Aug 25, 2011

Like, Love and Don't Like

This week, I like watching my parents surf. My parents asked Julie and me to take advantage of the recent sales tax holiday and purchase them a computer (they paid us back). My sister had already donated a very nice monitor so we just picked up a tower and a 4-in-1 printer. Here’s the thing though: my parents aren’t very experienced with this type of machinery and wizardry. We traveled to Camden last weekend and set everything up. We showed them a few basics and they even ventured online for a bit. It was interesting to see how they tried to process different tasks that we all mindlessly execute dozens of times each day. You have to walk before you run and I know my parents will be blazing new trails in no time!

This week, I love ramping up. I don’t know if y’all are aware of this but Julie is going to have a baby. Like...in December. That means there’s lot of chores to do and little time in which to do them. It’s been a mixture of high emotions, stress and fun. So far we’ve painted the nursery, moved some furniture and have started the purging process (the Exchange Club is going to LOVE us). We still need to assemble the crib, recycle Julie's beer can collection and rearrange some rooms but we’ll tackle that soon. We also have to name our baby. But that’s another blog for another day.

This week, I don’t like am disappointed in FarmLinks Golf Club. My best friend and I made our 2nd annual visit to the best public golf facility in Alabama earlier this week. Y’all remember my first visit last year, right? The golf course is still top notch and we had a great time. Unfortunately, I came away disappointed in a few changes that I noticed this year. First, the hot lunch I looked forward to in the clubhouse was not to be. Instead, we were treated to a fried, greasy medley…outdoors. The wonderful lunch I enjoyed last year added a real value to my inaugural experience. The temperature was approaching 100 degrees this week and having to eat at a picnic table OUTSIDE really put a dent in my level of enjoyment.

Like last year, my friend and I took full advantage of FarmLink’s unlimited play feature. As we began our third round of the day, we noticed that the GPS feature in our cart no longer provided yardages for the holes we were playing. I interpreted this interruption in service as FarmLink’s way of encouraging us to leave. But we powered through and soon realized that we were the last two people on the course. We decided to use this rare moment of seclusion to give our wives an inside look at what takes place when we play golf. My only regret is that some of the commentary is distorted as our golf cart was in motion.



Aug 14, 2011

Making of a Nursery - Part 1

You may be thinking to yourself...really starting the nursery this early.  I have to admit...I too think it is a little early, but when you take into consideration that our little guy is due right around Christmas, we are about to start football season, and the fact that I am making all of the bedding and window treatments myself....I somehow already feel behind. 

So with that said we opted to go ahead and start the process of transforming our guest room into the nursery.  I have said all along I am going gender neutral.  So regardless of the fact that we now know we are having a boy the plan is to use this with future Baggett babies as well.




My sister-in-law, Sarah Harper, was kind enough to come over on Friday night to help get the room taped off.  She didn't want to be in the pictures, but trust me she was there and we appreciate her help so much.  If that wasn't enough she showed up AGAIN on Saturday to help paint!  I don't say this often enough, but I have the best sister-in-law.  She is our only immediate family member that lives in Birmingham and we love being able to see her often.  Thanks again for your help Sarah Harper!!!!



I am so pleased with how the paint turned out.  I sampled about 5 different blue/gray colors and ultimately went with Benjamin Moores Gray Owl.  It is the perfect blue/gray and is such a calming color.  I am not the best when it comes to picking out paint colors (did you see the pink walls?) so I was thrilled when it turned out.




Lastly we were able to hang the London Shade once the paint was dry.  I have had my eye on these London shades for some time now and wanted to make one but just never had the right place....but now I do!  This was my first attempt at a "working" shade...meaning one that actually goes up and down.  I have made a few Roman Shades that are just for looks and are stationary, but this time I really wanted it to work.  It was a little more involved than I initially anticipated, but I think it turned out well....and it works! 






Please excuse the poor picture quality.  I am no photographer, and the sun was beaming in the window when I was taking these pictures.

Hopefully I will be back soon with Part 2!

Aug 8, 2011

Like, Love and Don't Like

This week, I like Intervention. Each Monday, this hour-long program on A&E takes viewers into the world of addiction. The premise of each episode is the same:

- An addict agrees to be featured in a “documentary”.
- The addict is filmed while in the deepest crevice of their struggle.
- The addict attempts to justify the use of their drug or drink of choice.
- The addict is unexpectantly confronted by their frustrated friends and family members.

During each episode’s intervention, the addict is given an opportunity to go to a nice rehab center or face the rest of their life without their friends and relatives. More often than not, the addict chooses to go to rehab. The best part of the show comes in the final seconds when an update is provided on the addict after going to rehab. These updates usually contain details of a relapse. It’s very interesting to take note of all of the common denominators in each of these cases (mainly, the lack of Jesus in the family!). Check out Intervention for yourself and you’ll be addicted too. Here’s a clip of scenes from an episode that examines a young woman that is addicted to inhaling canned air. PLEASE DON'T TRY AT HOME.



This week, I love baby boys. As Julie explained, we recently learned that we’re going to have a boy! I was pulling for a boy mainly because I never want to have to deal with boys snooping around any daughters of mine. But I have a sister and I am married to a woman so if this child was actually a girl, I wouldn’t be totally unprepared. I will probably be a better advice-giver to a boy, anyway. What’s really great is the fact that our good friends (The Branches) are also due around the same time and are also having a boy! I can’t wait for that foursome to play a round of golf!

This week, I don’t like loving my neighbors. Ever wonder why God put so much emphasis on loving our neighbors? Because He knew they would test our Christian morals the most! Our next-door neighbors recently cut some limbs out of a tree in their back yard. To dispose of these limbs, they have opted to enjoy a relaxing fire (in August) on their wooden deck by burning these limbs in a very cheap fire pit. They do this at night about twice a week. Through a lot of instances, these folks have given me the impression that they are very careless. If my neighbors catch our home on fire, I might have a hard time loving them.

Aug 4, 2011

Snips and Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails

That's what little boys are made of!

Baby Baggett is a BOY!!!!  We are beyond excited about this sweet, little guy.  I am not quite sure that anything can prepare you for that moment when you find out what you are having, but it was a truly amazing event. 

The past few days have been so special.  We have loved telling all of our family and friends and referring to the baby as HE.  Now it is time to get to work on the nursery, and I have a lot of sewing and smocking to do!

As an added bonus our friends Emily and Clay found out what they are having the day after we did.  So to make it fun we decided to not tell each other and have a gender reveal party.

We started off with 8 cupcakes (4 with pink booties and 4 with blue booties).




Nick and I went first.  Clay and Emily had to close their eyes while we put the appropriate color cupcake on their plate.






I have been saying all along that I was going to have a boy so Emily said she was pretty sure that is what I was having.

Now it was Emily and Clay's turn.  I was SURE they were having a girl!




SURPRISE!!!  They are having a boy too!  Can you tell I was shocked?



It was such a fun night.  Emily and I have loved going through pregnancy together, but the fact that we are having the same thing makes it that much more fun.