Will's Super-dee Duper 1st Birthday!!!!!

Our little Man is growing up so fast, and his first birthday party reminded me how fast time is passing. We had a wonderful bash with all of Will's family and close friends. Scott and I couldn't believe that our house could hold so many people.

Will demanded a Barney themed party and let's just say that Barney is not what he use to be. Apparently, his popularity has decreased in recent years, and all the Barney themed party decorations have been discontinued. Thank God for Ebay!!!! A girl can find a piece of toast with the Virgin Mary browned into it and all the Barney party supplies she could need. Mammaw came to the rescue and baked the most perfect Barney cake. A few Barney Dolls from Hong Kong and the decorations were complete. He loved it!!!! So it was worth all the effort.

Everyone was so very generous and now I am not sure what Santa has in his workshop that Will doesn't already have. His new powerwheels fourwheeler (thanks to Mammaw and Pappaw) and ball pit (thanks to Mimi and Poppa) are by far the biggest hits. Plus they are lovely accents in my living room. Martha Stewart has nothing on my carnival.

Emma enjoyed the party as well demanding that I eat as much cake as possible. Hard to believe that I am seven months already. I put all the photos into a video for easy posting. Turn up the volume and enjoy partying with our rockstar.

Happy Late Halloween!!!

I know that I running a little behind, but I wanted to post Will's Halloween video. He was the cutest Babyzilla we have ever seen!!! Will had a great time trick or treating with his cousins Victoria, Nikki and Parker. Birthday and Thanksgiving to come....stay tuned!!!!

PS. Emma is huge and doing well....all is on track. Be sure to turn up the volume :)

Introducing....

It is Official......

We will be welcoming Emma Marie Pitman!!!!!!

The ultrasound was great and our baby girl is growing perfectly. She was being a typical Pitman woman and was not moving from her comfortable curled up position so the ultrasound tech had a difficult time checking her out. We were in there for over an hour and she had her in mommy in all kinds of positions just so they could get a good peak. She wasn't ready for her close up. I guess she didn't have her hair just right!!!! We are very excited and know that she will complete our family. We can't wait to see her beautiful face.

I also wanted to post a copy Will's birthday present to Daddy for everyone. It has alot of great shots from the past year. I thought everyone might enjoy seeing it. Make sure you turn your volume up.....

A Little Creative Writing...

Okay...So the first few weeks of school have presented their challenges. We have battled off sickness after sickness and even had a few worries with the pregnancy, but all seems to be settling down now. Tomorrow is the big day that we confirm the identity of pitstop #2. We had an ultrasound about four weeks ago that gave us a good idea, but I won't share any clues.....Will it be Emma Marie Pitman or Matthew Scott Pitman....Tomorrow, we should find out.......



In the meantime, I did manage to get some homework done and out of it came a great piece that I wrote for my creative writing class.....I think that it sums up our happiness pretty well....

Beginnings
I couldn’t imagine that it could get any bigger, and it wasn’t going to. It was a good two weeks from the day; the day that we had talked about and planned for a little over nine months. The house was beautifully decorated for Christmas. I wish that I could have taken credit for the winter wonderland, but my swelling condition would have never allowed me the energy for the task. The tree sat pristinely in the corner glowing with beautiful clear lights. It looked as though it had been kidnapped from the pages of Martha Stewart Living. Garlands hung from the stairwell, and the mantle was the perfect entry and escape for St. Nick. His stocking was even hung and ready for his arrival. It was green and red, and his name was perfectly scripted in gold puff paint.


It was our first holiday together although it seemed as though we had always shared them. We were a newspaper couple. He worked downstairs and was somewhat of a legend there. It was daily paper, and without him, many editions would have never made press. The intercom constantly rang with his name as frantic employees always needed his assistance.


He was the first person I met there, and I remember noting after the encounter there was something special about him. He took me to my desk and showed me every technical aspect in my new square home. It was apparent that he had given this speech many times. He showed me the computer and how to access the network, and then moved on to the phone. As he said many times before, “I make all the computers go”. A few weeks later a new publisher joined the paper, and I will never forget when he came out of his office and asked “Where is Scott?” and we all responded in unison, “Welcome to the Daily Report!”. It was the first question every new employee asked.


I worked upstairs selling ads. It was a small paper, but we were like a family. Little did I know that my real family would be formed at 190 Pryor Street. It began as any romance does. We looked for ways to run into each other, shared glances across the room, and found reasons to stay late together. We tried to hide it but didn’t succeed. Scott soon found his way into the publisher’s office announcing that he had proposed marriage and that we were expecting our first child. Neither of us was sure what the reaction would be, we prayed for acceptance. We needed our jobs now more than ever. After Scott’s nervous announcement, Mr. Korn smiled and offered his congratulations. We had his support and soon after everyone followed. It was our second home, and they were our second family.


I waddled past Ms. Julia on our way out that Wednesday. She was the best gatekeeper in town. With her direct and coarse demeanor, she manned the phone and the many characters that found their way in from the downtown Atlanta streets. Not much intimidated Ms. Julia.


“Have a good holiday,” she said with smile.


“We will”, I replied.


“See you on Monday,” she said with a wink.


“Maybe not…” I replied as I waddled out the door in front of him.


Ms. Julia never thought I would make it to the date. She knew I was a time bomb ticking, and she was right. That was the last time we would leave 190 Pryor Street as a family of two.


I had been looking forward to the holiday for weeks. Since it was our first, everything had to be perfect. My mother had ensured the décor was exactly right weeks before and was even preparing the food for the meal. Thanksgiving wasn’t complete in my family without a house full of Christmas decorations and the smell of giblet gravy. She knew how special this one was to us and that I was in no condition to recreate a Harris family Thanksgiving. As always, she was there to provide the perfect setting and a wonderful meal. My only responsibility was to provide the table and plates.


It was our first house with our first real dining room, and it was the perfect place for our first holiday. We woke up early that morning, which was rare in those days. My condition kept me in bed as long as possible in those last months. As a matter of fact, I would have just stayed in bed if I had been allowed. I was huge, my feet hurt, and I was pretty much miserable. The bed was a good place for me, but I wanted to get the room just right regardless of my physical condition. Our guests were scheduled to arrive at one only leaving me a few hours to get everything in order.


We finally had real dining room furniture that we had purchased a few months before. It was a small investment but seemed minuscule after signing our lives away for the mortgage on the house. It was beautiful oak and stone. Oddly enough, the table wasn’t the one I selected at the store but rather ended up in the room as a mistake. I was grateful for the mistake as the long square table complimented the room much more than the circular one that I had first envisioned. It had a leaf that would provide the perfect amount of space for our guests. I demanded that it be placed into the table. We hadn’t realized how heavy the simple piece of furniture was until then. Scott swore it weighed over two hundred pounds. I didn’t argue with him as he had to complete the task alone. My protruding belly left me useless.


I set the beautiful table with our mixed matched silverware and crystal. It was a copulation of hand-me downs and what had passed inspection from Scott’s bachelor pad. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the hodgepodge table reminded me that we had only been in the house for three months. This span of time hardly allowed for acquiring a house full of beautiful crystal and silver. I lit the candles in the center and placed my Publix pilgrim shakers on one end. Scott had bought them as a surprise weeks earlier after he found me on the couch crying over a sappy Publix commercial. He is good about remembering insignificant details, and it is one of the many reasons I love him so much.


The door bell rang, and our family began to arrive. From there it was blur. We spent the day laughing, talking, and remembering when. The two families melted together perfectly, and no one would have ever known that it was their first encounter with each other. The impending arrival overshadowed much of the conversation, and it was apparent that everyone was excited about the first grandson. The nursery was set, and its unveiling made for the perfect end to the holiday. We opened the door with pride, and everyone gasped at the beautiful mural of jungle animals and the matching crib in the corner. The room was perfect and for the first time I felt ready.


The rest of holiday weekend flew by. We spent the next day in the mall with the hordes of holiday shoppers. I waddled through Macy’s with my list and pointed to every desired item. Scott resembled Mr. Claus as he carried an arm full of my must-have deals. It was a memorable trip and my energy level was notable. We even laughed as Scott commented that he hadn’t seen me move that fast since the second trimester trip to the Golden Corral. For the hours of five am to two pm, I managed to accomplish all the Christmas shopping and even was able to acquire a few pieces of crystal to help solve our mixed matched table problem. We returned home that afternoon with the intentions of spending the rest of the holiday on the couch with a few Christmas favorites. I had been dying to see A Christmas Story and Christmas Vacation. It was truly the perfect holiday and within three days we had made a ton of memories and managed to start a few traditions. I went to sleep that night content and at peace.


“Push!” was all I could hear, and the lights were blindly bright. He was there holding my hand just as I knew he would be. Sweat poured from my forehead, and I struggled to catch my breath. I closed my eyes in hope for a small retreat. I felt heaviness on my chest and new wetness on my face. I opened my eyes to see Joey standing there waiting eagerly to be escorted out for his morning romp. It was a dream. It was just a dream. I caught my breath and rolled out of bed.


As I threw on my robe and attempted to look excusable for our neighbors, I felt something. It wasn’t unusual in those days to feel a contraction or two, but this was different. It sent me quickly to the edge of the bath tube for stability. I breathed through it and thought that it would pass. I was still two weeks away. Scott was sleeping peacefully, and I hadn’t the heart to wake him again for another false alarm. I stayed there in the bathroom for another hour. Joey never left my side. He sensed it and was pawing at me to get Scott’s attention. I finally resigned and knew that we were about to embark on a new crazy journey. I grabbed Joey for comfort and said loudly, “Scott, I think it’s time…”

Pickles, Giggles, and Hard Earned Free Time

So I have to admit that I am a teensy weensy bit behind on the blog....okay, I admit I am really behind on the blog. But, I am officially announcing today that I am going to improve. A lot has happened in the past few months. As a matter of fact, it almost seems surreal. Where to begin....

Our little man is growing up so very fast. Within these summer months, he has managed to make his first big trip to see Grandma and Grandpa, go swimming in Lake Lanier, and learn to crawl. He has also found his first obsession: Baby Einstein. The sound of the DVD starting will stop him in his tracks. I am really not sure that I get it (believe me, I have tried...only watched it twenty times), but I do appreciate the silence that is induced. Best twenty dollars spent. He has discovered the fun of grocery shopping and has helped me rediscover the excitement of Krogering. Overall, he has turned into the neatest little person with his father's loving, inquisitive personality. It is really amazing to see so much of Scott in him.

Life has a wonderful way of working out and the past two years have proven this to Scott and me. An incredible trip to Hawaii, a townhome close to the mall, and a beautiful baby boy are just a few reasons for us to believe that things just have a way of working out. Well, the past month and a half have shown us again.

The Monday after Father's Day Scott and I got a wonderful surprise. Will is going to be a big brother in February. We had decided a month or so before to let nature take its course for us and well, it didn't take long. We are due on February 15th and so far everything is healthy and normal. This time around has offered a few more challenges with some mornings, afternoons, and evenings spent in the bathroom, but I am now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We are really excited about our family growing again, and Will can't wait to find out whether he is going to have a little brother or sister. Scott is sure that it is a boy, but I am secretly hoping for a girl. Either way, we will be happy with a healthy baby. They are truly such blessings.

The fun of summer doesn't stop there....the Pitmans never move slow. For quite some time, I have been struggling at work. I haven't been happy in my position and was really feeling frustrated with my situation. The stress was becoming way too much to handle. Scott and I had always been working towards the goal of me returning to school for my Masters in Education. Teaching has always been something my heart has been pulled towards, but the timing had never been right.

Late last week after an unnecessary stress attack, Scott and I decided we had enough. We moved quickly and I was able to get enrolled back into school for fall semester. Monday morning I gave my resignation to the Daily Report and haven't felt freer in my life. I loved the paper and the wonderful people that I worked with but the stress and turmoil had taken its toll on me. I was really shocked when I left on Tuesday for the last time how I felt. I could relax again and finally let go. It had effected everything and now, I feel like I can be a better wife and mother. The wife and mother that my wonderful husband and son deserve.

Friday, my wonderful friends at the paper hosted a farewell lunch for me. It was a great time, and I could finally feel grateful for the time that I spent there. The paper lead me to Scott and for that reason it will always have a special place deep in my heart, but I have to say that there was more there for me. It was my "coming of age" place. I learned more about myself there than I could have ever expected when I walked through those doors. It was home in some senses and the people there were family and that I will miss. It is rare to encounter a place that can make you feel that way, so when asked, why did you stay for so long, that will be my answer.

The next months will be spent giggling with my beautiful baby boy, eating a few pickles, and enjoying my hard earned free time. So come along and enjoy this next phase in our journey!

Like Father like Son

Grandpa found this picture of Scott when we were up for a visit and I just had to post them. Like Father like Son.... :)

"Excuse Me!! I told you..."

"...that I don't need no stinkin shots!".

Friday proved to be a less than easy day for our little angel. The morning began innocently with a bottle and a little cereal, but went downhill from there.

We loaded Will up and off to the doctor's office we went for his four month check up. Our little piggy has grown to a wopping 16 lbs and is 27 inches long and "is a mightly good looking fella," according to Dr. Pitts.

We had a wonderful visit with Dr. Pitts, who reminds me of the great pediatrics you see on television with animals on his stetoscope and all. Will laugh and cooed giving us a great show.

Then the mean nurse comes in. The smiles and coos stopped. Five shoots later, he sniffles on my shoulder, and we retreat quickly to the car. Scott and I prepare for a quiet afternoon of napping, and all began as planned. Will had a quick lunch and off for a visit with the sandman. Everything was going excatly as planned until the trip to dreamland ended. Will woke up beside himself. With a fever and achy legs, he was very unhappy. He then spent the rest of the night in his swing or in my arms.

The look of his face said it all. "I told you that I didn't need no stinkin shots!!!"

And He Sleeps...

"Shh...." I said as Scott and I sneaked into Will's room this evening to peak at him. He is so beautiful when he sleeps. Getting there was not always simple and watching him now made me smile when I remembered what we have done to get him to sleep.

In those first few weeks, a solid six hours of sleep was impossible. The nights of a screaming Will in his swing, long rides up and down Hwy 20, and hours of wiggling on Mommy's chest seemed endless.

On the upside, I never missed an episode of General Hospital. Soap Net reruns it at three AM everyday.

"Try the dryer" all our friends said. To dryer in his car seat, Will went. Ahhhh...worked like a charm. Peace and quiet, finally. But wait, he can't sit on the dryer all night, and the washer made for a less than comfortable cot for me. The dilemma forced me to move him (still in his car seat) to the floor next to the bed, and I prayed for an hour or two of sleep.

Looking back on those trying nights makes me smile. Now, Will finds his way to his crib at seven PM and is happy there till seven AM. We are sure that he does not sleep the entire time, but rather has wild parties with his good friends Ollie and Mack. We find him turned all directions in the crib and Ollie is usually not far from him. It is always fun to find him in the morning. We never know what we are going to see.

All of these moments have created so many photo opts. The camera is never far from the crib. Inevitably, we will find him doing something incredibly cute or sleeping some way that makes us laugh. Hence, this is the purpose of this post. I wanted everyone else to enjoy our sleeping angel, but remember getting there was not easy!!!

As the Belly Grew...

I saw this great posting on another friend's blog and thought it would be a great way to reflect on those memorable nine months.

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? Nope, some of the best things in life come as a suprise

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Not yet.... :)

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? Oh S**t, Scott!!! He was smiling ear to ear while reading the directions. He wanted to make sure that there was no possiblity for error

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? Nope.

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 24 at conception/ 25 at delievery

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? Home test

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? Shawn and Dave and Kim

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Could not wait

9. DUE DATE? Decemeber 5th

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? OMG...the worst. The Daily Report bathroom will never be the same

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Ranch. Everything must have Ranch

12. WHO IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? Hard question...I was pretty irritable.

13. SEX OF CHILD? A bouncing baby boy...AKA Pitstop

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? We knew it was a boy when we found out I was pregnant

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? Only 20...Thank god I am tall....He had alot of room to spread out

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yep. Two to be exact

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? No suprises there

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? No complications, but my doctors did every test looking for one. Had the three hour glucose screen (shouldn't have had all that candy before the first screen), emergency ultrasound (our eight pounder might have been too small), Preeclampisa screen (midwife didn't ask if I had made my sales goals for the month...blood pressure is always high in sales)

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Emory Eastside

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? 12

21. WHO DROVE YOU THE THE HOSPITAL? Scott of course

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Scott, my mom, and Scott's Mom

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? Yes...hit me again Doc

25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 8lbs 2 oz. Suprised everyone since I was so small!!!

26. DID YOUR CHILD HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS? Not a single one

27. WHAT DAY WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ON? November 26th...the day after my oldest brother's birthday

28. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? William David

I've Got that Bunny Trained

Santa?? Who needs Santa when you've got the Easter Bunny.

With Will peacefully sleeping in bed, I finally found my way to the couch to take a breath. I then looked over at the stairs to the garage and there it was...

A mountain as high as my waist built with the empty toy cartons from Will's first Easter.

At that point, I knew the kid was on to something. I remember only ONE Easter basket filled with a few choice toys and some candy. Scott reflected on the Easter Bunny that only delivered candy and a few dyed eggs.

Will, on the other hand, has that bunny jumping to our house, Mimi's house, Mammaw's house, and making a side delivery from Nanny and Granddaddy's house. All these deliveries translates into enough stuffed animals that we could bury him and a host of noising making toys that I am sure Scott and I will enjoy for the months to come.

After a good laugh and a few photo opts, I stopped to reflect on how much life has changed in a year. Will has brought so much joy into Scott's and my life and I feel so blessed that he has such an incredible family to love and support him. Even with the total "Will" breakdown, this Easter ranks as one of the best.

With Will's expert bunny training, Scott and I think we are going to let him lose on Joey next!

Mommy... Am I going to be stuck in the digital camera forever?

Scott and I realized last weekend that we have picture after picture of the most beautiful baby in the world, but somehow they are only viewable through the playback feature in our digital camera. We have all of these wonderful memories, and we needed a way to share them. Being the extremely new age technical gurus that we are, I have decided blogging is the solution. The days of promised emails with pictures are gone as I hope this blog will be the one-stop shop for everything Will (and maybe a little Scott and Beth too). Come on in and get comfortable because the ride might get bumpy, but we can promise a lot of smiles and maybe even a few good belly laughs!!