No Doubt I Have the Luck of the Irish

Why you say? Well, lots of reasons...first, this day is my best friend, Cory's birthday, so you can bet we had MANY fabulous St.Patty Day celebrations, and MANY more crazy absurd memories. So naturally, I came to LOVE this day and rank it up there as my second favorite holiday (behind Thanksgiving, of course).

So naturally the party continued (and doubled) when the love of my life proposed to me and then decided to actually follow through with meeting me at the end of the isle (okay - so I was never really worried) 2 years ago from this beautiful day. :) Yes, it's our 2 year anniversary. It's funny cause people remember this was the day we got married, but most people think we're celebrating our 4th or 5th...no people - it's only been 2 years - CRAZY! And I've loved every minute of it. :)

Then last year, my darling and I had just found out we were pregnant with the oh-so-famous Lincoln James and celebrated our marriage and new family at the Melting Pot last year (my favorite).

So what do we do this year? How do we ring in the big T-W-O???

Jason: "So there's this championship game tonight that Donny's caching (friend)...it's a miracle he made it to the finals and a bunch of our friends are going...what do ya think?"

Me: "That's awesome! But - hmmm...could be fun to go, I guess...basketball games are only an hour and a half...it wouldn't be too late or too much time...where is it?"

Jason: "Oklahoma - 2 hours from here."

Me: "Oh."

At this point my interest was WAY dwindling, but I knew he wanted to go and we'd probably get back by 10 since basketball games start at 7:00

Me: "What time does it start?"

Jason: "9:00pm"

Me: "OOOHHHH."

So where's my husband? Yep, at the game. But since my bedtime is when the game starts, Lincoln and I skipped out. And I know you all out there are probably thinking he's the worst husband ever, but let me clarify - i built it up a little dramatic, and we celebrated our anniversary this weekend in Hot Springs. Just thought it would be funny to make you think my husband deserted me on our anniversary (note - that conversation really did happen though).

In serious reflection, though, I'm truly amazed at what a fantastic husband Jason is - I've always thought he is an incredible basketball coach and am sometimes even a little jealous at how good he is at what he does - like the absolute perfect match. But I must say, I have come to realize his talents in the husband category are incomparable. I know we probably have times to come and areas where God will challenge us, but in to years of marriage and a new baby, I still say this marriage thing's a breeze - thanks baby for being the most amazing roommate. :)

And I'll leave you with some little pics of our own St. Patty.

Delicious

The fun toy your Mimi bought you last week!!!!

Easter Came Early

Funny story.

As you all know, this past weekend was the semi-finals for the state tournament. Lincoln's grandparents came to town (Yeah!) for the weekend to hang out, support daddy, and of course love on their new little grandson. They stayed at our house Friday night and Grandma McMahan was AWESOME, getting up with Lincoln at 7:00am and letting the exhausted mother sleep - what a gift - it never gets old!

So my lazy butt rolls out of bed around 10:30 to a laughing, happy child, enjoying his visit with his grandparents. The time rolls around where the little booger usually goes down in his crib for his morning nap, so, trying to stick with his routine, I spoil the party and put him down for a nap. I tell Sharon (his grandma) that he might fuss a little, but just go in and put his pacifier back in his mouth and he eventually will drift off to sleep. So I leave him to fall asleep, and I go jump in the shower cause we're leaving for the semi's in a couple of hours.

I get out of the shower about 10 minutes later and listen for Lincoln crying, or sounds of silence (to indicate he fell asleep). Didn't hear either - instead I heard this cute little jazz song that sounded like it was coming from his bedroom...so I get dressed and go in there to check on him during his naptime and this is what I'm greeted with:

Hilarious. I just started laughing. Grandma said "He didn't wanna go to sleep - he fussed a little and wanted his Easter basket instead!"

He was SO freaking cute! He had a huge smile on his face and as just loving it! Then it hit me - no wonder grandparents are the greatest people on earth...they're the ones that let us eat all the junk food and don't make us take naps, but play and play and play with us - no matter what. Aren't they the greatest? Lincoln sure thinks so...check out that grin from ear to ear.

*Side note* Mommy did make him go to bed eventually...I know, I know. I was the bad guy who came along and spoiled the fun.

Dad's Back Full-time

Well the Panther's lost last night (*wipe away a tear*)...they put up a good fight and it was MISERABLE losing to such an arrogant, unfaithful man with hardly any integrity- God why do you let those kind of people succeed? There's an amazing quote he gave to the Benton County Daily Record that comes out tomorrow. Stay tuned for a link to the article because you WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS...it sums the Green County Tech coach up pretty nicely. :)

In more exciting news, Lincoln rolled over tonight!!!!!!! We were at my parent's house eating dinner and we laid him down to play with him and he rolled from belly to his back! Then we made him do it over and over and over...and then over again. :) He was so proud, too...he would get real excited and smile and giggle really big hen he did it. Let me tell ya...our little man is becoming quite the entertainer and we seriously can't get enough of him.

He got his second round of shots Friday and he was all flirting and smiling with the nurses and then started "talking" up a storm! We all hated to ruin his mood and give him his shots, but we had to, so we all braced ourselves for the tears and screams, then *prick*...silence - we waited...more silence...then a huge smile! Seriously? What a tough guy we have.

Oh yeah...he weighs 15 pounds now! Two weeks ago he weighed 13.5. :)

Something WEIRD Is Going On!

HOLY CRAP we freaking WON (as in, we didn't get our arses handed us)...we WON (we won? seriously?)...we beat one of the top seeded teams. In fact, dare I say - it kind of even seemed like we were the ones handing their arses to them...holy crap how the heck did we manage that? I know some of you reading say, "It's just a game...someones got to win...right?" Wish I could describe what this team looked like...what they play like...what they talk like even...and even more, what we look like!

I know I've said it before, but what's one more time, right?

My husband is one HELL of a coach.

So what's next? We play in the semi-finals tonight at 7:30...that means we're one game away from going to the state championship...again.

And who do we play? None of than the notorious Green County Tech.

Quick rewind: That's who we played last year and beat to be state champs. So goes without saying they would want nothing better than to beat the hell out of us. They're incredibly arrogant, too. Last year their coach made the team refuse to get a picture with the runner-up trophy before the game (they do that so they can pre-make shirts - you get a picture with both trophies)...and they LOST.

And this year Jason saw the coach at the tourney and was talking to him about getting film on another team. The coach (arrogant jerk) gave Jason film on his OWN TEAM - saying, "there's no way you're getting to where we are this year so I'll give you film on a team and even on us!"

And oh, Mr. Green County Tech coach, here come the Panthers. Your worst nightmare. And my brilliant husband has been watching film on your team all night - film that YOU gave him.

Man I hope we win.

Here's what happened last time we played Green County Tech. :)

Advancing

The Panther's played Magnolia (the #1 seed team) in the 1st round of the playoffs last night...and the Panthers beat Magnolia (the #1 seed team) last night by a whopping 3 points - yeah, not so whopping and not so much a relaxing game either. Jason's profession is just begging and scraping to knock years off his poor life with all this heart gripping madness that doesn't resolve itself until the last second before the final buzzer...gee.

Supposedly having a dog adds 7 years to the human life...that's why we have have three. I figure 21+ years is going to be critically needed at some point down the road when the aftermath of this crazy profession called "coaching" begins to take it's toll.

So we play Friday night against (a)Wynne (big, black, and athletic) or against (b)Little Rock McClellan (bigger, blacker, and more athletic). Hmmm....

Our Panthers...

And now the possible competitor from Wynne...

Piece of cake...right?

4 Months

Sweet little Lincoln...today you're 4 months old! I've stopped actually counting the days (which would have put you at 4 months a week and a half ago) and have begun sticking to the actual date of the month you were born. I know, I know...today's March 1st, but it's because February only has 28 days in it this year. :)

You're daddy and I think you are the absolute most precious, entertaining, joy of our lives and we can't imagine loving anything more than we do you. You have become so content these days when you're awake...looking at everything and soaking in all the crazy colors, objects, and faces around you...usually with a big smile on your face. It's so easy to get you to smile and I find myself spending hours a day just doing this because I've never had anything warm my heart so much. You've started reaching out your arms to us...and the dogs. They love you - especially Bruce Wayne. You like to laugh at them and try and grab their ears or their snouts.

You love laying on a blanket in the middle of the living room with some of your toys and the TV lights above you. That's where you spend huge chunks of time trying SO hard to roll all the way over...you've ALMOST got it, but come short of pulling your little should out from under you.

You can definitely see better these days - in fact, your vision is probably better than mine now! You can find your mommy and daddy by the sound of our voices, pick us out from across the room, and form the biggest smile across your face!

You love the song "Jesus Loves Me" when mommy sings it to you. You love any song, but this one always makes you happy. You've also found your feet which really makes you giggle. You try so hard to shove them in your mouth - impressive. Your hands are into everything! Mommy can't wear dangly necklaces or earrings anymore, but it's totally worth it to see you grab and pull with incredible strength. Sometimes when other people are holding you and they don't know your strength, they're caught off guard when you begin pulling their blouses down! You can also take your pacifier out, and put it back in! Not consistently, but you always try and sometimes you succeed. You've also found that thumb and oh you love it!

You love daddy's basketball games. You like to sit in my lap and track the players up and down the court - you think the band's pretty cool, too. But you're not a fan of that scary buzzer! Even though you've already been to at least 25 basketball games, the buzzer still gets you every time! You used to sleep all the way through them, but not anymore - the action's just too exciting I guess. Now I will let you take a nap for the first half in daddy's office, and then you enjoy the second half with mommy and all the people who can't get enough of holding you. Everyone always wants to hold you and play with you!

You are sleeping in your crib every night consistently now. You go to bed at about 9:00 (except on game nights) and we'll wake you up to feed you one last night feeding somewhere around 11:00pm. Then you're out for the night. Sometimes you'll sleep straight till 7:00am...but you've been sick lately and have been waking up around 4:00. But that's okay because mommy just comes and checks on you, puts your pacifier back in, and you drift back to sleep. You fall asleep for naps on your on now and take them pretty regularly...mommy's very proud of this. :)

You just started drinking 6 oz. bottles and you have about 7/day. This is a little excessive for your age, but that's okay cause your tiny butt is only in the 20% for your weight.

You love Mrs. Linda - the lady that keeps you why mommy has to work. Her place is so fun and stimulating and she does all sorts of fun things with you! She says you're the hit of the day with the three other girls that stay there...already a lady's man. Mommy's so proud of how you do there...you almost always have amazing days and are always ready to greet mommy with a smile when she picks you up.

You love your grandparents! Your Poppa and Grandma don't get to see you as much as they would like, but they soak you up like a sponge when they get to see you! They kept you over night a few weeks ago and you loved getting to spend that time with them...Your Mimi and Papa can't get enough of you either! Papa always talks to you about taking you fishing one day - you always seem to smile and giggle when he does this like you actually understand what he's talking about - maybe you do...? You're Mimi keeps you a lot when mommy has band practice or has to work late. You always do great at their house and seem to talk up a storm when you're there!

You're growing up so fast and it's all amazing and sad all at the same time...sometimes I wish we could stop the clock, but then we can't wait to see you in all the phases of your life! We love you baby and are so excited to see the amazing plans God has for your life!!!!!