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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

My New Camera

I bought myself a new camera last week. I haven't taken the boys out and took any super awesome pictures yet, but I did take a few candid photos around the house over the weekend. We didn't do much, just went to the river for the day on Father's Day. That's what Larson wanted to do, so that's what we did. I didn't take my camera, though. I'm still learning it, and didn't want to chance getting sand on it. Ha!

Here's a few of the pictures I have taken.  I can't wait to learn all about my new camera, and take some cool pics of my boys. :)













All of the ones above were taken inside in extremely low light, with the flash.  I am amazed, especially since all I've used in a few years is my iPhone camera.  Haha!  Other than that, all I had was a little digital Kodak camera.  It definitely didn't take pictures like this.  I didn't get in over my head with the new camera, though.  I basically just wanted something I could take some good pictures of my boys with.  I inquired with friends that are really into photography, and did my own research, ending up with a Canon EOS Rebel T5 DSLR.  It serves every purpose I needed it for, and I'm happy with it.  Like I said, I'm just ready to learn more about & get in there and take some really awesome pictures of my boys.

Here's some of them outside.  I love how the colors show up so clearly.








Our back yard & deck get a lot of time spent in/on them in the summer.  My boys want to be outside all the time.  In the summer, we have to have water.  They're either in one of the little pools, on their water slide, at the river, in a friend's pool, or at the beach.  I really don't like the beach, but we do go at least once a year.  I prefer clearer, unsalted water that I can see my feet in.

I'm learning about taking in-motion pictures, too.  Jubal loves to play ball.  Here's a few of him & his daddy outside playing.  







He gets so proud when his daddy kicks it really high, he chases it, and catches it.  Jubal likes any kind of sport you will let him play.  Gentry is into most sports himself, but Jubal demands a lot more attention than Gentry does.  Gentry is fine entertaining himself.  He's more like me. :)

Anyway, I'm excited to start posting some pictures other than those I take with my phone.  Our vacation is coming up.  Maybe I'll have some good pictures from it.



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Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Weekend Rewind

Boy, summer is a busy season. It seems like we're always going somewhere.  This weekend was no different.  The boys stayed at their Aunt Dada's (my BFF, Darla) house Saturday morning since Larson had to work.  They love going over there, not just to play with Olivia, but they get to learn something every time.  This time she had them shucking corn.  Gentry loves corn, so he tried eating it straight off the cob, raw.  Silly boy!  After they helped with the corn, they got to go swimming while it cooked, then got to enjoy the fruit of their labor.  Ha!




Sunday was the Stanfield family reunion.  It turned out really well this year.  There was so much good food, and the company wasn't too shabby, either. ;)

After the reunion we took the boys to the river to cool off because it is HOT in south GA!  They played, splashed, and swam for awhile, and then we were all ready for some AC and a nap.



It was a fun weekend.  A little stressful at times, but it all ended well.  I don't want to pretend everything always goes off without a hitch, because I promise it definitely does not.  However, we make the best of it and go with the flow.  I'm just lucky to have my little family and wouldn't take anything in this world for them.



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Thursday, June 11, 2015

Put To Sleep

Thankfully, we celebrated Gentry's birthday on Sunday because on Monday, his actual birthday, we had to be in Savannah by 7:45 for Jubal to have some dental work done.  He had soft spots on a couple of his teeth and before they continued to get any worse and become actual cavities, his dentist wanted to repair them.

Jubal nor Gentry do well at the dentist for their regular checkups & cleanings, so his dentist recommended having him come into day surgery at St. Joseph's/Candler for the procedure to be done.  He said it would be easier on Jubal since it would take 2 to 3 visits to do it in his office, when he could do it all at one time with Jubal sedated.

My big boy just getting into Pre-Op, before meds.  
So sweet & happy.

Before meds.

I never did tell Jubal anything at all about this day prior to going.  I didn't want him to feel any type of anxiety about it.  Even when we were in Pre-Op, he was still unaware of what was going on.  I'm so happy I decided to keep him clueless, for lack of a better word.  He was in a great mood, and everyone was happy.

I was scared, though.  It terrified me to think about my baby being put to sleep.  So many things can happen.  You just never know.  There are things unforeseen that could happen to anyone, at any given time.  You know?  I will say, though, that once they gave him the medicine to sedate him before taking him into surgery, it gave me sort of a break in my tension.  He was hilarious!!

About 5 minutes after meds. Ha!


He couldn't stand up very well, and kept trying to crawl off the bed.  He put this hair net on, which made him look even sillier.  He would try to stand, but Larson would have to hold him because he was so unsteady.



He was giggly, and kept saying the funniest things.  He would look at me and say, "Mama, I love you.", then stick his tongue out and blow.  Then he kept trying to get to me, telling me he wanted to lick me.  Pure delirium, I tell ya!




Right before they took him back, he was good and sleepy.  He was still a little giggly, but by this time, he was ready to lie down and had calmed down tremendously.  Larson & I had to wait about an hour in the waiting room, before the doctor came out to get me to go into recovery with him.

Recovery was awful.  That's really all I'm going to say about that.  I will always have those moments in my head, but don't feel like sharing them here.  He was pitiful, and I hope that he never has to go through anything like that again, especially while he's so small.

Just before going back.

We were finally able to leave sometime after 1:00, once Jubal was able to either drink some juice or coke, or eat a popsicle.  He actually ate two popsicles before we left.  He still wasn't completely coherent when we left, but Larson rode in the back with him sleeping on his chest and a seatbelt across the two of them because Jubal wanted to be held, and that was fine.

Once we were home, we laid him down and he ended up sleeping until around 5:30.  When he woke up, he was hungry.  And I mean hungry.  Poor baby hadn't been able to eat anything since the night before, and when he had tried to eat something before falling asleep in the car, he asked me if food could come to life because his food was making him dizzy.  Ha!  That was the sedative/gas still having affect on him.

He ended up eating a ham sandwich, Cheetos, and 3 bowls of Fruity Pebbles.  Then he wanted to go out and shoot basketball, as if he hadn't been through anything at all that morning.

Later, after his bath, I was asking him about things that had happened in recovery, and he just looked at me and asked, "What are you talking about, Mama?"  I knew then that he had no recollection of anything after he had been sedated, before even going back & being put to sleep.  So I left it right there.  We haven't discussed anything about that day since.

I'm just thankful that all went well that day.  I'm thankful for good physicians/dentists, etc.  I'm thankful he doesn't remember it.  It's probably best that way. :)



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Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Vacation Bible School

Last week, Jubal attended his first VBS at First Baptist Church.  He was a little hesitant to go, but after the first night, he was totally all about it.  He met a young girl named Miss Malaree, and came home calling her his "girlfriend".  A fellow mom that was there sent me over a picture and let me know that she thought her daughter, Madison, and her friend, Malaree, may just adore Jubal, too.

Jubal & Miss Malaree

The pic Missi sent me from VBS.

Parents got to attend the last night of VBS for a celebration.  We got to see our kids sing, dance, and have so much fun.




Not one day has passed since last Thursday that Jubal has not asked to see Malaree, or go back to VBS.  I try to explain that VBS is over there, but he doesn't understand.  I've even got it planned for him & Gentry to attend another VBS at Calvary, but he insists on going back to this particular one.  I'm sure it's because of Miss Malaree. ;)

I will add, though, that Malaree's mother contacted me via FaceBook to let me know that Malaree said anytime we needed a babysitter to please call her.  She just loves Jubal to pieces, too.  We may give the babysitting a try.  We'll see.

Also, to see the slideshow from VBS that we got to see at the celebration, click this link: Journey Off The Map.
***Video credit: Kellie Rogers Zeigler


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Gentry Turned Three!!

Oh my goodness! My baby boy turned three on June 8. We celebrated his little life on Sunday with a couple of his buddies, and some family. The kids played on the water slide all afternoon. We had hot dogs, chips, cake & ice cream, and FUN. :)

I didn't get any pics after taking a couple of his cake because I was busy watching my baby have a good time, and chatting with friends.  Gentry specifically requested his cake.  It is George Pig's dinosaur.



George Pig is Peppa Pig's brother, which is one of Gentry's favorite shows.  He also didn't want George Pig, just his dinosaur.  Hence, this ugly little dinosaur...





My baby boy got exactly what he wanted.  It wasn't but a few minutes after I took these pictures of the cake  that the middle of it had Gentry's fingers right through it.  We had walked outside to finish getting the slide up, and Gentry was left inside, lying in the bed watching Peppa Pig.  He came out with green icing around his mouth and said, "Mama, I ate some of my cake."  My jaw dropped, but I was like, "Yes, yes you sure did, baby."

I figured it was his cake.  If anyone was going to do it, I'd rather it be him.  Especially since I had been arguing with Jubal all morning about not touching it.

I did get a video of us singing Happy Birthday to Gentry.  That is his very favorite part of any birthday party.  He got to make a wish and blow out his candles, with a little help from Jubal, who was equally excited.

You can see in the video where my little man got his fingers in there.



While everyone was eating, Gentry fell asleep.  I let him sleep about 30 minutes before waking him up to blow out his candles & have cake.  Afterwards, the kids played some more on the slide, or in the playroom.  Luckily, Gentry's BFF, Greyson's mom got a cute picture of them playing. 


Everyone started leaving around 6, and I'm going to be honest, we were all so tired.  I was hoping for an early bed time, but we still didn't get to bed until around 10.  It was worth it, though, to see my baby boy so happy, and to celebrate his life.

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Edit on 6/17/15:
Also, I wanted to add that Gentry was able to have another little birthday party on Monday with all his school  friends.  We had plenty of cake left over, so I sent it to school for his class to enjoy.  Mrs. Diane sent me these pics.



So happy my boy got to celebrate twice for his birthday.  He deserves it for being such a sweetheart. :)




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