How Quickly I Forgot

My oldest boy is only 16 months old, but it has been amusing to me that I have so quickly forgotten what it was like to have an infant.  I KNOW that a lot happens in those first months of life, but it is so glaring to me at the moment because I can see the big differences in my two little boys.

Here is Weston now with his favorite new boots.

And enjoying his favorite pastime of pushing the white stool all over Mimi and Granddaddy's house.

And here is that same little boy about 15 1/2 months ago...CRAZY!

As far as I can remember (which might not be that well), William seems a lot like his brother.  He can be rather expressive.  He's slept well, cried loudly, and been somewhat of a lazy eater (which is funny Weston was that way considering that he is NOT a lazy eater now!).  But here are a few "new baby" things that I've begun to remember...

1. Infants are really floppy - those little spastic arms and head will surprise you!

2. Praise the Lord they can sleep through just about anything.  William has already visited 2 restaurants in his 11 days of life and he slept beautifully.  Weston didn't go to a restaurant with us until he was like 3 months old.  Oh how things change with the second child :)!

3. It is a pain to change a diaper and have to avoid that little piece of the umbilical cord.  I can't wait for that thing to fall off!

4. Breast feeding might be cheap but it is sure painful for those first few weeks.  William better appreciate all those nutrients and antibodies he's getting!!

5.  How wonderful 4 straight hours of sleep can be.  Maybe one day I'll get 5 straight hours of sleep again!

6.  How absolutely precious new born babies can be - I don't think I really forgot that but it hasn't been something I've pondered the past year or so.  Here are a few precious pictures of William from the last couple of days...

Loving my new little man,

Rebecca

And he shall be called...

Well the Corley family is 6 days away from the birth of our second boy.  Weston graced us with his presence 15 1/2 months ago after a long labor and eventual C-section.  Because of that, we have this next little guy's arrival scheduled.  He could surprise us and come early, but that is okay because he does now have a name.

William Taylor Corley

Now some may ask if we are doing a "first letter thing" since we will have a Weston and a William.  No...our third son will not be Wayne or Wendell.  Both of our sons are named after people and they just happen to start with the same letter.

Weston is my mother's maiden name and his middle name, Michael, is Kevin's middle name.

Our second little boy is named William after William Frances Joseph III and his son Will the IV.

Billy was Kevin's RUF campus pastor at the University of Alabama and he was the first man to clearly explain and exemplify the gospel for Kevin.  What a blessing you are Billy Joseph!  We love you!  Billy's son, Will, is one of Kevin's best friends and is a constant voice of encouragement and wisdom in his life.  Two great men of God!

Now the middle name took us more time.  Kevin was all about using the full Joseph name of William Frances, but since Frances is a girls name in my family I just couldn't go along with it :)!  We deliberated over 4 different family names and Taylor won out.

Taylor is my paternal grandmother's maiden name - Julia Taylor Cushman.  The Presbyterian lineage in my fam comes through the Taylor family, and more importantly just a lot of spunky, fiesty, friendly, wise, and Godly character.

Anyone of you who have met my darling G'mom Cushman know what I'm talking about.  She has more energy then I'll ever have.  She's a wonderful example of a loving wife.  She is always an encouragement to me. And she hiked Lookout Mountain in Montreat, NC when she was 81 years old.  How cool is that?!?

I'm looking forward to meeting my little William in less than a week.  And I'm even more excited to see how God is going to use William in the lives of those around him.

Baby Mama Love,
Rebecca

Southern Weather

I love being from the south.  I am a southern girl and rather proud of it!  Dalton, GA was home for 20 years and now I consider Birmingham, AL to be home.

One thing about the south that I love is the weather.  Now don't get me wrong.  I don't enjoy the hot hot July-August part of summer because I definitely sweat like a man.  But I love the springs and falls in GA and AL!  And I love that it doesn't usually get too cold during the wintertime.

This year has been a bit different though.  It has been unseasonably hot for October (no good) here in good ole B'ham.  But what a difference a week can make!  It was in the 80s last weekend but the cold has moved in and we have dropped ever so slightly below freezing this weekend!

Weston would like to illustrate for you the difference in the two weekends.

Well, this picture really has nothing to do with the weather, but Weston wanted to show off his favorite new hat.  Yes that is a swim diaper that he discovered and I fashioned it as his hat.  He wore it around for a good 15 minutes.

Okay, back to the weather.  Last weekend we were in Gulf Shores and Mobile and it felt warm enough outside to go for a little swim.

 Man, that swim diaper would of come in handy!

Never mind!  Who needs a swim diaper when you can just skinny-dip in the ocean at the end of October :)!

Now fast-forward one week.  Oh the times they are a-changing!

Now we are all bundled up for daddy's race.  No nude swimming on this southern November weekend!

Love from Dixie,
Rebecca

Dear Cracker Barrel, Thank you for being wonderful!

October was a rough month for the Corley Family blog!  Hopefully November will keep all 3 of my blog readers more entertained!

As a family we have been traveling a lot lately. Job interviews. Family weddings.  Road trips to Michigan.  We've had lots of family adventures.  But one tried and true thing that we have been able to count on whether we are in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, or Indiana is that wonderful brown, yellow, and white sign that declares "A Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is just a ahead".

Now if you had asked me 6 months ago if I'd ever been to the Cracker Barrel website I would of looked at you like you had definitely been smoking something.  But now it is the first website I go to when we are planning our trip.  I plan our lunch/dinner stops for every trip we take.  Call me crazy, but I like to have a plan!

You may be asking why?  Don't you have to pay a tip?  Doesn't it take longer to get your food?

Yes to both of those questions!  And it is totally worth it!  No meal with a 15 month old is quick.  Fast food is not really fast when you are trying to feed yourself and any small children.  Also, after my sweet little boy (who doesn't necessarily sleep well in the car) has been in the car for 3 to 4 hours, both we and he need a break.  And that break better consist of him using up as much energy has possible.

So here are a few reasons that I have fallen in love with Cracker Barrel.  If I was truly creative then they would be in the form of a song or poem or rap, but you'll have to settle for my list.  Enjoy!

Ode to Cracker Barrel - How do I love thee! Let me count the ways!

1.  I really think there is a CB every 50 miles or so.  It makes planning a trip very easy :)!
2.  A porch full of rocking chairs that Weston can walk up and down and make each chair rock back and forth.  A marvelous use for pent-up energy!!
3.  A whole store to walk around and explore.  There is nothing more exciting than emptying a bucket of candles or lip gloss and then filling it back up!  That spells N-O B-O-R-E-D-O-M while we wait for our food.
4.  High chairs that fit the tables and actually have straps that keep Weston from trying to stand up and turn around when he gets bored of eating.  Does anyone else's child try to do that?!?
5.  Veggies that my child will eat!  He can make a plate of CB carrots and green beans disappear like a ninja on a dark night!
6.  Oh and the biscuits and cornbread.  Not only do I love them but Weston could eat his weight in those things!  Nothing like yummy food to keep your child entertained!
7.  That great triangle game at the table is like a built in toy to play with while we wait for those yummy biscuits to be delivered!

8.  Did I mention the store for my wild child to walk around in and explore?!?  That reason needed to be mentioned again :)!
9.  Sensational changing tables! Yes, I said sensational!  If you don't have a child then I know you haven't taken note of any changing tables.  But when you've had to change a filled-to-capacity diaper (and a whole outfit for that matter because the diaper leaked) and you have to do that in a crammed gas station or McDonald's bathroom on a changing table that is dangling precariously over a toilet, you'll begin to take notice of sensational changing tables.  Most CBs have a full, marble-like counter that has enough room for your child and their diaper bag!  Sensational!
10.  And my favorite CB amenity, the above mentioned changing table is usually in the men's restroom as well.  Dad can no longer look at you with a twinkle in his eye and say, "Honey, I'd LOVE to help out with that leaky, smelly diaper but there isn't a changing table in the men's bathroom.  Bummer because I was really looking forward to changing it!"  CB has thought of everything to make your trip with crazy children just a little bit better.

Here's to delicious buttermilk biscuits!
Rebecca

Little Man Clothes and So Much More

I'm surprised everyday that Weston is looking more like a little boy than a baby.  Thankfully God moves that process along and doesn't leave that up to us moms because I have a feeling that I wouldn't be the only one who would like to slow this process down.  The last 15 months has flown by!

I know some moms put their little boys in khakis and button down shirts (aka Little Man Clothes) long before 15 months, but we finally passed that milestone (Can you call that a milestone?!?) this past weekend.

We have had a busy two weeks and as I've thought about our last few weeks, looking at Weston in his little man clothes has brought one thing to my mind - how God has provided for and protected us.

Cold weather is (sort of) here and Weston is growing up fast.  Last spring a friend at seminary gave us loads of boy toddler clothes.  Weston has all the winter clothes he needs including that handsome little outfit above!  Thanks Meg!

We've heard No from one job prospect, but have 2 more prospects on the table.  Thanks to all our wise friends who have counseled us and prayed for us so far in this process!  Your wisdom is appreciated more than you know!

One sweet Grandmother has filled our gas tank more than a few times and another sweet Grandmother housed us on our way to North Carolina (and even bought us some pacifiers because we left that much needed item at home!)

On our to North Carolina we had an unfortunate run-in with a dog on the interstate.  We won but not without a few damages to our car.  Our insurance company was fabulous, arranged everything and we were back on the road in time to make it Uncle Kyle and Aunt Halley's wedding weekend.  Thank you USAA :)!

Our insurance deductible for that little wreck was $500.  And that was the EXACT amount we received in the mail from a friend who had no idea we had that expense.  They just had some extra money in their budget and thought we could use it. You know who you are and we love and appreciate you!

I could go on and on...free lunches, a friend giving Kevin a great part-time job, free sewing lessons from a friend, two beautiful houses to live in...and more and more.

If you know me well enough you know I am a doer.  I keep myself busy working and it is hard for me to rest.  Hard work is definitely not a bad thing.  I will hopefully instill a good work ethic into my boys.

But one problem that raises its ugly head in my life is that I don't really believe that God is the one providing for me (Matthew 6:25-33)  I start believing the lie (again and again) that I have earned everything I have.  It takes an EXACT monetary gift in the mail to remind me, yet again, that I am not in control!

 It is my Heavenly Father who gives me the ability to work and earn money.  It is He who provides the cars we have, the food we have, the health we have, and most importantly my salvation in His Son.  I could never earn that!!  It is a free gift (Romans 6:23).

Thank you to the givers in our life!  You are a picture of Christ and his gift on the cross!

Rebecca

A Trail of Mischief

I have a wonderful friend from seminary, Melinda, who has two entertaining blogs that I follow.  When you get a moment check out Speece School and Secure Your Own Mask First.  Every once in a while Melinda will post a "Found" picture and description on her SYOMF blog.  The "found" item is something her kids have left and she has discovered.  Thanks Melinda for bringing a little laughter to my day!

I was inspired by this and thought that I'd share one of the latest things I "found" my little man doing.  Like most little people, he loves to empty things - the toy bin, the clean laundry basket, the bathroom trashcan, etc.

Mama Ann's food pantry is looking a little bare.

Looks like Weston took a page from Hansel and Gretel, but instead of a bread crumb trail he is leaving mama a cereal box trail in the dining room.

Aha!  Caught in the act!  Son, are you really trying to eat a hard noodle?!?

Thanks for helping to clean up little man!  Every little bit helps!

Here's to finding a little laughter!

Rebecca

My Little Parasite

Let me start this short post by saying that I LOVE both of my boys.  I love my cutie-patootie who is taking a great nap right now, and I love my little man who is currently punching me in the spleen and kicking me in the lungs simultaneously (that is a hard word to spell!).

I wanted to make my love clear before I wrote my next statement because I didn't want anyone to think too badly of me.

I really think the best analogy for this little guy growing inside of me at this moment is a parasite.  He's a precious, darling, and loved parasite, but he is still a parasite.  My husband has gotten on to me for calling him this by saying, "Isn't it more of a symbiotic relationship?"

Nope, Nada, No way!  If you look up that word (or if you were in my fifth grade science class :)) you would know that for a symbiotic relationship to occur both organisms mutually benefit.  There is not much evidence for mutual benefit.

My sweet little parasite is stealing my food, my energy, expanding my dimensions, and using my internal organs for soccer practice.  And the little guy has not helped me out by giving me strong fingernails or a clearer complexion.

Oh well.  I love him all the same and can't wait to meet him!  He'll be arriving by November 17 in either Jackson, MS or Birmingham, AL.

Sorry for all the science terms.  Now I'm going to take a short nap and try to steal back some of that energy that my baby boy is sucking out of me!

Rebecca