It's been a long time...

This is what JoJo did to my ottoman...

Another new decorating addition exclusively by JoJo...

The next Design Star...JoJo

John Parker...begging for cheese. He's really easy to keep happy! Wish my patients were that easy!!

Riding in the car. This is the only time I can ever get him not looking like The Flash!

We're clicking right along here at the Porter household. John Parker is getting excited about the holidays coming up...I am too! Every day is an adventure here in Porterville...I never know who is gonna make the biggest mess of the day...John Parker, JoJo, or Terrell. They all like to keep me guessing! But JoJo is usually the winner!! I included some of her latest designs...please enjoy! We will loan her out for your decorating needs...You can keep her if you like!! ha ha

We are enjoying work...and my big boy is loving going to school! He loves his teacher and his "friends." They read books and he makes pictures and apparently hits some of the other children in his class ( I haven't gotten the "dreaded note" yet but I'm sure it'll be waiting in our cubby hole one morning!)

Meet the newest member of our family...

"I sit like a big boy, momma!"

This is JoJo guarding her purse...

This is JoJo trying to guard her bed...JP says CHEESE!!

The Princess...

We recently bit the bullet and adopted a puppy from CARA. Her name is JoJo and she is a cutie!! She is supposed to be a beagle/jack russell mix but by the looks of her paws...we're not so sure...the whole process was neat. We got to go visit all the animals at CARA and got a tour from my sister-in-law's sister, Hollie. She has been working there for quite a while now and it amazed me that she knew all of those animals by name and knew special things about them! I was really humbled seeing all of the workers and volunteers out there. That place is really special and we are proud to say we found our sweet little girl out there!! John Parker loves her...a little too much. He has this thing about putting his head on anything and saying, "AWWWW...SWEET!!" Sounds sweet...except for the fact that his head is hard as a coconut and heavy as a bag of hammers!! JoJo is not too keen on this but she is very patient with him. We are really lucky...she is a sweet girl! Just a few pics of JoJo and some random ones that I have been sitting on for a while! Enjoy!!

Playing a little catch up...

John Parker is always in constant motion...

Getting into Daddy's golf bag

Cheesing it up for the camera!

So we are officially moved in to our "new" house now. We love where we are (I miss being so close to a grocery store...but it is nice being away from all the traffic!) John Parker loves his new back yard...he cuts grass with his bubble mower all the time now! Daddy loves the fact that he can hit golf balls in the back yard now...I have been working on getting the house "presentable!" I volunteered our house for a shower on the 18th of February knowing that would give us motivation to get it fixed up in time! We enjoyed the lovely weather today and all got outside to work in the yard and then Terrell grilled out...John Parker ate outside, too. It was so nice to not hafta chase him around with the vacuum after supper! We've been rather busy but things are starting to slow down. Hopefully I can chase JP down for more pics to share with everyone. We are getting geared up for his big 2 year birthday next month! Will try to keep in touch!

Big Day at the Porter House...

Well, not only did we enjoy the snow for about 5 seconds...(no pics, by the way...I was not thinking!) we also closed on our new house today. Yep, that's right, we are now in debt like crazy!! But we are excited! Our new house needs some love and care (and paint and carpet...) but we are ready to step up to the challenge! If anyone wants to come help us...ha ha! We hope to be in as soon as possible...well that's ME that hopes to be in as soon as possible...I'll post some pics as soon as we have a chance! Hope everyone stayed safe today in this crazy Mississippi weather!

Leah

Too good not to share...

These were too cute not to share...I am sure one day these will resurface when he turns 16 and starts dating...ha ha ha

We're back and better than ever...

I promise he had fun...

We can't go anywhere without our "tools!"

We're back in the blogging world again...I'm gonna try to keep this thing updated for the 5 people that actually read it...or rather, used to read it! We are doing great. John Parker is talking up a storm-favorite words right now are "drewdriver" (screwdriver), "sopsicle" (popsicle), "uh oh", and "monmower" (lawnmower). We are also very proud to report that our little guy is TEE-TEEING in the potty!! He is a genius!! (Gets it from me!!) One day not too long ago he came up to me and said, "Tee tee potty, mommy??" I thought, "WHAT??" But I got up and we high-tailed it to bathroom where he proceeded to impress me with his skills! My mom thought it was fluke but he has proven us all wrong! Been interesting! Anyhoo...put a few pics up of him from Halloween. He was "Melmo" (Elmo) complete with the tricked out Melmo bucket! Enjoy!

OFF THE RADAR...

Hey Guys...YES, we are still alive! We have been VERY busy around this joint. Plus we have cable internet (which seems to move VERY slow...well too slow for the impatient one that resides here...ME!) Just some quick updates...Terrell and I got married on March 29th. It was beautiful. John Parker is loving his new house! JP is a little over 15 months old and is into EVERYTHING! He is the sweetest little fellow...don't know what I did to deserve him (or Terrell for that matter...but I thank the Lord every day!) John Parker now weighs in at 23lbs(45%). He is 32inches tall(75th%) and...get ready for this...his head is 50cm in diameter...it was off the growth charts...BIG time off the growth charts...Hope there is a LARGE brain in there!! His newest "phrase" is "Golf Cart Key." No lie...he says all three together and they make sense! I am seeing dollar signs JK!! Terrell is a BIG golfer and that means that John Parker and I have to join in the fun...so we both have a set of our own golf clubs...JP and me!! Look out Tiger...I'm gonna be on the LPGA in NO TIME!!!! ***DISCLAIMER-you might want to beware on your local golf courses...I'm still trying to perfect my swing:)

I've been tagged!

My cousin, Rebecca, tagged me and I'm supposed to list 7 random things about myself. Here goes nothing...

1. I can't stand for a cabinet door to be open. Terrell leaves them open on purpose to tick me off. He apparently gets a big kick out of watching me shut them.
2. I love Rachael Ray...I wish I could cook like her...but I really don't think that will ever happen. We're not in any danger of starving but I'm no gourmet chef :(
3. I have to sleep with the overhead fan on, a tower fan, a sound machine, and JP's monitor. I wasn't always like that but people change...
4. I got a Clarisonic MD for Christmas this year (the face scrubber as seen on Oprah that promises to make you look 10 years younger...it seems to be working and soon I hope my body returns to what it looked like 10 years ago!) :)
5. I wish I could go on American Idol...but I don't think Simon would let me through to Hollywood ;(
6. I love music of any kind but I REALLY love Johnny Cash :)
7. I count my steps...weird, isn't it?? I've done it for as long as I can remember...

To all of the 8 people that read this blog...please pray that my poor, sweet, cute baby doesn't inherit all of my weird tendencies...I think that it might be too late, though. He already uses his cloth diapers to "dust" the coffee table off. Maybe me posting this will make others realize we've all got issues...some of us just cover them up better than others :)

I don't know who to tag...so if you read this and you have a blog...you're tagged!

Catching up...

It's been awhile and JP is asleep right now so I had a little free time on my hands...He's a busy little fellow these days. He is taking a few steps by himself these days (I know my life is never gonna be the same after he starts walking on his own but I'm okay with that :)) Anyways here are a few updates in condensed form.

• 
  
  JP weighs around 21 lbs (give or take a dirty diaper) and he's around 31 inches tall


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  He has 2 and a half teeth (the bottom 2 and half of a left fang-he looks rather "Jack-O-Lantern-esque" with the whole orange motif and funky teeth


• 
  
  I am getting married sometime this spring (at risk of sounding cliche, I AM truly blessed :) to have this wonderful guy in my life. He is a great role model for JP and he fit right in with my crazy family!)


• 
  
  I am enjoying work. I got pulled to work on a med-surg floor last weekend (probably the worst floor in the hospital...because of the acuity of the patients...think Peg tubes, trachs, mental health problems, detox, etc.) It took me getting pulled to that floor to realize how lucky I am to be working with patients that WANT to get better and get out of the hospital (well, most of them anyways!) And to risk sounding cliche again...I realized how blessed :) I was to be on the cardiac floor instead of the "dreaded" med-surg floor!


• 
  
  JP is talking these days...he says "mama," "dada," "PaPa" (my dad), and "NaNa" (my mom-she was wanting him to call her "GiGi" but he had other plans for her.) He is also saying "bye-bye," "ba" (for Ball), and we ask him what the sheep says and he says "BAAAAA" real loud and country-like (it's rather entertaining). He is a smart little guy :) I think he gets he gets it from me...He hasn't said any dirty words yet ...I'm sure he's saving those for church :)


• 
  
  Mississippi State won a bowl game..."GO DAWGS!" :) The future husband is a HUGE Ole Miss fan so it made it that much sweeter :)


• 
  
  Last but not least...I am starting to "train" for a 5K...not sure how successful I'll be but I'll try to keep updated post about it...for those of you that know me you know about my "allergy" to working out...it ought to prove quite entertaining! I figure none of these post-CABG patients want a "jiggly" nurse teaching them about proper heart healthy diet and cardiac rehab :)

Anyways...that's all I can think of now...I have a few recent pics of JP. Enjoy! Hope everyone had a great Christmas and hope the new year brings lots of excitement! Bless everyone's heart:)

I am orange...

These pics are from a few weeks ago but I wanted to take this opportunity to inform everyone that my son is officially orange. Mom took him over to visit his cousin, Anderson, while I was at work this weekend and she reported back to me that John Parker is orange. He is a HUGE fan of carrots, squash, sweet potatoes and garden vegetables (which are orange-based). I knew that these foods could cause a child to have an orangish tint but I was unaware how POTENT they were until we began inspecting JP's feet, hands, and nose. His nose is a lovely shade of orange. While he is cute right now, I sincerely hope he grows out of this...I would hate for him to come home from school telling me about how people are referencing oopaloompas...

SOME UPDATES

"Mom...help...Terrell put this ugly shirt on me and I can't get it off!"
TRICK OR TREAT
This is one excited chicken...
GiGi and me with my pumpkin. I didn't get to enjoy any candy cause mom and Terrell ate it all!

This was taken right before the crap hit the fan. John Parker pitched a HUMONGO fit right after we suited him up. He then proceeded to fall asleep and missed all of the fun. Poor thing wouldn't take a nap yesterday so he was a TAD BIT cranky for his first Halloween. Guess we'll cross our fingers that next year will be better. Enjoy. We will post more soon!

Terrell bought John Parker the Ole Miss shirt when he went to watch the Arkansas Razorbacks slaughter the Rebs. (Hate I missed that one...) Anyways...if anyone could make an ole miss shirt look cute I would hafta say it would be my son...ha ha Just pray he doesn't wanna wear one in 18 years...

GO BULLDOGS!!

"I'm related to these people??"
I guess men are just born with this instinct...just give him a remote and he's ready to go. (my little redneck baby...)
We had to change his shirt because he tee teed all over the camo one...I think he might have been aiming for me...
"He he he...I think Mississippi State might just pull this one off, Mom"
"Please stop taking my picture...I'm trying to watch the game..."

We are on cloud nine over here...Mississippi State just beat Auburn 19 to 14...at Auburn. John Parker didn't know what to think seeing us jumping and shouting. I think the look on his face said it all...We have been pretty busy over here in the last month getting adjusted to our new schedule. Sorry no blogging...working weekends and keeping him during the week keeps me rather busy...

John Parker had his 6 month check up/shots and got a clean bill of health. Here are his stats:

Head: 75-90 percentile (big brain, we're hoping...)

Weight: a whopping 18lbs 3oz

Height/length: 27 1/2 inches

After he received his shots he didn't cry, he grunted at the doctor. My mom went with us and she teared up (we have gotten a few laughs outta that one...) John Parker didn't cry at all and he handled it rather well the rest of the day. I think it's because he overheard the doctor say he didn't have to get any shots next visit!

We'll keep you guys updated (I promise!)

we're having a blogging marathon this weekend!!

I'm using this pacifier to cover up my double chin...

Hello ladies...
I love my LaLa!
Geez, people...how many of these things do we have???

This is a very RARE occurance around our house...John Parker with a "passy." He does not usually take them from ANYONE (especially me) but somehow his LaLa got him to "pose" with it! Please enjoy all these posts...I don't know how many more will follow...but I am working on it!

***DISCLAIMER: (from John Parker) MOM SAYS THIS IS MY FAVORITE OUTFIT BUT IF YOU REALLY WANNA KNOW THE TRUTH...IT IS HER FAVORTIE OUTFIT!! SHE PUTS ME IN IT ALL THE TIME CAUSE SHE SAYS IT IS EASY TO GET ON AND OFF AND COOL...I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE SHE GETS THAT CAUSE SHE IS NOT THE ONE WEARING IT...

much ado about...no blogging

Mom thinks I look like her in this pic...don't tell her...but I sure hope not... I fell asleep during my bath...I was tired...mom drags me EVERYWHERE and tries to wear me out, I think!
I get REALLY excited about mealtime!! (As if you can't tell by all of my fat rolls...) Mom says I look like the michelin man...whoever that is...
I know, I know...I look good...you don't hafta tell me...
Okay...enough with the camera...where's the food, Mom???


Alright...this is Leah (aka Mom) with some much anticipated updates. I have been kinda busy working (at St Dominic...which I love, by the way!) John Parker is growing SO FAST!! I was in Target the other day (sans John Parker since he HATES shopping) and I ran into Ms. Nancy. She teaches kindergarten in the Madison County School District (and has been teaching since I was in kindergarten...she started teaching when she was VERY YOUNG...) She informed me that I needed to update my blog because she wanted to see some new pics of the little guy! I had NO CLUE that John Parker and I had a fan base!! We will DEFINETLY hafta keep the updates coming to keep our fanbase happy!

Oh yeah...I passed boards (which means that I am now a REGISTERED NURSE or "real nurse" as I prefer to call myself!) Will keep the pics coming...I promise!!!

a few pics from the beach

I was not really fond of this particular hat but Mom said it helped block out the sun. I caught a few ladies looking my direction...so I guess it really was not too bad!
Checking out the hot babes at the pool...
There are no words to express how cool I really am!!
Here's a full body shot for all the ladies...I included my "six-pack" and all...
Chicks Dig Me...ust in case you guys didn't know...I thought I would put it on my shirt...thanks to my Mom's crazy friend, Maggie for purchasing my onesie for me! I was supposed to share a birthday with her but I decided that I wanted my OWN day! We're close enough to celebrate together though!!


Here are some more pics of the little guy. These are just a few from the beach. He is taking a nap right now so that's why I am able to post! I'll put more up when I get the opportunity! Enjoy!