7 Pounds 7 Ounces, 19 Inches Long

This morning, Mary Margaret gave birth to Samuel Wallace Neal. Both are doing great and everyone is healthy! Please join us in praising God for such a wonderful gift!!

Taken

Steve and I are absolutely taken with our adorable Matthew. He is crawling around everywhere and tries to pull up on anything. He requires constant attention. Good thing we are taken with him!


Check out those gums! Still no teeth!

Trip to England

We did it!!! Matthew met Granny, and Steve and I survived!! All four flights went surprisingly well. Granny was so happy to see Matthew. We really enjoyed spending time with her. The trip was well worth the hassle.


This was taken right after we got there.


Matthew didn't stay in Granny's lap for long. He was cruising on the floor most of the time.


We went to the lounge for some of the other residents to meet Matthew. Matthew put on quite a show. He crawled, pulled up on a walker, chewed on a walker, flirted, babbled, and laughed. Granny was very proud.


We got out and about in Colchester on Monday. We had lunch at a department store. Granny got a cracker with her meal. You pull the string on both ends, and it pops open revealing a prize inside. Granny gave the cracker to Matthew. Here he is chewing on it.

More Pictures

At the toy store! As you would expect the talking toys had British accents! That totally cracked me up. However the toy Matthew selected was a Pooh toy with a Pooh accent.


Matthew had a great time playing on Granny's floor.


Sleeping on the long 10-1/2 hour return flight.


Matthew met many many ladies from Memphis to Colchester and back again. Here is his last admirer, Ester.

Guess The Time

Oh yes, we were up with Matthew in the middle of the night each night we were in Colchester. Please post your comment and guess what time each photo was taken! I will post a comment on Monday with the actual times. :)


Picture 1
Taken Saturday night or Sunday morning


Picture 2
Taken Sunday night or Monday morning


Picture 3
Taken Monday night or Tuesday morning

We Leave For England on Friday

We said that when we received Steve's renewed passport and Matthew's passport we would go to visit Steve's grandmother in England as soon as we found a good airfare. Well, Matthew's passport arrived a few weeks ago and Steve's got here last week. We found a decent airfare for THIS weekend! We leave Friday and arrive in London early Saturday morning. Terry, Granny's preferred taxi driver, is picking us up at the airport and taking us to Colchester. We will only be able to spend a few days in Colchester with Granny because we must return home for Steve to work. Our return flight arrives in Memphis Tuesday night.

We are really looking forward to seeing Granny. Steve and I cannot wait for her to meet Matthew.

Please pray for us as we make this journey. Please pray that God gives us plenty of patience.

Halloween 2005

Matthew was Humpty Dumpty and a Yellow Jacket for Halloween. Here are some images from the evening.


They Call Me Humpty


Trick or Treat!


Trick or Treating at the Denton's


I'm a Ramblin' Wreck


Trick or Treat X2

Fun With Cardboard

The fun with cardboard has just begun although he has been a big fan of tupperware for quite some time.

Cool Shoes

Caroline and Kerry Wigginton gave Matthew his sporty scoots. Yeah Baby Yeah!

Paul Bunyan's Mini Me

Steve worked very hard in the yard this weekend. He felled two trees and ground many tree stumps. We are in the final stages of completing the landscape demolition plan. Did I just say "we are"...I meant "he is". Hehehe

Clean Boy

Rub a Dub Dub

More Visitors!

Caroline and Roman were here last weekend, and Mike and Joni were here this week! Matthew was so excited to see everyone that he started clapping his hands and waving bye bye. He is such a show off! We loved having everyone in town!! Thanks for making the trip Caroline, Roman, Mike and Joni!!


We love you, Mrs. Shaul!


Hugging Mates


Mate Mike's slippers have delicious leather laces.


All Smiles!

Original Artwork

Matthew and Pete did some finger painting this past weekend. Here is Matthew's first piece of artwork. Steve and I couldn't be more proud.

Quick Trip

Steve's schedule permitted it so we took off to Atlanta last weekend for a quick trip. Matthew was incredibly good in the car both going and coming home. That was quite a blessing. We made it to town in time for Steve to go to the Tech game. What a disappointing loss... Other than the terrible game, the whole family having colds, and Matthew's dislike of cribs other than his own, we had very nice time. We spent one night with Sister and two nights with Carol. Time permitted us to see family only. To those Atlanta friends reading this - SORRY! We wish we could fit it in to see everyone!!


Proof! He was all smiles in the car.


Pete, how much do you love Matthew??


Grammy lets Matthew get away with anything! Here he is eating her hair.


Auntie Max was also a pushover! Her hair tasted yummy too.


Auntie Max gave Matthew some cool frogs. His comment to the frogs was "ooh ooh ooh."

Busy Sunday

The day began with a great church experience. Then we went to Abe's BBQ where cousin Will Birdsong, Nam, Mama, and Little Robert met us for lunch. Will was here from Portland - what a delight to see him!! After lunch Matthew, Steve, and Daddy stayed in Clarksdale while Mama, Nam, Will, Robert and I went to Oxford for the opening of Marshall and Jason Bouldin's art exhibit at the University Museum. What an incredible opportunity. We returned home just in time for Matthew's dinner. He ate sweet potatoes, rice cereal with apples, and apple sauce. The adults ate kibbie and cabbage rolls from Rest Haven (a Birdsong family favorite).


Matthew liked Daddy's cool backpack.


Thanks for coming to visit us, Will!


Nam claims to never have favorites. I think that the youngest of the bunch ranks the highest. Matthew only has a few short months left at the top because Sam is due to arrive November 28!

Mirrors are Cool

Matthew really likes mirrors. He gives the baby kisses!

Matthew Loved the Cheerleaders

Steve couldn't have been more proud of Matthew when his boy couldn't take his eyes off of the Lee Academy Junior High cheerleaders Thursday night. We all had a marvelous time at the game, and our very own Number 78, a.k.a. Robert Birdsong, had a great game! Here are some pictures of the event:


Matthew and Cheerleader Taylor Shaffet

Catch Up

Well I thought I broke the digital camera when I spilled water all over it. But, I did not and it works!! Here are a few pictures...



Robert is now 15!


Matthew had lunch at the Travel House.


Cousin Cooper was in town! Uncle Robert was in heaven with his nephew and grandson!

Pickin Cotton

Matthew and I were invited by family friend and farmer David Mullens to come and check out the operation as they picked cotton. Well, we drove out to his field and he pulled up at the end of a row in a giant green John Deere four row cotton picker. David gave us a good look at the spindles that pick the cotton and explained how it is then removed and sucked into the back. Well, then I passed Matthew up to David and we all got in the air-conditioned driver cab and off we went. I explained to Matthew that other kid's parents have to buy videos of this stuff for their kids to watch. I know that I will have to tell him about this one day. We picked one row of cotton, dumped the contents into a module builder and came back down another row. Matthew did cry a little at first, because the whole experience is kind of overwhelming, but settled down after a couple of minutes and played with David's shirt sleeve. David said the he only fussed because he wanted to drive. Anyway, this was a pretty thrilling experience for Matthew and me. Of course, Dad forgot the camera, but we will go and take a picture for everyone another day.

Oooh Computer

Win Win Kind of Weekend

- Uncle Glyn was in town
- the Yellow Jackets beat Auburn
- and the Rebels beat Memphis

It was a great weekend!!

Katrina in Clarksdale

There were high winds in Clarksdale last night. Here is some damage in our neighborhood. Our family compound did not sustain any damage, thank the Lord.


This is the Barr's home which is down the street from us. The tree took out columns and a corner of the house.



This is the Tennant's home which is across the street from Mama and Daddy's home. The tree fell in their driveway. It narrowly missed the house.



Matthew surveyed the damage.

What Matthew Thinks Of...

Katrina




the French




Bulldogs

Mary Margaret and Pete in Clarksdale

Mary Margaret and Pete were here this past weekend! Matthew thought they were both fabulous. He would not take his eyes off of Pete, and Pete was so sweet to him. He would come over and pat his head and give him kisses. True to form I did not have my camera with me to capture those precious moments. But, here are a few moments I did catch...


Mag's hair is yummy!


Papa turned the sprinkler system on for Pete.


Matthew watched Pete's every move.


Tell me about it, Precious


Wet Pete
He is SO CUTE!