Oh to be loved....

So, in case you didn't know... I am absolutely in love with my 1 year and 11 month old nephew. I've loved the kids I babysat for growing up but nothing could really prepare me for this love I have for Liam! That boy has stolen my heart for sure!

Anyway, this week I experienced something with Liam that I have been waiting to happen. He called me. On Monday, Liam asked his daddy to call Aunt Lulu, so Scott dialed the phone, my phone rang, I answered it...thinking it would by my sister on the phone, but instead of Carol's voice coming from the other end, it was Liam. "Hi" in a very excited sounding voice...he then continued to tell me what he had done that day. "I throwed a football...I throwed a football...we built a fire...we built a fire...built a fire." He was so excited! I asked him if he could sing me a song and be belted out his "ABCs". The people in the back yard burger line with me at the time were staring as I was happily joining in with the sweet song. I didn't care... Then as quickly as the conversation started, it ended. "Love you, Lulu. Bye Bye." Click...

YAY!!! I've been so jealous of all of those around me with kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews who were old enough to talk to on the phone. I've been trying to talk to Liam on the phone since summer, but it never lasted long. Finally, he called his Aunt Lulu. What a joy! I know this doesn't seem like much, but it means days between visits with Liam can now have a little part of Liam in them. He can call me when he wants to chat and eventually will call me when exciting things happen in his little day. He's getting so big!

Today, Liam went to visit Grammy and PopPop for Valentine's Day. Grammy wasn't there when he got there so Liam hung out with PopPop for a little while. When they got a call from Grammy to let them know she was on her way, PopPop asked, "Hey Liam, guess who's coming?" Liam's response was simple...."Lulu!" (Apparently this is the same response any time he is asked to guess who's coming.)

Oh, I'm so glad I'm making a trip to Nashville tomorrow! Oh, to be loved by that little boy! What a joy!!!

It's been way too long....

It's been way too long since I've blogged. Although I don' t really have a lot to say tonight, I felt I should enter the blogging world for a minute just to let anyone who reads this know that all is well. I'm thankful that it's 2008...and that a difficult year has past. I'm thankful that my last semester of classes has begun! I'll be taking comps in August and then it'll be dissertation time. I am thankful for wonderful friends, amazing family, and people who love me. I'm so glad to have the opportunity to be in graduate school, but I'm thankful it won't last forever.

I'm looking forward to a busy AND good 2008...a year of many changes and milestones. I feel like God is doing some wonderful things in my life and I'm excited to see how it's all going to play out! Hopefully I'll write soon with exciting and wonderful stories to tell. But until then, I'm sorry it's been way too long.