I have loved this shirt since I got it when I was in 8th grade. (I think it was 8th grade - Kimberly and Garrett will correct me if that is wrong. I leave those details to them.) This is just the back of it, but if you look closely you will see the all the holes and the badly faded print. It is also so thin that you can just about see through it. This is not because of how hard I have been on it, or from wearing it while working on mission trips, because this shirt was never put in the "work shirt" pile. It is worn out simply because I have worn it. I have tried to throw it away several times and every time it ends up back in the good pile. Saying the "good pile" is funny - I couldn't wear this out of the house. So I started thinking why I can't give this up. It is not because it is the coolest t-shirt on the planet, it is because of the story behind it. One fall, Mom and Dad packed us all up and drove to Lubbock, TX for a Texas Tech football game. (Dad graduated from Tech). I don't remember who they played, or even if the Raiders won, but I do remember my Dad telling me to watch for the Raider who was about to ride around the stadium, seeing his excitement at having all of us there watching his alma mater play. I remember Dad taking us around campus and telling stories all weekend of the crazy things he did in college. Mom and Dad took us to the book stores and let us all pick a souvenir. This was mine. Now I know you were expecting this grand story of some amazing adventure that would prompt me to keep a t-shirt for this many years, but that is it. It is just such a great memory to me. It really hits me, now that I have a son of my own, how much something like this can mean to a child. I hope and pray that Caisson and I will be able to create the memories, traditions, and closeness that my parents created for us. I know that it must take a constant effort, and I have already found out in Maddox's almost 5 months how fast the time passes. So, Thanks, Mom and Dad, for taking us to the Tech game, and to Florida, and California, and for coaching our softball and t-ball teams, and coming to every sporting event, whether at home or away, and every pep rally, even when it made you late for work, and to the pool at Idlewild with lemon cookies, even though you don't like to swim. For making the trip to a small island in the Caribbean and to South Carolina and every other place we have lived so you can be involved in our lives. Every day I come across a memory and I thank God for the family I was born into.
Now I know that most of my visitors are coming to see pictures of Maddox, so I am not going to leave you hanging. We have some good ones this week:
Our air conditioner broke this week (again!). For the most part it hasn't been too bad because we have had some really nice days. One day was particularly hot though, and with Maddox being so hot natured, he really didn't enjoy it too much. So, Caisson finally stuck him in the freezer. He was actually happy there and got upset when we would take him out. Poor kid needs to live in Maine or maybe Alaska.
We are gearing up for Halloween, you know we love it, and of course we have to get Maddox ready too. This is the two eyed, two horned, flyin' purple finger eater that Aunt Kimberly got for Maddox. We laughed forever once we got him in it. It is a little reminiscent of the kid from "A Christmas Story." This picture is a little blurry, but it is the best one we got of the wiggle worm.
Side view of my little monster. He was such a good sport letting us dress him up and laugh at him!
Enjoying some game time with Dad.
This was the first time he wanted to hold his blanket. I thought it was so cute. He was just hanging out in the swing looking out the window and next thing I know he is catching a cat nap.
More attempts at cereal. This is so much fun! He is starting to get the hang of it now.
We also went to the doctor yesterday for his 4 month checkup. (We had to reschedule because of our Texas tour, so it was a little late.) Here are his current stats:
Weight: 15 lb 11 oz - 50th percentile
Height: 26 1/4" - 75th percentile
Head: 41 - 25th percentile
He was a champ about getting his shots. And I was so proud to answer all of his developmental questions with a yes! (cooing, lauging, rolling over, etc.)
Well, we are going to go take a nap...talk to you later.
2 comments:
Maddox is SO cute. I just wish we were together. We'd have so much fun with these two little chubbos! Little boys are the sweetest things!
I miss you!!!!!
Love, Becca
Not to mention all of those McDonald's and skating parties that were probably torturous for our parents, but they sure did seem to have a good time! We are so blessed. And Maddox is INCREDIBLY adorable.
Post a Comment