Showing posts with label grayson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grayson. Show all posts

Sunday, November 20, 2011

a week with the little man!

I've been away... obviously.  And I have chronic writer's block... I get to the end of my rope sometimes and give up on trying to make sense of a post.  Then I let so many days get away from me that I just think "what's the use!?" Then, I have an emotional breakdown because I haven't had my dose of blog therapy and I wonder why I do it to myself. 

I don't even know what all I have to catch everyone up on.  But lots of you follow me on Twitter and I still get my tweet on so you know I'm alive and... busy!

I went to Birmingham last weekend for Grayson's baby dedication.  I wasn't supposed to get there until late Thursday and leave Sunday afternoon.  BUT, at breakfast on the MONDAY before... I got a wild hair and changed my flight for that afternoon.  In two hours I was packed and checked in at the Southwest Airlines terminal.  I got to spend almost an entire week with the little man!





We had some very special Aunt Sissy time. We already have such a neat relationship! I brought Ash & Tyler some movie vouchers to lure them out on a date one night - which allowed me to spoil little precious for a few hours all to myself!  It was so much fun!  They went to dinner and a movie (only their second date since he was born 3 months ago) while Grayson and I played, watched the CMA's, danced, sang songs, and changed a lot of diapers!!  We had one "blow-out" but nothing Aunt Sissy couldn't handle.  I am grateful for my couple years as a 'nanny' in college for teaching me how to change a diaper super fast... but those little boy wee-wee's will get you when you aren't looking! ;)







Ashley was better about blogging than I was while I was there.  Check out her baby posts at her blog!


Mom and Dad flew in on that Thursday - when I was supposed to travel with them - and on Saturday some of our family from North Carolina came in.  It was so fun!  I loved seeing everyone's expression when they saw how much he has grown since we welcomed him into the world on August 16th.  It hurts my heart that I am not there to see him grow each day... but his Mom and Daddy keep me updated with plenty of pictures and videos.  And of course, we've got Grayson on Skype now too! :)




Sunday was the dedication and the purpose of us all being there.  It was such a memorable experience to witness my sister and her husband dedicate their life to raising their child in a Godly home.  Grayson was absolutely HANDSOME!




Grayson caught his first (of MANY!) Tar Heel basketball games while we were there.  The Jones side of his family are diehard Tar Heels (it's the other side of the family that dressed him in that Gamecock attire up there) and we watched the Carrier Classic on Veteran's Day as a family.  The game was between Michigan State and UNC on board the USS Vinson - such an amazing tribute!


I seriously am nephew-obsessed!!!

Anyways, that's where I was last week and then this week I just ignored catching up. Sorry!

Now, I'm enjoying a week with the boyfriend in Florida! Love how he's always willing to come see me.  We absolutely ROCK the whole long-distance thing!

I'll write more later.  Just wanted to catch you up on my little boogie boy!

peace and love
xoxo
BAILY

Friday, October 21, 2011

Aunt Sissy

My sister and Grayson came to visit Florida.  He rode on his very first airplane to Orlando last week.

 I was in Charlotte being a little Nascar Queen for the first couple of days of their trip, but as soon as I got back I had him spoiled with all kinds of Aunt Baily lovin'.  Here are a few pics of our time together so far! :)














peace & love
Aunt Sissy

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Writer's Block = Random

Random Stuff:what you blog about when you've got writer's block



I am so glad that Grayson isn't a Tiger, Gator, or Volunteer...
He is a little Crimson Tide fan!!!
Seriously, there aren't many things cuter than a little Bama baby!



Okay okay, I have to add this or else my brother-in-law will ground me from hanging out with GCL.
 Baby Grayson DOES have a little bit of Gamecock in him, too.  But, I think he will soon figure out that being a South Carolina fan is really only cool during college baseball's College World Series.
  I'm sure he will stick to Bama during football season, though.  His granddaddy Butch (my Dad) will recruit him to join the Tar Heel faithful with us when it is basketball season. My entire family is nuts over college sports and we do not expect Grayson to be anything different. 

He and his "Aunt Sissy" have been working on his soon-to-be first words....
Rolllll Tide Rolllll!

I think someone may have said "War Eagle" right before this picture was taken.
That's the "go to hell" look that I shoot at Auburn fans, too!
While I'm on the subject of the Tide, let me just tell you how stoked I am about the game this weekend.
It is Bama vs. Florida, and it is the rivalry that I look forward to the most - well, besides Auburn.  We don't play Florida every year because the Gators are in the SEC East and the Tide is in the West, but we have met plenty of times in the past few years between regular season games and the back-to-back SEC Championship games that we split victories in. The rivalry ante was upped on those two special occassions because both years the teams were ranked #1 and #2 in the BCS Poll.  Each won a national championship in the past couple of years and both teams recruit like a boss!  This year, the Gator Nation is not
quite up to their standards. With their new coach and a young-but-talented team, the Gators are the underdogs this weekend.  Bama, on the other hand, is damn near perfect and one of the most fun teams to watch this year.  I am saying that because I am a diehard Bama girl, but I am also saying that because I think a few savvy sports fans would agree with me on that. No matter who is on the field - offense, defense, or special teams - the Crimson Tide puts on a show and Nick Saban makes opposing coaches look stupid.

Anyway, I am very ready to see the show in 'the Swamp' this weekend.  I love beating my home state's largest university and my best friends' alma mater.  The rivalry is super personal for me since I live in Florida, have many Gator friends, and I am in love with a guy who bleeds that tacky orange and blue.  Being as that is his only flaw, I can live with it ;)


It's going to be a good, fun game... even if it is in 'the Swamp' and not at Bryant-Denny. 
We hosted them at home last year and put a good old fashioned ass-whooping on them and sent them back to Gainesville.  I know that in the SEC any given team can win on any given day... so I have to watch my mouth.  I just keep praying for patience and that God calm my nerves down when those fans start doing that stupid ole' "Gator chomp." Ugh... but anyways..
Cheers to the Tide!



Fall is my favorite time of year because it means:

...that it is football season & time for tailgating!
...the weather is cooler (but not miserabe winter weather!)
...a new television season begins
...Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks
... cooking and eating lots of casseroles, soups, and pies
....that the major league baseball season is almost over. (Whew!)
... that I rock boots & scarves with anything and everything.
...that the holidays are right around the corner!!!


I just wish that Florida had more of a Fall.  Summer seems to stick around until Christmas but some years we will have us a little bit of a cold spell winter.  By that I mean, bring a sweater out on your Valentine's Day date because you might need it.  I am cold-natured and have chill bumps all over in the middle of the summer, so I'm ok with just the mild coldness!  I just wish the leaves changed colors... but when the rest of the nation is cold, grey, and bare come Winter, I do have to say it feels good to have such a green and florished environment still.  Florida is just one of a kind - and you either love it or hate it.  I am enjoying it... I have not lived in FL during the Fall since 2004.  I forgot how brutally hot it still is at the end of September!!!

I took this pic from my front yard the other day...


Then later that evening, I took another one....

I thought it was fascinating how blue the daytime sky was, but it was even more exhilerating seeing the same sky be painted pink and look so pretty and sweet. 

I guess Florida is just colorful in her own way.  I can deal with the no leaves changing colors as long as I have a watercolored sunset like that!  (I wish I could have gotten a bigger shot of the sky... it went on and on and on...)

I made a really yummy casserole for my parents and I on Sunday night. 
Once I get it finished I will post the recipe.  Here's a sneak peek:

Chicken & Broccoli & Rice casserole.  It was delish - if I do say so myself!  


This post is so random and I'm over it.  Haha.  I will blog again later today when I actually have something to write about.  I have been itching to really sit down and do some creative writing here lately... I miss my short stories and personal essays that I used to post on here.  I need to make more time for my writing and I need to revitalize my inspirational and motivational techniques to get the writer's vibes vibing!

What inspires you?
I love quotes!

Like this one, for instance...



and this one...



I'll just leave you with that.
A random mess of tid-bits for your Tuesday reading.
Someone send me a prompt, a link-up, or anything to get my inspiration going.

Pretty, pretty please!?!


PEACE & LOVE
bjj



Friday, September 9, 2011

another update

I can't believe we are past Labor Day and it is already Friday again! This past week has flown by for me. I got back from Birmingham after a long day of traveling home in those awful Southeastern storms we had on Labor Day.  But, I spent a wonderful weekend with family and boyfriend... oh, and precious baby nephew Grayson. 

He's grown so much in 3 and 1/2 weeks, it is unreal! I am so ready to see him again already!


This week I'm back on the job-hunt and really praying on where my next direction lies.  My brokenness and tender spirit have been restored and God has blessed me with a personal life that makes me the happiest I have ever been, so I want to get back to the figuring out what is next.  I can't just stay "stuck" forever.  Even though this part of my journey is exciting... it still scares the hell out of me and I pray for God's mercy every single day.  I just want to be the best woman I can be and be the best aunt and role-model for little Grayson.  I can be that living proof that people can turn it all around.  I still need prayers, though... and I am thankful at every moment for the amount of support I have in friends and family and in Sheldon.

Now that it is weekend time again I am ready to watch more college football!
'Tis the season! My favorite time of the year!!!

Roll Tide

peace & love
baily