How To Get Kicked Out Of Publix

Publix, for those of you up north, is the grocery giant of the south. Where shopping is a pleasure.

Now, I believe Beth may have posted something in the past about Keller's public screaming fits. Like the time she had to get up and leave Barnes & Noble with her friend because he went grape nuts in the cafe and made people spill their drinks in startlement. Not crying screaming fits, but really-excited-that-he-can-hear-his-voice-echo screaming.

So yesterday all three of us went to Publix to grab some stuff for Memorial Day weekend cookouts. The place was packed and we had successfully made it to the opposite end where we had a few tomatoes to grab from the produce section.

Enter psycho boy.

Without warning, he takes a deep breath, gets that crazed look in his eye, and unleashes the siren. Now, there's a big difference between unreasonable parental discipline in public vs. judo chopping your way past the produce manager to stuff your hat in your kid's mouth before the elderly couple by the avocados unhinge a joint trying to ramp down their hearing aids. It was so embarrassing.

Blushing and hatless, I led us out of produce toward the checkout (possibly without tomatoes)... where I realized I forgot a six pack of - soda. So as I leave them in line and disappear half way across the store, I hear it. I'm a good 7-8 aisles down and in the middle of the store at this point, but it's like he's in the shopping cart next to me. Without even knowing what kind of soda I'm pulling off the shelf, I make my way quickly back to checkout as the store manager's voice on the intercom booms "Would the unreasonable person with the bank vault alarm in their purse please leave the store immediately."

I may or may not have made the last part up. But a look is worth a thousand words. And with all the happy Memorial Day weekend shoppers' looks we got, I feel embellishment is warranted.

The soda was delicious.

-J

First Mother's Day Photo

Here's another taken on Mother's Day along with the one in the banner above. Good Lord am I lucky.

-J

One Fine Momma

I just had to give her recognition to everyone that reads this blog. Beth has been an amazing mother over the past 11 months and it's been a lot of fun to watch her in that role and see how natural and wonderful she is at it. From that very first morning of the pregnancy test through this weekend, I've never been less than amazed by her enthusiasm for motherhood.

Through the months and months of uncertainty with not getting pregnant, she was admirably cool (most of the time;). And once we did receive the good news, she lit up everything around her with that joy. I've never been so happy for and with anyone. Being a proud mom wears her well and both Keller and I are very blessed to have her.

I threw together this little video saga of the first year of our life with Keller tonight. It's mainly for her, however, I figured if others want to check it out as well, it wouldn't hurt.

I love you very much Beth, and am really, really happy to celebrate your first Mother's Day together.

I need to get some sleep now. Somebody's gotta make waffles and mimosas for breakfast!

Happy Mother's Day to all the other baby mommas out there. Much love.

-Justin

Best Alarm Clock Ever

So this morning I was having a little trouble waking from the ice cold grasp of slumber. Beth was already up with Keller and came in to get me moving. So she put him on the bed next to me and said "good morning da-da." He repeated it as he has before, but not convincingly enough to make you do a double take. But she said it again, and he takes a breath and undeniably says "da - DA!"

Sadly, this was not his first word period. That would be "cat."

Shut up Ryan.

I need to work on "momma" a little bit more apparently before Sunday :)

-J

Mom's First Trip Away

This past weekend I was able to get away to Los Angeles for my first trip away from Keller. I hated to leave him but was really excited to see three of my good girl friends from college who happen to live within 2 hours of each other out there. Two of them have had girls since the last time I saw them so I got to meet both of them. It was a wonderful weekend spending time with good friends and enjoying the spectacular weather!

I was with Erin, Jenn and Jen but it was a little bit of a whirlwind weekend and I just realized I never got any pictures with Jen and her daughter Gretchen! Trust me - they're both gorgeous. :)

Jenn and Me:


Jenn and Erin:


Erin and Me:

Erin's daughter Avery and Me: