TWO MEN & A LADY

This is Our Life ~ Our Photo Book ~ Our Journal that will never sit on a shelf, be placed in a chest or find its spot in the attic but instead put on display for all of you so you can share in our joy and sorrows that come complete with life. Learn from our mistakes (THERE ARE MANY) or give advice when needed. Welcome!
Clint ~Teri & Dax
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Saturday, November 28, 2009

"I'm Just Looking"

Saturday after Thanksgiving Brian, Emma Brown, the kids and myself went to Pine Hill Christmas Tree Farm. I needed to check prices and the kids needed to see the reindeer. It's a Christmas Season must! We stopped in their Tree Shoppe "where the magic is applied" the sign said. Magic in the sparkling form of $27 per box of lights. I'm not saying it's over priced, they wrap each limb with lights and it's possible that the light strands of very long. We asked about this huge tree being prepared. I asked if it were for a business and the woman said it was for a home. In another room they had applied snow. I didn't ask how much that was but it was very beautiful.

If you do get a chance, even if you don't buy your tree there, go check it out.  They are a really nice bunch of people.  When I went to pick up some scrap limbs from them the other day for making wreaths, I asked them if they had any other cuttings beside fir trees and the guy told me he had a cedar tree I could have.  He was even going to cut it up for me and I haven't even bought my tree yet.  I don't want it to dry up too soon.  Every time I've been everyone there has been extremely nice and helpful.


From Winter 2009

From Winter 2009
Isaac, Owen, Claire and Natalie Ellen

From Winter 2009
Mr. and Mrs. Klaus are looking a bit young these days.

From Winter 2009
Cedar Trees.

From Winter 2009
Fir Trees started at $45. There may have been cheaper ones, but I didn't see them.

I was supposed to go back and pick up some of the tree cuttings they were going to throw away and make a wreath for the kids, but after Cracker Barrel that morning (where I forgot to eat due to feeding Dax and keeping him occupied) then the farm, then the park. I was exhausted.

When we were at the park, Isaac was fixing to go down the slide Dax broke his leg on. When he got half way down he kind of did the same thing Dax did but with both feet. When he did it, it tumbled him over and poor boy got slide burn from face meeting slide. Brian looked at me with same uh oh look I had and said "that's a dangerous slide." It really is. It's strictly meant for big kids but I could still see them getting hurt. It's just the way the slide is made.

Isaac was fine though and just went about his business. I told Brian that Isaac is so tough he could survive nuclear bombs.

Friday, November 27, 2009

What A Day...

We all know what happened Friday.  Need I remind any of you football fans in our fine State of Alabama?... I think not.  And to think I almost didn't even watch it.  I just couldn't bear the thought of Alabama mopping up the field with our bad defense.  But, knowing that when it comes down to these 2 teams you never truly can call how the game will go.  We lost, but we certainly gave them a run for their money.

Even though my hopes still weren't up after the 1st two touch downs, I just had to call my parents house to ask if my brother was watching.  He's an AU alumni but has lived in Brazil and missed all the games until this season.  They were also supposed to drive up to visit some of Emma Brown's family while they were in Alabama right about the time the game was on.  To my surprise, he was watching... while the family was out in the car waiting on him.  Dad said they sat out there for 20 minutes waiting on Brian to stop watching.  I'm sure he was exaggerating... well, maybe not...

Iron Bowl 2009 After party:  Me, Dax and not pictured - Clint (b/c he was the one taking the picture and my parents (because they're BAMA fans, all together: EWE!!!) ;o)

3 things allowed on the almighty High Def: John Wayne movies, football, baseball and more John Wayne movies

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009
UNTIL NEXT YEAR! WAR EAGLE!!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Meet the Family

Thanksgiving Day was wonderful as always. Two houses and two huge meals in one day.  Clint and I weighed ourselves Thanksgiving morning before the binge eating started and then weighed ourselves the next morning and we both were 5 lbs heavier...

Here are the pictures I was able to get between batteries going dead of our family. I carefully named them so you can meet them all. They are a wonderful bunch!

We had Thanksgiving dinner at the river with Clint's family.  Clint's sister Diane, husband Cale and their 3 sons: Austin, Anderson and Ashton weren't able to be there, Nor was Clint's Aunt Marsha & Family, Uncle Will & family or Uncle Robert & family... and we sure did miss them but we are definitely thankful for the ones we did get to spend Thanksgiving with.

The battery wasn't fully charged, so Clint's Uncle Van, and cousin L.C. got to get a head start in working off the Thanksgiving dinner weight while pushing the golf cart up the hill with Amanda driving. 

From Autumn 2009
Excuse my hillbilly references but here is everyone left to right in relation to Clint:  Uncle Van;  Uncle Van's g/f Amanda;  Aunt Sue;  Cousin Robin (Uncle Robert's youngest daughter);  Aunt Sue's son, Cousin LC; Papa John (Glenda's Boyfriend); Mother, Glenda's sunglasses; Dax; Clint & myself.

From Autumn 2009
This picture is for Dax's grandmother so she can see how he passed out as soon as we got in the car.  We try to keep him away from the moonshine, but he obviously gets a few past us.


From Autumn 2009
Thanksgiving evening we ate at my parents house with my side of the family.  Everyone was there but my cousin Brandy, husband Robby & their 2 girls Katelyn and Kourtney.  We'll get to see Katelyn and Kourtney very soon when they come up to stay with their Grandmother &; Granddaddy (my Aunt Sherry & Uncle Merril) and we can't wait!  Dax loves being around them.

Uncle Alan (my mother's brother) holding Brian's (my brother) 4th child, Isaac.

From Autumn 2009
Brian's 2nd child, Owen

From Autumn 2009
Leah (Uncle Alan & Aunt Sheila's daughter). Dax is crazy about her!

From Autumn 2009
Tracey (Uncle Alan & Aunt Sheila's other daughter) and her boyfriend, Kyle. My brother is jealous of his beard. Dax is crazy about both of them too!

From Autumn 2009
Clint and Dax

From Autumn 2009
Clint, Daddy and Dax

From Autumn 2009
The whole family minus sweet Isaac, Anne & May. Left to Right in relation to me - back row:
Aunt Sherry (Daddy's sister); Daddy; Mama; Me; Clint; Dax; Cousin Misty (Aunt Sherry & Uncle Merril's youngest daughter); Brother, Brian; Uncle Alan &; wife, Aunt Sheila; their youngest daughter Tracey; Tracey's boyfriend, Kyle.
Bottom Row: Oldest niece, Natalie Ellen; Cousin Leah (Alan & Sheila's oldest); Uncle Merril (Aunt Sherry's husband); Nephew Owen; Sister-in-law Emma Brown holding the newest addition to their 5, Caleb; Brian & Emma Brown's youngest daughter, Claire.

From Autumn 2009
Missing from above photo was Brian and Emma Brown's 2nd to youngest Isaac (he was asleep) and Emma Brown's two wonderful sisters, Anne and May pictured below.

From Autumn 2009
Emma Brown, Caleb and Claire

From Autumn 2009
What's on Teri's Christmas List? A better camera. I wish this picture wasn't so dark because it's a good one.

From Autumn 2009
Caleb is so sweet. I can't believe that Dax was once smaller than him.

From Autumn 2009

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

My Excuse to Do What I Love Doing Most

I've always been thankful for my life and the people in it, but life in 2009 made me even more thankful.

I'm thankful for the same things all of us are thankful for and to list all of these things... well... there's not near enough room to type it in.  So I'll just tell you some off the top of my head.

I'm Thankful for God, his creation, that he sacrificed his son for us and that he continues to reveal himself to me through the many blessings in my life and also, as my friend Jacqueline said it best, that he is a merciful God.

I'm Thankful for my parents.  I'm able to love my husband, my child and everyone else that is dear in my life to the fullest because they loved me to the fullest.

That I have been blessed to have such a wonderful brother, sister-in-law and their 5 beautiful children.

I'm Thankful that those same beautiful children are here in Alabama tonight so I could give them a big whoping bear hug.  I can't squeeze them enough... and also for holding beautiful sweet sleeping Caleb for the first time.

I'm Thankful for the lasting memory of my loving grandparents:  playing hide in seek in the house with my Maw Maw on her insisting, learning how to draw and making things with my Grandmother and the PRICELESS Saturday morning breakfasts with my Paw Paw Swann.

I'm thankful for my uncles, aunts and cousins that I wouldn't give up for the world.    I have a very rich life because they are in it.

I'm Thankful that I'm in love with my sweet husband more and more by each year that passes.

I'm THANKFUL for my son who fills my heart with so much joy every day.

I'm Thankful for my close friends who've stuck by me for years, can read me like a book and know me better than I know myself, are there through the tough times and keep me laughing.

I'm Thankful for my mother-in-law who is so understanding and easy to talk to as well as the rest of my husbands' family who are such wonderful people.  Especially my 3 gorgeous nephews who put a smile on my face every time I see them.

and last, I'm Thankful I can express my "thankfulness" from the comfort of a warm chair in a warm house with a full belly of macaroni casserole at the end of a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Daddy's Funny!

I went to the store and when I got back this is what I saw.  Dax had a dirty diaper to be changed so "Daddy to the rescue."

He didn't do this to make me laugh, he just didn't notice he'd forgotten to fasten Dax's onesie until he already had his britches on.  Since Dax has that cast on his leg, it's no easy task to get any kind of pants on him.  So... Clint improvised. 

Picture of the day.

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

Sunday, November 22, 2009

A Week In Review

My little angel has turned into a monster handful in just a few short days.  But first things first... pictures not posted:

Pottery party at my cousin Lori's house that I do not see nearly enough.  Lori, I wish we were neighbors, not just for your quick wit and charming personality - it's the Swann in you (j/k don't tell your dad that).

Brooklyn and Jaylee (Dax's cousins) This is as close as I got to getting a pic of all them.  Dax wouldn't cooperate

From Autumn 2009
Jaylee and her mommy Tonya

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009
Guess you want the update on Dax's leg before I update on anything else.  Dax has learned to not just walk, but run on his cast.  Concerned by this I called the OR nurse and she told me "he shouldn't be walking on it, but, I know he's a toddler and I'm not really sure how you'll manage to do this."   As the Aussies say, "too bloody right."  (I saw the movie Austraila this week and that phrase is stuck in my head).

I tried for 10 minutes on Monday with no success and it wore me out.  The next time I tried, he got mad at me rolled over and kicked his hurt leg on the floor as hard as possible.  It hurt me just watching it.  So we pray and are holding our breaths a little bit that when we go back in a couple of weeks, it'll be healed.  Because I'm at a loss at how to keep him off of it.

Dax doesn't cry when he's in pain, he bounces off the wall in the most obnoxious way.  This week it would be banging on the wall and yelling at the same time for an hour straight.  Stuff like that.  And after the worse possible days, he kept me up all night.  So I knew he was in pain but wasn't sure if it was his leg or teething.  It had me worried at one point, that maybe his leg was hurting him or he'd hurt it worse.  If it does keep up, which it appears to being going away, I'm afraid I'll have to take him back before two weeks and have them check his leg to see.

What's worse, when this kid gets boo boos, he gets them all at one time.  This week, he bumped his head in the crib again and put an ugly bruise on his forehead.  Same bat place.  Same bat side.  I'd put the bumper back in, but I know he'll use it to facilitate his escape from the crib because the cast hasn't effected his passion for climbing up or down.

He managed to yank the blinds down.  The wooden (okay... faux wooden blinds) down.  How he did this I have no idea because the fastener has not budged a bit.  I foresee the nic name Houdini Dax arising.  It didn't hurt him but it did leave a red scratch around his mouth.

And let's not forget the cast, his most prominent boo boo right now.

Dax isn't the only one with boo boos.  On the same day I had three red marks on my face where I got kicked with the cast while changing wild man's diaper and several bruises on my legs from the cast while changing his clothes.

It looked like the two of us got into a cat fight! 

Clint and I are so embarrassed to take him anywhere.  We're afraid people will think we beat him.  But I'm worried over nothing.  Every mom we've ran into has had to ask what happened and every mom has their own story of how they can commiserate.  I enjoy hearing them, but Clint always starts to wonder off. LOL!  And those waitresses at Cracker Barrel... Ooowey! they are strong.  We listened (and watched) as our waitress told us about a 15 min epic long story of how her 15 mos old got hurt one time.  All while holding a huge tray weighted down by tons of plates she'd cleaned off her tables.

Other than that everything is going great.  He's still a sweety, of course, but I did get my first glimpse of why all the baby books said if you get overwhelmed to walk away for 10 mins.  ha ha.  And that I did as soon as Clint walked in the door Thursday.  That day was the first time in a very long time I needed that moment of alone time to get my head together.  Thank you Clint for giving me that you're such a great dad and husband!

BIG NEWS:  I wanted to wait to post this when I had pictures... but ... you'll just have to wait.
Brian and Emma Brown's 5th child has arrived.  Caleb decided to come out of 'his' "alone" time Thursday, November 19, 2009 weighing 7 lbs 15 ozs.  Emma's biggest baby yet.  He was only a week late by the computer's due date.   By the old fashioned way of calculating the due date, he was almost a month late.

We won't be going to Georgia this time, because they will be here for Thanksgiving.  I'll get plenty of pictures then.

Votes were cast (all 11) and Chicken Parm Recipe won.  Coming soon... very soon.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Cute Factory

I know that it's coming.  The days when I'll be driven so mad with the whining and mischief that I'll be begging someone to babysit Dax so I can keep from going off the deep end.  But for now, I'm enjoying the age he is and the preciousness that comes with it.  It's like I'm employed by the cute factory (Dax).

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

Friday, November 13, 2009

My Big Fat Auburn Colored "UH OH!"


From Autumn 2009
So if you're wondering what ole Dax & Tero's been up to or thought to yourself "where's she at? Doesn't she usually blab to the masses by Tuesday at least?"  Mama made an oops, whoops or "bad call" and poor little guy is suffering for it...

Saturday Dax and I went to the park and just like usual he chased around pretty girls and hollered at them in his untranslatable language, ran straight toward the swings (while kids were in full swing - yikes), climb slides backwards ("Dax, no no!")... the usual. I usually don't take my camera with me because, let's face it, a camera can be a huge hindrance at the park.  But this time I did and here are some of the pictures.  They are saved in my Autumn 2009 pic folder titled "Dax at the Park before Mama Crippled Him."

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009
After riding the “big ” slides for the seventh time, the fun came to a screeching halt!  

Mama's little tiger hurt his paw.

On the way down, Dax decided to kick the side of the slide and when he did the rubber on his shoe grabbed the plastic and twisted his poor little leg around like a cork screw. When we got to the bottom I looked at him (with probably the most horrible face) waiting for him to start screaming. And scream he did. I took his shoe and sock off to see if it were even red, and nothing. After a minute passed, little man got tired of crying so he just stopped and then took a nap (???).

My first instinct was to take him to the ER and I actually started to head that way but since he wasn’t even acting like he was hurt and there was no swelling or redness, I decided to go home and call our pedi’s after hours nurse. She told me he probably just strained it but if I was concerned she would call the after hours clinic to get an appt and take him in. Well, they were booked, and even though he was acting just fine (maybe a little tender footed) there was NO WAY I wasn’t taking him in to be x-rayed.

This is the hurt leg the same night.  If I'd have known it was fractured, I wouldn't have let him sit like this.  He wasn't even bothered by it.

From Autumn 2009

So, we got an appt for first thing Sunday morning and off to Children’s South on Acton Road we went bright and early. When we walked into the waiting room and I got a look at all the toys, I felt so bad for Dax, There were jungle gyms, little Flintstone cars (you know, with the feet out) and red wagons lined up like red Ferrari’s at a car dealership and activity table after activity table.  Why is this so bad you ask? Because he couldn’t run around to play with them - so we thought. He managed to get around just fine. Though I didn't know his leg was fractured at the time, I still didn't want him trying to walk on it so I just pulled him in the wagon.

They x-rayed Dax’s foot and his leg. When the doctor walked in and told us he had a fracture she read me like a book (she must have saw the guilt in my eyes) because she looked at me and said "don’t beat yourself up so much, mom."  She told us we would need to get an appt. with an orthopedic doc ("OD") to make sure it’s not broken (what??? I thought you just said fractured) and then she got out of the room quick!

I think she knew I was about to start crying and I did a little. My 15 mos. old has a fractured, possibly broken leg and it’s my fault! They put a splint on his leg until he was checked and cast by the OD.  I realized what a big baby I was being for crying over a fractured leg and that it was ridiculous considering there are parents that have had to watch their children suffer with terminal diseases and etc. so I sucked it up quick and stopped feeling sorry for myself.  Plus, Dax was the one with the fractured leg, I'm sure he was think'in "Mama, you have got some nerve!  ;o)

So, Monday back to Children’s South (the OD happened to be in the same location that day). My mom went with us this time and while we waited in the waiting room, Dax was crawling around lightning fast and standing up when he'd reach another kid and start hollering at them (I don't know why he does that, but it's too cute). He sure wasn't letting that splint slow him down. When we saw the OD - Dr. Khoury, he couldn’t believe that Dax was putting pressure on it. He said “let’s get a cast on him before he breaks it clean through."

Dax has a spiral fracture. Dr. Khoury called it the most common toddler fracture. He said “we see it a lot.” He further went on to tell me that there had actually been a study about the safety of toddlers riding slides with their parents. The study showed that toddlers are actually more likely to be injured riding in their parents laps, then riding by themselves with the caveat that if the toddler is not big enough to ride by himself, he shouldn’t be on the slide.

Wow, so there are so many parents out there that do this same thing that they’ve done a study about it, huh? Did that make me feel better? No.  Of all the things I read, as careful and cautious as I usually am to keep Dax safe, I FAIL.

There, I got all my tail hurt'in about it out and can now look at the positive side of this from here on out.

In just one week the cast has done wonders for Dax's balance.  Last night he stood up and took 2 steps by himself.  He's actually not supposed to be able to do this.  That is why the cast is up his leg (with the knee bent).  He did it so fast, we didn't have time to stop him.  So I'm thinking that with this better balance will come the likelihood of saving him from worst accidents when the cast is off maybe?  I hope so!

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

As for the color of the cast... ha ha, you’d think I’d have picked a color that was a little more inconspicuous, but Dax likes the bright colors and let’s face it, there’s nothing inconspicuous about a 15 mos. old wearing a cast. He goes back in 4 weeks to get his cast off. Let’s hope the time flies. In the meantime, the little man just amazes me. He acts like it’s not there. He can’t walk, of course, but he sure isn’t letting it get him down. He’s not fussing or anything.  Babies and kids are so resilient, there's much to learn from them!

Dax riding the lawn mower with Paw Paw and saying hello to the horses.

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

At least he can still swing

From Autumn 2009

Saturday, November 7, 2009

How to Help Families of Fort Hood

From Autumn 2009
I have a wonderful blogger friend who is a military wife.  She has posted a way to help the families of those injured or killed at Fort Hood on her blog.  Please click on this link, and do what you can to help even if that is only to pray. What you can do to help/Tragedy at Fort Hood

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Mean Gene Is Alive & Well

If you are from around this little community, you know or have heard of Mean Gene's Barbershop.  His Barbershop is one of the oldest if not the oldest businesses around here.  He's been open since 1968.  I have been going to that barbershop since the early 80's with my Dad, brother, or even my Grandfather (pronounced "Paw Paw") to see the old men sitting around talking about fish'in and football.  The typical Mayberry scene, I kid you not.

Now I go with Clint just for fun.  Clint won't go anywhere else because Gene is one of the few Barbers that still does it the oldtimey way with a straight razor, heated shaving cream and a warm towel.  I guess it's Clint's version of going to the spa?

Marci cuts Dax's hair when I get mine cut, but since he needed it trimmed really bad and I didn't have an appointment with Marci until a week or so I decided to keep with tradition and take Dax to Mean Gene.  Plus, Mean Gene is less than a mile from our house and on the way to my parents house where we were headed Saturday morning.  All I got to say is.. No more.  Well, not until he's a bit older and I don't mind him looking so grown up. ;o)  Gene gave him the usual cut and with the cut went his curls. :o(

From Autumn 2009
It trips me out to look at Dax.  Though Gene did a really good job, Dax looks all grown up and I'm just not ready for that.  ha ha.  It is pretty darn cute though.  It makes him look even more like his Daddy.  Same hair pattern and all.
Mean Gene's Trade Mark


From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009

From Autumn 2009