So, now that TN is a little over 9 months old, I will try once again.
My baby is three-quarters of a year old.
Anyways, March was a long and short month. Somehow I've noticed that days pass slowly, but weeks and months (and the last year, in fact) pass way too quickly. (When was January?! Why can't I remember my birthday?)
March started with the passing of my Great Aunt Elaine. She was 69 years old. She had spent the last few years, after her retirement from a life-long career of school bus driving in Sumter County, Florida, traveling with my grandmother- her only remaining sibling. They spent a lot of time travelling together and with family all around Florida, and to Gatlinburg, TN, where Hubs and I were able to visit with them every other year for the last 4 years. I had gone to visit them there twice before Hubs went with me.
November 2009
September 2011 - She caught my bouquet!
November 2013 - Excited that her Florida car has snow on it!
Aunt Elaine had spent the last 2 years sick. She had cataract surgery during which she had an undiagnosed stroke. After sometime dealing with side effects, she had some tests run and found out about the stroke. She soon after was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. She became depressed and refused to do the physical therapy that would allow her to live a more independent and mobile life, and had to be put into a nursing home. Her daughter, my cousin Jennifer, would often visit and bring pictures, and Aunt Elaine's favorite pictures were of TH, even though she never got to meet him. On Wednesday, February 24, she was diagnosed with pneumonia.
Aunt Elaine died that night, in her sleep, not in pain, and not afraid, and now rests with the Lord. I am thankful that her journey ended without fear and without pain, and that she knew the Lord and His promises.
My mom, TH, and I were able to drive down to Bushnell, Florida over the first weekend of March to attend her funeral. I was hesitant to bring him at first, but then I realized that this would be a great opportunity to use the Lord's perfect planning to bring a sliver of joy to my family in the time of grief.
It worked. My grandmother had asked me to read a poem during the funeral, and I was wearing TH. I was wearing him and he was asleep. Until I started reading and he woke up and started trying to steal the paper from me. We then became the comedic relief portion of the service. It was the first time most of my family had met him, and I'm so glad they did.
Back row, left to right: Cousin Debbie, Uncle Timmy, Cousin Amanda, Cousin Alicia, Cousin Courtney, Cousin Brandon, Cousin Billy, Cousin Amber, Cousin Jennifer. Front row, left to right: Me, my mom, my grandma, Small Fry, my grandma's cousin Shelly, my sister Melissa, Aunt Kim
A pretty big portion of the family was there, though not everyone.
Mine and my mom's plan originally was to drive down Friday morning and back Monday morning, but since most of my family dispersed back to their respective homes on Sunday, my mom and I decided to split the trip back over two days. Half and half. So we opted for the scenic tour and completed the first round of TH's college tour.
We visited Florida State University, The University
of Florida, and Auburn University. Remember that
we visited the University of Alabama in November, 2015.
I also started a new tradition of posing TH next to big things. It was actually an accident, but a wonderful, wonderful accident. A happy accident, if you will. On the drive to Florida, mom and I stopped to stretch our legs, change and feed TH and grab a snack for ourselves. Lo and behold, just off to the right of the car was a giant cow. I looked at my mom, and we both knew. It had to happen.
Shout out to Amanda for bringing to my attention
the fact that I cut off the tip of the cow's nose.
Then it became a thing. We went out of our way to find more large things to pose TH next to on the way back home. Our plan only included one thing- a big metal chicken just outside of Dothan, AL. BUT! We were lucky and we happened to stumble across a super random giant Peanut. So:
TH and the Giant Peanut.
And finally, TH slept through his visit to the big metal chicken.
He isn't as into it as we are.
We took TH to see the super cliche PF Changs Horse, too.
In the rest of March, we've been enjoying some much nicer weather than we'd grown accustomed to. We've been taking lots of walks and spending lots of time on the back porch of our new house (maybe one day I'll get around to posting about the new house...).
Yes, it's a Mickey Mouse outfit, and yes, it has a tail.
And no, TH doesn't like the taste of the grass.
Four-and-a-half miles walks are exhausting
for babies wanting to look at everything.
Easter rolled around the TH's GG (my grandma) came to visit! We had a great time, even though I had to work, and TH was sick with an ear infection. Pictures (of the weekend, not the infection):
Hubs in the church nursery with all of his blonde-haired,
blue-eyed baby followers. These are his people. We have
(in no particular order) Winston L., Gus P., Greyson
W., Barret B., Benton W., and (not pictured) Lewis B.
Also, I totally met (the cardboard cut out of) the One-Year Crew Member Astronaut Scott Kelly.
The aforementioned Mickey tail.
You're welcome.
I appreciated the obit for your aunt. And of course the pics of Hugo are deliciously cute, as always! I'm glad he was a joy during the drive to your aunt's funeral!
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