I can't believe it...

You're almost 3!

Why does time have to pass by so quickly?

I am so thankful for...

You're sweet nature

You're smarts....

...you are so quick to learn things..whether it be learning new letters, numbers, a song or something physical like catching a ball or learning to ride a scooter.

I'm thankful for your manners that your practice so well...

Our bedtime stories....I'm so bad at them it's funny

 Our bike rides and trips to different parks

You're laugh

How sweet you are when you sleep...it makes my heart soooo happy

I'm thankful that you are in a big bed now so I can crawl in the bed with you

I'm so very thankful for every part of you....

You bring so much happiness to your Dad and me...you ALWAYS will.

So, since it's so close to your big day....here are a few things you are in to...

Cars - any and every kind...from loud motors and real hot rods to matchbox cars

Construction equipment - you call them "dig digs"

Tools - you love to help daddy work on things

You're tricycle

Fishing - its all you talk about

Boats

Swimming

Milk

Peanut butter roll ups

Fruit

Disney movies

Daddy's racing games

Helping me in the kitchen and with garden work

Your kitties





Dear child...

  I am looking forward to you and I going on a road trip to South Carolina tomorrow...we have the best time on road trips...
Something kind of embarrassing that I still love anyway is people watching...I can be entertained for hours sitting in the Village watching all the goings-on

My favorite car is Papaw Claude's old pick-up truck.

If I could pick one type of weather to live with for the rest of my life it would be sunny in the 70's with happy fluffy clouds rolling in the sky...I do love watching a good thunderstorm roll in on the beach...like we saw last night.

My favorite thing to do after a bad/stressful day is go to the beach or on a bike ride.

This weekend I'm driving you up to spend a week with your Granny and Pappy.

If I were a color, I'd be sunset blue because it's warm, gentle and inviting.

Your Momma's Thoughts

I thought this would be neat for you to read when I'm old and gray (I'm 27 now)...I wonder if I still feel the same way about when I'm older.

• How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? 17...I'm a late bloomer
• Which is worse, failing or never trying? never trying...always try your hardest...even if that means trying more than once
• If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?  I have just started to realize this, and make an effort every day some times several times a day to do things that will me make proud of myself.  It's not always easy.  Life is too short to not do the things you want to do.  You are your own.
• When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done? I hope not.  This is something I'm working on...
• What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world? children and innocent suffering.  It breaks my heart to know so many suffer because of hatred, hunger, greed, ingnorance.  I thank God everyday for blessing me and the ones I love for our safety and all the abundance that we have in America.  We, including myself, take so much for granted.  It's a shame.
• If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich? sleeping in, cuddling with my boys, going to visit in Kentucky, talks with my two Papaw's, cooking with my Granny, naps in the warm sunshine, showing you all of the things I loved as a child, being your Amma.  I'm a simple person. 
• Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing? A little of both I suppose.  I know I have hurt some that I love by doing what I believe in, so I find myself settling for a while.  I think its a price we all pay when we love each other.  We have to be our own person, but when you love others you find out when they hurt then you hurt...when they are confused by your actions then you have to feel the akwardness of that.  As long as you are doing things with God in mind...you'll be ok...and so will they. 

• If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently? The same way I am now.  Day to day...being the best mother I can be to you, and good to the people I love.
• You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do?  Most of the time when your dad hears someone talking about another he says "Put yourself in their shoes"  its simple really.  People may make fun of you in your life time, but the words they say don't matter.  They aren't thinking with their hearts when they speak about other people in that way.  Only feeding into the entertainment it may give them for a brief moment. 
• If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? live life slowly and with a loving and forgiving heart.  Know that God will always lift you up when you are tired, weak, or lost. He has given us all the strength to make change.  Laugh...a lot.  Have fun!
• Would you break the law to save a loved one? Yes...everytime
• Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity? everywhere
• What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
• How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy? because everyone is so very different
• What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  What’s holding you back? Travel....I need mo'money!
• Are you holding onto something you need to let go of? Yes.  Guilt.  I have this need to please everyone and when I don't succeed...I feel guilt.  It's something I have to pray about all of the time and something I notice when is gone for a moment and my heart is light. 

• If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why? North Carolina...I fall in love with that state everytime I drive through it.
• Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? Yes and Yes...I'm crazy like that
• Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton? joyful simpleton...nothing more, nothing less
• Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend? Not always, but I try to be.  A friend is someone who accepts those flaws and is your friend anyway.  I love my sweet friends and they know I always mean well, and I know the same about them
• Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you? Losing touch with the one that live close by.  I have friends that live very far away and it has only made us closer
• What are you most grateful for? You, my sweet boy.
• What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special? All of them wrapped into one.  I can't just pick one, they are all so special.  I was a blessed kid and had a fun childhood.
• At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? When we go over to the beach in the evening and run though the waves, and then lay on the warm sand together with the warm summer sun setting on us.  I don't know when wouldn't feel alive.  The warmth of the sun in the evening and the freshness of the water has always made me get butterflies (sounds cheesy...but it's true).  That's why I sleep with the blinds open...because I like to wake up with the warm sun shining on me. 
• Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever? Yes.  Adi and I were sitting in the middle of Time Square in New York.  Just sitting there indian style...taking it all in.  We sat there together in silence for the longest time.  Finally, we looked at each other, smiled and busted out laughing at how comfortable we are with each other. 
• If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? Yes!!!
• Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous? Not a chance!  I am beautiful...even with my chubbyness, and skinny legs.  I have flaws...but I love myself.  I have my Daddy's nose, legs and feet, my Momma's eyes, butt and hands.  I am me and I am confident in myself...flaws and all.
• When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing? yesterday evening when we were laying on the sand.
• What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love? I love people...I love their stories...and I hope that I have helped a few along their way.
• In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that? I try to slow down during the moments that make my heart feel warm...soak those moments in.  I just wish I could get rid of those bad moments that sometimes put a fog over the good stuff.  It's all part of it though.  I tend to be a dreamer with my head in the clouds wanting everything to be happy all of the time.  I'm get so upset sometimes when things don't turn out with a happy ending or what-not.  I'm still learning to just deal with the unpleasant stuff right then and now...and then back to my happy self. 

Oh, Grant Micheal

You are so independent

And I am so proud of you

People brag about how good you are all of the time

Feels like they are bragging on me too

You've always been good natured

Since you were born

Calm

Peaceful

You have your moments though

We all do

You can't stand to be cooped up

It brings out your temper

But let you run freely on the beach, on a trail, or at the park you are one happy kid

I guess most kids love the outdoors that way

But you never fuss when you have a little running room and some fresh air

You don't whine when you're hot or hungry or thursty

I have to remind you to come and eat or take a drink most of the time

I really love when you take my hand to show me something you've discovered

The other day when we went to play and swim at the beach you discovered the crab holes

It was about dusk

All the little ghost crabs were starting to come out and comb the beach for food

I was sitting on the sand next to the water digging you a hole

You don't like sand castles...

you knock them over as soon as I start to build them up

Anyway...

You were chasing the waves as they washed up on the beach

I guess all of a sudden you noticed the little ghost crabs

As the were running to safety back in the holes

I make up stories for you now about the "crab kings" and how they build sand castles for you and you are an explorer in a new world...

You were so excited

You appointed me as the Crab Catcher

Sorry, you picked the wrong person kiddo

I tried anyway

...with no success

You turned into a dare devil

poking your little finger into the crab burrows

...brave little soul

I think one got you because you jerked your finger out and looked at me all funny

You have a very high pain tolerance

Plus a simple kiss from Momma and you are healed

I love that

Then you got the bright idea that I should stick my finger in the little devil crab holes

That was a hilarious idea to you

You kept saying "You do it, you do it....DO IT"

 No way, Jose!

You laughed until your face turned red...

Little prankster

I love our evenings on the beach

Memories I'll treasure for all of my days

I love when Daddy walks over to join us

I like to lay down on the warm sand with my toes in the water and watch you two play

It calms me

Your laugh calms me

It reminds me of how good God is to us

It's the small simple things that only he can give us that makes all the hard times seem doable

Your little voice talking

You laugh

The love that Daddy and me have for you

Warm sand

A warm ocean

Little ghost crabs to make us laugh

A warm sunshine

Cool sea breezes

And a simple thought to slow down and drink it all in

God is good child

Remember that

Remember to slow down and soak it in

It makes getting through the daily struggles easier

Knowing that if you need to...

You can stop at any second...

look around...

feel...

the warmth of the sun

A beautiful sky

fresh air...

a free country...

God has blessed us sweet boy

In so many ways...

Love...

Ingram's Truck...

This truck...

...belonged to your great great grandpa.

That would be Pop Pop Dave's papaw...

Papaw Claude's Dad.

Maybe one day Papaw Claude will pass it down to Pop Pop...

And then he'll pass it down to you.

That would be a truck that has seen five generations of Ingram men...

....well...four men and one woman (me!)...

Talk about a rare and special thing.

And a reminder of where you come from...

And where a few strong men have been.

"Doesn't matter where I'm goin'...just as long as I remember where I've been."

- Mater from the movie Cars

Liquid Sunshine...

Proof that you are the most beautiful child this Amma has ever seen!

We didn't do much this weekend. 

Read a lot of books.

Played with a bunch of toys.

Went on several bike rides.

Watched and listened to it rain.

We talked about the thunder...

...was it God moving his furniture around up there?

...were the angels bowling?

...God sure is a heavy walker up there...

You weren't scared of the thunder....

I think it soothed you to sleep because you took a long nap...

I snuggled up with you in your bed too...

You are so good.

Sometimes I feel like we should fill weekends and evenings with busy things to keep you entertained, but the fact is...

You just love to spend time with Dad and me...

playing...

reading...

going on bike rides...

Yes, you love to go, go, go when we are busy...

But...

it's the slow time at home or at the beach that makes my heart slow down and drink it in.

You are a great kiddo.

Grant Quote:

Amma: "Grant, you need to start minding me!?"

Grant: "Nooooo!"

Amma: "Yes."

Grant: "What's your deal?"

I love you and thanks for a wonderfully slow weekend.

He thinks we're just fishin...

You are addicted...

...to fishing.

Pop Pop Dave took you to a pay lake in Oak Hill back in the early spring of this year.

It was $15 dollars a person to fish for the day.

It was hot.

Pop Pop got his toes burnt.

It was just you, Pop Pop, me and an old salty fishin lady that ran the place.

We had high hopes of catching a whopper.

They were all about 5 inches long.

Babies.

But Pop Pop wasn't there to bring home a trophy of a fish.

He was there to help you reel in your first catch.

You loved reeling in those tiny pomano and red fish.

Pop Pop loved helping you.

Now you can't say fishing with out saying Pop Pop...

...and you can't talk about Pop Pop with out talking about fishing.

He loves that.

You never let the line just sit out there...

You reel it in as soon as the hook hits the water.

Maybe you need to be a trout fisherman.

When you want the line to be cast back out...

You say "Need go fishin"

Makes me smile to hear you say it.

Daddy loves taking you fishing too.

I like taking you too..

...but...

I don't like to take the fish off the hook.

I'm girly like that.

But I'll bait your hook any day!

I'm gross like that.

We didn't have sinkers to fish on the beach a while back, so...

We tied your matchbox cars to the line instead

Worked like a charm.

Except...

You didn't like your matchbox cars flying through the air and into the ocean.

So you reeled them in and demanded us to take them off.

Maybe you love your matchbox cars more than fishin.

I love you...

...even more than matchbox cars and fishin.

Sweet Child...

Sweet boy, you are just so perfect for me. 

You are two and a half and my soul has never lived so much as it has since you're little heart started beating.

I love you.

You are growing so fast.

This blog will be a spot for me to place my memories of you so that one day you can come back and read what joy and love you bring me.

You are all boy.

Pure love.

You have the best belly laugh.

You love for me to sing you songs.

You love to whisper.

And when you whisper you can't help but smile while you are doing it.

I love the way you wrap around my leg to feel safe when meeting new people.

I hope you grow out of it, and you aren't afraid to step out of you're safe zone.

You love to go on walks.

The board walks through the dunes and live oak trees are your favorite.

They're my favorite too.

You can count to 14.

Because we have 14 steps to get upstairs.

You've been counting them since you were 1 and a half.

You only sing your ABC's when you're alone.

You sing to yourself when you play.

You are gentle with all animals.

They are you're playmates.

You love road trips.

We went on a 13 hour trip once and you didn't make a peep the whole time.

It was just you and me.

We stopped for an hour to play on a playground.

You read a ton of picture books in the backseat.

You like to read books period.

You repeat everything.

My child, you have such a calm spirit.

The only time you start to let your "terrible twos" show is when you've been cooped up.

I'm the same way.

Even at 27 years old...I still get a case of the "terrible twos".

Probably more then you do...

depending on who you ask.

We're just meant to be outside.

Bare foot.

In the breeze.

Near the water.

I love you, Grant.

Amma, will always love you.