Huge Thanks

A big thanks to Jim for hanging at the house from 8 am until 4:30 pm
today waiting for Gas, Cable and the new fridge. Thanks Dad! We
really appreciate it.

Happy Birthday Brooke!

Sunday at Newk's

Fun in the Sun

Who says it's not hot enough to swim? The water in Cindy's pool is
juuust right.

Apple Core

Is 1 too young for your first apple?

Look Who's Standing

Now if we could just get her to eat by herself.

Meet the Newells

A huge congratulations to my little sister, Libby. Not only did she set the world record for number of hours spent in intense, agonizing, belly-popping pain, she also gave birth to beautiful little Viola Jane Newell on Tuesday. 

I have not spoken to Libby personally, but best I can tell, here's how it all went down:

Monday, April 20, 2009, 6:30 a.m.: Libby's water breaks. 

Monday, April 20, 2009, 6:31 a.m.: Libby decides that perhaps she should tell someone that her water has in fact broken. After pondering to whom she should share this news, she decides to tell her husband.

Monday, April 20, 2009, 6:32 a.m.: Libby and her husband Brian pile into Civic with dogs Mary and Stella and head to the Birthing Center. That's right, the Birthing Center. Libby decided to go au natural, and use a midwife for the birth of her baby. No doctors, no hospitals. No big medical bills. Just like the good old days. Clean rags and hot water. 

Monday, April 20, 2009, 12 noon: After several hours hanging with the midwife, Libby begins to realize the baby may not show itself anytime soon. The family back in Jackson begins to receive word of strange happenings, like large bouncy balls and spray downs. 

Monday, April 20 ish, 2009: Sometime very late in the evening or early the next morning somebody realizes it aint happening. My bet is that it was Brian. Go Brian. Libby heads to the hospital.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 9:20 a.m.: STILL in labor, Libby sends out an SOS via text message.  "No baby yet. In hospital. Exhausted but OK. Pray for delivery. Let e'body know."

Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 10:39 a.m.: This is the last word we hear from Libby. "Hr18, going slow. Waiting for more anesthesia. 5 cm." I think the exhaustion affected Libby's mathematics. This was hour 28.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 2 p.m.: Libby's Mom decides to cut Libby out of her Will for lack of updates.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 5 p.m.: Libby's friend informs us that Libby gave birth to little Viola Jane sometime around 2:30 p.m. Reluctantly, Libby's Mom puts Libby back in Will, dividing Libby's share equally with Libby's friend. 

Whew! Are you tired? I am.

Congratulations Libby and Brian!!!

Here are a few pics of the new family.

Spike Update

Spike is on his way back to Jackson and worried about his Aunt Libby
who is now in her second day of child birth.

Storytime

The girls get a story from their good friend, Bubba, after a long
tiring weekend.

On the Road Again

Funny thing happened in Jackson. Cindy announced that she didn't want
Spike in her backyard while I was in Selmer this weekend. So Spike is
back at co-captain, headed home to AB and Ernie. I haven't broken this
to him yet, but this could be the last time he sees Ernie for a long
time. That's right. AB The Puppy Broker is back in action. Ernie is
going to be staying on the farm with Granny and the new renters. Our
new backyard isn't big enough for two poopers.

Funny Faces

Addie Hugging Weezie

Haircut

So I got my first haircut in my new town today. On recommendation of my boss, I went to a 15-dollar walk-in's welcome place that he's been going to for years. The barber shall remain nameless to protect the innocent (Me. The dude was HUGE!). I have no complaints about the way my hair looks. He was conservative and careful. He may could have even taken a little more off, but I was scared to come across as obnoxious or critical our first time together. Like I said, the dude was HUGE.  I will probably go back. He really did cut it nicely. I look good. 

But before I go back, I'm going to have to get the memory and image of this 6'4" muscle-bound man blowing on my neck out of my head. He did it like 10 times! Instead of using the hair dryer to blow the cut hair off me, he would take a quick inhale and just blow the hair off my neck with his mouth - the same way a carpenter blows sawdust off a freshly drilled hole. Just didn't feel right. Gonna take a little getting used to. 

Hey Mom!

Gracie and Addie are having a good time at Cindy's house, but they
definitely miss their Momma.

Spike Update

Turns out life in Cindy's backyard isn't so bad. He's adjusting. I, on
the other hand, am ready to get this month behind us and have the
family under the same roof again. Got the mover lined up yesterday.
It's going to happen May 1. Come on May 1!

Annual Bunny Photo

The Purple Egg

Happy Easter

The eggs are plentiful in Destin.

Beach Baby

Changes

Spike said adios to Selmer today. He is having trouble getting used to
the idea of moving to Flowood. It's been emotional for him. In fact,
he seems to be a little miffed at me. We're on the way now and as you
can see here, he won't even look at me. He'll come around.