Great Pictures by Dejavu Photography!!

Hey y'all... here are some more pictures that Sarah and Melissa from Dejavu Photagraphy took of Ben. He was 3 months old in these pictures. They're SO GOOD!! I am also trying to get some families together for a "Portrait Party". I need 5 to comit, so if you are interested, you can leave a comment or e-mail me at kgmsu@yahoo.com. Hope you enjoy!!

Love and Music...

Music has always been an important part of my life. From an early age, I was introduced to many different types of music. I can remember my mom playing Hotel California for me on 8-track and Elton John's Crocodile Rock on vinyl! Good times! But you don't have to be a music lover in order to feel a certain way when you hear the "right" song. I can hear a song that instantly reminds me of some place and time or someone. So... since this is MY page and can do what I want... here are some songs that remind me of certain persons and things.

When I was six years old, my great grandfather past away from cancer. He was such an important person to me. Even at such a young age, he left his mark on my heart. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him. I only wish he would have been around to meet my husband... he would have LOVED Les... to be at my wedding.. and to see his great great grandson. I miss him desperately and can't wait to see him again.

The song that reminds me of him is sung by Brad Paisley and Dolly Pardon.. When I get where I'm going. The most meaningful verse to me is this one... "I'm gonna walk with my grandaddy. And he'll match me step for step. And I'll tell him how I 've missed him every minute since he left... and then I'll hug his neck".

This picture is of my Papaw 'Clure holding me when I was a baby. He was so proud! He called me pumpkin! I love him and miss him.

Every time I hear "Give me the beat boys to free my soul, I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away" I think of my husband. When we first started dating it was obvious that we were meant to be together! He used to play Doobie Gray's Drift Away ALL THE TIME. Even now after being married for almost 5 years, my heart still skips a beat when I hear that song!! This is the very first picture that Les and I ever took! It was at Rick's Cafe in Starkville in April of 2002.

When Rachel and I were little, we were thick as thieves... sometimes literally! We also used to sing in church. Of coarse Rachel loved it... Mama MADE me! The song that comes to mind it He's still working on me! Rachel will get a big laugh out of this!!! We would stand up in front of our church congregation in our Sunday best and sweet kiddie voices and belt it out at the top of our lungs!! Here is a picture of Rachel and me when we were little. We weren't in our Sunday dresses, but this picture shows us in "real life"!! I love you Rach!! P.S. Sorry Johnny.. you weren't born yet! lol!

Here you go Johnny... I have one for you! I think the best thing I ever taught you... that mama didn't get on to me for... was the words to Alan Jackson's Chattahoochee! Only you couldn't say Chattahoochee and it came out more like Chattapoochee!! You were so cute... don't expect to EVER hear that again!!! lol!! OK Goober.. here is my favorite picture of you! You were TRYING to look sweet and Innocent!! I love you!

As I mentioned before, I love my great grandfather! But... he wouldn't have been the man he was without some polishing from my great grandmother!! He thought he wore the pants in the family and she let him think that... in public!! lol!! She is a pistol.. and she has one too and can't hear very well, so if you are going to her house... MAKE SURE SHE KNOWS AHEAD OF TIME!!!! lol!! (NOT kidding!!) She says that I remind her of herself! I just hope that I am half the woman she is!! I love her so much and I know that Papaw 'Clure visits her in her dreams! The song that reminds me of her actually reminds me of both of them! I'm not sure who sings it... but the song is perfect! In the song, the wife passes away first, but in this instance papaw passed away first. But the meaning is still the same. It goes... "If you get there before I do, don't give up on me. I'll meet you when my chores are through. I don't know how long I'll be. But I'm not gonna let you down. Darling wait and see. And between now and then until I see you again I'll be loving you. Love me". This picture was taken at Mamaw's 90th birthday party in Jan. 2007. It was held at Ackerman First Baptist. In the picture is my Mimi (mamaw 'Clure's only daughter), my mom ( mamaw 'Clure's grand-daughter), and me and Rachel (her great grand-daughters). 4 Generations of women!

As I have mentioned before.. my mom dad are just as in love now as they have ever been!!! I can remember my mom telling me how her and daddy don't really have the same taste in music.. but, they did go to the same concert before they ever knew each other! Wouldn't it be wild if they were supposed to have met and fallen in love at that concert, but didn't! I guess God wanted them together pretty bad.. he gave them a second shot! The song that reminds me of them is one by the man who they both saw in concert.. James Taylor, Fire and Rain!! This is a picture of them at my wedding! They look so good together!And last but not least... for my precious little boy!! I love you Ben more than you will ever know! Because of you I am a better person!! The song that reminds me of Ben is by Louie Armstrong.. Dream a little dream of me!! This is Ben dreaming!!!

Pictures of Ben

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Ben... from birth to now! Hope you enjoy them.
This was taken the night Ben was born. I think it has to be my favorite picture!! I had to have a spinal block during my section, which meant afterwards I had to lay flat for 4hrs to keep from getting a spinal headach. During that time, the nurses brought Ben to me. I laid him next to me so I could see him but after a while, he started to cry. Les picked him up and cuddled him. This is how I found them when I was able to finally sit up. It was so sweet!! I was such a proud mommy when Ben was born. I was in shock that I had such a beautiful baby!! Here are a couple of pictures that we took in the hospital of sweet Ben.

We had lots of family who was anxous to meet him!! I don't think Johnny new exactly what to do with him! lol! But that's OK... Neither did we!! lol!!

When we got home, we had more family who wanted to meet him! As you can tell, I am blessed with a large, loving family!

Last year was Ben's first Thanksgiving and Christmas. Les didn't want to get him out AT ALL!! But, I talked him into letting us go to some family functions! :)

When Ben was 3 weeks old, we took him to Dejavu Photography in Mathiston to have some pictures done. Sarah and Melissa did so good! Here are a couple!!

In these next pictures he was 1 month old.

When Ben turned 2 months, he started smiling! He has the most adorable smile I have ever seen!! In order to make him smile I have to kiss under is neck.

Now Ben is 3 months!!

Those who don't believe in love at first sight, never gave birth to the love of thier life!

In case I haven't mentioned it... I am a first time mom! I never knew how much it would change my life! He is absolutelyy perfect... spoiled... but I wouldn't have it any other way! He is growing more and more everyday!

My pregnancy was not exactly what I had expected! I knew that I would gain weight... but I looked ridiculous! These pictures were taken the morning that I had Ben. I also Had pregnancy induced hypertension. It began when I was in my 7th month and was controlled well with medication.. until my last month. My BP gradually began to rise even with my medication. So, my doctor decided to induce me on November 12, 2007. I was SO HAPPY!! I was 5 days away from my due date. I began the induction at 6am that morning and was completely dilated 12 hours later. I had an epidural which made everything better, until I began to push. I started having excruciating pain in my right side and back that the medication from the epidural was not helping. The nurses said his head was turned in that direction, and he must have been pressing on a nerve. I pushed for an hour, but the pain was so bad that I couldn't quit throwing up! So, my doctor said that I could push for another hour or go ahead and have a C-section. I opted for the section!!

John Benjamin Griffin (Ben) was born at 8:28pm on November 12, 2007 via C-section! I can't describe the feeling of hearing my baby cry for the first time! I am about to cry just thinking about it!! He was absolutely perfect! He was 7lbs 14oz and 19 1/2 inches long... not HUGE, but big enough! The nurses said that I had some extra fluid which was why my belly was so big. My feet were hardly ever swollen when I was pregnant, but after I gave birth they were so swollen I could barely walk and couldn't wear ANY of my shoes! Les was such a proud dad and very relieved that we were both OK. He was so protective over Ben and couldn't quit staring at him!

Adjusting to a new baby was a little difficult, esp. when I had a section. The soreness and stiffness took forever to go away!! But now I feel like an expert! Our lives have changed, but for the better! I can't imagine life without him!!

Kinda new at this!

OK folks... I am new at this, so bare with me! If you are reading my blog, then you are someone who knows me... or think you do! Ha Ha! Here is a little background for everyone.
I am from the best small town in the world... Mathiston! It is LITERALLY a 4-way stop on a highway! I was raised in a very, shall we say, well known family! Being a Gilliland meant a couple of things: 1) Family ALWAYS comes first!!! 2) Work HARD for everything 3) Help those in need even if they don't deserve it and 4) The customer is always right!! Ha Ha!! I had a little bit of a hard time with that last one!! If I wasn't one of the boss' daughters, I don't think I would have been employed at Piggly Wiggly for long! Speaking of which, the grocery business has been good to my family! As much as I hated working there in high school, if it wasn't for that store, I wouldn't be where I am now, have the family bond that I do now, or have the work ethics that I have now.
I have a great family! My mom and dad have been married for over 25 years and are still in LOVE... which used to gross me out, but with the divorce rates climbing I am thankful that they still kiss in front of us! My older sister, Rachel, recently married a great guy and they are living in Jackson. She has her dream job.. which is oddly enough somewhat in the food industry.. and her husband Otis is a cop in Morton. My little brother, Johnny (aka.. Goober), is no longer the pesky kid that used to annoy the crap out of me! He is now a 6 foot grown man.. who annoys the crap out of me! Just jokin'!! He is probably the sweetest young man I have ever met. He is thoughtful and kind and growing up so fast! He will graduate from East Webster this year and become a COLLEGE BOY!! (tear!)
After I graduated from high school, I went to Wood for a semester. My second semester was spent a MSU, where I had fun, fun, and more fun! If you ask daddy why he sent me to state he will tell you "so she could find a husband". And that is exactly what I did!
My husband is Les Griffin and I am convinced that God made him just for me! We only dated 8 months before he asked me to marry him and we will have been married 5 years in June. We have lived in several different places since we married, but now we live in Nettleton (20 miles SE of Tupelo) and like it. He is an industrial engineer and works for Phillips (previously Day-Bright). I graduated with my LPN in 2005 and decided to continue my education and graduated with my ADN (RN) in 2007. Being a nurse is what I was meant to do and I praise God that I found my true calling!!! I have worked in many facilities, but have found that agency work is for me. I am not good with the he said, she said BS nor the politics that come along with almost ever staff position that I have worked. It also allows me to be at home with my baby during the week so I don't have to put him in a daycare right now.
Speaking of my baby... well, I think I will save a special entry just for him!!! Goodnight all!