Baby News

This is just a quick post to let everyone know that Stephen and I got to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time today. What a wonderful sound! Praise God! The heart rate was 166 bpm (I looked back at the blog to see what Henderson's was around the same time and it was 160).

On another note, if you haven't read Stephen's very first entry to the Lincoln's Log then you are missing out. He was kind enough to type up a little bit about his hunting trip (sounds like it was a pretty rough time :) I am so glad he had a great time, but soooo glad he is home!!!

Hunting in Argentina

Mary Scott has asked me to blog about my trip to Argentina. I can't believe I have never blogged on the Lincoln's Log before now...oh well, here goes nothing.

Dad, Parker, and I left on a 4 day hunting trip to Córdoba, Argentina last week. Dad has been before and was very generous to take Parker and me along this time. Argentina is home to over 600 million doves. The dove population is out of control and growing at a rapid pace. If you love to hunt dove, you must go to Argentina and experience the greatest wing-shooting in the world!

We left Valdosta last Friday at 11am, drove to Jacksonville and flew to Miami. This was my first time in the Miami airport. Not a single person spoke English. I thought I had already left the country. From Miami we took an overnight flight to Santiago, Chile where we then flew toCórdoba, Argentina. We were picked up by our guide, Luis, at the airport and driven 2.5 hours straight to the hills to start our first hunt. Twenty-four hours after we left Valdosta we were being served sandwiches while we dug through our luggage and assembled our hunting gear. Talk about being exhausted. We were taken to our blind and the scene was absolutely amazing. Words cannot describe to a fellow hunter from South Georgia how many dove were swarming my position. We hunted for two and a half hours this first day and I killed 254 doves. Yeah, I said it, 254.

I don't want to lose my audience here, so I'll make the rest of this short and sweet. The lodge was first class, as was the food. For lunch each day we were served a five course meal. Quiche, salad, sausage, pork ribs, pork flank strips, a ny strip, and dessert (by the third day I could barely make it through the quiche). We would wash it down with two bottles of an Argentine Malbec and proceed to take a two hour siesta on cots under the trees.

Our total dove kill during the four day hunt was 11,370. I was high man with 4,187 but I also shot a lot more shells than Parker or dad. 247 boxes of shells to be exact. I pulled the trigger 6,175 times. I had a great time and can't wait to go back. Thanks Dad for a wonderful trip!

The lodge, Rio Seco

Alphonso built a new dove blind in a different location every day.

Is that amazing or what?

We ate lunch at this home everyday.

Siesta Time!

Nice action shot!

From top left: Luis (guide), Parker, Steve, Stephen, Alphonso (my birdman)

From bottom left: Gaby (guide), Diego (Parker's birdman), Miguel (Steve's birdman)

These are some of the shells from the last 1/2 day hunt.

Whoa

This past week was really long. I guess it started about this time last week when Henderson had a high fever. Stephen was leaving for Argentina on a week long hunting trip, so I decided to go ahead and take Henderson in to the doctor before the weekend. After about 3 hours at the doctors office, it was determined that he was suffering from a viral thing that included a sore throat. Everyone at the doctors office was wonderful and I can't say enough about my pediatrician, but it had to have been the worst visit to the doctor we have had yet. We waited in the waiting room for an hour (by far the longest I have ever waited). Henderson did ok there, but it was all down hill after we got back to see the doctor! Anyway, I'll spare you the details.
Kathy was on hand to go to the store for me (and brought me dinner and lunch!) and then my mom came into town on Saturday afternoon. I am just going to comment one more time about how thankful I am to have these two women to help me. I really, truly couldn't imagine not having the help that I have from them. My hats off to those who go it alone!
Henderson really started coming around on Sunday and Monday and is doing fine. Dad came to Valdosta on Sunday to help out too. (He didn't come on Saturday since he was at the Auburn game. Great win by the way! Wish I could say the same for the Dawgs). It was a treat to have both of my parents here for a few days!! I had a couple of different meetings during the week and work so my mom had her hands full. I also started to feel pretty run down by Wednesday, but luckily today I feel ok (and it hasn't turned into any sickness). Stephen made it back home safe and I am thrilled. They had a great trip. I am going to try to get him to post something about his trip on the blog! I am looking forward to a weekend of unwinding. In true Granddaddy style, my dad took some great pics of HHL and they are up on his Picasa website. I posted a few here...

Macy the Gingerbread Girl

Mary Beth's kindergarten class read the book "The Gingerbread Boy" and then made these adorable gingerbread people. The gingerbread people then got to go out into the world and the class gets reports on their travels. Mary Beth's gingerbread girl's name is Macy and she apparently couldn't wait to get to Valdosta for a visit. Since she decided to come down here to South Georgia, we had to show her a good time!!!

Her first stop... Valdosta State University so she could get her LEARN ON!

She also got to go to McKey park to play on the playground. She made a lot of new friends, as many of the kids had never seen a real gingerbread girl before...
slide

jungle gym

swing


She also worked up a pretty big appetite while on all of her adventures so we took her to one of the best places to eat in Valdosta... The Smok'n Pig!

And last (but I think her favorite), was a trip to Wild Adventures to ride roller coasters

We are so glad that you came for a visit Macy! Come on back to Valdosta any time!!!!

Dare I say "Fall"?

Today, Henderson and I enjoyed some nice weather here in Valdosta. The temperature actually dropped below 99! This morning it was in the upper fifties! We did a lot of outdoor activities today and it was so nice to finally be able to get outside. I know this isn't the end of the heat since I clearly remember ROASTING on Halloween last year, but a little break is nice!

I even got to put Henderson in some longalls. (This is an adorable hand-me-down from Jack!)Look how big he looks. In the above picture, he is telling me how old he is.

Julia and Louisa

Our dear friends Maggie and Jay Lilly's twin baby GIRLS arrived on September 5th!

Julia and Louisa join their adorable brother John. Congrats to the Lilly Family! (Sorry I am a bit late on this post Maggie and thanks for the Picasa pictures. I will not harass you anymore!)

Happy Birthday!

Happy 7th Birthday to these boys!!!

Hendrix (right) and his brother Jake celebrated their 7th birthday on 9/11! These are two very special doggies!