversations, carry a diaper bag with no sippy cups in it, and I actually started reading a "real" book! We had a nice week and Ethan did as well, but we were ready for him to come home. I have many fond memories growing up spending a week with grandparents in the summer and at Christmas. Courtney and I always had so much fun with them and will always cherish those memories. I hope Ethan will have fond memories like that as well.

We are looking forward to the next couple of weeks together at home before we travel to Georgia for a couple of days and then to Hilton Head to meet Pa, Ro Ro, Carl and Jaime for a week. Then....the highly anticipated, dreadful day arrives....I turn 30!!!

Ethan vs. Nina at 2 months

So I couldn't resist trying to recreate images of Nina that I had taken of Ethan at 2 months. See if you can tell the difference!

Lake Winnie

In the summer when Courtney and I would go to Chattanooga to spend time with our grandparents, they would take us anywhere we wanted to go. We spent many hours at ShowBiz Pizza (Chuck E Cheese), McDonald's playground, shopping and one of my favorites...Lake Winnepesaukah. We had so much fun riding the rides and playing games. If you're ever in the Chattanooga area, you must check it out. This past week, we took Ethan and met some friends with their precious grandchild, Cadyn. They had a lot of fun - Cadyn had no fear right away...it took Ethan a little while, but he had a lot of fun!

4th of July

Ethan at the parade and below waiting for fireworks

Ethan loved being in Poppa's garden picking blueberries and anything else he could get his hands on!

4th of July

4th of July is always fun for me! I have fond memories of parades, picnics and fireworks with friends and family. 3 years ago I decided to make a new tradition on the 4th - the running of the Peachtree Road Race. I was pregnant with Ethan when I ran that first Peachtree. What an experience! You wake up at the crack of dawn in order to get to Marta early enough to park and get to Buckhead before the race starts. Mark went with me - saw me to my group and then headed to the start line to try and catch a glimpse of me running by and finally made his way to Piedmont Park to the finish line to make sure I made it safely. I did it - I ran my first Peachtree! And now I have 3 under my belt!

This race is the largest 10K in the world - 55,000 run this every 4th of July. You have to get an application in the Saturday edition of the Sunday AJC and send in the application that day or you don't get a number - and this is in March. Then you watch your checking account for the next few weeks to see if your check clears - this is the only way you know that you actually received a spot in the race. The whole process is just fun and exciting for me! But the most exciting part is seeing the coveted Peachtree t-shirt. No one knows what it will look like until they receive it at the finish line. Sometimes runners from earlier groups are walking back down Peachtree with their t-shirts on or waving them to encourage runners going by - but I try not to look because I want to see it for myself once I've finished!

The race starts at 7:30am - but that's group 1. The first year I was in group 9, so I didn't start running until almost 9am. 1000's of people line the entire 6.2 miles to cheer on the runners. The churches are ringing their bells - holy water is sprayed on those who wish to run under it - kids are looking for their parents to run by. It's really quite an amazing thing. Normally when you're on Peachtree Street, you're in a car, bumper to bumper with other cars and you just don't get to enjoy the beauty of the street. Running the 6.2 miles from Lenox Mall to Piedmont Park, you really get to see how beautiful the street is - all the old churches, new condos that are way out of my price range, art museums, restaurants, etc...what a neat way to view the city! Half way through the race is what is known as Cardiac Hill - located at Piedmont Hospital. When you drive up the hill you just don't notice it...but it is quite a steep hill and quite something to accomplish running up in the intense heat and humidity.

I took the next year off since I had a 6 month old. Then last year, I signed up again, but recruited Mark and our friends Chris King and Romeo Brinkley. We all had fun - now it's their tradition as well! I wasn't sure if I would sign up this year since Nina was due the beginning of May...but I did - I figured if I signed up and my check cleared this would be my incentive to get back in shape and start running as soon as possible after she was born. I finished this year in 1 hour and 15 minutes - respectable for having an 8 week old nursing baby! I hope that even though living in Memphis Mark and I will be able to continue running in the Peacthree. It's something that I look forward to every 4th of July - I have 3 of the coveted t-shirts and I hope that I will have many more! Come run with us next year - it's so much fun!!!

Needless to say, we still enjoy picnics and fireworks...but my favorite 4th of July tradition is the Peachtree Road Race!