Brent Porter Yount

Congratulations to Tricia and Adam who welcomed Porter into the world this morning at 6:41. he is 7lbs 4oz and 20 inches long. We can't wait to meet him!!!!
(she's supposed to send a picture today and I'll post it)

Hannah's 2nd Birthday Party

Hunter and Amanda hosted a wonderful party on Sunday for Hannah's 2nd birthday which was actually on Friday, the 30th. We all had a great time and were joined by all of Hannah's friends.
Hannah is loving her baby William.
I tried to get Hannah to have a lick off of her birthday candle, but she was not going to have anything to do with that.
William's 2nd cousin Cole was giving him all kinds of love and kisses and William was eating it up! Emory Anne strikes a pose for us :)
Lesesne and Tombo...what a SWEET baby girl she is!!!!!
Birthday Girl

Hannah and Aunt Brit in her new playhouse.
T's 10 lb. diaper...this boy loves water and went straight in!
T ran naked after grabbing for his diaper a few times wondering what was hanging off the back of him!!!!

Murrells Inlet

We got a phone call last Friday from King & Ashley inviting us to Murrells Inlet for the weekend---I quick put my "mom" hat on and threw as much as I could remember into the car for us to survive for the weekend. We were with King, Ashley and their baby Ellie, Carrie and Robert Pulliam and me, Walks and WAM. It worked out to be a great weekend and the weather was perfect!!! The guys went out on the boat Saturday morning and took a trip down to McClellanville for the shrimp festival. The girls stayed at the house with the babies and ventured out Saturday afternoon to DeBordieu to visit Harper, Christy and Ragen. Harper's little girl, Annie, was out there loving on William and Ellie. We took the babies out to the beach and after they got all slathered up with sunscreen, we got all settled into our seats and William started to cry for his bottle, the wind picked up and was pelting us. We moved up the pool and had a much more pleasant visit and time in the sun.

Ashley, Ellie and William

William checking out Ellie

King, Ellie and Ashley

Ashley and Carrie

Poor William wearing one of Ellie's hat's...we accidentally left ours inside!

Thank you again for such a wonderful trip to the beach!!!!

10 adults, 4 children---Edisto Beach April 2008

Mom and Dad so graciously opened their house to us a few weeks ago down at the beach. It was Mom, Dad, Hunter, Amanda, Hannah, friends of their's- Lee and Mandy, Gene, Haley, Emory Anne, Grady, me, Walks and William. We had such a good time, especially watching Hannah and Emory Anne play together.

I know how tough it is to pack for a 4 month old for the beach, but Gene and Haley were lucky enough to figure out how to pack for 2 children! I think it took 4 adults to get their car packed to go hom, kids strapped in and out the driveway. Walks and I spent one extra night and relaxed with Mimi and Grandaddy and left Monday.

While we were there William slept in the pack n play in a closet--I assume this isn't too mean, right? I mean, that could be considered abuse once he's old enough to know where he is, but for now, we consider it out of the way.

Hannah and Emory Anne played perfectly together the whole time and William and Grady were little angels as usual. I can't wait for them to start playing together--it couldn't be any more convenient that we have boys that are practically the same age.

While we lay out on the beach, William enjoys the breeze on the gazebo.

Hunter reading to Hannah and Emory Anne

Mandy, Amanda and Lee
Walks and WAM
Gene and Grady
William waiting for Grandaddy to put the paci back in.

Grady in his papason chair...I think this is his favorite seat.

WAM
Grady and Williams first time on the beach.
Emory Anne & Haley
"Emmy Anne & Hannie"

As the "family" grows...

All together again...it's been awhile, but we had T, Emory Anne and Hannah all over last Saturday night. Of course this time, Lesesne, Grady and William were part of the crew. It was a very informal, WILD night with 8 adults and 6 children...wow, how quickly things change!


We loved spending the evening with everyone and look forward to our next gathering!

CiCi, Grady and Lesesne...what a dream to quietly hold two sweet, sleeping babies!

Gene and Tombo hopefully enjoying dinner.
Emory Anne, Hannah and T
Can you believe that they are almost two years old? They had a great time playing with each other and before we know it, Grady, Lesene and WAM will be right there with them!

Grady Dowling Bell

Congratulations to Haley, Gene and Emory Anne on the birth of Grady who was born today at 12:37 p.m. He weighs 7 pounds and is 18 1/2 inches long. He is such a precious little boy and looks just like a Mote baby!!! William can't wait to meet his new friend. I see many fun, exciting times in our future. Should we be scared of these two boys?!?!?!

Proud Mama

Suckin' that paci...yeah!!!!

Before Baby Bell #2

Gene and Haley decided they wanted to have people over one last time before they arrival of Baby Bell #2. Everyone was so sweet and brought over either a casserole or diapers...what a great idea. We'll have to do that in the future for everybody else--how wondeful!!
Luckily, Leslie, the greatest baby holder and lover ever was there to snuggle with little WAM. He loves his aunt Lel. Ariail was SO sweet too and held William for a long time, giving me a nice break from baby-holding :) Thanks!!!

Emory Anne pushing T around the Mickey Mouse car. I don't know that he got off that thing all night!

Kiki and Emory Anne

Leslie was feeding William and Emory Anne just had to help. She's going to be the best big sister!

Not so sure that this is what Tombo wants to see T doing...pushing a baby stroller around. Maybe that is how he will help Anna out when she has baby #2 next week :)

We had a great time and thank Haley and Gene again for a wonderful night!!! Can't wait to meet Baby Bell #2!!!!

Congratulations Tricia and Adam!!!

Tricia and Adam just found out yesterday that they are having a baby boy. His name will be Brent "Porter" Yount. We are so excited for them and can't wait to meet Baby Yount in June! (I have added a link to her new blog)

Wade Todd Leventis

Congratulations Meagan and Todd on the birth of Wade. We are so excited to meet him (hopefully one day soon)! He was born January 25th at 1:04 and weighed 8lbs 12ozs. What a handsome little boy!

Meghan's Wedding

So tonight we celebrated one of our team member's weddings...CONGRATULATIONS Meghan and Josh! Meghan Suddeth and Josh Hesley got married tonight and I couldn't be more excited and sad at the same time. I'm excited that Meghan is married and is going to have the time of her life, but sad that we're losing her to the big city of ATL. We are going to miss her SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Team Franklin will not be the same without the "life of the party". She's the one that gives us our laughs throughout the day- we will miss you more than you know Meghan!
Let's give her one final WHAH WHAH...
Love, Caroline (WAM's mom)
(by the way, I think Meghan was one of the most beautiful bride's I've ever seen!!)

Crazy Meghan!!!!

Work sitters

This is a pictures of William's Aunt Kara from my office. We've gone into the office a few times and luckily Kara has been there to hold little William and let me do a few things. She is an absolutely WONDERFUL baby sitter- she is the biggest baby lover I know, even more than Leslie and Sara!!! (Sorry Lel- she's more obsessed than you and Sara put together)
Here is sweet Kara holding my so stinking cute boy or as Walks would say, his "Buttercup".

Baby Shower

Last Saturday my friends hosted a shower for me and Baby Milliken which was just perfect! We had such a great time and they really went out of there way to make everything so nice--Thank you Haley, Leslie, Anna, Casey, Sarah Preston and Amanda!!!! Baby Milliken will be so lucky to have all of you in his or her life. I'm so blessed to have such wonderful friends!

This was after mom started to make me cry...typical!

New Baby on the way...

Congratulations to Tricia and Adam who are expecting a baby next Summer- June 27th. We can't wait to meet little baby Yount!!!!!!

Camden Lee Thomas

Congratulations Amanda and Carson who welcomed Camden Lee Thomas into the world today at 12:15 a.m. She weighs 6lbs 13ozs and is 19 3/4 inches long. Amanda says she resembles Charlie some, but is definitely her own little person...with chubby cheeks! :)
We can't wait to meet the newest Thomas addition and congratulate Amanda on making it through the delivery without an epidural (which by the way, she was waiting for one, but dilated too fast).

Brantley's baby, James

I had to post this picture that I just got from an old friend of mine who lives in Beaufort, Brantley, of her little boy James. I haven't seen any pictures of him since he was less than a month old and he has changed so much. What a sweet face! He is going to be ONE on October 30th...time flies!

Happy Birthday to me...

I celebrated my birthday on Friday with family and friends (and lots of children!). Everything was so much fun and mom and dad did a great job with the food and most importantly, THE CAKE!!
Thank you everybody for all of my gifts- everybody was too kind. I got ice cream gift certificates to Cold Stone and Baskin Robbins...do you think my friends know I'm pregnant or what?!?! Baby Milliken and I will put those to good use!
We tried to get a picture of all the children and we succeeded, but I'm not sure how happy they were about it, especially in the second picture.
Will, Emory Anne, Sally, T and Hannah (and Haley)

LOTS MORE BABIES are on the way!!!!!

As many of you have heard by now, Haley and Gene are expecting the arrival of Baby Bell #2 in March. And T's parents, Anna and Tombo are expecting the arrival of Baby Milliken #2 five days before Baby Bell on March 21st. But what you don't know is that Sarah Preston and Marwan are expecting Baby Marzagao #2 one week later than Baby Bell on April 4th.
This means within 2 weeks of each other, 3 of my best friends are expecting their second babies...I am SOOO excited for all of them and can't wait to share in all the fun of being a mom with such wonderful friends!!!!!!!!
Baby Milliken due March 21st
Baby Bell due March 26th
Baby Marzagao due April 4th

CONGRATULATIONS and we can't wait for T, Emory Anne and Sally to be big sisters and a big brother!

Edisto Beach FIRE 2007

Nobody ever thinks that "it" will ever happen to them. Whatever that "it" may be...in this case, it was a HUGE house fire. As you all know from my last blog, we spent last week in Edisto with the Mote family. We came home last Friday and they were planning to stay until this coming Saturday...that is until lightning struck the rental house they were staying in and it went up in flames. This happened sometime around 7:00 last night and they all got out safely. You always think of the things that you would try to grab if your house caught on fire and from what I hear those important things for the Mote/Bell family were: Emory Anne, a paci and her blanket.
Billy had gone home for the night, so the only ones in the house were Virginia, David (Virginia's brother), Gene, Haley and Emory Anne. They got out of the house, stood in the pouring down rain and watched the house go up in flames. The obviously called the fire department who quickly came, the realty company found another house for them to stay in for the night and there were some kind neighbors who let Haley wear a pair of flip-flops so she wasn't barefoot!
The Piggly Wiggly stayed open late for them to get a few essentials and they fed them free breakfast this morning when they showed up. This was probably the excitement of the year down in Edisto. Not to make light of the situation, but this could only happen to the Mote family!
They met the fire department back at the house this morning to go through and take what they could from the house. They loaded up their trailer with bag fulls of burnt, black, smokey clothes to see what they can salvage. I will update you with pictures once I get some from Haley. For anybody who may know the owners of this house, it is Joy and Bill Snyder's newly built (last year) beach house on the marsh in Edisto. They came down this morning to assess damage and see if they could get anything.
Luckily everyone is okay and we all need to realize that the "it" could happen to them.
WELCOME HOME MOTE/BELL FAMILY!!!!!!! Glad you're safe :)

Edisto Beach Khaki, White and Black 2007

So every year we go to Edisto Beach with the whole Mote/Suggs/Bell/Milliken clan. We do nothing but relax on the beach, eat great meals and enjoy plenty of cocktails while we're there. The only other thing that is a annual MUST is to take group pictures dressed in khaki and white. This year there was a twist to add black into the mix. It's always fun to see what combinations we put together...and Arthur (the not so patient, but tries to be photographer) takes all of the shots for us. This year might be a record breaker for the amount of poses and combinations that were put together, but the pictures turned out GREAT thanks to Dad the great flash :)THE WHOLE GROUP

Back Row: Hunter, Dad, Billy, Benjamin, Graham, Gene, Joe, Sandra and Nick

Front row: Hannah, Amanda, David, Mom, Walks, Aunt C, Haley, Virginia and Emory Anne

The parents of the only babies on the trip (although I consider myself to be the baby :))

Emory Anne and Gigi, Mimi and Hannah

Aunt C with her girls