On Saturday, Ahna and Grumps took me and Momma to Auburn to see Uncle Benji and Uncle Nicholas and to all watch the Auburn game together. We got down there early that afternoon and checked into the hotel, and ate some lunch. I spent alot of lunch talking to the 3 year old boy at the table next to me. He kept waving and I laughed at him alot, when we got ready to leave he yelled, "Bye Baby!" and I squealed back. Then we met up with U. Benji and U. Nicholas, but before we could head to the stadium, they made me put on a bunch of clothes. I had to take off my pretty orange Auburn shirt and navy pants, and put an Auburn sleeper over my socks, and then an Auburn sweatsuit, and an orange toboggan, and my tennis shoes. I looked very handsome, and I know so cause all these people kept telling me so as we walked to the stadium. Then we were at the Tiger walk. There was so much going on that I wasn't sure where to look. People kept saying this was the biggest one that they had seen in a while. It went way down the road and across a couple of little roads, and we got to see Gene Chizik and all the players. The band was playing and the cheerleaders where hollering, and there were some really pretty trees. Anyway after that we were trying to get to the stadium, and the cheerleaders walked by and several of them grabbed my hand and said War Eagle. I waved my hand in circles just like Momma does for kick off.
So we got to the stadium and Grumps found four tickets together just where he wanted them, for just the price he wanted. So we got there a little more than an hour before the game started. It was really exciting watching the student section and listening to the music. It was spitting snow and rain for a few minutes, but it went away. Thank goodness cause Ahna said she had no interest sitting in the rain. About 20 mins before game time all the fun started. I really liked watching the band come in the stadium and they went all the way around playing the Fight Song and Glory to Ol' Auburn. Their horns were so shiney. Then the eagle flew, but she didn't stay up very long cause it was cold. I could even see my breath. Then the players ran out on the field and everyone cheered and it was really, really loud.

Sorry folks, I don't have any pictures today. Silly momma packed the camera in the luggage when we were on the plane. I like to fly there are all sorts of interesting people that you meet.

I didn't like everyone that we met. See we were in a hurry, cause Momma left my food at the house and Daddy had to turn around and go after it. Anyway, so we got through security, but they wanted to look at my food closer. I don't know why, it's my food, and I don't share my yummy food. Anyway, they were looking at some one else's bag first so, we had to stand in line.
This whole time Momma was juggling me and two bags, and trying to get her shoes and belt back on. So, finally this mean, old man looks at my food. They originally told Momma that they only had to look at food in jars bigger than 3 ozs. But not this man. He scanned my cereal in the box and cereal in the bowl, and my fruit and my veggies, and my formula and my water for it. Then he started asking Momma all sorts of questions: where are you going, why do you need so much, why is some of it store bought and some cooked? Then they called over the speaker, "Cunningham to gate C30 to Birmingham." Momma told the man, that's us, but he just kept going slow as he could. Finally he gave Momma my food, and then she had to get it all packed back up. Then she ran through the airport carrying me, two bags, a bunch of papers, and two water bottles. We got to the gate, and then she just dropped all the papers on the desk and the nice man talked to me and sorted things out.

So we got on the plane, and there was this really nice lady, and she offered to hold me so Momma could put everything away. I sat with her most of the flight. She had this black shawl with fringe all the way around, and this pretty gold cross necklace, that I really wanted to play with, and she was very nice. I liked her alot. Then there was this funny guy who worked on the plane, who kept stopping to talk to me. I would talk back to him, but I don't think he understood me because Daddy says I speak Monkey and no one else speaks monkey.

Anyway, we finally landed 10 mins early, and before long Ahna was there, and when we got out to the car Granddaddy and Grandmother were there. Then we ate breakfast at Waffle House, and I had my oatmeal, and some gravy, and hashbrowns. I didn't like hashbrowns, but Momma kept putting them in my mouth. Then I went to sleep and I woke up at Grandmother's house. I played in the floor awhile, and then I took a nap while Ahna rocked me, and now I'm playing again. It's been an exciting day so far. I can't wait till Grumps gets home from work.

I'll talk to you all later. I love you Daddy! Bye-bye.

Today Southside, the local vet and farm supply store, had their Fall Extravaganza. They gave away 5 free chicks to the first 40 customers. So Gary, Britt, and I went up there this morning and came home with 5 chicks. They are currently living in a Pampers box on the front porch/in the yard. Britt wasn't quiet sure what to make of them. He wanted to chase them but not touch them. He did finally touch one while I was holding it, with just one finger for just a second. We plan to go back a little later to eat free BBQ, and enter the free drawings.

I saw an ad on Facebook this morning for Pantene ProV that said, "When the times get tough, the tough get gorgeous." I had to laugh, I mean come on, buying Pantene and washing your hair might make you feel a smidgen better, and I mean a smidgen folks, but it does not help the tough times. Hahahaha, who comes up with this sort of marketing?

So, I'm at a bit of a loss with Britt. He refuses to eat finger foods. I'm sure that some of this has to do with the fact that we've had to wait so long to introduce them. He is happy for you to feed him with a spoon, and for you to pick food up with your fingers and feed him, he's happy for me to hold a banana and him eat on it. But the boy, pitches a fit if you sit the food down in front of him and expect him to eat it. I mean he gets mad if I try to feed him these cheerio like things. The one exception to this is bananas, which he has decided is the best thing ever to smash. He actually occasionally likes to pick them up and laughs when they jump out of his hands.

Britt,

Today you are spending the afternoon with Memaw so I can d0 all sorts of time consuming things. Infact, I have already mopped, organized all of my yarn and scarves, cleaned off the kitchen table, and put Daddy to work washing dishes. I hope to do some grocery shopping and catch up your book this afternoon too. You see these days I spend alot of time chasing you around the house. You are crawling like crazy and yesterday you learned how to climb over the boxes of diapers that we have been using to block off the dinning room and kitchen from your over curious self. I am constantly having to relocate objects higher and higher in our room in order to keep you out of them. Some how though you keep finding ways to sneak things off of the tops of the couch. Nothing is safe, when you decide that you want it.

On Monday almost a week past 8 months you weighed in at 16 lbs and 15 oz, and 27 1/2 inches long - making you almost 3 lbs heavier than last month. Dr. Saranko was very pleased, and said that he didn't have to see you back until a year. He also oked you to eat meat and finger foods now. We have tried finger foods in the last few days, and you don't seem to like it much. You would rather shove them off the highchair than pick them up. When I put them in your mouth you protest alot. You are going to have to start getting use to eating things chunkier.

You are cruising now with almost as much speed as you have crawling. Sometimes now you let go of things and stand for a split second, but you don't have any balance. When we are outside, which you love, you crawl like a Mowgli on all fours, but you've pretty much quite doing that in the house on the carpet.

You are a delight. My favorite part of our day is in the morning, right before your morning nap, when I'm in your room getting things put away, and you go to the bookcase and pull off a book, and crawl over to me, pushing it. I always stop what I'm doing and pick you up and read it. I let you flip the pages and sometimes you turn it back to the beginning when we are done, so I read it again. Sometimes I'm awfully busy in the afternoon and can't drop everything, but I always do in the morning, because I can already see that you are growing up too fast. I know that you won't always want Momma to hold you and read to you, so I try to do it as much as possible. We spend a little time each day, usually in the morning, sitting on the front porch in the swing and we rock and you tell me all about the trees and the cars that drive by, and you get especially excited when Mara comes by and lets you pet her. I treasure these little moments when you smile and laugh and make me the center of your little world.

I love you little man,
Love,
Momma

My evil Blender died yesterday right in the middle of making Britt's carrots. With some on the stove and some in the blender it was a rather opportune time to bite the dust. And so what could I do but grieve in verse...

I am warming up more to the beach these days. I never really use to like going. I really hate sand, and how it gets everywhere, and the salt, yuck, I mean Smith Lake or the river is just much nicer, oh and waves, who likes to be splashed in the face over and over, and look this is the longest run on sentence ever, I need to end it because I was just informed via Facebook that today is National Punctionation Day, and I'm abusing the English language. Seriously though, who came up with National Punctionation Day? I bet it was Mrs. LeMay, my 11th grade English teacher. She was a bit strict and crazy about grammer. hmmm... where was I?

Oh yes, the beach. So we went to the beach last Saturday and it wasn't so bad. This trip was both spur of the moment and two weeks in the making. Let me explain. A couple of weeks ago, Dad happened to be down with Joan at the Carosel Kids shop (it's a second hand baby/kid shop with all sorts of neat things). They found several floats for little kids and babies, and the lady told Dad with it being the end of the summer he could have them for $1 a piece. So he picked up two, bought them, let all the air out of them, and headed home. Then Joan decided that Brystal should see them blown up, so she blew on back up and brought it in the house. Brystal immediately saw it, jumped in and said, "Mister, can we go to the beach?" So they were going to go Saturday a week ago, but in rained.

Fast forward to last Friday evening. Gary was talking to Mom on the phone and she mentioned they were going to take Brystal to the beach on Saturday, and did we want to go. So we said sure! Then she called back and said that they were going to go ahead and head over there instead of waiting till in the morning. So in 30 mins I packed and Gary washed up all of Britt's food stuff, then we loaded up the car and off we went.

Gary and I got up Saturday morning before Britt woke up, and we went walking along the beach and found a bunch of neat shells, and he found me a giant whole sand dollar that was still alive, and I found the tiny-est sand dollar ever. I have they drying out on the porch right now.

Britt really seemed to enjoy it. He laughed and acted silly and splashed in the water in his little baby intertube-float-thingy. Right before we got out of the water for the last time, he laid way back, and just let Mister push him around. He had a ball crawling and chasing after Brystal, and she would jump up and down and he would just squel and laugh. He thought she was supper funny. It was nice and relaxing.


(sorry for the complete lack of cute pictures of Britt at the beach, if I ever get them from Mom I'll add them)

I can get Daddy too! He's not the only sneaky person around here.

Ann Tucker is the only person I have an update on today. She had surgery yesterday, and it went well. They delayed her surgery 9 hours, because there were two people in front of her. They were able to completely remove the mass, and they will have a report in a few days on exactly what type of tummor it was. They also tested her lymph nodes, and they came back clear, so hopefully the cancer hasn't spread. So far it's all very good news. Aunt Joanna will be up in Georgia at least 3 weeks to take care of her mother. So in addition to remembering her and her mother, please remember Uncle Quintin and the boys as they rough it without her.

Sunday afternoon a bunch of us just needed a get together, and Bro. Buddy had just preached on not being so caught up in the cares of life that we forget to give care to the other Church members. One of his points was that we can't strengthen and encourage one another if we don't spend any time together. So, we decided to head back to mine and Gary's little place. I'm not positive how we got some many into our living room, but we split up into teams and played Mario Party, watched The Sword in the Stone, passed Britt around, ate hot dogs and chips, and had a great time together. Gary and I had meaning meaning to invite everyone over for going on 6 months now (since we moved in) so it was about time.

I am sorry to inform you that Britt won't be blogging today. I will let him get on the computer tomorrow. I promise!

Instead I want to take a moment to update everyone on the job search. First of all we want to thank everyone so much for all their help at this time. It's been a little scary and stressful to be without a job, and we wouldn't have been able to function without all of you. From people bringing us groceries to giving us money to pay bills, from free babysitting while we do some job hunting to putting in countless of resumes all over the South, but most of all we are thankful for all of your love, support, and prayers. We really feel like it's important to let you all know just how much you mean to us. Gary and I have said several times to each other, if this hasn't taught us anything else, it's taught us how very loved we are.

Currently we have two positions that we are exploring more.

The first one is located here in this area. Gary would be selling credit card machines and services for Prodigy. This job would enable us to stay here in our nice little house, surrounded by all of our wonderful friends at Little Union. It has good insurance after 90 days, and the potential to make alot more money than we were previously making. The downside is that it is a sales postion, where if you don't sell you don't make money. This can be good, but it can also mean no matter how well you present something the other person, can still say no. It's a little bit nerve racking for me since I like to have the budget planned down to the penny. It will teach us to rely more on the Lord, and constantly be a reminder to me where our help comes from. Of course Gary says the biggest downside is having to wear dress clothes, and maybe even a tie. haha.

The second one is located in Centre, AL. Gary would be working as a Warehouse Manager for a company affliated with Helena. This job would enable us to move near my family. This company is almost exactly like what Gary has been doing and really is the kind of work that he prefers, the pay would be very similar to what he was making. The downside would be leaving so many friends and family behind, though no matter which job we take we are far away from half of our family and friends. While it could be exciting to move, it still means we have to move... AGAIN.

Like I said, we are still exploring both options. Gary will probably be traveling up to Alabama soon to interview and meet with two of the people with Helena. He has also been going through training with Prodigy for the last two days. We would just like to ask that everyone continue to keep us in your prayers that we would be able to make the best decision for the three of us, and be in accordance with the Lord's will.

Some of you may know that I really enjoy to crochet. I originally picked it up from Mrs. Mead our Home Ec teacher, and made my Mother a dish towel and rag. Both of which I now think a just a little lacking in quality, but still have an honored place back home on top of the tv, under some picture frames. I eventually graduated to make one special person a blanket just for them every year at Christmas... well, except this year. I mean, come on, I was about to have baby.

Sorry that I have been so slack lately in updating the prayer request. As usual, I will just up date on those for whom I have new information, and there a few new ones to add to the list.

Anyone with an update on Hailey Gowens, please let me know. I haven't heard one in sometime.

Brother Charles Carlton has had many ups and downs while we have been gone. Somedays he is doing well and improving, and other days it looks like this is the end. It is not only a rollercoaster for him physically, but also one for his family emotionally. Please continue to keep them all in your prayers, and that God's will may be done in the matter.

James Mizel is doing well with his therapy and his brace. He walks just fine now with it, and very well with it off for short periods of time. He and his twin sister are keeping Amanda quiet busy with their funny antics.

Nate Ferrel has recently been placed on O2 fulltime. This was a change that was needful, but at the same time dreaded. The good news is that he has adjusted well, he is no longer retracting in his breathing and that he seems to be doing much, much better. Hopefully, this will be something were in time, it can be lessened to only at night and nap time.

We had the pleasure of having Elder Tom Green preach at Little Union while Brother Buddy was away. Sister Melissa of course accompanied him, and we were all delighted to see her in such good health and spirits. She is about halfway through this last round of radiation, and hopefully this will take care of all the problems.

I'm adding to the prayer list a few tonight...

Aunt Joann's mother, Ann Tucker, has recently been diagnoised with lung cancer. She has a small spot on her lung. She will be meeting with the doctor sometime this week, to determine if it has spread anywhere else, and how soon they will have surgery. Please also be in prayer for Aunt Joann at this time, as she will be deciding when she needs to go back up to Georgia to care for her mother, and how long she will need to be gone from Uncle Quintin and the boys.

Sister Gayle Smith is starting chemo (or radiation not for sure which) again. She has battled with cancer in the past, and they periodaticly run test to determine if her abnormal white blood cells count is too high. They think that she will have to have chemo/radiation off an on for the rest of her life. Please remember her and Bro. Phil.

Finally, if you haven't heard Gary is out of a job. Monday will make two weeks. We are putting in applications over several states, across the South. I feel like it is important to let everyone know that I am not praying that the Lord would move us back to Alabama, but that we are together praying that He would make it known where He would have us to be, and what job He would have us to take. I strongly feel that it would be selfish, wrong, and be asking amiss to ask Him to live in a certain place, rather than to seek His will in the matter. At the same time, we also feel that it would be negligent to not cast a wide net. We are putting in applications and resumes in several places in several different fields, and praying for guidance. We would greatly appreciate that you do the same for us.

Ok, so I don't have a Banjo, but Isaac has one that I like to watch him play. However, I have been in Alabama this week. It was kinda like magic. I went to sleep on Wednesday after Church like always, and then I woke up in Georgia outside of a McDonalds. We went inside and Momma and Daddy ate, and this nice lady gave me some hot water to mix up my cerreal. Then she smiled and talked to me. Lots of little old ladies came in while we were sitting there next to the door, and most of them stopped to talk to me. Momma says I'm gonna be conceited if this keeps up, but who knows what that means.Then we got back in the car and I got sleepy. When I woke up again, we were going up and down big hills, I heard Daddy say that we were making good time since traffic was light in Atlanta. We drove through Fort Payne, Al, the home of Alabama. I knew who they were cause Daddy listens to their cds alot, besides even if I didn't know, their pictures were plastered all over the place. There we stopped and ate lunch with Sis. Shelly Allen. Then we got to go to their house where I played with Biscuit. I liked him, he was a nice dog. I crawled after him and chased him around the living room, and we kept trying to lick each other in the face, though for some reason Sis. Shelly didn't seem to like us doing that. We ate supper with them, and took a picture at there house, and then loaded back up. I told everyone that I didn't want to go back in the carseat, but they didn't listen. When I woke up again, we were at Grandmother and Granddaddy's house. I wasn't really very happy, so I got a bath, and Ahna fed me my milk, and then I went to bed. On Friday, I had more fun. Me and Grandmother and Aunt Melanie all played and Momma made me some more baby food. Then we went to Culman to watch Aunt Maghen twirl a flag in the Culman halftime show. It was my first football game, and I liked it a bunch. There were so many colors and things to see. The tuba players were really silly. We sat behind them and I watched them awhile. I liked Maghen's flags too, they were really shiny. I didn't want to go to bed when we got back to their house, but mean ol' Momma insisted. Then on Saturday morning, I got up at 6 am and decided to go and wake Maghen up. We played all morning! I got to play with their little dog Sophie too. Aunt Melanie didn't like it when Sohpie and I tried to hug on each other. Momma just laughed. Then we went to the Hurn family reunion. I was the 6th generation, and everyone made a fuss over me, cause I share my Great-Great-Granddaddy Hurn's birthday. We all ate lunch and visited. Maghen fed me, but I really wanted to eat everyone else's food but mine. We spent the night in Tennessee and the next morning went over to Rutherford to hear Elder Noble Mallard preach. Uncle Nob is my Great-Great-Great Uncle and he is 87, but you wouldn't know it to see him. We had a good time visting him. We went together with all the Church members to eat lunch at a Resturant down the road. They all were so happy to get to visit with us, Momma says it's been a long time since she's been able to go to Rutherford to Church. We played at Aunt Cindy's some more, before it was time to go home. It was like magic again. I feel asleep in my car seat as we were walking out the door, and I woke up the next morning in a pallet in the floor in Benjamin's Auburn room.

On Monday I dressed up in my BEAUTIFUL Auburn stuff to go and get a free chicken sandwhich from Chick-fil-a. Ahna said that they wouldn't give one to the baby, but they did. Daddy ate most my sandwhich though, I just got a little bread. Then we went over to Grandmother and Granddaddy's and I got to play in Ahna's old rocker. She got it when she was around a year old. All the grandkids used it, and now I get to use it too. Today Uncle Nicholas has promised to finally buy me something, maybe a Halloween outfit and some toys. We also have to go by and see Ahna out at school, so I have to go now. I will keep you updated on all my Adventures!

Here's something guarenteed to make you smile, and make your day better. I just love his silly little laugh.

Just looking for some feedback on the new look. We liked the old look, but couldn't update our banner with our pictures, so this evening we set out to find a new background, make a banner, and tweeky the layout. How do you like it? Is it easier or harder to read? What do you like or dislike? The first look lasted about a year and a half until we got married, the second look lasted about a year until after we found out we were pregnant with a boy, and now we are looking at replacing the third look. Hopefully this one will last us at least a year and a half. Afterall, it's like pulling teeth to get Gary to help pick out things that he likes, and that represent us as a family, not just a real girly look. Haha.

Today, Daddy took me to Busch Gardens and it was AMAZING. We were only there for 2 hours, but we saw a bunch of stuff. We got to see the lazy alligators. We got to ride the sky ride. We got to watch the hippo. We got to talk to the Monkeys. We got to sit by these great big turtles. I even got to pet my first Clydesdale, and we got our picture taken with it.

Britt has started waving "bye-bye" sporadically and will occasionally repeat it back to me. He is moving all over the place now. I've got video here from a couple of days (Thursday, Friday, and today), and it's incredible how much better he gets at crawling and moving from one day to the next. It's a bit lengthy, but I haven't posted any video lately and the grandparents will watch it if nothing else. haha.

Britt,

Sorry that it has been so long since I have updated the prayer request.


To my knowledge, Hailey Gowens and Nate Ferrel are both doing well, and have no major problems right now. I do know that Nathan is going to be seeing a Mito specialist, and that they are working with the doctors and insurance company in order to try to get somethings that Nathan needs, but that Insurance doesn't want to cover.

Charles Carlton is still in the hospital, and has been for over 2 months now. Currently he has grown less and less responsive, and the doctors aren't completely sure why, or what to do next. They have compared his condition to someone with cabin fever, in that it has been so long since he has been able to get out and move around that it is beginning to affect him. Please continue to remember his family as well, as they care for him.

Little James Mizel is doing really well, he is still wearing his brace, but he is walking better and better even when he isn't wearing it.

Melissa Green is under going radiation again. Thankfully, she seems to have very little of the side effects associated with it, and hopefully this will take care of all of the breast cancer.

Please be in prayer for this country, as things continue to decline at such a rapid rate.