We're back.

Hi everyone.

I've been procrastinating this week. I have stories that I'm hoarding and pictures that I can't upload without finding my uploady wire (or borrowing my dad's). I've been dodging requests for photos and boycotting my computer for days. For this, I have no explanation. I just haven't felt like clacking out the weekend. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that H hasn't slept through the night since before we left (well, he did last night...but not before that). Maybe it has to do with the fact that I don't sit at the computer much because I spend most of my day chasing after an 8-month old with a WICKED independent streak. Who can tell these things. So, anyway, here's my very best, good faith offering to prove to all of you that I am, indeed, back on track.

First, a big congratulations to Karen and Chris Craxton. They're little one, Chloe, made her grand entry into the world late last week. She is beyond beautiful, and I wish them all the best as they start their family-o'-3 journey.

Alright, Charity's wedding. So, we departed on Thursday afternoon for the edge of the charted galaxy....errr, I mean...San Angelo. Whoever said that 'once you're west of Austin, there ain't nuthin' out there' knew exactly what he was talking about. Henry did great in the car. I mean, surpassed my highest hopes, great. He didn't cry once. He slept during his normal sleeping hours. He enjoyed the dinner break we took in Austin, and willingly returned to his carseat without a peep. The kid was PERFECT...until we got to the hotel. After having slept for 2+ hours when we arrived in SA, Henry thought that it must certainly be morning. But, morning, it was not....well, unless you count midnight as morning since it ends in an a.m. So, this led to us rocking and nursing and soothing and doing everything we could to bring him back doooooowwwwwn for 2 more hours. Yea, babies. He was up at 6 and ready to hang out with us -- I think it's pretty exciting for babies to wake up and actually be able to SEE parents sleeping in the bed beside their pack 'n' play. And, so, on only 4 hours of sleep, we were up. After 30 minutes of that, Jared just could not believe the kid didn't need more sleep, so he tells me he's going to turn off all the lights and MAKE him go back to sleep. As you can imagine, I am mortified. I tell Jared all sorts of know-it-all things about how the baby is UP and there is no putting him back down and that I think it's probably child abuse to make a kid sleep when he's ready for morning. heehee. 6 minutes later, as Jared gingerly placed our SNORING child back into his bed and jumped back into our bed proclaiming himself 'the babywhisperer', I rolled my eyes and thanked the Lord, just this once, for my husband's strong will. Two hours later, we really did get up for the day, and we decided to pass on the Hampton breakfast and opted for the delicious fare of IHOP (conveniently located in the hotel parking lot). It was here that two wonderful things happened. First, we were introduced to a few SA locals...complete with overalls unbuttoned to let gut hang out SIDE of pants and lots of stories about their family's medical history, including the fact that their daughter-in-law was undergoing 'in veeeeeeeeeetro fert'lization' (spelled as pronounced by said locals) this week...and, you know, come to think of it, they believed today was the day she was gettin' fertilized. I loved that story...and all of its bovine-esque qualities. The second wonderful thing that happened at the SA IHOP was that Henry tried his very first pancakes. We've been building up to this for some time...with toast last week and biter cookies on the car ride. Oh, but pancakes, the grand mecca of all snacky, first baby foods. I swear he would've eaten 11 if we'd let him.
After that, the weekend sort of goes into a blur of bridesmaid duties and baby hand-offs. The rehearsal was that evening, and we actually got there on time for it. Miracle of miracles. Then, afterwards, we attended the rehearsal dinner. I was very anxious beforehand and, truth be told, I had lost sleep for about a week over how the rehearsal dinner would go. This is, of course, because I knew that I needed to give my girl, Charity, a little speechy-speech before she took the long walk. I toiled over it and spent countless hours coming up with what to say....only to end up winging most of it using a few hotel notepad sheets of bulletpoints that I wanted to be sure to say. For the most part it went well and I feel like I was able to convey to Charity all of the things I wanted to. Those of you who were there also know that shortly after my speech (as in, the moment I sat down), I was called out by the groom's daddy for leaving out a few things (namely, the fact that I had a ginormous, ridiculous, Jonas-brother-esque crush on the groom's best friend when I was in high school...who I later dated for a few months (right before law school - 6 years ago)...which is how I knew the groom...and how I was able to introduce the groom to the bride 4 years ago). Oh, and did I mention that the old crush was a groomsman, and that he was called to speak right after me, and that my sweet husband had to bear witness to all of that excruciating blahblahblah. ugh. horrendous. But, anyway, I don't want to go into all that here. This blog is for HAPPY, NOT-EMBARRASSING details and, hey, it's mine. So, that'll be all on that.
The wedding day started very very early. I had my hair done at 8 a.m. - which meant I was up at 6:30 to get a shower and feed the baby. I drove back to the hotel to feed baby again at 9:30, and Jared had me back to the church by 10. The morning was all bridesmaidy, and pictures started at noon. After photos, Jared snuck the boy back into the bride's chambers so that he could eat again before the wedding which started at 2. The entire day, Charity was cool as a cucumber. I have never seen her look more beautiful, more happy, more calm, or more confident. This was absolutely HER day, and she truly owned it. Since we are courteous parents, Jared kept the baby completely out of the ceremony.This is something we decided, before we were married, that we would always do so long as we were unsure whether our children would make inappropriate noise during very important events. Presently, Henry cannot be counted on, because he LOVES the sound of his own voice...especially in the dreamworld of an echo-chamber as majestic as a late-19th century cathedral-like sanctuary. So, he was outside with Jared where he could scream to his heart's content, and as I was standing up front listening to the message, I was so grateful that mine wasn't the child being quickly swept out the backdoor for his screaming during the bride's father's prayer for the marriage. Gah, people, have a little foresight, would you?!? Wedding ceremonies ARE NOT for babies. Anyway, climbing back down from my soapbox...

While in SA, we also had the opportunity to catch up with some great friends. Stephen and Geneva drove in (bless their souls) from Gulfport, MS, and Laura and Joe survived an airplane debacle in Dallas during their connection coming in from Jackson, MS. I love these folks dearly, and it was so great to see them IN PERSON and have a little visit. I hope we will see them again very, very soon. On the ride home on Sunday, Henry slept for a good part of it and played quietly for the rest. He truly was a CHAMP at car-travel this past week. I was relieved beyond words for the peaceful trip there and back...it could have been oh-so-much worse.

Since we've been home, we've all been playing catch-up. We've cleaned house, started to unpack, tried to sleep full nights (we're getting there again), and just have as much down-time as possible.

In Henry news, for all you grandparents out there, he is now 'pulling up.' I actually caught the first time he ever did it (with my eyes...not my camera, sadly) and it was adorable! He is also learning to sit up from a lying down position. He's been trying for about a month, but I think he's got it now. From what Jared's family has told me, I have also concluded that he has energy like his daddy. The kid NEVER stops, and he does not want to be held and snuggled unless he's tired (like once every 17 hours). He wants down and away and to do it all by himself.

I'm headed to my parents' to borrow their picture uploady wire. I'll post the pics tonight or tomorrow. And, just like that, we're back.