The Silly Monkey

So some of y'all know how much I LOVE being crafty! And a lot of y'all have encouraged me to try and sell my stuff. So, I've started a "business" with all of my fun stuff... check it out. sillymonkeyms.blogspot.com. Named after my sweet baby P!!!

The Fair

For those who have never been and for those who think they need to go more than once a year... here is a tour of the famous (or infamous) Neshoba County Fair... affectionately referred to as "Mississippi's Giant House Party".

I tell Justin every year how much I dread going, but the truth is... the Fair is great. It's amazing... just one big family reunion. Everyone knows everyone and if you don't, they'll get to know you and make you a part of their family! And yeah... you do end up sleeping in the bed right next to your brother-in-law who snores louder than any bear, but it's ok... it's only once a year!! I wouldn't dare deprive my baby of this experience!! He loved it!

Of course, the Fair has had it's moments... there was the year that there was no water, and we had to fill up the bathtubs once a day just to be able to flush the toilet. That was my favorite. And the Fair is held the absolute hottest week of every year (the last week in July). And things have got a lot louder at our cabin with Preston being old enough to run around this year... well, that and the fact that Justin's sister has five kids... plus her husband's nephew staying with us (that's 7 kids, all under the age of 12 for those of you doing the math). But it's still great.

To me, the Fair is...Going for long walks in the sweltering heat just to get a Lindsey's Lemonade and then walking through the air conditioned part of the Exhibit Hall. Seeing my husband so excited he can barely stand it... like a kid on Christmas. Seeing him even more excited to have his "boy" going to the Fair with him. Watching the kids playing in the sawdust like it's a sandbox. Walking through the flea market every year, telling myself that I'm going to buy something and then just get mad and say I'm just going to make it. Coming in from a day walk and standing on the sofa to get right in front of the air conditioner. Swinging on the front porch swing early in the morning, holding my sweet baby, before anyone else is up and the fairgrounds are quiet. Watching the triathletes make their way to the Grandstands after a really long trek and wonder how they do it. Going to see family that we literally see only at the Fair. But most of all, to me the Fair is family... one big, great, (and sweaty... I mean really, it's like over 100 daily) family.

It's been a while...

Sorry for the absence!! So, so, SO much has been going on in our lives the last couple of months. Now that things have "seemed" to slow down, I have time to get back to this and to y'all!! So for a quick 60 sec. update... God is good and we are so blessed! Justin lost his job and found another (better) one, we almost bought a house right around the corner from my mom (I know what you're thinking), I've launched another new drug (yes another one), our son is a cross-dresser, and I've got baby fever... BAD. Now to elaborate...

Justin's job: So most of you know that Justin is a banker... well, used to be a banker. With the economy being as fabulous as it is right now, turns out that drug companies aren't the only ones who experience corporate layoffs. The bank that Justin was working for did just that, and Justin was the lucky one to go in Tupelo... and I mean that in all sincerity. Him losing his job has been the biggest blessing from God! It got him away from some of the people that he worked with that I WAS NOT a fan of, it got him out of a dead end job (it was going to take a LONG time for him to work his way up at that particular bank), and got him into an AMAZING job! God is so good, and God is ALWAYS faithful... ALWAYS. And just to let you know how great his new job is, I'll just say this... significant (and I mean significant) raise, unlimited possibilities for career opportunities within that organization, short weeks (usually just 4 day weeks), fabulous benefits, and lots of vaca time!! And he is so happy!! He absolutely has a joy about him I've never seen when it comes to his job... he loves it. He has had to travel some, but nothing that we can't handle!! God is SOOO good!!!

About the house: We've been trying to sell our house for a while, but took it off the market when Justin became job-less. Well, the weekend of the Fair, we looked at a house around the corner from my mom. I've always loved this house on the outside and I loved it even more on the inside. It's bigger with tons of built-ins, hard wood floors, and a full four bedrooms plus three other living areas, HUGE basement and a big, shaded backyard... just perfect for two certain someones to play football! But it sold before ours could, and again, such a blessing from God. As we were preparing our house to sell (cleaning carpets, purging the junk), I started to become really hesitant about buying that house. The master bath could literally fit into our closet and speaking of closets, there were none in that house. I was already thinking about demolition and how we could make that house fit what I really wanted... which meant I shouldn't have been thinking about it in the first place. So, it sold... and not to us!! Thank you, Lord!!

The new drug: It's really great. First in class for really, really, really sick patients. This is actually one that will literally change people's lives... and not in the warm, fuzzy feeling kind of way!

The cross dresser: Well, not really. I think all children go through this and boys are no exception! It seems that Preston's new favorite thing to do is try on my shoes... and not just any shoes... my heels!!! Of course, if none of my heels are to be found, he will opt for his Daddy's loafers! It's just hillarious seeing this little boy clunk around in his momma's high heels!! I did take a picture of him in them... thought it would be perfect for a rehearsal dinner slide show one day... or any girlfriends who happen to come to our house!! ha!

Baby fever: does that really need an expaination??

I'll try and do better about updating! Football season is quickly approaching and can't get here soon enough! Preston will get to experience his first Ole Miss and Mississippi State (we don't discriminate) games this fall!! So exciting!

Some updated Preston pictures...

sweet baby boy!!! Bed head!!!

Fourth of July... love that face!!!! Watching Daddy outside...

Tell me this look isn't trouble!!! And tell me that's not the sweetest smile you've ever seen!!

Who is this child and what have you done with my baby!?!!

Well, we're finally home from vacation and completely exhausted. Vacation was great, although, I don't recommend riding for 8+ hours straight with a 14 month old unless you have a plan and then a back up plan and another back up plan. All I can say is... the sweet precious baby that we left Tupelo with on May 23 IS NOT the same child I brought home on May 30. Let me explain...

When we left Tupelo, we had a stable, consistent routine. Preston loved oatmeal for breakfast and the little microwavable bowls of pasta or mac-n-cheese for lunch/dinner with the occasional peanut butter and jelly sandwich thrown in there for a change. During our trip and upon our return, he hates oatmeal and the little microwavable bowls of pasta and mac-n-cheese. What he will eat is peanut butter and jelly sanwiches, graham crackers, ice cream, and yogurt...that's it. He hates everything else... HATES.

And his eating habits aren't the only thing that have changed. His demenor has completely changed. Can we say attitude?? Of course, I am reminded by everyone I talk to about this that Justin and I have been totally spoiled by having such a great baby (sleeping through the night at 7 wks., really laid back about everything, etc.). Well, since he's really taken off walking, that's all he wants to do. No more stroller or being held (which, by the way, if you do, he is leaned over the entire time looking at your feet walking) for this little man, he's ready to explore the world... on foot!! And if he can't, he'll let you and anyone else that's around know how unhappy he is. Perfect example: my mom and I were in the Polo outlet in Foley. It's completely packed with people and we've got Preston in his stroller. This was really the first store we had tried shopping in and Preston was furious he had to be in his stroller. He was arching his back, screaming, wanting to get out. Then, in order to soothe him, we hand him his cup-o-juice. In protest, he immediately throws the cup down and continues screaming... that's right, people, we were the ones in the store that you wonder "why don't they do something with that child". And now I know the answer... there is nothing you can do for that child except let them loose to roam without supervision... then you become the "I can't believe that parent is letting that child do that" parent. See?? It's a lose-lose situation. Needless to say the shopping ended that day with the one stop at the Polo store.

His new found independence and his disinterest in food culminated everynight at dinner when we would be in a restaurant. The last night we were in Destin, I actually had to take him outside while my mom and grandmother finished their meals. All he wants to do is walk, and if he can't do that, he doesn't want to do anything. The good thing is, he's ok with holding my hand to walk, which I'm thankful for. I did, however, end up doing something I never thought I would ever do... I bought a harness (or child-leash if you will) for my precious baby. It is completely necessary in order for Preston not to wander off and for me not to have chronic back pain (due to being hunched over holding his hand).

All of that said, he is still such a joy to me and to Justin and to our family. He loved the sand at the beach, but wasn't such a fan of the ocean water. When we took him down to the water for the first time, he walked towards the water after the wave had receded and of course wasn't expecting it to rush back up. When it did, it scared him a little and after that, he had had it with the ocean. He did, however, LOVE the pool and the kiddie pool. We had bought him this great float that had a shade over it and he loved it. Justin and I had a blast playing with him in that and also in the kiddie pool that had a shower over it. And like I said, he LOVED the sand. He didn't try to eat it, which suprised me... but he's not eating anything, so why should it? We tried to take him down to play after the sun started to set a couple of nights and he had the most fun, and we had fun watching him... and playing with him!

All in all, vacation was wonderful... I'll have to write more later on the ant-infestation of my van, the major family argument we were witness to at one of the nicest restaurants in Destin, us taking the wrong turn to Destin (which ended up adding an extra hour+ to the trip), the new traits Preston has picked up that I wouldn't change for the world, and the DVD player breaking on the way to Orange Beach and leaving a bored little boy in the back of the van on the way to OB and Destin.

One thing I learned from all of this is... vacations are different when you have a little one, but it's ok... even if the child you ended up with is not the child you thought you were taking!!

Let the weddings begin!!

This past weekend was the official kickoff of wedding season here in the Griffin household.

Friday night we were in Madison (sans Preston) for, my best friend, Sarah's engagement party. We had a great time and got to stay with Sarah that night...on an air mattress that had a very slow leak... that was completely flat by 4 am... after Justin decided to sleep on the floor... after rolling on top of me! ha! Still and all, it was wonderful to get to see her and Jason... who I adore!!

On Saturday, we headed to Cleveland for my cousin's wedding. Originally, I had planned to be in Orange Beach for my other best friend, Jill's bachelorette weekend and was a little upset and a little bitter that I had to miss it, but I am so glad I was able to share Sadie's special day with her!! Other than someone passing out during the ceremony (a guest, not a memeber of the wedding party) and the preacher calling Sadie the wrong name (which has been good luck for us, since the same thing happened at our wedding), the wedding was spectacular. Beautiful setting and a beautiful bride!! The flowers and the decorations were some of the most gorgeous ones I have ever seen! Not to mention the weather was spectacular! As much rain and natural disasters as this area has had lately, an outdoor wedding was a little bit of a dare, but it was perfect... and not too hot. This is Sadie and I at her reception and she and her husband Bobby sharing their first kiss!!

Preston really enjoyed the wedding too. His Daddy sacrificed seeing the ceremony (which I'm sure he was upset over) so P could play in the front yard of the house where the wedding was held. Preston really seemed to love it. After he was so scared of the grass in the Grove, I was a little worried! Maybe it was just the Ole Miss grass! ha! Don't tell his Daddy that!! In other Preston news, we continue to cut molars, which is so not fun. He won't eat and is really fussy and I won't beging to tell you the number of diapers (and amount of Desitin) we go through. But hopefully, it will be over soon and he'll be back to his sweet little self. That's it for now! Here are some pictures of Preston from this weekend... all decked out in seer sucker... such a little Southern gentleman!! He may be headed for Ole Miss yet! He'll just have to stay away from the grass in the Grove! (He looks so much like his Daddy right here with that eyebrow raised! If he didn't look like him enough already!!)

A little something fun!!

So...I absolutely love doing these things...don't know why... I'm just a sucker for them. The trick is that you are supposed to do them back. You learn something about me, I learn something about you. So, if you feel like it, email me back with your answers...you never know what you'll learn!



What was I doing 10 years ago? I was getting ready to graduate high school! I know!! I feel so old!! And no, I'm not planning on attending the reunion...we've conveniently got plans that weekend! ha! And, let's not forget, I was dating Blair (my highschool/college sweetheart) and really looking forward to heading to Oxford in the fall!





5 things on my to-do list for today.
1.) Lunch in a clinic... let's pray they like my new drug!
2.) Go to see "Made of Honor" with Carrie and Rebecca
3.) Continue figuring our my new Blackberry (Just got it yesterday and I'm SOOOO excited!)
4.) Go back to Pontotoc and rot like I did yesterday (but at least this time I'll have a Blackberry)
5.) Call my friends who don't text and give them my new number...these are mainly family memebers





5 snacks I enjoy.

Ok...I really try hard not to snack, but if I did, this is what it would be...
1.) cookies...anykind...I'm not picky
2.) spinach artichoke dip
3.) Cheesecake bites
4.) Sun Chips
5.) Miniature Reeses Peanut Butter cups (my absolute FAVORITE!)





5 things I would do if I were a billionaire.
1.) Tithe and give to the church
2.) Invest
3.) Payoff any/all debt
4.) Put money back for Preston's (and any other children) college
5.) Travel, travel, travel





Bad Habits.
1.) Picking at my fingers
2.) Not calling people back... I just forget!! I have a horrible short-term memory... ask my husband
3.) Not balancing my checkbook
4.) Not cleaning the house....I HATE it... I don't care if it HAS to be done... I HATE it
5.) Not washing clothes (do you have any idea how fast laundry stacks up when your husband changes 2-3times a day and you have a baby!?!)





5 places I've lived.
1.) Grenada
2.) Tupelo
3.) Oxford
4.) Meridian (aka "Hell")
5.) Saltillo





5 jobs I've had.
1.) Pharmaceutical Sales Representative (my current job...that I LOVE)
2.) Graphic Artist for Oxford Printwear (this gets the award for best job ever!)
3.) Wedding coordinator for a local florist
4.) Retail.... a boutique... not real sure what my function was there
5.) McAllisters... I wouldn't order cole slaw or rotel and chips if I were you...

Vegas, tornadoes, and Mother's Day, oh my!!

So I got back at 1 a.m. Saturday morning from "fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada". For those who don't know, I went for work. And usually I dread these business trips (having to be away from the men in my life!) but this one wasn't so bad. We launched a new drug (which is amazing, by the way) and actually got to take in some of the sights of the strip. Of course, I was on "Britney watch" the entire time I was there, but no luck. One of the guys in our district did get to see John Mayer just chillin' at the Planet Hollywood Casino, and I thought I saw Justin Timberlake at one point, but after getting closer, I realized it wasn't him. I did win $70 in nickel slots (I'm not a gambler...too cheap... hence the nickel slots) which made up for the fact that I bought a pair of $50 Yellow Box flip flops. That's right people, I said flip flops... ridiculous I know, but I had been walking bare foot to the convention center all week (because my heels don't do .5 mile walks...one way) and was starting to worry I was going to get ringworm. So, I told Justin that those floppers could be my Mother's Day gift. Overall, the trip was good. I got to know the people in my district even better, got to visit with the guy that hired my mom 16+ years ago, and realized how blessed I am to live in the "Bible Belt" and be sheltered. This is the MGM Grand (where we stayed) and all the girls in my district posing with Caesar at his palace.

While I was gone, a tornado hit Tupelo. Justin called me in Vegas on Thursday morning telling me what was going on. We are so fortunate... Tupelo is so fortunate... that it didn't do much damage. My mom and I live 5 miles apart and the tornado literally came between those 5 miles. Neither of our homes were hurt and she and Ron and Justin were just fine. The worst of the storm's damage was in Chesterville (out by the airport for those of you not familiar with Tupelo). It did hit the Mississippi Building of the Furniture Market, luckily, there were no fatalities. God is so good. It's so funny to me how you can look back at situations or major events and see small pieces of the puzzle that led you there or led you to make certain decisions, which at the time didn't hold much significance, but then ended up being a major decision in your life because of the events that followed that decision. And when this happens, I believe that it's God that's been working it out... putting all of the pieces together to bless you, protect you, or teach you.

The same was true the morning of the tornado. Justin had sent Preston to be with his mom for the week... and to be honest, I was a little upset about it... not about Preston going, but with Justin. I'm more than happy for Preston to visit his grandparents and I love for him to go because they love having him so much (and he has SOOO much fun!) and they are such WONDERFUL grandparents (and in-laws...I couldn't have asked for better ones), but it honestly felt like since I wasn't going to be home, Justin was "dumping" Preston off so he could have a week of "vacation" from responsibilities... "Bachin' it" if you will. But had Justin had Preston, they both would have been by the Mississippi building of the Furniture Market at the exact time that the tornado hit (Preston's daycare is about 2 miles away from the market). God is good... He was taking care of us like He always (ALWAYS) does, whether we see it or not. (the picture is of the Mississippi building)

The weekend I got home from Vegas was Mother's Day weekend...which is a pretty big deal. Not just because it's Mother's Day, but because it's my mother's birthday weekend as well as Mother's Day. So, my grandmother was in town and we had a wonderful weekend spending time together. And can I just say...she had the cutest cake ever. I swear, if this whole drug dealing thing doesn't work out, I should just design cakes!! haha!! (see, I told you it was SOOO cute! And that's Preston enjoying a piece of Mimi's birthday cake!)

Justin and I also showed our house this weekend...don't really think the lady was seriously looking though... she didn't even remember where it was. But God will take care of that as well!!

God bless!!