Kathy

Kathy Griffin was funny. We had a great time, and so much laughter! I did take a picture, although I do not think I will post it. :)
Honestly, "the gays" love this chick, there were more homosexual men in this one spot than anywhere! Yes, more here than at the airport, more here than at Northpark mall, this was THE HOT SPOT! She begins her show like this...
KG: Where are all my gays.............
Gays: LOUDLY CHEERING!!!!!!!!1
KG: Where are the women, lesbians and otherwise
Women: LOUDLY CHEERING!!!!!!!!!
KG: There is one more group out there, and I must aknowledge you, too.... Straight men??
Brandon and Jon: yeah.....

It was funny.... Thanks guys for a fun, fun, night!
P.S. Nokia is a VERY nice theater!

Ode to BoPop

My dad, aka, BoPop, which is short for RoboPop, is a wonderful grandfather! He has been a wonderful grandfather for just over 12 years, and he keeps getting better and better. He is many things, he is a magician (MikeRo the Magnificent), he is a mortician (and owner of a hat with Digger written across the front. The i is a shovel) he is a golfer(maybe he can teach Gates to be a girl Tiger), he is a musician (singing and dancing are two of his talents), he is a nurse (helping mom with the snake bite), but most importantly he is a family man. He is a dad like no other, and a grandfather like no other! Recently, he was in my house looking at a photo album for Gates. There were pictures of all of her loved ones, minus him. This really hurt his feelings, and I am so sorry that it did. This resulted in him calling himself the invisible grandfather. Dad, you are a very VISIBLE grandfather. You are a loved member of our family, and we are all so lucky to have you in our lives. Gates can say two words: Elephant and BoPop. You should be very proud!!

Yes, I Did Laugh.....

Bow

See the bow?? I glued this bow to my kid's head! I got this little bag of bows in the mail, and a little bottle of stuff. No directions on the bottle, but I assume it is cornstarch or something equally as safe. I glued this to her head yesterday and I think it looks pretty cute. It stayed for about an hour, and then fell out. What was left, you might ask??? A big clump of cornstarch, or whatever it is in that little bottle!!! Maybe these bows are for babies with no hair? I think I lost the pink bow, but I might try gluing another bow to her head sometime!!! Also, is it just me or is Gates REALLY starting to look like her daddy???

Well, my mom is so much better. It has been 3 weeks today since the bite... She is off of the walker, and has moved back upstairs. She is still uneasy on her feet, and needs to keep it elevated, but it is so much better... Thank God!

I had found a partner for flying, she backed out. I am bummed b/c the thought of only working half a month was making going back to work A LOT easier! Shoulda, woulda, coulda, no sense in worrying about that. Everything happens for a reason (so they say)

Gates is doing well, I do believe that she is starting the teething process. Do you other mothers think I am crazy? She drools so much now, and she was so sad the other day. Her fist is constantly in her mouth, too! "The Book" says that symptoms can last 2 to 3 months before we see an actual tooth!

I am stoked because LMN is back on my cable roll... That is right LMN, Lifetime Movie Network! I am sure that Brandon will be thrilled. :) LMN + Big Brother 10= summer of good TV!!!

Katie's visit

My friend Katie had a long sit time at the airport, so Gates and I went and got her and brought her over! I was so excited for these 2 girls to meet.

Gates

We had a very eventful day... Played all around the house. She sat in her new Bumbo chair, I think she might be a little bit early for sitting in it, but it is pretty cute when she is sitting there.
The video is just nothing, kicking baby, I am glad I FINALLY figured out how to post one!

I took advice from a friend, and tried dropping the late night feeding. Last night was the second night in a row that Gates slept from 8-5. Brandon fed her at 5 and she went back to sleep until 8!!! wooohooo! I hope it sticks.

My fate at AA!

Many friends have been asking me about my fate as a Stew. Well, I wish I could get furloughed. I know, be careful what you wish for. But it does sound a bit nice... Not returning to work, being able to collect unemployment, being called back to work in a few years.... However, I am 550 above the most senior Flight Attendant that is getting a WARN letter. Now, if you knew me way back in 2003, when I was relocated to STL, then you know I hated that. My BIGGEST fear for all of this is getting moved to another base. I think I will quit. I am praying some of the old birds (no offense, to any older flight attendants) will take an early retirment option. DFW has quite a few, (OK, quite a ton) that qualify for this. Alas, I remain as of now, afloat in the glamourous career of flight attendant. We shall see what this economy shall bring in the near future....

A vist with the Snake Charmer

Yesterday we went out to see my parents. Dad and B got to play golf, Mallie and Gates got to visit with mom.... She seems to be in MUCH better spirits. She still can not walk, but is able to use the walker to go short distances. I snuck a picture, and thought you guys might like to see! :) it looks A MILLION times better, but is still swollen and as you can see very yellowish...

Happy 4th of July

What a fun 4th! Happy Birthday America. We were hoping our dear friend Courtnee would have her baby on the 4th, but not to happen, no baby America... yet... We had a great day with friends and discovered that Gates LOVES the Baby Bjorn. She no longer fits in the peanut shell (sling) and this is even better! She can see everything going on. As you can see, her neck is getting stronger and stronger... Keelan and Gates, holding hands... ahhhhhhhhhhh

Happy Fourth of July from the Oakleys...

Jenny and Keelan, Mallie and Gates.

Brandon's Happy Birthday!

Hello, fellow bloggers. Yesterday was Brandon's birthday. He is 31!!! His Dad, Brother, and Donna were in town on their way thru to Arkansas for a baseball tournament, and so we got to go and celebrate with them!! MawMaw, (I call her GG MawMaw, b/c she is Gates's Great-Grandmother MawMaw) :) had a great spread out and we all enjoyed eating and talking...


Dee Dee and her little Gatesy Girl. Dee Dee is such a great grandmother, so good with the little ones. We are going down in August and Gates is going to stay with her grandparents, and Brandon and I are going to go to Padre! How fun for everyone.... When we went out to eat a couple of weeks ago, this lady stopped B and me as we were leaving the place and said, "I have to ask, who are that baby's parents?" She could not figure out if I was the mom or if Donna was the mom!!!
The Fam. Uncle Ziggy, Mallie, Brandon, Alan (b's dad, as if you could not tell by looking), Gates, Uncle Tucker, Dee Dee (b's step mom"), GGMawMaw. We were missing Uncle Peyton, he stayed to slave away at the job at home... :)

Look at her lifting that neck.....

This is Brandon's double cousin, Rodney. What is a double cousin? you might ask... Rodney's mom and Brandon's dad are brother/sister. Rodney's dad and Brandon's mom are also brother/sister. So it was really nice when we got married b/c Carianne, Rodney's wife, gave me her wedding list and it had the entire family on it... Both sides!!! Anyways, Here are the dads and their little babies.... Rodney and Clayton, age2, and Brandon and Gates.