A Father's Day to Remember

What a neat and special Father's Day we had this year.  I wasn't able to do a big weekend like last year (http://anna-bradford.blogspot.com/2011/06/chopped.html) because we had both of our own Father's in town!  Such a neat day to get to see the people you are celebrating face to face!  So thankful for the friendship that our two families share.  It is a gift I know.  Our family will cherish getting to have both sets of grandparents in town and all getting along!

We did alot of kid-like cards and gifts and I never even got the chance to write my own card to the dads- so here is my attempt.

To the mac daddy of all- we love you and thank you for your hands on approach to life.  There is no sideline time for you in this season and we applaud and urge you to continue playing offense and defense.  I am feeling very confident in our boys futures with a Dad like you leading the way.  Your example to them in these two years is a model that I feel could be an example to all dads.  I don't think the boys would ever have a bath or go to sleep at night if it wasn't for your help every step of the way each night.  You work 12-14 hour days but I never feel like it is affecting our kids.  You have really found a sweet niche for working hard and playing hard.  Thank you for your selfless service to our family.  

To Ranger- Thanks for being the dad that tells me you are proud of me each time we talk.  Thanks for the big hugs and the smooch telling me you love me. I am forever grateful for the bond you and Little B share.  Your intentional love for Little B is an example that I am inspired by each time I watch you two.  Your tender heart is one of a kind and I pray each grandchild takes that trait with them out into the world.  Thanks for being my number one fan.  We all need fans like you. 

To Pops- I have alot to thank you for because you helped shape the man I love.  Thanks for your integrity in this big bad world and sticking to your guns when you know what is right.  Thanks for your listening ear and advice on big decisions and petty life struggles.   Thank you for your willingness to always help and serve your family.  Thanks for letting your wife fly down the next day when we needed reinforcement.  And thank you for always pointing us back to the cross.  

 This picture below will be framed for a long long time.  

Now I feel like I should do a whole post to the two grandmother's who held the fort down for 5 days the week before Father's Day!

Hampton 9 months

Hambone is 9 months and is on the move!  He started officially crawling right before he turned 9 months when we got back from the Caymans.  He is really fast now and nothing is stopping him!  His favorite thing to do is find his brother's sippy cups and snack cups and crawl to them and try and eat them.  He has a radar for those things.  Bradford and Hampton are really enjoying each other as they make each other laugh in the car by squealing at each other or playing hide and seek.  Hampton's first words were dada but last week he started saying MAMA.  I think he is saying Bradford too but just not as clear...thats a hard word.   

Pictures in the chair are basically impossible:) 

 He is weighing a little over 21 pounds. 

 He can stand by himself for a few seconds and will be taking steps soon I believe

We actually went to the doctor today as his asthma continues to worsen.  They've put him on another steroid on top of the one in the breathing treatment.  Poor guy...his line up for medicine is pitiful.  I counted them today I gave him 6 different syringes of medicine on top of 4 breathing treatments.  Whew.   We got the results back from his allergy tests and they all came back NEGATIVE.  Not exactly sure what all they tested for pretty sure it was dog, oak, dust, green beans, peanut, dairy......We were all a little shocked and go back next week to go over the other tests and get a new game plan.  Big Bradford continues to remind me every time I say, "I can't figure Hampton out." He says, "Why are you still trying?"  haha.

Hambone we love you.  Can't wait to see the great things you do.  I'll try and not remind you the challenging first year you had :)

Beach bums

We are loving our little beach place. It's a one bedroom-one bath and fits our family almost perfect.  We sleep on the pullout while Little B sleeps in the King bed and it can be tricky trying to get both kids an afternoon nap at the same time. Some days are a success and some days are a complete disaster. 

 But the boys are LOVING the beach! Hampton eats the sand he loves it so much.

We came straight down here from Atlanta. Thought we were a little crazy and maybe impulsive to continue on with our beach plans but I have no regrets! The boys have done great and I am so thankful to be able to reflect on life and regroup after losing Nanny.

We had some friends down for the 4th and had a great time! We even had all 4 kids sleeping at the same time! We didn't know what to do with ourselves!

The pictures are all out of order...

Playing at the beach after dinner one night

Our nightly routine once the kids were down

They are so fun together- lots of laughs

Little B was playing baseball outside and went to get the baseball in the rocks and a wasp stung him!  He was a tough little guy and barely cried.  Of course he screamed when he got stung but after that was such a trooper. 

Can you find Hampton?

He's all over the place!  Happy 4th!

First day on the beach and wasn't so sure..

Day 2, 3, 4 he was all about it!

Cutie Claire

I love this pic. 

Nanny

Nanny has fought the good fight and won the race.  She passed away peacefully this afternoon with her three children there by her side.  Nanny has slowly been leaving this earth since her first stroke in December.  Each month became more apparent that Nanny's time was coming.  I remember crying one day in January when I realized Nanny wasn't going to call me anymore.  Man would I love to hear one of her really long messages wondering if she was talking to me or the machine.  Nanny was the hardest thing to leave in Atlanta.  It's hard to not want back these last two years with her and be by her side during these last tough months.  Nanny was the grandmother that I spent every Thanksgiving with and every Christmas with. She was spunky and told you how she felt but her honesty kept her real and her fiesty nature kept you behaving.  She was always fair and never showed favoritism more to one grandchild than another and I think that is a valuable lesson we all take with us to pass on.  She was an incredible bridge player and has modeled that if we want a long healthy life(she would have been 93 years old July 31st)-then bridge is the answer. 

 Oh sweet Nanny- I know you were so proud of your family and I am blessed to have been your granddaughter.  I will always always always remember the smitten relationship that you and Little B had and CHERISH those memories of us visiting you each week when we lived in Atlanta.  I didn't realize how special it was to get to live in the same city with you for five years until we moved.

We leave for Atlanta in the morning to celebrate her life and hug our family that she kept glued together.   I wasn't able to see Nanny at Christmas time this year so I missed out on seeing my cousins.  I can't wait to hug their neck and reminisce all about our Nanny.  There will be many stories to tell and many tearful laughs.  She never left us without a dull moment.   Goodbye tears- bring on the laughter.  Nanny would want us to have a good time. 

This photo is from last summer when my mom drove Nanny down to stay for a week.  She loved Tampa and went right along with whatever Little B wanted to do- St. Pete, fountains, Chick-Fil-A.  She would share her coffee cup with Bradford each morning and when she left Bradford always talked about drinking coffee like Nanny.  On Tuesday we told Little B that Nanny was sick and he said, "Nanny needs to drink medicine out of cup" We called my mom and told her to tell that to Nanny- Tuesday was the last day that Nanny was awake.  

This memory is really special to me as this is the first time that Nanny met Hampton.  Hampton is named after Nanny-Dodd is her maiden name- this was also the last time that Nanny was Nanny.  This is in November before Thanksgiving.  So glad she got to hold and know Hampton when her memory was still sharp.  

This is in March when we were in Birmingham we stopped by to say hey on our way back to Tampa.  Nanny didn't know our names but was really into the kids.   

She wanted to hold them and talk with them.

 Over at our house in Atlanta seeing Little B when he was a week old

 Easter when Little B was 3 months

 At Little B's dedication- he was 5 months then

 With Nanny in Hawaii for Trent and Eleanor's wedding

 Nanny used to try and wake up Little B when he came over to her place- she could hardly wait to hold him

 Easter at Big Canoe a month before I found out I was pregnant with Little B

Life won't be the same without her.  

Grand Caymans

To all of my JH stalkers out there:  This post is for you :)  Glad to know that this blog was the hot topic on the trip- afraid that our blog website got passed around to who knows..thank you MJ.  

Well we have been wined and dined.  Bradford qualified for the Leader's trip with his company and man I am SO thankful.  Not one point of the trip disappointed.  It was the time of my life at the right moment.  We stayed up late every night and slept until 8 every morning.   I had to pinch myself sometimes that what I was experiencing was real!  

Did I mention one of my BF's was on the trip!?  Her husband qualified too which made the trip even more fun!  We did girl things(spa) and the boys went deep sea fishing and played golf.  

First day we all got to choose some Maui Jim sunglasses- my first pair of "real" sunglasses- I LOVE them! 

Bradford singing Karaoke with his boss- Bradford and Art closed the night with "You've Lost that Loving Feeling"  Hoping that sealed the deal with us getting to go on the next trip to Hawaii! 

Ahh...take me there..

Formal night- felt like I was back in college!  We danced the night away!  Awesome band and awesome dance partners

TED

First night reunited.

Did a little work...not a bad office

View from our huge and awesome room!

Xolani- took good care of Laura and I

Snorkeling with Laura- first time for me!

We also swam with the stingrays and "sailed" even though Laura and I thought the boat was broken while the sail was up- ha.

The ladies and awesome dance partners

Bradford opened up the karaoke night with "Sweet Child of Mine"  Nothing like your own wife throwing you under the bus to sing....but he did an awesome job!  

Ahhh....the flotilla

Favorites from the 5 day trip:

Beach Volleyball- diving in the sand like my life counted on it

Floating in the ocean for hours

First experience with Steam Room and Sauna

Amazing hour long massage

Mimosas after massage and some much needed girl talk

Bradford and I shopping for a special gift in Georgetown

Lobster Risotto and Sushi on the first night

Hailing the band 

"Grilled Veggies"

Sitting on the beach the last night and laughing our heads off

ALL of the food

Bradford says Golf and food and fun

Ahhhh- back to reality. I missed my sweet reality but I will always welcome a 5 day getaway to paradise.