blessed beyond measure

I am anti-Facebook. I have never had any desire whatsoever to join, and there are many reasons for that. Part of it is the whole job connection - kind of like those people who work in a coffeeshop who can't stand to drink coffee because they're around it all the time. I stare at a computer screen for a living. About the last thing I want to do when I'm not working is to stare at a computer screen. I truly enjoy this blog and keeping up with my blog buddies, but that's about it. Another part of it is that I am admittedly NOT a people person. This was clearly seen in a trip to Walmart this past weekend, where my sweet innocent son waved and yelled "Hi!!" to everyone who walked past, and my gut instinct was to hush him. (I didn't, of course.) There is some comfort in living in my little bubble, only being in contact with a select few. And I know, that's not how a Christian should be. Jesus is a people person. There are more reasons that I won...

All glory goes to God - our garden is looking spectacular this year. Brandon was able to plow it up really, really well before we planted, with the addition of a tractor to the extended family. Plus we have had a very good amount of spring rain and we did some serious crop rotation while planting, all of which have seemingly created the perfect storm for gardening. We have seven rows of corn, four rows of green beans, three squash plants, twelve tomato plants, and fifteen of what we now know as pumpkin plants (more on that later). And while the corn and pumpkins still have a ways to go, we have gotten 12 squash and expect to pick our first mess of beans today. Yay! Last night we were all walking around in the garden, just looking around and praising the Lord. At one point Brandon started talking to the corn (it helps, you know), and Trey thought that pretty amusing. A little while later we walked to another part of the garden and after a few minutes, looked back to find Trey talk...

With Brandon off from work for the summer and spending a lot of time with Trey, they get into all sorts of crazy man things. Trey has almost mastered throwing a toy baseball overhand, learned many new songs that Brandon made up, and just last night learned how to spit. Boy am I happy about that one. Anyway, while I was at work yesterday, around lunchtime my cell phone rang. Brandon:  What's fwo-way-dah? Ashley:   What? Brandon:  Trey is saying 'fwo-way-dah' and I don't know what it means. Ashley:  Get him to say it for me. Brandon:  Trey, what did you say? Trey:  Want fwo-way-dah! Ashley:  I have no idea. Brandon:   (To Trey)  What do you want? I hear Trey rattle off about 20 unintelligible words followed by, "OK????" Brandon:  I don't know what he's saying. Ashley:  Ask him to show you fwo-way-dah. Brandon:  Trey, can you show me what fwo-way-dah is? Trey goes to the refrigerator. Brandon:  He's at the refrigerator. Ash...

Lately at bedtime, I've been singing "Baby Mine" to Trey. (That's the lullaby from Dumbo in case you can't place it.) I used to sing it to him when he was a newborn, but somehow it left the rotation. So we've brought it back. Trey has learned every word of that song, or at least the sound of every word. After I put him in his crib last night, I stood outside his door to hear him sing the whole thing, all 3 verses in order. Oh he's growing up! Anyway, he woke up this morning singing it again. Just one part though. Not great video here - I was outside his door trying not to interrupt. So it's mainly a listening thing. Melts my heart.

Watch this: Trey is pretty funny with this. Takes him a little bit to get into it, but when he does, it's great.

So we have finished up the last of our Mommy & me swim classes, and I'm so glad to say it was a great experience. The first class-and-a-half did not go well at all, with Trey screaming his head off, scared to death of the water. But somewhere in there he flipped a switch and ended up loving it. We worked on kicking, reach and pull, blowing bubbles, jumping in the water, and dunking. Trey is best at kicking, pretty good at jumping in the water, but the others still escape him. That's OK though. We'll have plenty of chances to work on those skills. He does love the water now, and constantly asks to go "simmin a pooooo" or "simmin a yake". So it should be a fun summer.

I used to do my grocery shopping at Food Lion. It was nice - they ran about the same deals as Kroger, I knew the people that worked there, they had a good supply of everything I needed, the store was smaller and I could get around in it blindfolded. Yet alas, I was enticed away by our new, flashly, gigantic Kroger store, offering double coupons and plus-card discounts on gas. We have done fairly well with this, aside from my extreme frustration over the fact that, as soon as I learned my way around the store enough to make a well-ordered list, they remodeled and moved everything. Anyway, I still check the Food Lion ads and will occasionally pop in to snag a great deal. The register coupons that print when you check out have changed over the last couple of weeks, to a new program called Simple Savings. I am a big fan. I've been in Food Lion twice in two weeks to get some super-cheap hot dogs and diapers. In those two trips, I received register coupons for a free 5-lb bag of sug...

Here are a few interesting facts Trey has shared with us lately, in case you should ever need to know. On bathtub etiquette (Sitting in the bathtub) "No poo-poo in bath." On plants and nature (When asked what is growing in the garden) "Beans, corn, beans, corn, squash, chicken nuggets, turkey sandwich." On the human body (While sitting in his high chair during dinner at Brandon's folks' house, Trey reaches his hand down through his collar and into his shirt.) "NIP-PLE!"

Hot. H. O. T. Yes, summer is in the air, and praise the Lord for air conditioning. Trey seems most comfy this way: The garden is looking very good at this point. We're praying hard that it continues to grow well. I've got an empty chest freezer and probably a hundred canning jars just aching to be filled up. Brandon's summer break is getting closer and closer. Until being married to a teacher I never realized that teachers look forward to summer more than students do. He and Trey will have some great man time. And the first of seven summer babies due among our various friends has arrived. So we'll be doing a lot of throwing of baby showers, calling, visiting, cooking, holding newborns... Such a blessing. Babies just make you happy. Another thing this summer brings is Trey's 2nd birthday. I can't believe my baby will turn two. I am so full of joy over his life, and at the same time so sad that every day that passes is another day I can't ever have...