My Grandbaby

12/22/2003
212 days left
I'm getting off to somewhat a late start on this I know, but what can I say I'm Paw Paw and I can do pretty much what I want... right??? (I'm sure your Mom will have something to say about that.) I'm not sure what you'll call me yet and just between you and me it really doesn't matter. At this point and time I'm just so happy at the idea of being a Paw Paw, Pops, Grand Paw, or just what ever.

Your Mom, my baby girl, and Dad had the first ultrasound done 2 weeks about today. They came over and showed me the little picture and told me all the Doctor said. They told me all about your little heart beating so fast... Was it really that long ago that your Mom was just my little baby? I guess so... time goes by so fast... Your Mom and Dad or so excited and so are your Aunts... Lauren and Mary. Mary has already promised to keep you anytime your Mom and Dad wants to go out... and as for me... well I'm looking forward to taking you with me places.

The girls (Lauren and Mary) have already being looking and wanting to buy all kind of things for you... It's going to be along time to July 21, 2004. Like yesterday your Mom, Dad, Lauren, Mary and Ethan all came over to eat with me.. (All I have to do is tell your Mom and Dad I'm cooking and they come running... ;-) ... just keep that between us ok.. for I enjoy cooking and having them come down to be with me..) Afterwards your Dad, Aunt Mary and myself went over to the Biloxi. Your Mom had told Jonathan that there was some kind of baby thing she wanted... so here we went... it's so much fun being a part of a close family and being able to take part in this.

Your Great Granny Lee told Melissa that she was going to start making blankets for you now. She (my Mom) said you needed a new one for every day of the week. She is so excited about you... I guess you can say we all are..

Well I'm going to close for today, but I promise I'll keep you up to date on what's going on.

12/23/2003
211 days left
Hello there... I can't believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I'm going to try and have your Mom, Dad, Aunt Lauren and Aunt Mary Kathryn come over here and open their gifts. Today I need to run to Biloxi to see if I can get my camera fixed. I really want to take Mary out and teach her how to use her camera. Maybe in the future I'll be teaching you how to make and then print your pictures. Shoot by then the way I used to do it will be a thing of the past... My darkroom will be a thing you'll see in a museum, but just in case I hope to still have it.... ;-)

I called your Dad last night while he was on his way to Biloxi.. he was going over to the mall to have a mouse pad made for your Mom. He is so excited and also so worried about everything... I tried to assure him that everything was going to be ok. I know how he feels, when we were expecting your Mom (my little girl) we were so young and so afraid. Unlike your Mom and Dad we didn't have anyone living close to us. All our family lived 150 miles away. You know what... we did just find with your Mom I think. To me she will always be my "little girl".

Well I'm going to run for now... like I said I've got to run to Biloxi and it looks like it's going to rain. I'm so looking forward to holding you...

12/24/2003 (8am)
210 days left
Christmas Eve... I just checked on Santa on the internet and sure enough he was feeding the reindeer and getting things ready to make his run tonight... I'll check back later today and see what time he left and when we can expect him down here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast... Well one thing is for sure he's got a pretty day to fly in down here... I tell ya yesterday was bad... I had a few things left to get (for your Mom and Dad) and it rained and was bad all day... I did it oh.. I got them both just what I was looking for... as for your Mom... well I had gotten her something the other day, but it just didn't seem like it was enough or the right thing... well yesterday, while in the mall, there was a tugging for me to go in the book store... I found a book, more like a journal, for her to write down all the feelings and things about her pregnancy... I'm not sure she likes to write like me, but it will be something you will treasure when you get older and start a family of your own. Melissa won a writing award her last year at PHS.

I hope to have all the kids (that's what I call them) over here tonight so they can open their gifts. I don't know if your Mom will get off early or not... if not it will be around 8pm when we open the packages. This is becoming one of the best Christmas' I've had in a long time...

I'll let ya know how things went tonight and tell ya what everyone got.. OK... ;-)

12/26/2003, Friday
208 Days and Counting
What a day yesterday was.. Lauren spent the night at your Nona's house with Mary.. We were suppose to meet over there at 9:30 yesterday morning.. well Mary called me and asked me to come over at 8:30... When I got there she (Mary) was the only one that knew it... Well finally your Mom and Dad got there at the right time of 9:30... Your Mom had been sick again. She's been being sick a good bit I've been told... After we finished over there we went to your house where we opened more gifts. Your Mom, bless her heart, cinnamon apple stuff to make the house smell like Christmas and it made her sick. It's so hard to be the Dad and see one of your kids sick and you can't do anything about it. Your Mom and Dad got me a DVD player and the CD 'Of Gods and Generals" . I just finished watching it.... and I must say I enjoyed it so much. Jonathan got Melissa a glider rocker, and a Dell computer and Melissa got him a surround sound system for the TV.. Lauren and Ethan put the rocker together while Jonathan and I put the computer together... Jonathan told me yesterday that if you were a little boy they were going to give you the middle name of 'Lee'... that would be something to say the least.. it really doesn't matter to me all I want is to hold and love on ya.. It would be nice to have a little boy to buy a Confederate uniform for and have go with me to Beauvoir... if you turn out to be a little girl... I'll just buy you one of those big dresses and carry ya.. Shoot I know all about little girls.. I've had 3 for them.. and I've got the gray hair to prove it... haha No being the Dad of 3 girls has been great.. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Well we're going to see your Great Granny Lee and Great Grandpa tomorrow and have Christmas with them. I know Mom (my Mom) wants to see Melissa so bad... I'll go for now...

12/29/2003 Monday
205 Days and counting down
I had to go back to work today after being off for a week... not much fun... haha We all went up to my Mom and Dad's Saturday and had Christmas with them. They were so glad to see everyone. I know it did Dad a world of good to see everyone. You Dad went up on the Indian and your Mom had Lauren and Mary. On the way up both your Mom and Dad got a ticket.. There are times I just don't know what I'm going to do with those kids of mine... Aunt Pat came down also. As always Mom cooked way more than she should have but Melissa enjoyed it. Mom cooked a big ham just because your Dad likes them. Well I'll go for now... Ok?

01/08/2004 Thursday
195 Days and counting
Sorry I haven't written, but it's like my time is just flying by. Your Mom goes back to the Doctor today for another check-up. It doesn't matter how old your children get, you will always worry about them. I promise I'll write you a note and tell ya what Melissa tells me about the visit today.. It has turned cold all of a sudden.. and your old Paw Paw doesn't like cold weather... haha Oh yea a little side note I finally got my camera fixed... it broke last Feb and I just never got it fixed, but I hope now that Mary and I can go out together and shoot some pictures together. Well I've got to go get Mary this morning and finish getting my paper work ready for to nights SCV meeting.

01/10/2004 Saturday
193 Days and counting
Good morning... I got to eat with your Mom yesterday. She was telling all about the doctor visit. She was telling me how they could see your little arms and legs and that your little heart was beating soooo fast. She also told me that she hadn't been sick for the past little bit. Before she was staying sick. Mary and I are going to the rodeo tonight in Biloxi. Mary is so excited. I just wish it didn't look so much like rain and wasn't so cold. Each time I sit down and start typing Lucy wants to get back in.... she is worrying me to death this morning... haha Well I need to get started on doing my house work... ;-( I'll write you later... Hey I just remembered... I've got birthday this time next month... let's see I'll be how old..... well let's just say OLD.... *S*

01/11/2004 Sunday
192 Days Left
Boy did yesterday fool me.. I was telling you it was going to rain, but it turned out to be a pretty day. Well you went to your first rodeo last night... I had asked Melissa if she and Jonathan would like to go with Mary and myself to see the rodeo... We enjoyed it so much and afterwards your MOM was hungry ( so was your Aunt Mary) so we went to 'IHOP' and eat... Little Bit... I've never seen Melissa eat so much.. she eat her pancakes and ham and then started eating your Dads ham.. haha There's really no way I can you just much I enjoyed being with all of them last night... Our Mom had been called in to work Friday night and I didn't know it, but she said she didn't get home until 4am yesterday morning and then we were out until all most 1am this morning.

They showed me the new ultrasound last night... after having 3 girls of my own I'm still amazed at all of it...

Oh yea.. last night they had 5 little boys come out with the clown... He (the clown) told us the boys were the 5 finalists in a dance contest... Little Bit.. I laughed so hard.. I told Melissa and Jonathan they had better take a good look... for I told them I bet you were going to be just like one of them.. which is a good thing.. They were so cute... Well I better go for now... it's a beautiful day today... cold... but the sun is shinning and the ground is covered with frost. I'll write more later... ;-)

Love Ya,
Gramps, Paw Paw, Paw Lee, Pap Paw... or just what are ya going to call me... maybe you hadn't better answer that.... haha

01/12/2004 Monday (5:30AM)
191 Days Left
Good cold Monday morning... Just had to take a second to tell you about yesterday... Your Mom and Dad came down and ate with us yesterday... Your Dad is so crazy... (I mean that in a very good way) Back in Oct I got a marshmallow gun... and yesterday your Dad saw I had some miniature marshmallows.... well let's just say he drove Maggie (my (your Mom's) dog) crazy. She didn't like being shot with the marshmallows... and to top it off I was washing the dishes and he shot me on the ear... can you believe that... I fixed lunch for him and the shots me with a marshmallow while washing the dishes... hahahah.... He wanted to shoot Melissa with one... but he knew better to mess with her...haha I makes me feel good that he feels that 'at home' here. It's always good to have them come over.... After lunch Lauren went with Mary and your Nana to to get Mary a dress for a Valentines dance. I can't believe how fast they have grown up on me... The dress is long and is a dark red or should I say wine color... She is going to be the prettiest young lady there... Well she has to be right.. she's your Aunt...

Well I better close for now... It's going to be time for me to go to work before I know what happen.

01/16/2004 (Friday) 6:15am
187 Left
Hi there Little Bit... Lauren or Mary one told me that you and Mom skipped work Wednesday. They told me that Melissa was having growing pains (your growing pains) ... I'll call Melissa today and check on her. I don't want to call her to much for I don't want to worry her. I've got a big weekend this weekend... and just between you and me... I'm about over it. We have our annual Lee-Jackson Banquet tomorrow night. Most of the time I really enjoy it, but this past year they have almost worried me to death. Each time there's something to do they think I'm suppose to keep up with everything.... Sorry about this... just needed to fuss.... You'll come to understand Gramps... at least I hope you will... I do hope you will want to spend time with me. The girls have all grown up and your Mom and I used to cook a lot together.. There are times I wish I could just spend one of those days over again. Well I've got to finish getting ready for work... Love you 'Little One'.

01/20/2004 (Tues) 6:20am
183 To Go
Good cold Tues morning 'Little Bit' ... Not much going on right now. This past weekend we had our Lee-Jackson Banquet and the weather was so bad. Your Mom and Lauren went to a baby shower Sunday afternoon. It was one of Melissa's close friends... the baby is supposed to be born on my birthday (2/10) ... Lauren is still trying to find a dress for her ball in March. I told her I would go with her this weekend and look with her... not that I know what buy... Oh yea.. I signed up for a photography class... it starts next Monday night... and the class is 'Special Effects'... i think it will be fun to take...

On a sad note Mary's cat ‘Simon’ was killed Sunday. It has upset Mary and your Nana so much. I hate it when something happens like that and there's nothing I can do.

Well 'Little Bit' Gramps had better finish getting ready to go to work... ;-( Love ya.... *HUG*

Love ya,
Grand Paw, Gramps, Paw Paw, Paw Lee... We've got to come up with a name.... haha

01/24/2004 (Tues) 7:25am
179 Days and Counting
Good morning 'Little Bit'... looks like it's going to be a busy day. I'm going with Lauren to get a dress for her J.E. Ball and there's one thing I like to do it's shop... NOT!!! haha

Cooked dinner for your Mom and Dad Thursday night... After dinner when Melissa was about to leave I felt of her belly... I could feel a little 'pug'... in a way it's hard for me to think of my little girl being a Mother.

Yesterday my last fish died... 'Little Bit' I bet that fish was 8 or 9 years old. I couldn't believe he had lived that long... I've been cleaning the tank out this morning getting ready to get some new fish and getting the tank pretty... this will give you something to look at when you come over here.. Mary used to love to watch the fish.

Well guess I better get going... I would like to go and the shopping done with early.. not that I have anything to do today... haha really need to work on my SCV books. Love ya 'Little Bit'

01/31/2004 (Sat) 6:45am
172 days ... OH BOY
Good morning 'Little Bit'... Guess what... Your old Paw Paw took off work yesterday.. It felt so good to just do around the house, as I wanted to. Your Aunt Mary went back to Arlington School yesterday for career day with her 4th grade teacher. When I went to pick her up she was so excited. She had such a good time... She was going to go to work with your Mom in surgery, but after Melissa's boss told her she could they came back and said she couldn't. Mary was tell Melissa yesterday afternoon that she was kinda glad she didn't go in surgery... she said she didn't know if she would have been able to handle the blood.. haha My girls.. they are a mess and I love them sooooo much. Lauren and I had our picture made yesterday afternoon for her JE Ball program. The pictures turned out good. Lauren is so pretty anyway... for that matter so is Melissa and Mary... I've got the prettiest girls of anywhere... you know why that is??? Because they are G.R.I.T.S. (Girls Raised In The South) haha .... Your Paw Paw is crazy... but I guess that's why your Mom and Aunts love me so... wouldn't you think so???? Today we've marching in the Ocean Springs Maria Gras parade... Your Uncle Gene and Jeff is suppose to be coming down...

Well 'Little Bit' I better go for now... We are going to have so much fun when you get here... and when you get older I'll get you a uniform and you can march with me.. ;-)

02/07/2004 (Sat. 7:30am)
165 more days...
Good morning little one... It's such a pretty morning this morning...little cool oh. Last weekend we (the Sam Davis Camp 596) marched in the Ocean Springs Mardia Gras parade. It was an ugly day to say the least... cold and cloudy. To top it off I lost my glasses somewhere on the parade route and this past week is been hard on me.. it's been hard to read... *LOL*, but I've got some new ones coming in this week. Hope to have them by Wed.

Your Mom went back to the Doctor Monday. He told her everything was doing just find. She and your Dad come down and eat with the girls and me Wed night. On the next visit they hope to see if you’re a little girl or a little boy. I've told you before and I'll tell ya again... it doesn't matter to me... I can do just as much with either.. It's going to be fun... now that I'm older maybe I can spend a lot of time with you... Your Mom and I used to do a lot together... I miss those times but with you I'll be able to relive some of it.

Well I better get going this morning... not sure what I've got to do yet but I'll find something to do... Later Little Bit....

02/10/2004 Tues 5:20am
162 days left
Today is my birthday... let's see I'm how old... OLD... no 'Little Bit' I'm 48 today..

02/16/2004 (Monday)6:30am
156 more days
Hi there... you know what I forgot to tell you happy Valentine's day Saturday... but I did give you, your Mom and Dad a box of candy.. Your Dad is losing his Grandmother... They got the call Friday and I think they spent most of the weekend at the hospital with her. I've never met her, but still all and all I know how hard it is to lose someone.
They came by late yesterday afternoon for a little while... this made me feel so good that they would just drop by... Melissa said she could feel you moving now... mostly at night... Lauren asked what it felt like and Melissa said it was like a bubble moving around....
Well I've got to go get Mary.. so I'll go for now... Love ya...

02/29/2004 (Sunday) 7:15AM
143 days in the the count down...
Sorry I haven't written in a while... for some reason I've seem to be much busier these past few weeks. Melissa is telling me that she can feel you move around a lot now. Mary was telling me this past Friday morning at she got to feel you and saw you moving around. She was so excited. Your Mom goes to see the Doctor tomorrow and they are hoping see if you are going to be Gage or Riley... (now I think this was what your Mom told me the names were going to be) but knowing me I sometimes get things wrong... haha
Mary and I went over to Beau Rivage last Saturday night to see the show TAGANAI.. it was a Russian circus act of sorts. We both had the best time. I can't wait until I can take you places. As for going places today looks like a good day to go nowhere... looks like it's going to rain... but yesterday was was great. The hospital had the Heart Walk down on the beach... Your Mom and you walked in it so did Lauren and myself. I never saw Melissa after the walk started... she was with her co-works and I was with my group of misfits.. haha
Well 'Little Bit' I'm going to go for now.... When I hear from your Mom tomorrow I'll let know what the Doc said.

03/02/2004 (Tues) 6:40am
141 days... oh boy
Well... do I have news this morning.... Your Mom and Dad went and had an ultrasound done yesterday afternoon... I had run into Melissa coming out of the cafeteria at the hospital and told her to be sure to call me when see got back from the Doctor... Well about 2:30 she called with the news... "We’ve having a BOY"... after we talked for a while and hung up your Dad called to tell me... he was so excited. You know I'm not going to know how to handle a little boy.. bet I can learn real fast oh.... I hope we can have so much fun together... I'm sure we will... I hope you'll go with me to Beauvoir and to the battlefields. We'll go camping, fishing and if you like we'll join a hunting club.
I called my Mom (your Great Granny) on my way to Biloxi last night and told her the news... she was so excited.
Well I guess Poppa better get off to work.... Got to go make plans and dream... So looking forward to holding you...
Love ya ,
Poppa...

03/08/2004 (Monday) 6:35am
135 days... can't wait..
Good morning Little Bit... It's Monday and the weather has gotten so pretty... Yesterday I cooked lunch for everyone. Lauren went over and got Mary and your Mom came down... I asked her where your Dad was and she told me that he had an accident on his bike... well my heart just fell... then she told me that he was ok, but he had hit a dog and he didn't want to just ride off.. He was suppose to ride to Gulf Shores, but he call Melissa and said he had changed his mind and they were going to ride up in the country... After lunch Melissa and Lauren asked me to ride over to Mobile with them to the 'Babies R Us’ and look around.... they had some of the prettiest things there.... I can't wait until we get you here so we can play with ya... Melissa had found a crib set she wanted.... so we got it for ya... I now know how my Mom felt with my girls.. it was the best feeling being able to buy this.. now we've got to go back over there and get the mobile that goes with it... it's so much fun buying things like this... the mobile plays "IMAGE" ... Oh yea... I've been telling the people at work all the things I'm going to buy.. like model rockets.... haha... You're Mom is going to have a time with me buying things I'm afraid... Well as Lauren calls me "Big Poppa" better go for now... Love ya..

Love ya Son..
Big Poppa

03/13/2004 (Sat) 7:10am
130 days left in the countdown
GOOOOOD Saturday morning... and I do mean good. It's so pretty outside this morning. I've got the back door open somewhat and can hear the birds. It's still a little cool this morning, but I think it's going to warn up as the morning goes on. Lucy is running in and out wanting me to play with her...

Your Mom came over Wed night to eat.. your Dad didn't make it... Melissa said he had been having leg problems and had been working hard all day... I understand just how he feels... once I get home I don't want to do or go anywhere either... We fixed him a plate and Melissa took it home...

You're starting to grow... I can see Melissa stomach getting bigger. She is so cute... and Mary couldn't get over her belly button starting to disappear... I thought it was so funny... I keep forgetting Mary has never been close to anyone that's going to have a baby.. I think Lauren was a little taken with it also.... Lauren was only 3 when Mary was born so she really doesn't remember much either.

Oh yea... I'm so excited ... I'm going to help shoot a wedding in June. I'm hoping it may turn into a little side job.

Well I'm going to run for now... Will be in touch a little later on.... Love ya...
Love ya,
Big Poppa

03/24/2004 (Wed) 7:10am
119 days left in the countdown
GOOD Morning.... J just have a little time this morning, but just wanted to tell ya that I fixed dinner last night and your Mom and Dad were here.. after we finished eating Melissa told Lauren to feel... Melissa said that you were moving all around.... then Melissa told me to feel... I GOT TO FEEL YOU MOVE.... it was something... I guess no matter had many times I'm around this (a new life coming into the world) I'll always be in awe over it... and I guess this is a good thing... Well Poppa better get going this morning... It's way to pretty to be working inside today oh... haha ... Hope to eat lunch with your Mom today... Well got to run.....

03/28/2004 (Sunday) 8:25am
115 days left
Good morning Gage... (Hope I spelled it right) Lauren had her first Jeune Esprit Ball last night. She was so pretty. When I get the pictures back I'll put one on here for you to see. Lauren had your Mom on the run all day yesterday... from going with her to have her nails done to getting her hair done. I know it's hard to imagine today, but before your Mom and Dad can turn around you'll be grown. It's a great feeling watching your babies grow up... becoming there on person... yet it's so hard to let them go. Now I'm going to have you to watch grow up... help take care of... to love on... There's no feeling like it in the world like at of a Mom and Dad for their children. There's no way I can tell Melissa and Jonathan how it feels, but it's a love like that of non-other. I am so looking forward to holding you and starting all over again. (Here's the picture I promised ya)

Bad news this morning... When I went to get Mary this morning and we got back home I found Alf had died in his cage... I've been knowing he wasn't doing good and for the past few weeks I've been looking to find him... but even thro he was just a little Love Bird it still kinda stings... and I hope even the death of a small little bird will be something I never get used to... I guess we had Alf for 6 or 7 years and I don't know how long Susan had him prior to giving him to us... here he used to sit on my shoulder for hours and fly around and sit on the computer... Well while he was here he was treated well and had a good life.

Good morning little bit... It's been a pretty weekend. Your Mom and Dad came over Saturday and showed me the video of the ultrasound of ya. It was something watching you move around. At one point in the video you were sucking your thumb.. I can't wait to see you and hold you. Claudia (a co-worker) granddaughters was home last week from Washington state and she brought her over for us to see.. She was so pretty... and Wanda now has 3 grandbabies... 2 boys and a little girl. She and Benny are always taking Noah to do things (Noah is the oldest almost 4) ... so I can't wait...

April is Confederate Heritage Month... and this past weekend we went over to the Old Biloxi Cemetery and worked on the grave of Gen Joseph Davis. It looked so much better after what little bit we were able to do, but we've planning, along with the UDC, to restore the final resting place of Gen Davis.    Then on the 24th we'll be having a big service at Beauvoir... I hope you'll want to go over where with me when you get bigger...

Well I better go for now ... today starts Spring Break for Lauren and Mary. I'm taking off today and tomorrow.   I don't know if they will want to do anything or not... Maybe Mary and I can make some pictures or something fun. Will write more later... Love ya Son...

Love,
Poppa

04/05/2004 (Monday) 4:45pm
Got a call from your Mom this morning about 10:30am... one of those calls I've been afraid I was going to get... Your Dad had a wreck on the bike last night... Melissa told me it happened around 9:30pm last night... She got him to the E/R and it was about 5am this morning before they left. Melissa told me that he bit his tongue real bad and had to have stitches in his chin. His chest hit the gas tank and bruised him up pretty good... Thank God he didn't or was hit a car... Melissa said that they went off the road and hit the ditch. Lord... these kids of mine or going to kill me... Will up date you about it as I find out.... I don't think your Mom wanted to tell me... she had told everyone else about it... haha I'm just glad he's ok... Well Poppa has had all the excitement he can stand until July now... haha

04/12/2004 (Monday) 6:20am
100 days ......
Good morning Gage... It's another Monday morning... haha This past weekend was Easter. I had gone to Jackson Saturday for an SCV meeting and came home... Trips like that just ware me out. Your Dad had called me Friday and wanted to know if I wanted to come up and eat with you'll yesterday... (Well of course... haha) Jonathan had grilled chicken breast, baked potatoes, and baked beans.... Your Mom called Mamo yesterday and I heard her that she had gained about 14 pounds.. she looks so pretty. While eating Melissa felt her stomach and laughed that you were getting much larger and much stronger... but when I felt of her stomach you wouldn't move... well you just wait until Poppas gets his hands on ya... ;-)
I leave going to Dallas tomorrow for the week... I'm going to a class on a new report writer for the nurse reporting system of the new computer.
100 days left... it will be here before we know it... I was talking to Mom (my Mom) yesterday and she said that if you are born on the 22nd of July it will be on there wedding anv... 55 years...
Well I better go see if Mary is ready for me to come pick her up...

Love ya,
Poppa....

04/13/2004 (Monday) 7:50am
99 days ......
In the final count down now .... Well Poppa off to Dallas this morning for class. Just wanted to make a note of the fact that we are less than 100 days to go... ;-) Your Mom called this morning to tell me to be careful. She said you kicked all night last night and that she can tell you're getting bigger and stronger now. She (your Mom) is so pretty... she's my big baby... Will try and find you something while in Texas... Love ya ...

04/17/2004 (Saturday) 7:00am
95 days ......
Hi Gage.... I got home last night about 10:30pm last night. We had a good class, but I was glad to get home... We had a good flight home... the flight attendant was so funny.... she had us laughing all whole trip from Dallas. We didn't get to really go anywhere while we were out there... if we did go we had to walk... I tried to find you something at the airport yesterday, but on our side there were very few shops to shop at. (The hospital wouldn't pay for us to get a car... haha) Anyway it was a good trip... now just to get back to work and put what we learned into action.

04/18/2004 (Sunday) 9:00am
94 short days ......
Gooood morning Gage... well as you can see it's Sunday and guess what Poppa is doing.... You guessed it... cooking lunch for you, your Mom, Dad, Aunt La (Lauren), and your Aunt Mary... it's so pretty outside this morning... nice and cool with a temp of around 68-69. Your Great Granny Lee (my Mom) called this morning and was telling me that your Great - Great Aunt Pat (my Aunt.. my Moms sister) had printed this out and sent it to her. Mom was telling me that some of the words were smudged and Mom was saying that it was teardrops from were Aunt Pat had read these letters. ;-) Gage, I hope as you grow older and into a young man and even when you are grown and have children of your own, that you will look back at these silly letters that I've written and smile at your old silly Poppa..., but what I really hope you'll get out of them is an insight of me and I'm hoping that some of what's in me will be passed on to you and to your children. I've told your Mom and Dad over and over that they don't know or understand what love is yet.. and what I mean about that is... there's no love like that of a Mom and Dad for their child.... Will they get mad at you???? well of course... will you say things our of anger that will hurt them... I'm afraid you will... will they ever stop loving you??? NO... The love we have for our children is liken to the love Jesus had for us.. we would gladly lay our life down for anyone of you... Why am I writing this letter today?? Gage I don't know... but I've come to know don't put things off to long.. for the day will come and there want be time anymore. I'm so looking forward to holding you in my arms and rocking you... I always tried to be a good Dad to your Mom and Aunts... I'm hoping to be a good Poppa to you.. I want to do all the things little boys dream about... Well I guess I've gone on here enough for now... In closing this letter for today just remember that you are SPECIAL and that you are loved today and forever my son.

04/21/2004 (Wed) 5:30am
91 days left ...... Only 3 months from today...
Good morning Gage.... I hope you let your Mom sleep last night.. haha... Your Mom called me last night telling me about a bad dream she had... She told me that she had dreamed I had died and no one would let her cry. She said when she did wake up she cried and cried. I told her last night if she should ever have another one of those dreams to call me no matter the time. Those kind of dreams can seem so real and make you hurt so bad. My babies... I wish there was a way I could shield all of you from hurt and pain. Well Poppa better get to moving... it's off to work I must go... Love ya...
Love ya,
Poppa

04/27/2004 (Tues) 5:45pm
85 days left ......
Hi Gage... not much going on to write about really. Your Mom went back to the doctor yesterday afternoon, but I haven't had a chance to call her. In the mornings before work I don't want to call her and when I get to work I get busy and forget to call and then she's at work and on and on it goes... I've been busy at work... I remember now why I don't like to take off from work... it's crazy for ever when you get back... This past weekend we had our Confederate Memorial Day Service at Beauvoir. Our Uncle Gene came down and went to it... we've been going to it together now for about 8 years now I guess. I tried to get him to spend the night with me and go back home Sunday... I even told him I would cook dinner.. you know this may be the reason he wanted to leave so fast for... haha We had a good time as always... I do enjoy going over there and seeing all the friends I've made while I've been in the Sons of Confederate Veterans... I do hope that one day you will want to join and go with me. The first weekend in June we'll be in Hattiesburg for our State meeting... This is the closest thing I get to a vacation...
Your Mom came down Sunday and eat lunch with us... your Dad was working on something and couldn't come, but we made sure he got a plate... (I hope your Mom gave it to him.. hahahah) No Melissa told me that she had been so sick Saturday night. Oh yeah... guess what she told me... your Dad is something... let me tell ya... hahahah Your Mom gets an e-mail each week from something she signed up for that tells how you're growing and stuff like that... well they got an e-mail that told them that you could now see light... well guess what your Dad did... you guessed it.... he got his BIG flashlight and put it to your Moms stomach... and sure enough you turned away from the light... those kids of mine... just got to love them...
Well I better go for now... Lauren and Mary are going to get a pizza for us to eat tonight. Can't wait until you're here with me eating...

05/06/2004 (Thur) 5:30am
76 days left ......
Good morning Gage... and a cool morning it is.. The last few morning it's been real cool first thing. I fixed lunch for everyone Sunday and I haven't seen your Mom since. I know she's been busy and I've been busy. This Sunday is Mother's Day. I'm going to go up and see Mom and Dad Saturday morning and spend the weekend up there with them. It's been awhile since I've been up there and now with the price of gas... It's around $1.75 a gallon now. Your old Poppa worries way to much. haha Just think next Mother's Day you'll be almost a year old ... I think next week is Nurse Week so we'll have to get your Mom something want we... We got her a little Nurse Bear last year... Well Poppa just wanted to say Hi and to let you know I haven't forgotten about ya... July will be here before we know it.

Love ya Son, ;-)
Poppa

05/10/2004 (Monday) 7:00pm
72 days left ......
Hi there Gage.. Just finished cooking dinner and guess who I'm waiting on.. haha ...You guessed it.. your Mom and Dad. You're Mom want get off work until 7:30 so I've got a little while to drop you a line. Yesterday was Mother's day. I went up to see my Mom on Saturday. It was a surprise visit and it made her day. She wanted to go to Hattiesburg and look for something for you but I can't tell you what she got until after the "Baby Shower"... she was so excited over what she got. To say the least it made my day.. spending it with her... I ate with her yesterday and come home... I did enjoy seeing Mom and Dad so much. Dad has been working in his garden... Gene and I went to the show that Sat night in the big town of Magee.. I remember riding around the town over 30 years ago.. that used to be the place to be... my where has time gone ... in a way I look back and it's like only a few months ago... Those were the days.. carefree and the only worry we had is what would we do if the car load of girls we were blowing at stopped... The times were much easier back then... we had "drive-in's" not "drive-by's" ... the worse thing that could happen to ya was to get in a fight ... today a some people think nothing about shooting you over the least little thing. I remember one Sat night ... Keith, Jerry, and I had gone to Magee and there was some kind of dance going on.. so Jerry and Keith wanted to go in.. there was total of 6 people in the place.. not counting the band.. it was soooooo bad... I look back in those times and I can only hope that you will have fun memories like this... I guess I was just like your Aunts here.. wanting to grow up as fast as I could... but believe me.. you'll be grown soon enough and once you have there's never no going back to the fun days of your youth... Gage, what I'm trying to say is to enjoy each day... don't try and rush thru life for life has a way of getting away from you much faster that one would think. Always take the few extra seconds to tell your Mom and Dad you love them... even thro they know it.. sometimes if just feels good to hear someone tell you. Well Poppa get get done with this and finish getting things ready... My kids will be here in just a bit. You know also Gage.. silly old Poppa's and Nana's need to be told every now and again that they are loved also.. haha Well my son I'm going to close for today. Just you always remember YOU ARE LOVED..

Love ya,
Poppa

05/11/2004 (Tues) 5:30am
71 days left ......
Gooooood morning Gage.. just a fast note while it's on my mind about last night. Your Mom made me laugh so hard last night. She keep bouncing her stomach to make you move around... Lauren was just carried away each time she could feel you move. As for me it made me nervous... hahaha ... Like I told them last night I'll be glad when I can sit and hold you. It want be long now.. I'm so excited. I fixed a PowerPoint slide show about my Dad... Gage, my girls didn't get to spend the time I got to spend with my Grandparents, but I'm hoping it will be different with you. I so hope that you and I can do things that I got to do with my Grandparents... The things we did together were just little simple things.. Granny would take me fishing in the old pond, Grandpaw would take me to the store in the old truck... just little things that back then was really nothing, but today I look back and see just how special these things were. It's not the "what" we do, but the fact that "we" do it. I want you to be able to look back when you have children and then grandchildren and think about the little things we did. I hope you'll be able to look back and smile and think of an old man who loved you so deeply. Well Poppa got to get ready for work this morning.

05/11/2004 (Sat) 4:30pm
67 days....
Good evening Gage... Poppa just getting home from being up at your house all day... I went up there this morning and I'll been working with your Dad painting your room. Your Dad made your Mom leave because he didn't want her to smell the paint.... We got the room done.. your Dad said he would finish the trim work tomorrow. It looks so good and I had the best time working with your Dad.. we laughed and joked all day.. and it made the day and work go by so fast.. Well I'm going to go jump in the shower and watch one of the movies your Dad gave me to watch... so I'll drop you a note later... ;-)
Love ya,
Poppa

05/20/2004 (Thur) 7:55am
62 days.... having 3D Ultrasound today
Good morning Gage... going to go with your Mom to have an ultrasound this morning... It's been so long and I'm so excited. Well write you later today when I get back from the Dr office and tell you all about the ultrasound and maybe I'll have a picture. Got to run the appt is at 8:30 this morning so I've got to run..

05/21/2004 (Friday) 6:50am
61 days.... Amazed
Gage... Your Mom had the 3D Ultrasound yesterday.... I got to see your face and watch you move around. We got a good picture of your leg.. and you've got some nice legs. Melissa laughed and said now she knows why her ribs hurt... haha You will just never know what how I felt... It was a emotions of pride, love, sorry. Pride in the fact that I'm going to have a Grandson.. a small part of me will live on... Love - my family, being a part of this great miracle and being involved.... Sorry- my girls are grown or almost grown... my days of playing with them are over and I look back and try to figure where the time went. Your Mom came over and ate last night... she said she was so tired, but each time I see her she is always smiling. Gage, there's no love like that of a parent for their child and you are my child also.   I can't wait until I can hold you and love on you.. and you and I can go shopping and buy toys...
Oh yes today is the last day of school and Mary is so excited... she told me she wasn't going to go to school today.. haha    Well Poppa better get a move on.... my work goes on and on...

05/22/2004 (Saturday) 8:45am
60 days.... Stilled Amazed
Good morning Gage... Well I think I've showed your picture to just about everyone at the hospital. haha I call my Mom and told her the web address so she could see the pictures. I called her this morning and she was all excited... she had seen the pictures and printed them off for Dad and Gene to see. Aunt Pat said she was having trouble with her computer, but was going to go over to Jeff's and look at them. I've been sitting here this morning still looking at them. I think Lauren and Mary are going to go with your Mom today shopping. I think they are going to go get you a bed today.. they need to get going.. haha It's so pretty out today, but I think it's going to get hot it's already 80 out there now.. well I've got work to do inside today anyway.. I'm going to try and put new title down the hall... it's going to be fun... NOT.. I enjoy sitting here working on the computer and watching the birds eat at the bird feeder.. I really like the pretty Red Birds.. Well Lauren just got up and wants to get a doughnut... Love ya Son..

05/23/2004 (Sunday) 7:45am
59 days....
Good Sunday morning Gage... Your old Poppa is in a mess... I've been trying to put some new tile down the hall this morning... trying my best to go down the line... well things aren't going as well as I had planned. Now I know why I do what I do for a living. haha Just had to leave it alone for a while.. going back to Lowes to get another box of the tile... I got 2 boxes and that would do it.. but with that I couldn't make any mistakes and you and I both know that's not going to happen.. "What was I thinking" haha ...
Went with your Mom yesterday to get your baby bed... it's so pretty. When we got it home she put the crib set on that your Nona and I gave her. Gage it was so funny... Your Mom was asking Nona how to tie the bumper that goes around the crib slats and we got so tickled ... Nona couldn't get it to work and she got to laughing and ask me how did we ever do it... I laughed back and told her "you know it's been 14 years" .. it was so funny. After that they were going to Mobile to go shopping. Those girls love to shop.
I keep looking at your ultrasound pictures... and I wonder... What will Gage see in his life time... what new and exciting things will happen... will he see man land on Mars as I saw men land on our moon back in 1969. Son you hold the keys to our future. It will be you and your brothers, sisters, and cousins that will carry a part of me into the future. There's just no way I can explain it to you at this point and time of just how I feel and what my hopes and dreams for you are. My number one dream is that you and I will be the best of friends.
Love ya Son,
Poppa

05/26/2004 (Wed) 6:30pm
56 days....
Hi Son... just a few lines this afternoon... guess what Poppa is doing... you guessed it.. cooking dinner. Lauren said your Mom called early this morning to make sure I was going to cook tonight... haha It makes me feel good that she likes to come over here and eat. Yesterday I help make pictures of Toni's little girl down at the beach. Had the best time... I had forgotten how much I enjoyed making pictures. The pictures turned out real good too. She was a little ham... and I did enjoy it so much. Mary just got here and I'm sure your Mom and Dad want be long... Well I'm going to run for now.. I'll write ya more later... Oh yeah I got a picture frame today and put your ultrasound picture in.. and when you are born I'll put your birth picture on the bottom... I can't wait.
Love ya,
Poppa

05/30/2004 (Sunday) 5:30pm
52 days....
Hi Son... It's another Sunday afternoon and I'm just sitting around. I've been updating a friends website with new pictures. Your Mom and Dad came down and ate with us today... I grilled burgers for a change and cooked "real" french-fries... they like it when I take the time to peel and cook potatoes... they are much better than the frozen ones that's for sure.. haha Your Mom and Mary went to Wal-Mart yesterday and signed up for things they need for you... on June 13 they are going to give your Mom a baby shower... I remember when we were having one for Melissa.. I know I keeping saying it was like only yesterday.. haha but it was to me... I told you I was going to be helping to shoot a wedding in June didn't I??? At first I was kinda worried about it, but we shoot some pictures last week on the beach kinda as a warm up and I enjoyed it so much and the pictures turned out so good.. now I'm looking forward to it.. I really need something to keep me busy and away from work... Oh yeah yesterday I pulled the old carpet up in the living room... I'm going to put tile down in there before you get here... I want you to have a clean floor to crawl around on.. the carpet was old and I really don't like it anymore... you can never get the stuff clean.. Your Aunt Lauren went fishing yesterday out about 30-40 miles off shore with Lane.. Wish you could see her.. she is as brown as a berry... I took your Aunt Mary to the mall this afternoon. She wanted to look for a new shirt and a new pair of ear rings.. She kept asking me how I like this belly button ring and that one.. finally I told her I didn't like ANY of them... think I hurt her feelings, but I don't like them. I did buy her a new set of ear rings oh. Your old Poppa gets himself into all kinds of trouble.. Oh well what can I say... haha Next weekend I'll be in Hattiesburg for our state Sons of Confederate Veterans meeting. I enjoy going to the meeting just to see everyone I haven't seen since the last one.. Gene and I will be up there together so maybe we want get into to much trouble.
Well I'm going to go for now... Love ya...
Love ya,
Poppa

06/04/2004 (Fri) 6:00am
47 days....
Good morning Gage. Well Poppa is going to our yearly SCV meeting this weekend in Hattiesburg. I'm looking forward to this weekend. All the members from all over the state will be down and it's always a good time. Tonight we'll have a birthday party for Jefferson Davis and then tomorrow we'll have our business meeting and tomorrow night we'll have our banquet and awards. Jeff is coming down and staying with Gene and myself. Well I've got get going this morning... got a lot to do before I leave... Love ya son..
Love,
Poppa

06/07/2004 (Monday) 7:30am
44 days....
Good morning Gage.. We had a good time this past weekend at Hattiesburg. Gene, Jeff and myself were all there. I do enjoy getting to see friends I haven't seen in the past year. When we started the meeting Saturday morning we were told that someone had thrown a fire bomb on Beauvoir. It was by the grace of God that a young man, a fireman non the less, was on his way to work and saw that smoke and jumped the fence and got the fire down and placed a call. David, the fireman, said if he had been just a few minutes later it would have been gone. Well on a much more happier note... I got you a shirt from up there.... I found you a shirt with a baby holding a Battle flag saying "Hold on... I'm coming" ... Your Mom may never let you ware it, but it made me feel good to get it for you... hahaha
When I got home yesterday I went up to check on you and your Mom... Your Dad was putting your carpet down in your room. It looked so good. Melissa said that she goes back to the doctor today and I think Mary is going with her. I tell you are growing... your Moms belly is getting big.. when I don't get to see her every day I can tell... she is so pretty... and I love her so much.. Well I guess Poppa will close for right now.. Maybe when your Mom comes from the Dr I'll have something to write.

06/13/2004 (Sunday) 7:00am
38 days.... ;-)
Good Sunday morning to ya son. Time is getting short and I'll be holding you before I can turn around good. That will be a good day for me... a very good day. Last week went by so fast I didn't get to write much, but every day you were on my mind. I laughingly tell all my friends how I plan on spoiling you.. but it may be you spoiling me.   Gage, I hope that I can be the kind of Poppa I see myself wanting to be. As your Mom will tell you I worry way more than I should and about things I shouldn't. This is very important to me for I want you to grow up and some day look back and back and smile at some of the crazy times we had together.
Went over to Beauvoir yesterday. We had a camp meeting/cookout and put our new tent up. I went around to the big house and looked at the doors. From what I could see they look pretty bad. I can't image anyone hating any place so much they want to burn it down. What really makes me mad is the fact that it's ok for other groups and races to honor their heritage and heroes... but we as Southerners are to let ours go. Men like Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and so on were slave owners... but you never hear that there great man Lincoln had salves even after the war.   I hope you will embrace your heritage and be proud of it.
Well today they are going to give your Mom a baby shower... Lauren and Mary went up one day to help with it. I'm going to go up some time this afternoon and see what she got. I want to make some pictures of her so maybe today will be a good time to do it.
Well Poppa going to go for now... I've got things I need to be doing, but just can't get up and get to going... ;-)
Love ya,
Poppa

06/17/2004 (Thur) 6:30pm
34 days.... ;-) Time is getting short...
Hi there Gage... Today is you Aunt Lauren's 17th birthday. Boy does time fly.. I'm on my way over to Nona's now. We're going to have a little party for her. Your Mom and Dad will be there.. ;-)
Your Mom had a baby shower Sunday and she got a lot of nice things. I got so tickle at your Dad. He was looking at the little diapers and your Mom told him the cartoon charters go in the front.... I couldn't help but laugh at them... I know they will be fine, but as a parent I can't help but worry... after all you're my little grandbaby.... haha ... We are all so excited. Well I better get going before Lauren starts calling me asking me where I am... Oh yeah.. Lauren and Mary come over to Ocean Springs and ate lunch with me today... I always enjoy having them eat with me.
I'll have to write you more later..... ;-)
Love ya,
Poppa

06/20/2004 (Sunday) 8:15am
31 days.... ;-) (maybe less)
Gage.. gooood Sunday morning. Just a fast note to let you know had the wedding I helped shoot went yesterday... It was great.. now I'll worry about it until I see the pictures now. I hope they turned out ok Your Mom, Dad, and Aunt Mary was there.. I got Elaine to make a picture of me with Melissa and Mary and then we made some of your Mom and Dad ... I can't believe that it's almost time for you to be here. In a way it feels like it's been a long time but yet it has gone by fast... You Mom was so hot last night.. I felt bad for her, but everyone wanted to see her and feel of her stomach... You were moving a lot ... I was watching you and it was so funny... Mary gets a kick out of watching you move.. Melissa's stomach just rolls... I can't wait... Your Dad and I were talking yesterday... we don't know if your Mom will go 31 more days. I'll just be glad when it's all done and I can hold and rock you...

Well today is Father's day.. I tried to call Dad this morning but Mom said he was already out and about.. so I'll try back around lunch.. Can you believe it Lauren wants me to cook today.. and it's Father's Day.. haha .. what's wrong with that girl.... Well Poppa going to run for right now... I'll write ya more later.. OK.. ;-)
(side note ... here is a picture of you, your Mom. and your Dad)
Love ya,
Poppa

06/21/2004 (Monday) 6:35am
30 days.... ;-) (I think less)
Good afternoon Gage. Your Mom went to the Doctor this afternoon and things are going well. I haven't got to talk to your Mom yet, but she called your Aunt Lauren and looks like you could be here sooner than the 21st of July. Melissa now starts to go see him each week now... I'm excited and nervous.... Melissa and I were talking this morning while she was on her way to work... said it was 4am before she was able to get to sleep. I told her that it wouldn't be long and you would be here and she said then she would be up all the time.. I laughed and told her that Nona and I would be around.. We would come up there and take care of you and let her sleep. Gage I remember my Grand Paw Roberts would come over every Sunday morning and drink coffee with my Mom and Dad. Looking back now I know how special that time was for him. He wouldn't stay long just long enough to have his coffee and talk for awhile then he would go home. It's little things like that, that I look back on now days. I told your Mom this morning that I was here for her and would do anything to help. It's been awhile, but I think I can remember enough of it.... haha and I can promise your Aunt Mary and Aunt Lauren will be glad to take care of you.... if they can get you away from Nona... I know she's excited about loving on you... Gage you're going to be one spoiled little boy... haha ... but that's ok.... there's no way a person can be loved to much and I can assure you that you will be loved... you all ready are.
Love ya my Son....
Love,
Poppa

06/26/2004 (Saturday) 4:45pm
25 days.... ;-)
Good afternoon Son... what a day it's been. Lauren spent the night with your Mom last night and today they went shopping all day. I've been around here all by myself... Got up this morning and went to work and worked from around 7 to 10. Just didn't want to stay here... when I got back I just lay around and watched TV. haha This afternoon it looked it was going to come a T/Strom so I rode down to the beach. Guess what... it passed over.... just my luck... I wanted to see the storm roll in off the water. I really don't like the weekends.. can you tell...
Your Mom had a shower at work Wed or Thur and the girls at my work want to give her one on the 8th of July. Melissa said she's just about got all she needs.. I'm sure there's something she is missing...
Well Poppa going to run for now... I'll write ya more later..

06/27/2004 (Sunday) 9:00am
24 short days.... ;-)
Good morning... just sitting here thinking this time next month I should be holding you. I saw a little boy yesterday at Wal-Mart and I just wonder if you will look like him.. he had black hair and big brown eyes... he was about 2 I guess and just as cute as could be... I now look at all little ones and think about you. My Mom called this morning said that Jasper had talked to an Army recruiter and that Gene was about to have a fit. I can understand why to... every day there's another one of your young boys being killed over there... I think we should just nuke the hold darn place and be done with it... or get out and let them kill each other... I can't stand the fact that our young men and women are being killed for people who don't care or want to help themselves.
Talked to your Mom late yesterday afternoon and she told me she was cleaning your room up and was going to wash all your new clothes... God how I love my girls... Your Mom goes back to the Doctor tomorrow so maybe I'll have more news to tell you then.. Al l I know right now is that I'll be glad when this is over and you and your Mom are home... I should have gone to church this morning.. but for some reason I just can't seem to get going... I'm not sure what the problem is.. haha ... think it could be I'm getting lazy??? It's for sure not that I over sleep... Well Gage.. Poppa going to run for now... I'll let you know what the Dr has to say as soon as I hear.. Ok.. ;-)

06/28/2004 (Monday) 8:30pm
23 days....
Good evening Gage... I had to go to an officers meeting tonight at Beauvoir. Really didn't want to go and my mind was somewhere else the whole time. I haven't been feeling good and today it really took a turn for the worse... It's nothing really it's just your old Poppa... I cooked for everyone yesterday ( it was Sunday haha) After lunch I told Melissa if she would drive I would go buy the stroller she wanted for you. So after lunch here we went to Mobile... Mary, your Mom, and me... this made me feel good to be able to buy this... I've got to get out of the funk before you get here... haha ...
You Mom went back to the doctor today so I'll call her tomorrow and see what he told her. I really don't think it's going to be July 21 when you get here... I think it's going to before then... Well Poppa going to run for tonight... I'll write you more tomorrow ok... ;-)
Love ya,
Poppa

06/30/2004 (Wed) 5:55am
21 days....
Gage..... here it is the last day of June. It want be long now. I did talk to your Mom yesterday said that the Doctor said everything was still going good. I was hoping that he would say you were going to be here before the 21st. haha .. Oh well as long as Melissa isn't having any problems I'm not going to worry. Today is Gene's birthday. He's 42 today... I remember my Mom and Dad taking me to Granny Lee's in the middle of the night 42 years ago.. Well Poppa had better get going.. I do enjoy getting to work early... I just like to get things started early.. See ya REAL soon now... Love ya..

07/02/2004 (Friday) 5:30am
19 days....
Well , here we are in the "last days" . Gage, eight months ago I was sitting here thinking, "July 21... that's such a long time off". Well time has gone by so fast now as I look back. I keep trying to think how it's going to be when you arrive. Well there's one thing about it.. your Nona and I aren't going to spoil you.. NOT.. between us and your Aunt Mary and Lauren... Melissa and Jonathan aren't going to stand a chance. Not really... I can't believe it, but for some reason this morning I'm at a lose for words. Oh yea I did see your Mom yesterday when I went down to eat.. Gage she is so pretty and someday I hope you'll understand just had a Dad feels about his little girl... no matter if she is 25... Well Son... I guess I better get going .... it's wanting to rain again this morning... that's all it's done now for what seems like 2 months.... rained... haha... Just a little side note.. my Mom gave me a Confederate Rose back in April.. it was about 2 feet tall then... well I walked out back with Lucy just now and it is now taller than I am.. hey no short jokes now... haha... I can't wait until it starts to flower. Well I'm going to go for now son... Well be seeing you soon oh...

07/04/2004 (Sunday) 7:00am
17 days....
Happy Fourth of July... Good morning Gage and it looks like it may be a pretty morning no rain yet... haha We marched in the Gulfport Parade yesterday and was it hot... Don't ever let someone tell you that once you get hot under wool you'll start to cool off... the person that tells you that was well on his way to a heat stroke... haha I did enjoy being in the parade... I guess the fireworks will be down on the beach tonight... just think next year you'll be almost a year old...
I ran into your Mom and Dad yesterday at Wal-Mart... It was so funny Gage.. I saw Melissa and was thinking "Man that little girl is about to have that baby..." I didn't know it was Melissa until I got up close.. Maybe I need to wear my glasses other just reading.. haha She (your Mom) is so pretty and she just glows when I see her.
I think I'll run up to the hospital and get the pictures that Elaine made of Melissa/Jonathan at the wedding and take them to Wal-Mart and have copies made for Nona, and send one to my Mom... other than that I don't have any plans... may go up to your house after while and check on your Dad... and just to spend time with them.. I've got to cut grass.. haha.. maybe it want be long and you can come down and cut it for me.. ya think??? haha
Well Poppa going to run for now...
Love ya,
Poppa

07/05/2004 (Monday) 11:00am
16 days....
Gage , good morning son.. Guess what I'm doing!! If you guessed cooking lunch you're right. haha ... Everyone had something to do yesterday so I didn't get to cook for them. I just stayed around the house yesterday.. really didn't do anything.. I did rent the move "Cold Mountain" ... that's all I did yesterday is to watch that movie... Your Mom did call my and invite me to come down to the beach to watch the fireworks.. I hate to say it but I just didn't want to fight the crowd down there... It did make me feel good that she called oh.
Hey.. it's me again.. your Mom and Aunt Mary are just leaving..(1:50pm) Your Mom said she wanted to go over to your Nona's and get in the pool.... Your Dad got called out to work so he didn't get to come eat with us. Melissa said that she hasn't been sleeping good... we were talking about when she brings you home from the hospital... I told her all she had to do was give me or her Mom a call and we would be there.. I've got so much vacation time that I never use and this would be a good way for me to use it... I just told her I didn't want to be in the way.. I think she will do great... but even at the best she will need some rest from time to time and that's where I come in.. I'll be glad to take care of you... I enjoyed today so much.... It really does me good when the kids come over... Well I'm going to go watch TV awhile.. haha .. now that I've got the dishes washed...
Love ya,
Poppa

07/07/2004 (Wed) 5:00am
14 days....
Good morning Gage... Just think if all goes well in 2 weeks I'll be holding you. It's hard for me to believe... I'll be holding my grandson... sounds kinda funny... me and Granddad... haha .. I'm much to young... haha... Gage don't let Poppa try to fool ya... You have no idea how excited and happy I am about you. Life as we know it is going to change in a big way... I just wish your Mom could sleep.. As a Dad I worry about her... Oh yeah... your Mom and Dad went down to see the fireworks Sunday night at the beach and Melissa told me that every time one on the big bombs would go off you would jump.. We were talking Monday that on the next 4th of July you would be almost a year old...
Well here's my deep subject for ya... Gage never be afraid to dream and hope... If your dream doesn't come true in a short time.. don't give up... keep dreaming and reaching, but Gage there also comes a time when we must look at the truth and realize that the dream is just that our dream. Sometimes all the hoping and wishing just isn't enough to see the dream come to the conclusion we hoped for. I'm afraid we have to look at the hard truth and admit to ourselves that it was only a dream... If for only a fleeing moment the dream made you feel good remember that feeling and treasure it, hold on to it. The one thing we must not do is dare not to dream again. Dreams are what makes us look forward to tomorrow... next week, next year... Although one of my dreams may be shattered... I still have the dream of you and watching you grow. So I guess what I'm really doing here Gage is giving myself a pep talk... See you have helped me even before you were born... No Son.. never stop dreaming, hoping, and wishing. It was a dream that had me keep this journal... the dream of you someday reading it and knowing what you meant to me even before you were born. See one dream was just that.. but I've got to believe that the next dream want be just a dream... You're the proof of that... and for always I'll love you my SON.

07/09/2004 (Friday) 5:30am
12 days.... ;-)
Good Friday morning Gage.. NO news.... Your Moms Dr appt was canceled yesterday because the Dr was at the hospital delivering a baby... She goes back today so maybe tomorrow I'll be able to write you something...
Just had a flash back..... went out back just now and it was raining lightly but it was dripping off the house pretty good and for some reason I remembered back to when I was little... we used to take drink bottles and see who fill up the bottle first with the rain drops coming off the house... I don't know why that came to mind this morning... haha .... Well I don't know what we're going to do this weekend... but just think in just one more weekend and you should be here... then I'll have a lot to do on the weekends... haha
Well Gage.... I'm going to run this morning... Once I hear from your Mom I'll write ya and let ya know what's going on... (here is a picture of Melissa, Lauren, Mary, and me made at the Baby Shower my co-workers gave your Mom yesterday)
Love ya,
Poppa

07/10/2004 (Sat) 9:30am
11 days.... ;-)
Good morning Gage.. Your Mom went to the Dr yesterday.. I haven't got to talk to her, but Lauren said that everything was fine.. That's really all I need and want to know. Everyone I work with ask every day how your Mom is doing.. I was talking to Claudia (co-work, great friend) the other day telling her that at times I would just love to pick up and just leave... but when it gets right down to it I would miss my co-works so much.. they are more than mere co-works, friends... they are more like family... we've shared the joy of the births of our children and the sorry of losing love ones together.. the key word here is "together" ....
Sounds like it's fixing to come a T-Storm this morning.. well that's ok I've got nothing to do anyway... haha.. Tuesday will be my Dad's birthday.. 75 I think... I went and got him a card this morning... put one of the B/W pictures of your Mom and Dad we made at the wedding the other weekend and one of the pictures they made Thursday at the shower at work of me and my 3 little girls... I know he and Mom will like the pictures.. Well Gage I'm going to go for now... I'm looking to get a call anytime from Melissa tell me they are on the way to the hospital... haha.. that's going to be along and hard wait for me.. Well Poppa will write ya later...
Love ya,
Poppa

07/11/2004 (Sunday) 7:45am
10 days.... (10 long days)
Good morning Gage.. well here we are at the 10 day mark... I just talked to your Grand Granny Lee (my Mom) she is so excited. I was telling her (my Mom) about your Mom telling me how your Dad had been reading the books she had gotten for you. Mom told me that she was going to buy your Dad some more books to read to you.
Well Melissa called me yesterday and told me that the Dr visit went good... and that you will most likely be on time.. I was laughing with your Mom telling her that you better not come on the 2oth... that's the morning everyone that was hired in July gets to go down and have breakfast free... haha ... She thought this was funny... Yeap it was 28 years ago today (a Sunday then also) I left Prentiss, MS to start a new job and a new life... Now you see why I feel like my co-works are family... some of us have grown old together.. and others we've watch grow up. All and all it's been a good 28 years... a lot of ups and downs, but that's just a part of life.
Well Son I just wanted to make a note that the double digit days are over and we're in the final count down..
I don't know why I listen to the music I do, (The Rose) but Gage never be afraid to dream and to reach for the stars... but then also remember what I wrote to you a few days ago... sometimes one dream may be just that a dream... but that doesn't mean the next dream want come true... Never rush Son... take things slow.. enjoy every second... and things will work themselves out... and most times for the best.. although at times it may not seem like it, but you must have faith that all things work out for the best. This is just way to much this morning isn't it Gage.. haha
I think it's time for Poppa to go get something to cook and get started doing that... I bet your Mom and Dad would like to come down for lunch... haha
Love ya.
Poppa

07/12/2004 (Monday) 4:45pm
9 days....
Hey there Gage... We've made it to the single digit days... It's hard to me to believe but it was 28 years ago today I started working at the hospital. Been thinking about your Mom all day today.
Well yesterday I did cook again.. haha .. Your Mom was laughing about it... said they would get up and wonder if they would get a call from me to come eat.... then about 9:30 - 10 the phone would ring and your Dad would say "There's our call"... it was so funny to hear your Mom tell it... After lunch I went up to you house.. Melissa wanted me to see your new dresser and how she had fixed your room... I helped your Dad clean the computer.. it was loaded with about 400 spyware programs.. enjoyed being up there so much... Melissa had Mary busy helping her clean... Mary enjoyed it so much... so did I... Well I better get going and see what Lauren is up to... ;-)
Love ya,
Poppa

07/14/2004 (Wed) 5:00am
7 days.... (one week)
Hey Gage... just think maybe this time next week I may be holding you or getting ready to hold you. I called your Mom yesterday just to check on her... she told me that she was doing good... She's just ready to get you here. Called my Dad yesterday for his birthday and Mom answered the phone and wanted to know what was wrong... it was early and I guess she was thinking Melissa had gone to the hospital.. We both got a good laugh out of it... I had sent Dad a couple of pictures of your Mom ... they loved them.. Well I guess I'm going to run this morning... No matter what it want be long now will it... ;-) Can't wait....
Love ya,
Poppa

07/15/2004 (Thur) 5:30am
6 days....
Hey there Son... there's nothing really to tell ya this morning... I did call your Mom yesterday just to check on her... Once a Daddy always a Daddy... haha... Melissa goes back to the Doctor today.... so as soon I hear something I'll be sure to tell ya. I've got to go to Ocean Springs Hospital today and work... The good thing about going over there we go out to eat... and I do enjoy that... Tell Poppa better get a move on... Want be long now.... Oh Boy...
Love ya,
Poppa

07/16/2004 (Friday) 6:00am
5 days....
Gage... well we're just sitting on GO now... Your Mom called me yesterday and it scared me... I through she was in the hospital... see I'm getting jumpily... She just called to tell me that the Dr said that everything was ok and that he wants her to come back on the 21st... we'll see if she can last that long... Well Poppa better run this morning... it's raining.... go figure....
Love ya,
Poppa

07/18/2004 (Sunday) 6:30am
3 days....
Gage.. I can't believe it... here it is in the last days before you are to be born. I called your Mom last night... Just had to talk to her... No matter what or how she feels she's always got that cheer in her voice. She told me told me that she was so uncomfortable. We were laughing last night saying that hopefully this time next week we'll have you told and love on.
Lauren had her J.E. stuff all last week... Friday they made the new girls dress and have a parade down the beach... I got ride down and see them.... it was so funny.... Lauren said I felt so good to be on the "other" side... haha... Last year they made Lauren and that group do so much worse... haha
I'm planning on going up to your house today to cook .... Your Dad is going to put in a new door today so he can't come down so I think Mary and I are going up there and maybe cook and watch a movie with your Mom...
Well Son I better get a move on... 04:30pm ... Hey there Gage... Mary and I went up to your house today and cooked lunch... We had the best time... You know Gage you think you can love a person only so much and there's only so much love to give out... well I'm here to tell ya that's not true... I would have thought it impossible to love your Mom than I do... but each time I'm around her I find myself being drown in and loving her just a little more each time... it's the best thing in the world... children.. When I went to Wal-Mart today I bought you 3 new books... you be sure you make your Mom and Dad read them to you... and as for as that goes you make me read them to ya also... I can still remember sitting in my Mom's lap and her reading to me and I can also remember sitting in my Granny Lee's (this would be your Great Great Granny) lap in the from of an old fireplace and her reading to me.... These were special times, times I look back on now days and wish I had some of those times back... I do hope you will like to read.... I hope you'll want to hear my crazy boyhood stories over and over... Johnny and I get into some stuff... haha ... Also Melissa told me that Friday was her last day to work.. I didn't know that until this afternoon... When she goes back Wed she said the Dr may put her in the hospital.. Gage you don't have any idea of how I feel... There's a part of me that's excited and thrilled and then there's that part of me that's afraid... I just don't want to see my baby girl hurting... as I told you before you never stop worrying about your babies no matter how old they are... I was talking to Mary on the way home this afternoon and she told me that she wanted to be called Aunt Kathryn.. I told her I liked that.. I sounds right.. ;-) Well Poppa going to run for now.. Will write ya more later on.. Love ya Son...

07/19/2004 (Monday) 5:30am
TWO days....
Gage.. well son it shouldn't be long now. Just to think how many little notes I've written here and now with in the next few days the subject of all my writing will be here for me to hold and rock, but most of for me to love. Gage ... for once I'm at a lost of words.. but I'm full of excitement...
(5:30pm) Hi Gage.. your Mom called me this afternoon just to say HI... She and your Aunts had been in the swimming pool all day... She said it made her feel so good being in the water. So more that likely you'll be a little "water bug" too.... When your Nona was caring your Mom she would like in the pool and by the end of that summer she was as dark as a berry... she loved the water and so does your Mom... Well Lauren wants me to go to the video store with her so I'm off... Will write more later...
Love ya,
Poppa

07/20/2004 (Tuesday) 5:30am
ONE more day...
Dear Gage... for 211 days I've been writing to you... Back when I started this day was so far off now here it is... Your Mom goes to the Doctor tomorrow and she's hoping he'll put her in the hospital... If I sat here and told you I wasn't afraid I would be telling you a story. I guess it's just my nature to worry or maybe it's the fact it's my little girl that will be giving birth... I have no worries about your Mom and Dad being good parents... shoot your Mom grow up helping Nona raise Lauren and Mary so she knows what to do... now when your Mom was born.. oh God, Gage... it's a wonder your Nona and I made it... we were young and had no one down here to help us or tell us how to do things... but you know what.. I think we did pretty good on our own... I can't wait to see your Dad with you.. I don't think he's ever been around little babies before... but after the first couple of days it all kicks in and some how you just kinda know what to do... He'll be fine.... All our lives are going to change and in the center of it all will be you... Well Son Poppa going to run this morning.... If I hear anything today from your Mom I'll let you know... '-)
05:18pm.... Hey there ... Talked to your Mom this morning and again this afternoon.. This morning she sounded find but this afternoon she sounds like she's getting a cold... I hate that... maybe it's nothing.. She goes to the doctor tomorrow so maybe... just maybe I'll know something soon. ;-)
Love ya Son,
Poppa

07/21/2004 (Wed) 5:15am
Zero days... Count down complete and on STAND BY
Dear Gage... Well today is suppose to be the big day... but I don't think I'll be holding you today... haha think you like your warn home now.. and I don't blame ya... you don't get cold, you don't get hungry... haha.. Melissa goes to see the doctor this morning.... maybe I'll have a better idea of what's going on soon.
Just a little fun note... 35 years yesterday man landed on the moon... July 20, 1969... let's see I would have been what 14 years old... Well Son as soon as I hear something I'll drop you a note...
Love ya,
Poppa

07/22/2004 (Thur) 5:30am
1 day over due...
Dear Gage...well your Mom went to the see the Dr yesterday... and he told her he would put her in the hospital Friday morning and see what happens... I came home yesterday afternoon and cut grass after which I went up to see her... I could tell she was so tired and on top of it all she's sick with her sinuses'. Today we've having a dinner for Tracy Matthews.. Tracy and I have been working together for 20 years I guess... Well tomorrow will be his last day for awhile... his unit has been called up and will be leaving in January. He's not sure where they are going to be sent yet... So today we're all getting together to wish he well... It's not going to be a good thing. Well Son I guess Poppa better get a move on...Maybe, just maybe .... I'll being writing you tomorrow tell you about your birth... Oh yea... Lauren's friends Mom had a baby and Lauren went over to see them yesterday at the hospital... Lauren said she get to hold the baby.. Gage, all I can say is SON you're going to be one spoiled little boy....Your Aunts are going to see to that...well I'm sure Nona and myself will do a little our self.. haha Well Son.. I'm out of here this morning...
Love ya,
Poppa

07/23/2004 (Friday) 5:30am
2 days over due...
Dear Gage.... well today could be the big day... Your Mom goes in the hospital this morning at 7:30. Gage, if I were to tell you I wasn't worried and scared, son I would be telling you a lie... the fact is I'm scared to death. When your Mom was born your Nona and I were so young and between you and me... we didn't have a clue.. I had to sit there and watch your Nona hurt and there wasn't a thing I could do... and as scared and worried I was about her is now worse with Melissa.. See Melissa is my baby and as much as I loved your Nona there's just something different when it's your little girl giving birth.. Mom's and Dad's don't like to see their babies in pain no matter how old they are.... Even thro I know the out come will be a new playmate for me... I'm sure some day you'll be outside those doors like I will be today.. (or when ever).. and when you do think back on what Poppa has told you here this morning...
Well yesterday wasn't the best of days for us at work... We had a big luncheon for Tracy. His family was there with him.. he also has 3 girls. It's going to be so hard to for him to leave them behind . He'll be gone for a least a year and maybe 2. Yesterday they were asking different people to say the prayer.. I told Toni I couldn't do it... but I did write it for her... People tell me I that God has given me a talent to write... I don't know.. Gage all I do son is write what I feel in my heart... so son take time to listen to your heart... listen and think about what it has to say... I do hope someday you will like to write. It has helped me so many times just to write my feelings down. Well Son.. I'm going to get ready and go to work... I'll be checking on you and your Mom all morning OK...
Love ya Son,
Poppa

10:50am... I came up to check on your Mom. I found out that early this morning there had been a scare. Melissa was having so many contractions and fast your heart rate dropped. Your Mom and Dad were there alone at the time. Your Dad said it scared him to death all the nurses running in the way they did. Everything was ok.. and at that time they admitted your Mom as an Inpatient... she was going to stay.
11:15am... They tried to start your Mom back on the Rx to help with the labor again and again your heart rate dropped.. This time we all were there and it was very nerve racking. They stopped the Rx and everything went back to normal. Nona, Mary, Lauren, Mary and I are up here now.
11:25am... The doctor just came in... maybe it want be long now. We are all in the hall talking... I told the girls that once I heard you cry that would be it for me. We are all so excited.
11:45am... Mary wants to go get something to eat so I'm going to walk down with her as soon as we hear what the doctor has to say. Nurse just let us back in the room.. The doctor said we should have a baby by 5pm today... Come to find out all Mary wants is a Coke and chips... we're going to walk back around to my office and tell everyone what's going on.
12:20pm... Your Mom looks so tired already. Her nurse just came in and told her they were about to start the pain Rx.
1:40pm ... Things are going great. Your Mom is feeling better now that they have started the Rx. We may have you by 3pm this afternoon.
2:20pm... The Doctor is on his way... we've been asked to wait in the hall. It's show time... haha..
I call down and tell my co-workers... They are on there way up to be with me. Nona, Lauren, Mary, G. Tolbert and of course your Dad will be in the room when you are born.

Earlier this morning and this afternoon we all guessed your weight...
below are the guesses.

Lauren	6lb 2oz
Mary	7lb 6oz
Nona	7lb 3oz
Poppa	7lb 5oz
Dad	7lb 12oz
Grand Dad T.	6lb 5oz
Granny T.	6lb 10oz
Toni Grady	7lb 2oz
Chip Larsen	7lb 11oz
Bonnie C	9lb 0zo
Wanda E	8lb 10oz
Cara	8lb 0zo
Great G. Lee	6lb 0oz

2:45pm... We can hear the Doctor and nurses talking.. Cara has her ear to the door and is passing info to us.. haha ... Just out of the blue my Mom calls to check on Melissa... I tell her it will be just hold on the line and in a way she would be here for the birth.
3:00pm... All we can hear is the nurses counting for your Mom as she pushes.... Everyone is with me and waiting on you to cry.
3:10pm... We hear nervous laughing and joking.. still no cry...
3:15pm... The sound we have been waiting for... We hear you crying... Pretty much all of us out in the hall break down also.. My Mom is still on the phone.. I tell her and try to let her hear but she can't through the door. What a relief...
3:28pm.... The door opens and the nurse tells the new Grand Dads they can come in... I get to see you for the first time.. After writing all of this journal I get to see the little person that has and is going to change my life.
Your actual time of birth was 3:09pm.
OH yeah.. Mary won the guess the weight.. 7lb 6oz

07/24/2004 (Saturday) 6:30am
The wait is over...
Dear Gage.... Welcome Son. I guess now you're just over 12 hours old now. I don't know where to start this morning. I know what I would like to do and that is just to sit and hold you... but I can't do this. That's the job of your New Mom and Dad, so I'll try to stand on the side and watch and wait my turn. I still remember holding your Mom and wanting to be the only one to take care of her.. so with this in mind I'll stand to the side. It's going to be hard for me to do, but I'll do it.. haha... I hate to use the term "pretty" for my new Grandson, but you are... I only got to hold you for a little while in the room and they had a little hat on your head so I really didn't get to see all your hair until last night when they had you in the nursery.. Gage your Dad said you needed a hair cut before you came home... it was so long.. looked kinda brown... and your little finger nails were so long.. they had to put mittens on your hands. You had cut your face and chest up... Once you get home I can love on ya all I want to.. I told Melissa that I would take off and help her when Jonathan has to go back to work and there's no one there with her. Well Son.. Poppa going to get the house cleaned up... I hope Mom (my Mom) will come down. I still just can't believe it... haha ... In closing for now here's the first pictures of you..
Love ya,
Poppa
7:15pm ... Hi Gage.. I've been with you most of the day today.. I even got to hold you for a little while.. haha.. My Mom and Gene came down to see ya today.. and I got a picture of you and my Mom.. She said she was coming back when she had longer to stay.. I do hope she will.. It's been a very good day for us.... We have loved on you all day... I was just lucky I got to hold you as long as I did.. Mary is just taken away with you. Your Mom's friends have been in and out all day also.. and all of them say you look like your Dad.. Me I can't tell Gage.. I never was good at that kind of stuff... haha.. Oh yeah.. for a little while today you had your eyes open and you were looking all around and you have dark blue eyes... We hope you will keep them... haha .. Well I think Poppa going to call it a day for today.. We hope to bring you home tomorrow.. Your Dad said he was going to cook dinner... I told him I would help and we would have a great home coming party... Gage it felt so good to hold you today... I so looking forward to watching you grow up... but just not to fast... my girls just shoot up over night it feels like at times... Son we love you so much and we've only had you to hold a little over 24 hours... it's a great feeling...
Love ya,
Poppa

07/25/2004 (Sunday) 7:00am
Coming Home...
Dear Gage... I'm hoping to hear from your Mom or Dad here real soon and tell me that you will be going home today. I've written to a Rufus and Joyce about you and told them that my feet still hasn't touched the ground yet... haha.. (Rufus went to school with Aunt Pat.. I got to know him while working on the Clem web page)... I told you that your Dad would pick up on how to take care of you and yesterday he was doing it as thro he had been a Dad all his life. Oh I'm sure there's going to be times he' s going to call out "MELISSA" ... Lord knows I did with your Mom... haha ... But all and all he's going to be great with you... I never had any doubt, but I knew he was kinda afraid before you got here....
While I was with you yesterday you sleep most of the time... every now and again you would open your eyes and look around and what pretty blue eyes you have.   Well Gage, Poppa got to get a move no this morning if I'm going to help your Dad cook... Just one fast little side note.. you're going to be a girl getter... You've already stolen the hearts of 4 now.. and that was when you were just a few minutes old.... haha (YOU GO BOY)
Love ya,
Poppa
7:50pm ... You made your trip home today around 12:30 - 1:00pm... Nona went and got chicken and I cooked some fresh peas that my Mom brought down yesterday and corn bread. I was hoping your Mom would eat them. She said she just doesn't want to eat anything. Well now that she's home maybe things will get better for her. I remember how hard it was those first few weeks trying to get used to having a baby... It's different.. I know they will be find that's why I left this afternoon when I did. They need time to be with you... Nona and I both told Melissa and Jonathan to give us a call if they needed us.. Well it's been a long day for everyone so I'm going to go for now... I'll give your Mom and Dad a call in the morning to check on ya...
Love ya sleepily head...
Poppa

07/27/2004 (Tues) 5:45am
Dear Gage.. Guess were I want yesterday afternoon after work... You guessed it.. I came up to your house to check on my little family. When I got there your Mom was on the sofa with you on her chest and you were just a sleeping... She made you wake up to eat and then you went right back to sleep... haha... But I still got to hold you while you slept. I'm afraid you're holding you to much oh... Melissa said that that's all you want is to be held. I told her that I would just enjoy coming up and looking at ya.. I didn't have to hold you all the time.. kinda told a little lie here... haha.. but really just seeing you is good enough for me.... I think I've showed your picture to just about everyone in the hospital yesterday... haha Oh well the new will ware off soon.. NOT... haha.. Well Gage I guess Poppa better get a move on this morning... It's kinda funny not having the count down on here... Well son Poppa is out of here for today... You make sure you keep your Dad out of trouble today.. I know your Mom has a hard time doing it alone so now with two of you...well just maybe you'll can now... hahaha....
Love ya Son,
Poppa

07/30/2004 (Friday) 5:45am
Dear Gage... Here you are a week old already. I've been up to see ya every night almost.. haha.. Didn't go up last night. I was busy working on get my membership statements ready to send out and for some reason I was just knocked out. haha .. Being a Poppa takes a lot out of me. haha.. Your Dad goes back to work today.. I know he's going to hate to leave you. 27 years ago this afternoon I never dreamed that I would have 3 beautiful girls and a Grandson today. Well Poppa is running late this morning so I better get a move on... I'll be coming to see ya tonight maybe.... ;-)
Love ya,
Poppa
7:35pm... Hi Gage... Well here it is another Friday night.... Well things are a little different... I now have you to hold... I just talked to your Mom and checked in on ya.. and as always you were asleep.. haha... Melissa said your Dad sure did hate to go back to work today.. and the bad thing is he has to work tomorrow. It's been one of those days at work... not really busy, but the day went by kinda fast... Jeff called today and wants me to come up to the reunion this weekend.. I called Angie to tell her about you and she and Reel want me to come also.. I'm not sure if I'm going to go yet. I hate that long ride up there... and I sure Lauren doesn't want to ride up there.. Well just wanted to let you know I was checking up on you...
Love ya,
Poppa

08/02/2004 (Monday) 5:45am
Dear Gage.... Well here it is another Monday morning and just think this time next Monday the girls will be back in school. Oh boy that's not going to be fun... I've enjoyed my getting up and going to work early...
Guess what I did all weekend Gage... If you guessed cut the grass.. well that's part of it.. haha .. Since you're Mom can come down here I've been cooking and taking it to them.. are they spoiled or what.. haha .. Oh I enjoy it and I get to hold you.. Yesterday, while I held you, you had your eyes open and were looking all around. Most of the time when I hold you you are asleep.. Your Mom is about to go crazy being in the house all the time.. at one time they had talked about just getting out and riding down by the beach. Well I guess I better get a move one this morning. I'll write to ya later Son. Oh yeah.. remember what I had written to you about dreams.. well it just looks like all I can have now is nightmares... but I still dream...
Love ya,
Poppa

08/06/2004 (Friday) 6:30am
Dear Gage.. good morning Son. Well today is the day Mary and Lauren has been looking forward to.. SCHOOL starts today. This will be Lauren's last year... it was like yesterday I was letting her out at school for the first time... and this will be Mary's last year at Jr. High.
Well it's been two weeks... you have your first doctor visit today. I can see you growing... Your Mom and Aunts went to have their hair cut Wed and they came by my office. Everyone just thought you were so pretty.
Well I guess Poppa had better and try and get Lauren up and going this morning.... haha
I promise to write you more this weekend.
Love ya,
Poppa

08/07/2004 (Sat) 5:00pm
Hi Gage... guess were I've been almost all day.... ;-) .... I've been holding you most of the day. Your Dad had a little side job to do today so I went up to be with you and your Mom.. Told her I would held her.. didn't tell her I would just sit and love on you... haha ... I enjoyed spending time with Melissa... It's been along time since we just got to sit and talk and be together... it was great... so to let you know you kids are very special to me and your Nona... While your Mom was taking a shower this morning I was rocking you in your room and was humming to you... It felt so good holding you and singing to you.. even thro I can't sing you kinda enjoyed it.. I think.. haha.... your Mom came running out of the shower thinking something was wrong.... but it was just me singing to ya... haha... (just kidding she really didn't come running out) ... I tell ya Gage it has been a pretty day, i got up this morning to outside temp of around 70 .... I got out and cut my grass early this morning... and then come up to play with you... it just doesn't get any better... Well Son I'm going to run for just now... Just had to let you know how much I enjoyed spending the day with you... Oh yeah.. you had your 2 week check up yesterday... the Dr said you were doing great.. you've gained almost a pound....which is very good... most times babies lose weight when they get home.... not you... I really think it has to do with all the love you get... really. Well Poppa going to go for now.. Love ya...
Love ya Son,
Poppa

08/09/2004 (Mon) 6:45am
Hi Gage... Well guess who came to eat with me yesterday??? Hint.. it was Sunday... haha.. You guessed it you, your Mom and Dad... I enjoyed having them over here so much. While they ate I rocked you in the same rocking chair I rocked you Mom in 26 years earlier. Lauren and I have started cooking sweets now.. we have so much fun and we get so confused at times at what we're suppose to do.. but we have fun and that's all that counts.. right... I went to Wal-Mart yesterday and got you two new books... I got you "The Poky Little Puppy" and "The Little Red hen"... these are books I remember from when I was a little boy.. and yes they had paper books way back then... haha... Gage it is so good to have a family like we have... even with the problems we have we are still close and caring. I'm so lucky to have what I've got.
Well guess I better get going... got to go get Mary... this is the first full week of school...
Love ya Son,
Poppa

08/13/2004 (Friday) 6:35am
Good Morning Gage... OH NO.. it's Friday the 13th... haha... Today you are 3 weeks old... and the bad thing is I haven't got to hold you all week. Mary and I have been going down and walking on the beach every afternoon... I think it's helping both her and me... I know my hip has stopped hurting now... I told Mary I think my problem with my hip hurting was that I was sitting on my butt to much... she laughed so hard she almost cried... I've really been enjoying spending time with her... As for you... well you and your Mom are beginning to get out and go.. I called Melissa one day and you two were in Ocean Springs.. Your Mom was going to get a dress to be in a wedding... Well Poppa got to run... another day at the hospital... Just wanted to drop you a note to say HI... Oh yea.. we've got to storms going ... well one came in yesterday ... "Bonnie" but "Charlie" looks like he may be a bad one... He is going to hit Fla coast sometime this weekend.. they just said the winds in this storm "Charlie" is already up to 150 mile per hour... Just glad it's not coming this way... ;-) Well got to go get Mary.. Love ya..
Love ya Son,
Poppa

08/14/2004 (Sat) 7:50am
Good Morning Gage...and what a good morning it is... "Charlie" came through Fla late yesterday afternoon and it was bad.. The news is saying a lot of people has died.... most of them lived in mobile homes... The weather was so bad down there yesterday and here it was so pretty.. it was cool and everyone at work wanted to be outside. Did I tell ya that Mary and I are walking every afternoon... We have so much fun... Well I want to get my house work done so I can come up and see ya today... Now that I've been walking I haven't got to see ya much.. but you know I still love ya.. ;-)
Love ya,
Poppa

08/22/2004 (Sun) 7:00am
Good Morning Gage... and what a pretty morning it is... it's cool out right now, but I bet it's going to get hot real soon. I went up to your house yesterday afternoon and stayed until after nine last night... When I got there you where fussing and crying... I tried to make you feel better but couldn't... I told Melissa I think you had a stomach ache.. you would cry and pull your legs up... just like your Mom would do... anyway when your Mom got ya and held you close you went to sleep... then it was time for a "change" and then she gave you to me to hold... we put you on a pillow on my lap and you went to sleep and you rolled over on your side and lay next to me and never moved... I just held you while you slept.. and I enjoyed it so much.
I haven't been able to see you as much as I would like.. Mary and I have been walking every afternoon down on the beach.. we've been doing about 2 miles every afternoon. It's made Mary and me both feel so much better.... but by not seeing you every day... I can surely see you growing... It want be anything until you're wanting to follow me around in the yard and come over here with me.. I can't wait... Well I guess I better run for now... I'm going to fix lunch for all of you.. ;-)
Love ya,
Poppa

08/28/2004 (Sat) 7:30am
Good Morning Gage... Sorry I haven't written in awhile. I don't know where my time is going anymore. Now with Mary and me walking in the evening I can't get up in the mornings like I used to... haha.. Went up last Wednesday night to see ya.... I was feeding you a bottle and you tried to spit up and lost your breath.. Gage you almost scared me to death.. I took you to your Mom and your were fine.. You've been spitting up a good bit so your Mom took you to see the Dr Thursday... I can't believe it but she called me and told me that you now weigh 10 lbs and 5 oz... I can see you changing and getting bigger each time I see ya... I just don't get to see ya as much I should oh.. like I said I've just got tooooo much going on it feels like... I plan on coming up today and spending some time with ya. Well I need to run to Wal-Mart and buy some things.. it's always something Son.. hahaha
Well I'll try to write you more... more...
Love ya Son,
Poppa

08/29/2004 (Sun) 6:30am
Gage.. Guess were we went yesterday... We went to the Mobile Flea Market. You just looked around the only thing was it was so hot. You were good about it oh. You let me carry you for a long time and I did so enjoy it. On the way home you got to crying so Mom fixed you a bottle and you drank the whole thing... then went to sleep... I enjoyed it so much... and you are growing so much so fast.. It want be anytime that you and I will be getting into trouble together... ;-) Well I need to get going... Guess I'll work on some of the camp stuff I need to do as my internet is down.. the phone line has gone dead and I can't check my e-mail or anything.. haha.. Wll Gage I'll talk to later Son...
Love ya,
Poppa

09/05/2004 (Sun) 6:30am
Gage.. I hope you'll are having fun this weekend... You'll left Friday afternoon going to Fla for the weekend... and with a major storm coming too. Lauren didn't go... she stayed home with me. She's got a lot going on here unlike me... haha ... I've been so busy lately at the hospital I haven't had time to look up hardly... and this coming week looks a lot like last week... busy... Mary and your Mom both told me that you have begun to smile when they talk to you.. I can't wait to see you. It feels like I never get to be with you... I know your Mom and Dad have things to do on the weekends but I do try and make it up there for a little while and on Sundays they come down to eat with me and then you'll leave going to Wal-Mart... I guess we're all just to busy... we need to learn to slow down some wouldn't you say... I did write a new poem last week... Beauvoir ... Keely at work ask me if I had anything written about Beauvoir that she could use in her scrapbook.. well at the time I did not... Gage what worries me is that I can only write when I'm down... not really depressed.. but I'll just say wore down, upset kinda... Well Wednesday evening Mary and I went walking... that night both of us weren't saying much... which hasn't been the case... well after I took Mary home I came back home and sat down and wrote "Beauvoir"... I wanted people to see the place as where real people lived, died, and now rest there... not just a house... Mary likes to write and I hope one day you will also. Your old Poppa is crazy I know, but he loves ya... Well I'm going to go for now... maybe I'll get to see ya today..
Love ya Son,
Poppa

09/08/2004 (Wed) 6:30am
Good morning Son... I talked to your Mom yesterday and she told me that you had been fussy most of the day... Oh yea.. I came up to your house Monday... your Dad grilled steaks ... and he did it very well too... While I was holding you one time you looked up and just smiled at me... to say the least it made my day... all my worries just flew out window at that second... I was tell your Mom that she wasn't going to be able to carry you much longer... haha... you're getting so big... which is a good thing... Mary and I went walking last night... we both were back to ourselves... we talked and laughed the whole time again... then we went by the SONIC and got a drink... She (Mary) made me walk 2 1/2 miles last night... she enjoys it and so do I. Gage the sunset is beginning to get pretty down on the beach... last night the sky was orange... it was so pretty... Well Son it's almost time to go get Mary... so I'll run for now... Love ya....
Love ya,
Poppa

09/09/2004 (Thur) 6:40am
Gage.. good morning little man... I sure hope you got to feeling better after I left last night... You were so upset... When I would take you outside you you would just look around and wouldn't cry... haha ... but being outside I got to see your pretty blue eyes. Son you're going to be hard on the girls... Like I've told you before you've already got 4 of them to do anything you want... I was rocking you yesterday in your room and your Mom came in and was talking to me... she was telling me how hard it was going to be for her to go back to work... I know it's going to be hard on both of you. Oh yea... one time while I was holding you, you did smile at me once.. and this made my day. You are something and I can't wait until you get a little older... but I'm not rushing it... I want to be able to hold you as long as I can... Well I better go get your Aunt Mary for school. Love ya...;-)
Love ya,
Poppa

09/17/2004 (Friday) 5:00am
Good morning Gage... and what a good morning it is. This time yesterday Ivan had just gone thru and we weren't sure what the damage was going to be when morning broke. Pascagoula missed the worse of if, but it was still a long night for all of us. I had to be at the hospital all night. The hospital lost a little of the 4th floor roof. All thru the night I would go out to the NOAA radar site and get the current radar picture of Ivan. I wanted to make you a page to show you. This morning the shy is so clear and the stars as so pretty.... we take so much for granted .. The people in Gulf Shore, AL and on down in Fla weren't so lucky. If I can find any pictures today on the internet I'll create you a picture page of Ivan... here is the page of The Track IVAN.
Love ya Son,
Poppa

09/19/2004 (Sunday) 7:45am
Good morning Gage... what a pretty morning it is.. it's cool this morning it's about 64 outside this morning.. it feels so good. I got out yesterday and picked up limbs and pine cones all morning and I can feel it this morning.. haha Your Mom was in a wedding yesterday afternoon so I went to see her. She was so pretty, but we already knew that didn't we. Melissa is telling me that you are trying to get a cold... I hate it that you are getting sick. I could tell you didn't feel real good yesterday... but you would still smile at us... Your Aunts (Lauren and Mary) thinks the sun rises and sits in you... It feels so good to have you here to love on... Well I want to run and get the film processed I shoot yesterday of you and the girls so I can send my Mom a picture... Well Gage I'll write ya more later... got to get going this morning... it's Sunday and I've got to cook lunch... hahahahhaha ... Love ys Son...
Love ya,
Poppa

09/23/2004 (Thur) 6:30am
Good morning Gage... it was 2 months ago today you came into the world.... it's been a short two months... Melissa has got to take you to the doctor today to start your shots... she's not looking forward to it either. Lauren is going to go to with you'll and help Melissa... I think Melissa needs a little support... and I can understand... I would be the same way.. Your Mom is hoping the doctor will tell her that she can start you on cereal because just milk isn't filling you up anymore... haha ... you are growing like a little weed... and every now and again I can get you to smile at me... Well I better get going.. got to go get Mary... and go by the doughnut shop... Mary and I do that everyday.. and then ride down by the beach.. Well I'll write ya more later OK...
Love ya,
Poppa

09/26/2004 (Sunday) 7:45am
Hi Gage... I'm so sore this morning... we had a clean-up day at Beauvoir yesterday getting ready for Fall Muster. We cut trees and picked up limbs... there was only 8 of us that showed up... but we had a good time and got the job done. Yesterday was Gee-Gee's birthday... Your Mom and the girls gave her a party... Lauren told me last night that she enjoyed it and that you'll had a good time... Lane said there was a lot of good food there... but you know what.. Lauren didn't bring me a thing to eat... looks like she would have fixed Poppa a plate doesn't it... haha ... It want be long and I hope to bring you alone with me when I go to Beauvoir... You know it felt so good over there yesterday being with friends and working together... that's the part I enjoy... I'm looking forward to the 15th-17th of October... we'll be setting up camp and cooking all weekend... and maybe we'll make a little money. Anyway... let me run.. Lauren wants me to cook baked beans for lunch and I've got to run to the store and buy a few things.... See ya at lunch....
Love ya,
Poppa

09/28/2004 (Tues) 6:33am
Hi Gage... just wanted to say Good Morning.. Work has had me on the go the past few weeks.. I would really like to take a few days off and just do nothing. Well I'll be taking a few days off in Oct for Fall Muster... after that I think I'm going to take some time off... You'll came over late Sunday afternoon... you took an 8 oz bottle in no time... and then the only way you would sleep was to be on my shoulder... If I didn't know better I would think you are spoiled rotten... haha... that's ok isn't it... I just can't wait until you get a little older were you and I can go places... The girls have kinda out grown me... which is a good thing in a way.. they have there on lives.. that's why God has given me you to be my pal... right... Well I need to get going.. it's almost time to go get Mary.. Love ya Son..
Love ya,
Poppa

10/02/2004 (Sat) 6:45am
Good morning Gage... and just how are you doing this morning???? I hope you're still sleeping... haha.. I got up early this morning because Maggie and Lucy wanted to go out... they are about to worry me to death.... You and Mom came by Tues and we went over to the Business Office so I could show you off to ladies I work with over there.. and then we went out to eat... I do so enjoy being able to do little things like this... On the way over there I sat in the back with you and talked to you... you just smiled and tried to laugh... it made me feel so good to see you doing this... Melissa told me yesterday that you had found your foot the other day, but you haven't found it again yet... as you can tell we keep a close watch on ya.. haha.. I really don't see how Melissa carries you around... you're getting heavy.. I think Melissa said you were 13lb 6oz at your last Dr visit... and yesterday Melissa came by the hospital to check on a problem with her paycheck and I was holding you... and I noticed how well you were holding your head now... like I said I keep a close watch on you... I can't wait until you get a little older and you and I can go to the Fall Muster together at Beauvoir... I do hope you'll want to go with me... Well I'm going get something to eat and get my day started.. I'm sure I'll see ya today... Love ya..
Live ya,
Poppa

10/10/2004 (Sun) 6:26am
Good morning Son... just wanted to drop you a note this morning... it's raining again this morning. It has been a wet weekend. We went up to Elaine's yesterday and made some pictures. Elaine had gotten a new light set and asked me to come up and help her figure out how to work them... Son.. it was like the blind leading the blind.. I've never used lights before... always wanted to get some but never did.. anyway the pictures I made of you turned out good.. I've got a little problem with them not being as sharp as I would like, but that's my problem... things look sharp to me thru the camera because I can't ware my glasses when I look thru the viewfinder. Most of the time I use a high F Stop and with that I don't have to worry as much about the focus.... anyway.. your Mom and Dad liked them.. that's all that matters to me... looks like I'm just going to have to save up and buy all this stuff... (lights and stuff).. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it. Need to find something to do other than work... I've been working late every day this past week.. I bet I haven't left a day before 6pm. The stuff I'm working on just takes me a little time to figure out how to do make the formulas work and then to get it to paper.. Don't get me wrong Gage.. I love my work... and when no one is there I can think and work the problems out much better....
Next weekend I'll be at Beauvoir all weekend... starting Friday... We have our Fall Muster which is a weekend re-enactment. When you you get older I'll take you and if you want we'll camp out on the grounds... Not everyone can say they spent the night on Beauvoir grounds... so that will make it special.
Well tomorrow is the day your Mom has been dreading.... she has to go to go back to work. She told me yesterday at I had to wait and go to lunch with her tomorrow. I know she hates the idea of having to go off and leaving you. Wish I was a rich Poppa so she could just stay home and love on you all the time. It's going to be ok oh... and to make things worse your Dad has got to go out of town for a class for the week. I think Gee-Gee and Mary are going to come up and stay with you and your Mom. Well I better get going... It's Sunday and I've got to cook.... (I really shouldn't say 'got to' because I enjoy it so much) ... Love ya Son.
Love ya,
Poppa

10/12/2004 (Tues) 6:39am
Gage... Your Mom started back to work yesterday. I waited and went to lunch with her. I felt so bad for her. I could tell she was upset about having to leave you. Gee-Gee went and picked you up yesterday afternoon and I went over there to see if I could help her. You were pretty good.... You would look all around and I think you were looking for your Mom... I know it's hard on and your Mom.. wish I had the kind of money were Melissa could just stay home with you. Things will get better. Poppa has got to run this morning. Lauren needs me to run and get her some brownies this morning for school. hahaha Poppa loves ya.
Love Ya,
Poppa

10/21/2004 (Thur) 6:40am
Good morning Gage... Your old Paw-Paw has been some kind of busy these past few weeks. Last weekend we had Fall Muster at Beauvoir and I was over there for 3 days and the bad thing is I didn't get to see you last weekend. I didn't like that. Last night I met your Mom and Dad at the fair and we walked around. When you first got there you weren't to sure about all the noise, but after I picked you up and held you, you were ok. You looked at the lights and I think you enjoyed it. I carried you for a long time and finally had to put you back in your stroller. You're getting big and heavy. I did enjoy being with you'll last night. Well I've got to get going today is my day at Ocean Springs... oh boy... haha... Well I write ya more a little latter on. Love ya Son...;-)
Love ya,
Poppa

11/04/2004 (Thur) 6:30am
Good morning Gage... I've been so busy I haven't had time to write. Tues was your Moms birthday. She took off work and you'll came up and ate lunch with me. The people I work with just can't get over how you are growing. Then Tues night I cooked dinner and we all met up over at Gee-Gees house and ate and had cake. Also Tues was the day we voted for President... to tell you the truth I was worried about the vote, but yesterday Kerry called President and told him it was over that he, President Bush had won. I copied the following info from the internet new sources so you could see what happen. Just click here on President Bush and you can read what the news of the election was like yesterday. Well Paw Paw better get to going... Didn't leave work last night until 8 and I'm still not finished yet.
I'll try to do better about writing to you... haha
Love ya,
PawPaw

11/11/2004 (Thur) 12:58pm
Hi there Gage... Paw Paw hasn't been doing to good has he. I've been so busy at work that when I get home I don't want to see a computer. I came home at lunch today... just not feeling real good and I've got a lot of vacation time so I took off. I've been going down and sitting with your Mom everyday while she eats and talking with her. She told me yesterday that you found your feet the other night while you were taking a bath... Mary was laughing and telling me that she has to help you put your toes in your mouth... you can't quite get your little fat legs up there by yourself... When your Mom calls me in the mornings sometimes I can hear you in the background just a talking.. and now Melissa tells me that you are starting to laugh.. We can wait until Christmas. Well I'm go and try and get rid of this headache I've got... Love ya Son... ;-)
Love ya,
Paw Paw

11/15/2004 (Mon) 6:31am
Hi there Gage. I started writing to you Sat and the PC froze up or something. Yesterday was your Dad's birthday and I wasn't able to go to the party. I felt so bad all weekend and yesterday I just stayed in bed most of the day. Just a real bad cold I guess, but I felt so bad.
You are smiling now and even laughing out loud. Your Mom told me the other day at your Dad had you in your bed and you rolled over... and you've found your feet. Melissa told me that she was giving you a bath the other day you saw your feet and would move them and just watch them... with your little fat legs it's kinda hard for you get a hold to them oh...
I'm also afraid you're getting this cold too. Melissa came by here yesterday to bring me some Rx and I walked out to the Jeep with her. Your little eyes were running and she told me that your head was stopped up. Guess Paw Paw just worries to much... your Mom had colds when she was a baby and we made it thru it. Well Son I better get a move on. Love ya...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

11/19/2004 (Fri) 4:31am
Good Rainy Morning Gage... What I would like to know is what am I doing up at 4:30am.. haha I'm having problems sleeping again. I talked to your Mom yesterday and she said you were feeling better. Wish I could say I was feeling better. I can't shake this stuff. Some days I feel good and like yesterday I had a bad headache all day. I left work about an hour early. Enough of me being a "TB" hahahaha.. I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week... Your first Thanksgiving... I remember many years ago we used to have big hunting trips on Thanksgiving day. It would be so cold my feet would freeze. It would be me, Dad, Jeff, and Uncle Leroy (Jeff's Dad). We would leave out about 5am and hunt squirrels until around noon and come back to Granny Roberts and have lunch. You know Gage to me it was like yesterday, but that's been 35 years or so now. Son when you're young time has a way of standing still, but as you get older and have children and then grandchildren time starts to move so fast. I'll turn around and you'll be one, the next thing I'll know you'll be calling me wanting to go fishing, then you'll be calling to tell me '"Paw Paw, I'm going to come by in my new car and take you for a drive"... I know it sounds funny.. but it happens just this fast. I know... haha ... My baby, your Aunt Mary, wants me to teach her to drive now.. It was just yesterday she was just a little girl, now she's almost in high school. I'm going to print you an e-mail from a friend co-worker that I got Tues at work. Your Mom and Dad know Roxanne and I just wanted to share with you what she sent me. She and I have been talking about you from the day we found out about you and then she found out she was going be a grandmother. I would go around every couple of weeks and we would compare notes on how things were going for our soon to be grandchildren. haha

>>> Roxanne May 11/16/04 01:00PM >>> I now have a granddtr Mackenzie Marie Gray born yesterday at OSH weighing 6 lbs 13 oz and 19 1/2 in long. Wouldn't it be funny if when the kids get older your Gage and my Mackenzie were friends?

I went around there Wed and she showed me pictures... We grandparents are a very proud group of people.. She was so funny talking about Mackenzie... guess I know what people say about me now... haha
Well Son I better get a move on... not there's any rush.. it's not even 5am yet... I plan on going up to Moms sometime during Thanksgiving... I don't know how much time your Mom will have off. I think she's on call for Thanksgiving day. Well Paw Paw will write ya more later.. Love ya
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

11/21/2004 (Sunday) 6:14am
(way to warm for this time of year 68 outside now)
Good morning Son... just wanted to say good morning. I've got to get going and run to Wal-Mart.. (what a way to start the day right haha) ... Lauren told me one day last week she was looking forward to today so I would cook something good. Last weekend I was sick and didn't cook. I don' t know what I'm going to do next week... I've got the week off. I told your Mom I would come up and keep you tomorrow and then Tues she is going to take off to take you to the Doctor for another round of shots. I hate to even think of it, but like Melissa and I said it's much better you hurt for a day or so than getting the stuff the shots keep you from getting. Oh yeah... getting back to me staying with you tomorrow... I was talking to Mary about it.. and she put it to me this way... If your dipper feels heavy then change it... if you're crying and want stop.. then chance is you have a dirty dipper.. other wise give you a bottle.. I think she has it all together don't you.
Mary was telling me about a girl at her school that had a baby and how hard the family was having because if it. Mary said that she and Gee-Gee were going to buy them some dippers to help out. I know this baby will be loved, but there's so many things it's going to miss out on, but yet I wonder if it's not sometimes best. Son, you'll more than likely never want for anything and there's times I wonder if it's a good thing to be like that... Sometimes I think it may be best that we have to work for what we want... I may have told you this story before and if I have please just look over me ok.. back on your Mom's second or third Christmas times were hard for us... Gee-Gee was working part time in the appt complex office... but that wasn't money money... they just took it off the rent. We had very little money for Christmas that year.. Some how we got a job there cleaning the street around the appts that year. Oh Gage it was cold and trying to rain those few days we worked. When we got our money we went out to eat lunch at the Western Sizzling that day... haha ... You know son I remember that Christmas better than most... I remember Santa brought your Mom a little truck with farm animals and stuff.. (that was one thing I remember)... I've still got the truck and will give it to you... Gee-Gee always made sure the girls had a good Christmas... I remember one year she worked for months on a coat your Mom wanted.. it had sequins all over it ..(it's here too) As much as I enjoyed those years I'm so looking forward to the ones ahead for me. Last Christmas I started to get the feeling back I had lost and son it was a great. The emptiness is beginning to be filled with the joy of your young life.
I just can't believe that come Tues you're going to be 4 months already. And you just smile and talk. My Mom told me that was because of the way your Mom and Dad talk and play with you. We would talk to the girls like that.. as if they were grown... I mean we would talk to them in full sentences. I think this makes a big difference.
Mary and I went to the mall yesterday in Biloxi... Oh son... things are beginning to get crazy. The mall was full and oh yes Santa was there... I remember years ago we never saw Santa until after Thanksgiving...
Well Gage, son Paw Paw better run for now. Love ya son.
Love Ya,
Paw Paw

11/23/2004 (Tues) 7:12pm
(4 months today)
Good evening Gage... Hey there son.. guess what... I kept you yesterday.. we had the best time. You kept me going that's for sure, but I enjoyed it so much. You just smiled and laughed all day. You liked it when we got down on the floor and played. I couldn't tell you how many times we walked up and down the hall and around house. You like being outside.
Your Mom took off today and carried you the doctor for another round of shots. I went up to check on you at lunch and again you were smiling at me and laughing... It's something how time flies... here you are already 4 months old. Oh yeah the doctor told your Mom to she could start you on real food in a couple of weeks .. when you got over the shot thing.. Well Son Paw Paw is going to go watch some TV and get ready for tomorrow.. haha... Mary will be coming in at lunch tomorrow so maybe she'll help me... not that you are any trouble.
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

11/24/2004 (Wed) 8:52am
Good morning Gage... You ready for another day with Paw Paw... I'm just sitting here killing time before you and Mom make it down here for I know once you get here I'll be on the run. haha I've been listening to the radio all week where they have been asking for money for the USA Hospital. Some of the stories I've heard has just broken my heart. I've been so blessed with 3 healthy girls and you. I can't think of how it would be to have a child with the problems I've heard. It makes the time I spend with you just that much better. Well I better get a move on before you get here.. Love ya..
Paw Paw

11/25/2004 (Thur) 5:25am
Happy Thanksgiving Gage... Your first of what I hope will be many, many more Son. You stayed with me yesterday at my house. I don't know if it was the fact that you were in a different place or what, but you didn't take a nap or if it was that you just didn't feel good. You had just had your other shots the day before so this may have something to do with it. Not that I'm complaining... I enjoy having you so much we just sit and rock and read your book and walk. haha... You make me feel so good when you smile at me and laugh. I was changing your dipper yesterday on my bed and while you were laying there I was watching you... you can almost roll over. You get up on your side, but just haven't quit the last little move yet.. I was telling your Mom last week that I was going to lose some of my vacation hours because I didn't use them.. bet that want happen anymore. By this summer you'll be walking and we'll be on the go. It will be good for me, you and your Mom and Dad. It will get me away from work you'll get to spend time with me and it will save Mom and Dad some money. haha ... I bet Mary will like me taking off also... we'll go places and do things.. I can't wait until you're big enough to go to the zoo. I used to love going to the zoo in Jackson. Well Paw Paw is going to start cooking for today's lunch.... I'll see ya in a little bit little Buddy.
Love ya,
Paw Paw
8:30am - Gage.. Son I've got it smelling good in here.. haha.. I just called my Mom and was telling her how my cornbread dressing turned out and how much I enjoyed cooking. I told her that she and Granny Roberts would be proud of my dressing... She laughed and said she was sure Granny was watching me... My radio station is playing Christmas music now. This year I enjoy hearing it. I know this may sound bad in a way, but it's really a good thing. They just played the song that makes it feel like Christmas to me.. it gives me a good feeling.. and for the life of me I don't know why. The song is "Christmas In Dixie" by Alabama. (I must say the midi file I did find wasn't the best, but it's all that's out there. haha) Love ya son... see ya in a bit. Paw Paw
5:30pm - Gage what a lunch.. I can barely move.. We all met up at Gee-Gees and ate. Gee-Gee cooked a turkey, dumplings, and green bean dish... I fixed peas, and cornbread dressing.... it was sooo good... and we had such a good time...You're still not feeling good I can tell, but you stilled smiled for me. ... Here's a picture of you eating your first Thanksgiving meal.. between you and me it doesn't look so good, but you enjoyed it..

11/30/2004 (Tuesday) 5:45am
Good morning Gage... I just heard on the radio that today is the day all of us here on the coast look forward to... today is the last day of hurricane season. It's been a very busy season that's for sure. I can't wait until Christmas... Last Christmas was good, but this year it's just going to be great. I've been buying Christmas this year and I'm been having the most fun with it. I've got you Mom something I think she'll enjoy and I'm thinking about getting Mary a digital camera for her birthday... I think she would enjoy it. That way she could make pictures and see them then and there.. Gage, I'm feeling so much better now days. I can't believe it's been almost a year now that I've been writing this... haha and I've enjoyed every second of it. Lauren and Mary asked me last night if I was going to do all this for there babies.. haha I told them of course I was.. haha .. Son you just have no idea... hahaha ... they watch every thing I do.. and I call Lauren "Little Momma".. she's just like me... She calls and checks up on me.. If I'm out and about she'll call and make sure I'm ok... Gage your Aunts are so special to me... and you know your Mom is... your Dad... well .. haha.. No he was my first Son and I think the world of him. Well Paw Paw better get a move on.. I've got to go to work... I sure did enjoy being off last week and I looking forward to taking off Christmas and spending more time with you.
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

12/01/2004 (Wed) 6:50am
Good morning Gage... 24 days to Christmas... Oh boy I can't wait.... We are going to have soooooo much fun this year. I'm hoping Mom (my Mom) can come down one day during the Christmas break. I think the kids are going to be so excited with there gifts. Lauren's gift came yesterday. Got to run and get Mary.
Love ya,
Paw Paw

12/02/2004 (Thur) 6:42am
Good morning Gage... 23 days to Christmas.. Bet old Santa is working overtime about right now. It's turned cold too. It's 40 outside right now. Got to see you for a little while last night. Gee-Gee said you were about to eat your arm off when she picked you up last night. She said she had to give you your green beans cold.. you wouldn't give her time to warm them up. haha.. Love ya 'little man'..
Love ya,
Paw Paw

12/03/2004 (Fri) 6:39am
Good cold morning Son... 22 days.. well I tried to get an update on Santa this morning to see how he was doing, but couldn't find the web page. When I get home today I bet I'll find something out... Well Lauren has got to take me to work today so I've got to run.. Love ya...
Love ya,
Paw Paw
7:00pm
Got to see your Mom today for a little while and I was telling her how you enjoyed Mary's Band concert last night and she laughed and said last year you would roll around when the music was playing. It's something.. and I'm enjoying ever second of if.
Love ya,
Paw Paw

12/04/2004 (Sat) 7:11am
Got morning Son.. only 21 days till old Santa.. I really don't have much time this morning. Mary and I are going to see a movie today and going to do a little shopping. You know it want be long and you and I will be going to the movies and looking at toys together. I can't wait. Looks like it wants to rain today... just my luck.. haha.. oh well I'm not going to let it spoil my day... if it rains well just park closer to the door.. right... haha ... Lauren wants us to go up to my Moms next Sat and have Christmas with them because she said the rest of the month is going to be booked for her.. that Aunt Lauren of yours is a mess son... Guess that's one reason I love her so much... but you know how I feel about all of you... you'll are my life. I went yesterday and got your Aunt Mary K a birthday gift from me and Gee-Gee. The fun thing is that Gee-Gee doesn't even know about it.. Gage, son you have have made me feel alive again and helped me find that Christmas sprit that I had lost. You know what I'm enjoying every second and each time I see you and your little bright eyes I know there's going to be many happy and fun days ahead for me. Well Son I'm not going to get anything done sitting here am I??? It doesn't matter does it?? Love ya son...
Love,
Paw Paw

12/05/2004 (Sun) 7:02am
Only 20 days to go!! Those days are going to go by so fast. Today would have been your Great Great Paw Lee's birthday (William Charlie Lee) He would have been 101 years old (12/05/1903)... Tomorrow is a big day for Mary.. she will be 14. I can't wait to give her, her gift. I told Gee-Gee about it last night and she told me that Mary was going to be so excited. This makes me feel so good. Mary and I went to Gulfport yesterday to get Lane a gift and went to the show. We went to see Christmas with the Kranks ... We had the best time. When we got back home your Mom called and told me that she wanted to show me the pictures of you they had made at Sears so Mary and I went up there. Your pictures were so good. I copied them and put them on a page so I could send them to Gene so my Mom could see them. Gage's first Christmas .. Well son I've got to get a move on this morning. I want to cook lunch, but first I've got to run to Wal-Mart to buy something to cook... haha
Love ya,
Paw Paw

12/06/2004 (Mon) 6:25am
Only 19 days to go!! Boy Santa is going to be here before we know it... Today is Aunt Mary's birthday. I remember 14 years ago almost as if it were yesterday. We're going to have a birthday party for her tonight. Yesterday was Chip's birthday and they invited me to come over last night and have dinner with them. I got to meet his Grandmother, which was from up around Prentiss. She was so excited when I told her I knew all the places she named off.. Bassfield, Carson... It was so funny. Well Gage I've got to run this morning. Got to go get Aunt Mary... looks like it's going to be a rainy day today.. Mary is going to be so excited when she gets our gift. Gee-Gee said she was going to love it. ;-)
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

12/07/2004 (Tues) 6:46am
18 days left... Bet old Santa is getting all stressed out about now. Maybe he's not like Paw Paw.. haha. Had Mary's birthday party last night. It was so good. She was so surprised and happy over her camera. Oh Gage, son I feel so good. I'm so looking forward to Christmas this year. Today is Pearl Harbor Day... this day in 1941 Japan attacked our Navy base in Hawaii and on this day 18 years ago (a Sunday) I lost my dear Granny Lee. Son as I look back over these past 26 years I've had your Mom I think just had fast the time as flown by. I'm afraid I'm turn around and you'll be grown on me... but you can bet I plan to get as much time with you as possible and as you want. Well I better run and get Mary... Love you so much Son.
Love ya,
Paw Paw

12/08/2004 (Wed) 4:50pm
17 days and counting... Good evening Gage. Paw Paw didn't have time to write to you this morning. For some reason I was running way behind... Got to go down and sit with your Mom today while she ate. I know I've told you many times before, but I enjoy going down and talking with her so much. She told me that you got a letter from Santa yesterday. I can't wait to read it and see what he had to say about you. It had to be good!! Melissa was telling me how you are wanting to sit up so bad, but you haven't got there just yet. I bet within a few more weeks you'll be sitting up and before we know it you'll be crawling. We're planning on going to see my Mom and Dad this weekend. My Mom is so excited. The last time she saw you you were only like 6 weeks old and you were so small. Well that's not the case anymore.. haha... Well I think I'm going to go watch TV for a little bit. I don't feel so good this afternoon. Think it was something I ate at work today.. Well Paw Paw will write more latter.
Love ya,
Paw Paw

12/09/2004 (Thur) 5:19am
16 days left!!... Good morning Gage. It's just way to warm this morning. I'm afraid we're going to have some bad weather. Guess what.. I've got to go to Biloxi tonight for our Camp meeting with all this bad stuff coming thru. We're having our Christmas dinner tonight. I may take off early and fix a peach cobbler.. I don't know yet.. haha Well Paw Paw got to go this morning. I've got to get all my camp stuff together and get it in the truck.
Love ya son,
Paw Paw

12/12/2004 (Sunday) 6:35am
12 days left!!... Good cold Sunday morning Gage. We went up to see my Mom and Dad yesterday. They enjoyed seeing you so much. We made some pictures with Mary's new camera and as soon as I can get a copy of them I'll but some of them out here for you to have. Your Mom said that you'll were going to go shopping today. I bet you'll enjoy that.. haha.. I've got a meeting I've got to go to this afternoon.. I'm so excited about it.. NOT.. You know I've still got to get a tree and get it put up.. maybe I can get it done this week some time. Chip told me I could ride with him over to Mobile tomorrow afternoon... there's a store he's wanting to go to that has a lot of Christmas stuff in it and I'm looking for something ... I may not be able to find it... but at least I'll know I tried. Well Son I'm going to run for now .. I've got to try and clean this house up a little. Maggie and Lucy just make such a mess..
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

12/14/2004 (Tues) 6:28am
10 days left!!... Dang Gage it's cold this morning.. well it's cold to me.. looks like its around 38-40 outside. Aunt Lauren and Mary has been doing some kind if shopping. Your Mom and Aunt Mary went Sunday and Mary said you'll didn't get home until around 9:30 that night. I just don't know how they did it. Mary is having so much fun. She told me she had gotten you a "Jumping Jack". Gage, son this is great.. I guess Gee-Gee and I did something right raising the girls. They always put others first. You have on idea how good this makes me feel as a Dad. Well Son Paw Paw has got to get going this morning... it's off to work for me. We're having a lunching today.. just us (the group I work with) we're bring goodies to eat so where want be much work going on today.... that's for sure. hahaha
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

12/15/2004 (Wed) 6:30am
9 before Santa comes thru... Oh boy is it cold this morning!!! Yahoo weather said it was 26 down here this morning. I think that may have been a little low, because my temp read like 29-30. Any way you look at it, it's still cold. Your Mom called me yesterday morning and as she was talking to me I could hear you in the background just a talking. She said you slept until 6am yesterday morning and when she changed you and gave you a bottle you went back to sleep and slept until 9. Each time I start to write Lucy jumps on the door and wants me to play with her. She loves these cold weather. She just runs and plays outside each morning... I go out that play with her for a little bit, but I've got to get ready to go to work. Well guess I'll go warm the truck up and go get Mary. Friday is there last day of school until like the 4th of January. Well I'll write ya more later. Love ya...
Love ya,
Paw Paw

12/16/2004 (Thur) 6:34am
8 before Santa .. I'm running out of time this morning.. got up a little late.. haha.. Went with your Mom yesterday to the newspaper to put your picture in there for your "First Christmas". Well Son I've got to run this morning.. I've got to work at Ocean Springs today.. oh boy... NOT.. haha
Love ya,
Paw Paw

12/18/2004 (Sat) 6:06am
6 more days and Santa will be come and gone.. Good morning Gage and it's a cold morning at that. It's in the mid to high 30's outside this morning.. You and your Mom came by yesterday afternoon. You are growing so fast. I miss seeing you for a few days and it just makes the biggest difference. I got in the jeep with you and you just looked at me and smiled.. you make my day.. Melissa said she had been by my office, not knowing I was taking the afternoon off. We had our luncheon yesterday and gave Toni (our boss) her Christmas gift and she gave all of us something. You know Gage, I enjoy my job.. there's times it gets to me, but over all in really enjoy it. We got a new project yesterday that we've got to get the data in by the first of January.. I think I may run by there today and get a head start on it. My part of it going to run for several hours so I want time to run it and run test on it. This is one of those jobs I can't talk about right now. I hate these kind of jobs. Nothing good comes from them.
To make my day worse I can't check my e-mail... I don't know if my modem has gone out or if there's some other problem... there's always something to worry me.. haha ... I took Mary's camera to work the other day and downloaded her pictures on my pc. Her camera makes good pictures. Here's one of the pictures of you... I'm not sure why your eyes crosses.. but I think it's cute.. I've got a picture of Maggie and Lucy I'm going to put out here for you to see also. I'm going to go get Lucy cut next week and you'll have a before and after picture of her.. she is pretty when her hair is cut.. Well Son I need to get a move on this morning. Got a lot I need to do today and time is moving pretty fast this morning. Just think this time next Saturday old Santa will be on his way back to the North Pole to rest. I just can't wait. It's so good to have family and children... that's what makes life worth living...
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

12/20/2004 (Monday) 6:14am
4 more days.. It's cold this morning Gage. It's in the high 20's or low 30's. I don't like cold weather.. haha Lucy loves it out there.. I don't see how she stays out there. You came down to eat with me yesterday and your Mom said you weren't feeling good. She said you were trying to get a cold. After we finished eating you and your Mom were about to go to Wal-Mart and she got a call from the hospital and had to go to work. Your Dad had left going to Biloxi to get a Christmas gift.. SO you got to stay with me.. We had the best time. We rocked and played then you got a little fussy so we went and played on the bed. You enjoyed sitting up there between the pillows.. You are sitting up now good, but I just wanted to make sure you didn't fall.. You just laughed and talked to me. I enjoyed it so much. I can't wait until Christmas. I think we're going to open our gifts Friday night so you can enjoy Santa Saturday morning without all the other goings on. I've got one other gift I want to get for Mary. Lauren was telling me about it yesterday and I think that will pretty much end my shopping. It's been a good time for me this season.
Love ya..
Paw Paw

12/21/2004 (Tues) 7:35am
3 DAYS... Good morning Son. It's a lot warmer today than it was yesterday. Well I think I've got all my Christmas shopping done. There's one more little thing I need to get ....I just don't know what to get oh.. I need to get Lauren on more little something.. I'll go look around today and see what I can find. Gage, I've had so much fun buying Christmas gifts this year son. Oh yeah.. I was able to find that gift for Mary yesterday.. and guess what I got the last one they had. Was that luck or what. haha... Not sure what I'm going to be doing today. I really need to run by work and check on a few things. I can't stay away from that place. For one thing I need to give Lucy a bath and see about getting her cut. She need a hair cut so bad.. Well son Paw Paw is going to run for now.. I'll be checking back with you later today...
Love ya,
Paw Paw

12/22/2004 (Wed) 6:09am
2 DAYS LEFT... Dear Gage, today marks a big day for this journal. It was one year ago today I started writing to you. Son last year you Mom was so sick and I was so worried about everything. Now here we are a year later and you're about to have your first Christmas. You will just never know how much joy you bring to me.. the way you smile at me and laugh at the silly things I do to make you laugh. I know for a fact that Santa is going to come see ya. I got to read the letter from him... Son you are the shining star in our lives now. It want be long and you and I will be going all over the place and doing all kind of things together. I don't want to rush it but I can't wait.
Love ya,
Paw Paw

12/24/2004 (Friday) 8:09am
CHRISTMAS EVE.. Dear Gage, here it is Christmas Eve. As I look back over the past year I think of all the good things that has happen to us. This time last year I was so worried about a little Grandbaby I was beginning to love, but had never seen. I was worried about my baby girl also. She was so sick this time last year. Now here I've got you here to play with and hold. I kept you yesterday and you and I just played and played. I'm not sure I gave you enough to eat oh... haha ... A lot of this is still new to me. haha

I've been on the computer this morning looking for Santa and sure enough he's started his flight. I'm making you a tracking page so you can see how he works (Santa Tracking Map). Hope you'll enjoy this. I'll keep you posted on how he's moving.

We're going over to Gee-Gee's this afternoon and the kids will open their gifts. I'll keep you updated.
Love ya,
Paw Paw

12/25/2004 (Sat) 5:45am
MERRY CHRISTMAS.. Your first Christmas. I can't wait to see what Santa left you. I know last night you got a lot of stuff over at Gee-Gees house. Gee-Gee found you motorcycle rocker. Gage it's the prettiest little thing.. I'll have to make a picture of it and put it out here for you. I think we all enjoyed list night. I hope everyone was happy with there gifts. I helped Mary get her computer up and running and she was so excited. Gage, son I'm happy and this means so much. Guess what I cooked yesterday.. I cooked a real Banana Pudding not something that comes from a box that you mix water with either. Jeff called while I was working on it and I told him Granny Roberts would be proud of me... it was just like the ones she used to make. I can still see the bowl she used to use when she made them. It's really something how something so simple plays such a big in your life. Gage all the things I got last night were great... but your Mom and Dad gave me framed picture of you, Maw Mow, and me from when we were up there before Christmas.. and beside it it reads. "Papa, I like to walk with Papa.. His steps are short like mine, He doesn't say 'now hurry up' He always takes his time. Most people have to hurry They do not stop and see, I'm glad that God made Papa 'unrushed' and young like me." Gage, son, hold me to this always.. I never want to get to busy or walk to fast for you. I want us to walk in step and always stay young. Well Son.. Paw Paw going to run for right now. Mary wants me to fix some potato salad, but we're not going to eat until late this afternoon so I've got time.. Merry Christmas Son. I love you so much.
Love ya,
Paw Paw

12/26/2004 (Sun) 5:50am
Gage, what a day we had yesterday. I went up to you house yesterday morning to see what all you got and boy did you get a lot. I haven't seen so much for one little boy in my life. haha.... Yesterday afternoon we met up our at Gee-Gees and had a late lunch. Your Dad cooked the chicken and it was goooood. It was a rainy and cold. It was one of the worse days we've had. It started to sleet as I was going over there and then after we ate and were playing with you guess what... it started to snow. BIG flakes, so you got to see snow on your first Christmas.. Here's a few pictures of the big snow fall. haha .. Melissa didn't want to get you out in it to much, but we've got a picture of you out there it just wasn't on my camera.. I'll find a copy and put it out here also. Well Paw Paw better get a move on this morning. I've got to go to Wal-Mart some time this morning and get a few things.. I hate the idea of having to go up there..
Love ya,
Paw Paw

01/02/2005 (Sun) 6:10am
Gage, Happy New Year... a day late... haha.. I wonder what big things this 2005 will bring us? 2004 was a good year for us.. we got you and I know of nothing better I would have liked to have. I haven't got to see you this past week... so I hope I'll get to see you today. Your Mom tells me that you are beginning to reach for people. You're almost 6 months old now.. my where does the time go?? On another note... today is Tracy's Matthews birthday... Tracy is a co-worker/ good friend. He's 45 today.. but the thing that makes this day stand out for me is the fact that today he's got to leave his family and go to Iraqi. He came by to see all of us Thursday. It was good to see him and to talk to him... We made some pictures of all of us... Pictures of Tracy and friends....

01/04/2005 (Tues) 6:30am
Gage... Good morning Son. Well today is the first day of school for Lauren and Mary. It was the last Christmas vacation of High School for Lauren. She thinks she wants to get out of school, but it' s not a lot of fun out there. I hope I can find her a car. She's been having to get up a around 5 each morning to take Gee-Gee to work so she can use she SUV. I keep telling her she can take me to work and use my truck...anyway. I've got so much to do at work today. I knew they would send me the Dr. Brunt file yesterday around 3:30pm. We're suppose to have a meeting with him tomorrow and I don't think there's any way I can create the database and the reports he is wanting in one day with all the other stuff I've got to do... but I'll do what I can.. haha..
I love my camera you'll gave me for Christmas... I got a good picture or Lauren and you . Well Paw Paw had better get a move on. It's going to be time to go get Mary in just a second. I've got to get a picture of Mary with her braces on her teeth for you... I'll try to do that maybe this morning if she is in a good mood... hahahaha
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

01/05/2005 (Wed) 6:45am
Good morning Gage... I'm running sooooo far behind this morning, but I just wanted to show you a picture of your Aunt Mary with her braces on. She looks so much like your Mom. The only thing is Mary has dark hair and a pretty little dimple.
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

01/10/2005 (Monday) 5:45pm
Hi Gage... You know one year ago we all went to the rodeo... Mary and Gee-Gee went Sat night to see it. I stayed with you Sat night while your Mom and Dad went to Ball. As always you were good. I enjoy keeping you so much. You know Gage I don't know why things will ever change. I don't know why I believe in "happy every after" . Today has been one of those days for me. I feel so bad and so down.. I hate this feeling, but there's very little I can do about it. I'll try to get myself together and write you a good long note tomorrow, tonight Paw Paw just can't do it.
Love ya,
Paw Paw

02/03/2005 (Thur) 5:47am
Hi Gage... Guess you think Paw Paw has forgotten about ya... well never think that. There's just been so many things going on this past month. I've been extra busy at the hospital here lately and when I come home I just can't get going...haha., but just to let you know I keep a picture of you and me on my here and each time I look at it I smile. Got to eat with you Mom yesterday and she was telling me that your teeth are driving you and her both crazy. The way se talks I don't think it's going to be long before you start to crawl. She told me that you don't like to sit still... I just smile and think to myself.. "Baby you just don't know anything just yet"... haha ... You are so special to us Gage...
Well Paw Paw better get a move on... I'm thinking about taking tomorrow off and cleaning the house. I hope we can go to the parade over here Sat and I don't want the house to be in a mess all weekend.. haha
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

02/12/2005 (Sat) 6:35am
Hi Gage... Well Paw-Paw has turned a year older.. I tell ya looking back, it's like the last 49 years of my life was like the blinking of an eye. Enjoy each day Gage, enjoy being young, going to school. I was told that you'll are going to have a party for me today.. haha ... The girls (Wanda, Toni G, Bonnie, and Claudia) at work got me a new tie, and Leigh, Christie, and Keely got me a funny Tee-Shirt and a cap... and Elaine gave me a couple of picture frames and and pictures we had made of you and one of Lauren and me she made for us last year. It's nice to have friends that care about you. Mary had her Valentines school dance last night.. Gage she was so pretty.. here's a picture I made with my digital camera... I think I'm going to have to get a better one.. the picture didn't turn out as good as I would have liked. Well Paw Paw is going to run for a little bit. I've got some things I need to do, but I'll try and do a better job of keeping up up to date on things. Oh yeah.. Lauren and Lane took Lucy and got her a haircut.. take a look at Lucy.. One more thing.. last Saturday we went to the Pascagoula Mardi Gras parade. Love ya Son...
Love ya,
Paw Paw

02/22/2005 (Tues) 5:40am
Hi Gage... Just a note to let you know Paw Paw is still alive... haha Just been so busy I just don't have time to do anything anymore. Yesterday at the shipyard where Gee Gee works 2 men were shot. You just never know what's going to happen to you son. I took Mary and Andy to see the Monster Trucks last Friday night. I wanted to get you a tee shirt but the ones they had were all big shirts. I'll just wait until you and I go and let you pick out the one you want... how's that. Well Lauren found a car.. I'm going to the credit union today and sign the papers. She is so excited... I don't think anything else is going on right now... Just busy at work that's for sure.. I think I need a break in the worse kind of way... Oh yea.. Elaine called me last week and wants me to help her shoot 2 weddings.. This is a good thing.. Maybe I can pick up a few dollars and still keep my shooting skills.. She's still afraid to do one on her own.. haha.. I don't mind.. it gives me something to do other than just watch TV all weekend... know what I mean.. Oh yea.. one last thing.. your Mom said she thinks you're about to get your first teeth in.. Gage, son you don't know yet, but someday you will understand what Paw Paw means when he tells you "You bring so much joy to me"... when I see you and talk to you you just smile and it just melts my heart. No matter had bad my day has been when you smile at me nothing else matters... You know what your Aunt Lauren tries to tell everyone... she tells everyone that every time we go to Wal-Mart I have to buy you something... Well I do but what she leaves out is that she always helping me look for you something... so she is just as guilty as me... hahahahha Well Son Paw Paw had better run this morning.. work calls...
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

03/04/2005 (Fri) 6:15am
Hi Gage... Just wanted to let you know that Paw Paw hasn't forgotten about you. I don't know where my time is going now days. Last Saturday was a long day for us. Mary and I were suppose to walk in the Heart Walk, but once we got there Mary got sick.. well hurting is a better word for it. Bless her heart I had to call Gee-Gee to come get us and she (Gee-Gee) took Mary right on to the E/R... She had a kidney stone. We had to go back Monday and they busted the stone up at Ocean Springs Hospital. You were with us the whole time and you were so good. You helped Paw Paw make it thru the day that day.

Yesterday the other man that worked at the shipyard where Gee-Gee works died. I saved the newspaper article if you should want to read it.

Things at you are doing... Well you've learned how to "clap" and I was eating lunch with your Mom yesterday and she told me that you are now beginning to "wave". Your 2 bottom teeth are coming in and it goes without saying you know how to rap all of us around your little finger.

03/13/2005 (Sunday) 9:28am
Hi Gage.. I've got Sunday lunch started and just wanted to update you on what's going on. Last Tuesday I stayed home and you and I hung out together. Wednesday you and your Mom were sick and she stayed home with you Wed and Thur. Guess were you were Friday... Gee-Gee kept ya.. You went with her to get her hair cut in Biloxi.. I bet you enjoyed that.. haha.. Mary is feeling better, but she's been feeling somewhat bad because of a bad cold. Last night Lauren had her last J E Ball.. As always she was so pretty.. so was my other girls, Mary and your Mom.. I made some pictures of last night (J. E. Ball). Well I'm cooking so I need to see what I've got on the stove... Paw Paw just wanted to let you know I haven't forgotten ya.. haha
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

03/26/2005 (Sat) 6:32am
Hi Gage.. what a pretty morning it's starting to be. I've just put some birdseed out and the red birds are coming to eat. The back yard is just full of songs form the birds this morning. I do enjoy sitting here at the computer with the door open so I can hear them. Yesterday I attended the funeral of Leigh's Dad (I work with Leigh at the hospital). Most of our co-works were there for her. Yesterday was Good Friday also. Maybe Paw-Paw is kinda crazy, but I think about the time of year when friends / love ones pass away.. Like with Leigh's Dad.. He died earlier this week.. I think how the Angels in Heaven were preparing for Easter. How they had may have felt yesterday as we were at the cemetery, thinking back some 2000 years ago as Jesus was nailed and died on a cross... but tomorrow.. oh tomorrow what a celebration.. Easter Sunday.. What a time to be in heaven.. The grave side service yesterday was done by the American Legion and when the bugler sounded the first note of Taps it touched me in a very special way.. I've heard Taps played may times, but yesterday I guess it hit home. After I got back home I had to write this Days End.

Came up to see you last night.. your Mom told me that you were still having an ear-ache. Your Dad was laughing and telling me how yesterday at the mall you were smiling at all the ladies. Gage, my son, you are so lucky to have family that loves you. Just yesterday I was telling your Mom and Dad that in Mobile a 4 month old was taken to the hospital with 24 broken bones. The Moms boyfriend had gotten upset and done this to the it. As I was holding you last night, my mind could not even think of how a person could do such a thing... but then again everyone not like your family.

We're all going to Easter services tomorrow morning. I was told you had a new outfit.. haha Well Paw-Paw better get things going around here... Son always know that you are loved and cared for.

03/28/2005 (Mon) 6:51am
Hi Gage.. Yesterday couldn't have been any better. I had all my children with me at church. You were so good.. You really enjoyed the music. Mary and I were at the church when you'll came up and your Dad told me when he got you out of the Jeep and you saw me standing in the door you just smiled and kicked. This made me feel on top of the world Son. Here's some Easter pictures we made.
Love ya,
Paw-Paw

04/02/2005 (Sat) 6:53am
Good morning Gage.. and what a pretty morning it is. It's kinda cool out this morning, but the sun is shinning so bright this morning. For the past few days it's been raining and so bad. Yesterday when we got up the road was flooded. I called your Mom to check on you'll and she told me that the water was almost in your house. It was a bad morning to say the least. Most of the people at work didn't come in. Melissa told me that they had canceled some surgeries because the nurses couldn't make it to work. Also yesterday it was reported that Pope John Paul II was about to die. The Priest was still alive this morning, but they say his time here is about over. I like what one of the Priest had to say "Jesus was about to open the doors of Heaven and welcome him home" .. this may not be the the exact words I heard last night, but I think it's close and it made me feel good. Other things in the news that troubles me this past week was the death of Terri Schiavo. This lady had been in a vegetable like life for 15 years. What hate me so much was the way the family fought over her and what her husband said she would have wanted. I pray that nothing like this case ever happens to our family. I forgot to tell ya, but gas is now $2.10 a gallon where I buy it and I heard on the news yesterday that it may get to $2.25 before summer. Well Paw Paw better get a move on. I've got a lot I need to do.
Love ya,
Paw Paw

04/09/2005 (Sat) 7:12am
Good morning Gage.. I hope this morning finds you smiling and laughing. I was just looking back over what I had written a year ago.. It's strange how slow time went last year while we were waiting for you to get here and now this year has just flown by. Well you're on the move now.. you're crawling.. Your Mom told me that you had almost pulled the CD stand over on yourself.. you've crawled off the bed when she turned around to get something.. haha.. I just laughed and told her that their life wound never be the same again.. You and Mom were coming to town yesterday and called me... you were just having the best time.. I could hear you just talking to Mom. Melissa said that you love music. Lauren and Mary have been coming up every afternoon and getting up and coming back to Gee-Gee's house and last weekend you held out your arms for me to get you and you let me hold you for a little while then you wanted to go back to Lauren. This just ticked Lauren so much.. It made me feel good also. We had a memorial service last Sunday at the old Biloxi Cemetery for Gen. Davis and today we're having another service. I hope it want be long and you'll want to go with Paw-Paw to these services. Well I guess I better get up and get a move on.. I've got to a lot I need to do today before 1pm. Oh yeah.. gas this weekend is $2.20 per gallon.

04/16/2005 (Sat) 6:54am
Good morning Gage.. It looks like it's going to be a pretty day / weekend. Paw Paw has been so busy this past week at work. I need to take some time off, but I just can't seem to be able to find the time to take. I've got so much going on up there. Nothing has really happened this past week. Next weekend we've got our Confederate Service at Beauvoir so that will give me something to do other than clean house.. haha I want to come up to your house this weekend to get your Mom to help me make a CD like she made for my birthday. It's the wedding that we shot a few weeks ago. I'm hoping I can sell a copy of the CD to the family to help pay for the software I bought. haha You know what Paw Paw worries to much. Way to much.. Lauren went out to eat with Lane and his family last night and she was dressed up so pretty. Gee-Gee and I do have some pretty children and grandchildren. Wanda and Bennie were carrying their Grandson some place in AL to see 'Thomas the Train' this weekend. I don't mean to rush things but I'll be glad when you get older enough to do things like that. I want to take you with me to Beauvoir and have you do things with me. I hope you'll want to do things like that with me. It doesn't matter what you do with me, just as long as I get to see you and spend time with you. I need to get up and get a move on. I've been sitting here writing and re-writing all morning. haha.. Well Son I hope to see ya in a little bit or sometime this weekend.
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

04/25/2005 (Mon) 5:27am
Good morning Gage... I've only got a few minutes this morning, but wanted to let you know you made your first trip to Beauvoir Sat. Mom was on call and couldn't come so you came over with Aunt Lauren and Aunt Mary. My Mom had come down and she was so excited to see you. I wanted to buy you a Confederate hat but they didn't have any in the gift shop. I'm going to get you one.. I'll find you one and then you can be just like me... haha Wallace had his Grandchildren there with him and they helped him place the wreath.. Maybe next year or for sure the next you can do the same with me. I've been working with some old pictures of your G-G-G-Great Grandparents... The picture has to be close to a hundred years old... I can sit here on the computer for hours working/playing on trying to restore the old pictures. There's still a lot I've got to lean but I think I'm getting better.. haha .. I came up to your house yesterday to see you.. You were in the back yard with your Mom and Dad.. Jonathan was bring an old tree and you and Mom were being the boss.. Melissa said that you loved being out side and yesterday was a good day to be out there...Well I better get a move on.. I hate having to go to work today.. I hate Mondays.. haha
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

05/06/2005 (Fri) 5:23am
Good morning Gage... I hope you are still fast asleep at this time of the morning. Paw-Paw can't sleep late.. I was just watching the slideshow your Mom made for me again and each time it makes me cry. You love your children so much and want them to grow up and be on their own, but you never think it's going to so fast. Melissa was telling me something that touched me.. she said that you were crawling around and she was sitting on the floor with you then you crawled up in her lap and wanted to go to sleep. It's like it was only a few days ago your Mom was sitting in my lab and holding my hand... Next weekend Jasper finishes school and I'll be going up there. Then the next weekend Lauren finishes. My little girls are leaving me one by one. Soon it will be just me here with the memories of birthdays and Christmas'. That's one thing no one can take away oh.. Well Son just wanted to let you know Paw-Paw hasn't forgotten about ya... Love ya Gage.
Love ya,
Paw-Paw

05/18/2005 (Wednesday) 12:19pm
Sorry I haven't written sooner 'Little Man'.. Paw Paw has just been busy with one thing or another. Went to Jaspers graduation last Friday (5/13). Mom (my Mom) was so proud of him. He is more like a son to her than a grandson in a lot of ways. I told Gene that he had done a great job of raising him and he had ever right to be proud for him. Lauren's graduation is this Friday night and Mary moves to the high school. My how time flies when you how children.. and as for you.. Son you are the light of our life... Gee-Gee, Mary, Lauren and me.. No matter what kind of day I have if I go by Gee-Gee's to see you my worries of the day mean nothing.. all you have to do is smile at me.. and now when you smile there's a lot of little white teeth showing.. haha ... Your Mom got a new job. She started Monday (5/16) and was so excited about being able to pick you up now. She is a great little Mom. I've been working on restoring old pictures. They aren't perfect, but at least with me working on them maybe there will be around for you to see some day. Monday night Mary had her awards night at school. She was hoping to get something for her hard work in English, but she didn't. It hurt her and me too. One girl got almost everything and Mary was saying something about it... I told her I bet Karen would give all the awards up if she could had her Dad back again.. He had passed away a few years ago... I just wanted Mary to know that things aren't always what they seem to be. In time you will understand what Paw-Paw is talking about. Well Paw-Paw is writing this from work and I better get back to what I was doing before I forget what I was doing.. haha Love ya Son....
Love ya,
Paw-Paw

05/22/2005 (Sunday) 6:30am
Good morning Gage... What a weekend it has been. Lauren graduated from Pascagoula High Friday night. I tell you Gage that Aunt Lauren of yours just kills me.. haha.. She had on high heel shoes and when they called her name she had on flip-flops.. haha .. That's just one of the things I love about her.. she is her on person.. Then Mary will be staring PHS in August. Lauren said she is going to take her for her band try out Monday. I don't know how well you enjoyed it Friday night but you were good. I'm so lucky Gage to have what I've got... I've got things that no money can buy and it makes me feel good. Yesterday Elaine and I shot a wedding... the people didn't have a wedding planner and to say the least it was kinda missed matched... haha... I enjoyed it and I hope the pictures turn out. We have another wedding on June 11. This isn't bad... and I look for thing to pick up. Maybe our name will get around and we can start to make some money... haha.. well Paw-Paw is going to run for now. Oh Yeah.. you know tomorrow you're going to be 10 months old... you're going to be a year old before we know it... ;-)
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

06/08/2005 (Wed) 7:30pm
My dear Gage... I know Paw-Paw hasn't written in awhile, but don't think I don't think about you every day. You are growing like a little weed or maybe I should say a BIG weed. Your Mom had your haircut Sat for the first time. You are crawling everywhere now. I want be long and you'll be up and walking. Mary has been keeping you and your Mom said you mind Mary better than you do her... haha Mary made it in the Pascagoula High Band. She is so excited and her band camp starts in July and goes for 8am to 8pm each day. Things you are doing now.. you shake your head 'NO'" now.. it's so funny to watch you. This past weekend we had our State SCV Reunion. We, the Sam Davis Camp 596, was the host camp this year. I was elected for another term as 5th Brigade Commander. This will be the second time I've held the post. I do enjoy being with everyone over there. Well Paw-Paw had a hard day today and my eyes are getting tired. After looking at a screen for 10 hours you kinda get tired of it... haha.. Paw-Paw Loves Ya..
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

06/29/2005 (Wed) 5:18am
Gage.. hi there son. I hope all is well with you as you are reading this. Paw-Paw has just been so busy here the past few weeks. There' s a lot going on... well to start with you are standing on your on now. You squat and stand without any problem. I'm looking for you to be running around the house before long... within a week or so. Monday you started going to daycare. It almost killed your Mom. She has worried about you so much. I tried to reassure her that all would be fine, but I kinda know what she feels. She called me last night to tell me about what you had done yesterday... Boy you've got it made.. everywhere you got you are surrounded by girls... you are the only boy in the daycare class... hahaha.. but anyway.. Melissa told me that they had put you down to play and the lady had turned around to see about another little girl.... well you went over and was playing with the hair of a little girl in a walker.. she told your Mom you weren't pulling it just hold it. Melissa told me that you just love to feel of her hair while she is holding you. She said you would just rub it and feel of it... Oh Gage you are something... I only wish all children had the love you have. I'm so glad I can be a part of your life. Well Paw-Paw had better run for now...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

07/23/2005 (Sat) 5:45am
Happy Birthday Son... One year ago you elected me to a very special club... the Paw-Paw club... Gage over this past year I've seen you grow from a small little thing that could do nothing to a big boy that can now walk and feel yourself. I've watched your Mom and Dad grow with you also from somewhat scared young couple into a very secure parents. Your Aunts well now... In their eyes the sun rises and sets in you. Mary took to you from the first day. She is like a second Mom to you. It's a good feeling watching you grow and learn for with you goes my hopes and dreams of the future....I'm just so glad that you live here close to us so we can share special times with you. There's going to be a BIG birthday party today at Gee-Gee's house... I'm going to make pictures and will tell you all about it. I've been working on making photo stories (putting pictures in CD's set to music) and I did one for my Dad, I titled it "Letters From Home" and used that song for the music. Dad was in the Korean war and I had gotten a lot of pictures from Mom. Well I tired to get it in the mail several times but never got it sent off... That's a good thing because on July 13 Dad had his 75th birthday and guess what he got in the mail. He got the cd on his birthday. Mom called me that night and told me that he sat and watched it 3 times in a row. Mom told me that I couldn't have given him anything he would have enjoyed better. Mom said that Aunt Pat and Traci came down last week and Traci wants me to fix one for her. Her Dad (Uncle Leroy) passed away several years ago... I've been thinking about how to put it together... I've got to music and the title page fixed. I can't wait to get the pictures and get started. Gage these things I'm doing is something I do from the heart. I hope you will grow to understand this that it will be carried on thru you. I've done 2 wedding cd's, and they turned out good, but the cd I did for Dad and will do for Traci are different. There's a good bit of planning that has to go into creating this, but it's something that anyone can do.. the key is to create it with love... and it's easy to do for these people are and were special to me... I know I'm running on here, but I guess if I had to sum it up in one sentence it would be something like this... It's the things we do in the name of love that makes things special. This was a very simple gift but it was one I created with love and it showed thru. In all things you do for your Mom and Dad Gage... do it with love not because you feel you have to... For someday when you have children you too will look back and see just how your Mom and Dad feels about you now. Someday I hope you too will write a journal for a very special little person... I love you so much Son.
Well Son I'm going to run for just now. I promise to write you and tell you all about your Birthday Party.
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

07/24/2005 (Sun) 5:51am
Gage what a birthday party you had yesterday. I have never seen so many presents for one little boy... haha I think Mary and Lauren thought they needed to buy everything Wal-Mart had. Lauren and Mary had done all the running for your Mom this past week getting everything for the party and they did a great job. Your Mom wanted you to have an Elmo theme and let me tell you... you had an Elmo theme... haha Your Mom's best friend, Kiley and her little girl Belle, came to the party. Your Mom and Kiley has been friends since the first grade and now here they both have families of their own. Belle was kinda shy at first but then she got down and played with your toys and you son... you never stopped... You didn't know what to play with first... Melissa got you your own little cake too. I've got pictures of you playing / eating it. To say the least Gage you had a great time. It does my heart good to see all the attention you get. I hope some day you will understand the letter I put in your card. Guess who's coming down next weekend??? My Mom and Aunt Pat.... I can't wait until they see you. I don't think Aunt Pat has seen you since you've grown so much. I'm looking forward to having them come down. Well I better go for now.. need to clean the house up a little... Hope I get to feeling better so I will feel like cooking lunch today... I've had sinus problems all week and it just makes me feel so bad... nothing really wrong with me... as my Mom used to say.. I'm to mean to be sick... haha... Oh yea I've got to go to Wal-Mart and get my pictures I make with my film camera.. Son I just can't get over how you are growing and how fast time goes, but you know what... I'm so looking forward doing so many things with you like my Granddads did with me... You are lucky Gage, you have Gee-Gee, Aunt Mary, Aunt Lauren, and me right here. With your Mom and Aunts they never got to spend the kind of time I did with my Grandparents because of where they lived... with me I could walk to see my Granny Lee (that would be your Great-Great Granny Lee) you know it's funny when I say it like that... I joined the Sons of Confederate Veterans using my Great Great Granddads service record and to me that seems like he was so old, but here I talk about your Great-Great Granny Lee and it puts it in an altogether light. haha ... Well Son I'm going to close for now... Love ya soooooo much..
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

07/26/2005 (Tues) 5:29am
Gage...there's days I think I've had a bad day at work, but I don't think I could ever have one just as bad as what I saw yesterday. They are redoing the lake behind the house here, digging it out. Well when I got home yesterday I like to look out there and see what they are doing.. well yesterday when I looked out there all I saw was the top of and the arm or the track-hole. Gage the young man that was running the machine had finished for the day and say he was coming out of the lake for the day and then...... he must have hit the hole the city dug out years ago for the fire dept to test their pumping truck... the track-hole sank out of site in the mud. We'll went out there and talked to him and then his boss came up with another bigger track-hole and they worked I know until mid-night last night. I just let Lucy out and walked out to the back fence and both tractors are still there... on still stuck in the mud... not sure about the one the boss was on... can't see just yet... but I'll get a picture this morning... they dug the bank all up yesterday trying to work a way down to dig the mud from around the it. I felt so bad for the guy. Here's a picture of what I saw yesterday afternoon.
Guess what ..... Lauren got a job yesterday... she will be working in the same doctors office your Mom started off in many years ago... she is so happy.... and Mary made it thru her first day of band camp. She told me she had a good time and really enjoyed it. WLOX-13 was down they she was TV for just a second... but Daddy saw her... haha
Well Paw-Paw is going to run for this morning... just remember when you think you've had a bad day.... remember this guy.... haha
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

07/29/2005 (Fri) 5:33am
Good morning Son... just wanted to let you know your Great-Granny is coming down today. My Mom and Aunt Pat are come down to spend the weekend. I'm so excited about it. I took yesterday off and cleaned the house and it's a good thing I took off. I worked all day and still got more to do this morning... haha .... I came to yesterday... I'm going to take your Mom's room here (now Mary's room) and turn it into my picture gallery. I hung some pictures up in there yesterday and it made me feel so good. Gage, I'm beginning to think photography is what I'm supposed to do. I think it was Tues Matt had some people in the office from our of town. One of the guys was looking at my Civil War pictures and asked if I was a re-enactor... I told him that no I was just the photographer. He then told me that he through that that the prints were ones I had bought... He was very impressed with my pictures. This just made my day. As for a wedding pictures... I'm really enjoying it. I don't feel so insecure now... and the pictures we're turning out are great. Each wedding things get a little easier.. When I do retire I feel like I've got something to look forward to now. There for a time I was real upset with my camera... but it was only the cord that goes to the flash that was messed up.. $21 later and it's working like new.. haha... I still want a digital camera at some point. Well Son the things I need to get done around here not going to get done by themselves... hahahahha Love ya Son...
Love Ya Son,
Paw-Paw

09/13/2005 (Tues) 7:00am
Good morning Son... What a time we've been thru. August 30, 2005 our lives as we know it stopped... Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast with with winds of around 150 miles an hour and a title wave of around 23 - 25 feet. All of the city of Waveland is gone we are being told. All the homes here on the Pascagoula Beach front are gone. Here in Jackson Co 10 people lost their lives due to their homes being flooded. Gee-Gee and Mary got about 3 feet of water in their home. For the time they are living with you... and let me tell you... you love Gee-Gee and Mary so much. You, your Mom, Mary and Gee-Gee went down and stayed with your Great-Great-Granny Carrin. I know she had to enjoy seeing all of you. You'll stayed for a week and I was so happy when you'll came home and I got to hold you again. I was locked down at the hospital and for almost a week we didn't have running water up there and things were bad. People were trying to come in the hospital to get cool and try to find something to eat and we had to post M.P's at the E/R to keep people out. Everywhere you look people have piled what used to be their homes out by the road to be picked up and carried away. Gage we got water where people never believed water would ever go. The title wave came all the way up and even over Highway 90 in some places. This is about 4-5 miles from the beach front. Beauvoir took a bit hit from the storm. The old home was badly damaged, the old hospital / gift shop is gone. The first floor of the Presidential Library was washed away and so was the Dir's home. Here we are 15 days later and President Bush has made 3 trips to the MS Gulf Coast.... people are making do and there's a since of 'we will re-build' in the air. There's still a lot of shock in people, but each day it gets a little better. Got to run... Love ya..
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

11/13/2005 (Sunday) 6:00am
Good morning Gage... I do hope this morning finds you feeling better. As you can see I'm still alive... haha I don't know what's been my problem, but I just haven't been able to write. Since I last wrote to you Gee-Gee, and your Mom both have had birthdays and tomorrow will be your Dad's. gee-Gee and Aunt Mary got a trailer from FEMA. For Halloween your Mom dressed you up as as a frog... you were so cute... You know Lauren lost her car in the storm well yesterday I think she and Lane found one in Mobile. Yesterday was such a pretty day I went to Lucedale to the 33rd Gingham Tree arts and crafts festival. I got a painting and I got you a little Hot Wheels chair. There were so many people up there I had a hard time looking at everything. Guess what I found when I got home yesterday... my Confederate Rose had a bloom on it. The first one it's ever had. I'm going to take that as a sign that things are getting better. I've got to get a letter off to Santa soon. What would you like for me to tell him for you??? Don't worry Son Paw-Paw will make sure Santa knows how special you are. I promise.
On another note... I want you to know what's going on within the Sons of Confederate Veterans... At some point and time you may what to celebrate your heritage and I think it's important to know this. The officers at IHQ has allowed people to join the SCV that should not have been allowed to. Now we feel that what we have worked so hard to protect is about to be undone. So the members of the Mississippi Division has gone back to the United Sons of Confederate Veterans Inc which owns Beauvoir. Now the members that feel they can no longer belong to the SCV because of what's being allowed to happen can now join the USCV and be a member of Beauvoir. Before the storm hit the Sam Davis Camp members were in the process of pulling out and forming our own new camp and then the strom hit. We've just now gotten were we can have meeting again at Ronnie's home. The meeting we had last Thur night only had 11 members there but of the 11 members 8 chose to pay dues to the new camp. Richard and Ronnie will call a meeting for the formation of the new camp in December. At this time we will try to come up with a name and we'll start having our own meetings. There's going to be a lot of hard feeling all the way around... like me it makes me so mad to know all the hours I spent working for the money we have in the bank to know the ones that's done nothing will have it when we form our new camp. I guess it will all work out. I sure hope so. Well after we have our meeting I'll drop you a note and let you know how it went. I do hope you will want to go with me to these and be a part of it with me.

11/24/2005 (Thur) 7:10am Thanksgiving Day
Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving Gage... Paw-Paw has been up since about 5am this morning cooking. My regular radio station was messing up so I switched stations and the one now has started playing Christmas music... Where has this year gone son? Anyway... Paw Paw is cooking cornbread dressing and I'm going to make a banana pudding and bring up to your house today. I want to take you down to Moss Point after lunch and make some pictures of you. They have a little thing set up downtown.... I tell ya Gage I'm enjoying my new computer and cable modem. I've been working on pictures and uploading them to Wal-Mart and to Walgreen's to print from home. All I have to do is go pick them up... hahaha... I've got Mary's bedroom wall completely covered now with my prints. I want my Mom to come down and see what I've done. Working on my pictures has made me feel so good Gage. I guess it helps me to be able to see what I've done and it gives me a feeling that "Hey I do pretty good work"... if no one else but me thinks it it's still ok with me. It makes me feel good and that's all that counts deep down. I made a picture last week at the wedding we shot that I've always wanted to do and Gage it turned out soooooo good. Just between you and me now... sometimes I go in the room and just look at the pictures.... Paw-Paw is sooooo crazy. I called my Mom last night and they are planning to come down Sat to spend the day. I can't wait.... Well Son I guess I better get a move on. Still got things to do before I get ready to come up to see ya......
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

11/27/2005 (Sunday) 8:35am
Good morning Son...Paw Paw just wanted to say Hi to ya this morning. Yesterday your Great Grandma and Great Grandpa came down to see ya. You just put on a show for them. I'm so glad they came down. I think it did my Dad a lot of good to come down. My Mom and Aunt Pat want to come back down for the weekend soon. I do hope they will. Traci send me a big pack of pictures to go thru for the photo story she wants me to do for her Dad (Uncle LeRoy). I've been up since 4am this morning working on it.. I can't sleep so I like to get up and do things and now that I've got the new computer it's so much fun to get up and play with my pictures now. Got a funny for ya... the pictures I sent to Walgreen's to be processed.... well when I went to pick them up they didn't want to let me have them... there was a note on the package... "Professional Photo can not duplicate"... how about that... I was able to talk the girl into letting me have it... which it was my picture to begin with... I have no reason to want something someone else has done... haha... but it made me feel good to think my picture was that good. I'm also working on a photo story of things that will be of interest of a lot of people I hope... I'm naming the video "My South In Pictures". I'm waiting for the music for the video to come in... I had order a cd from Wal-Mart... I'm going to just Lee Greenwood singing "DIXIE" what else... haha ... I think the song and pictures go hand and hand. I'm using a lot of pictures I've made over the years at Beauvoir at Fall Muster. The battle shots and things like that and also pictures of other things from around here on the coast and also things from up around my old home town. I'm having so much fun doing this now. If nothing else I can always give them as gifts.... Well Son Paw-Paw is going to run for now. I've got to run to the hospital and print some address labels. It's always something... ;-)
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

12/03/2005 (Sat) 6:35am
Well I guess Christmas is really almost here. The radio station is playing 'Christmas in Dixie'. Don't ask me why, but for some reason that song makes it feel like Christmas for me. I was wanting to go up to Gene's today and make some pictures, but I guess I want go. The weather doesn't look so good for making pictures. I just placed an order for a couple of pictures for your Mom and Gee-Gee. Just a little extra Christmas gift... I don't have a clue what Santa is going to bring you this year. The old fellow better be good to you or Paw-Paw is going to be mad with him. haha... I've still got to get Lauren a car tag... I've got it figured to be about $700. This is going to put a hurting on me... haha I've been thinking about taking the photography course at USA, but I don't know. I get all excited about something and thing I just lose interest. There is some things I would like to learn, but a lot of what I would have to take I know, but I'm sure I could pick something up. Paw-Paw just needs to get up and do something doesn't he.... It would do me good to just get out of the house and have something to look forward to. I've still got a little time to make up my mind. I've been working on the video for Traci and I think I've got it ready all I have to do is add the music when it comes in... I hate to order stuff and have to wait for it to be mailed. I got the sweetest Thank You card from Toni yesterday. I hope she enjoys her retirement. I don't know if I should retire next year or not... guess I'll just have to wait and see what this coming year brings. Well Son guess Paw-Paw is going to run for this morning. Just wanted to say HI more than anything...
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

12/19/2005 (Mon) 5:35am
Good morning Gage. Well it's Christmas week and I'm off today. I think I've got all my Christmas gifts, but I'm sure there's something I've missed. I've got you taken care of. haha I'm taking today off from work... I've been taking a good bit of time off and I've been enjoying it too. I called Gene yesterday and we were talking he told me I should retire and move back up there and open my own photo business. I wish I could.... I'm not sure there would be enough business to keep my going... haha and also I can't leave from down here. My family is here... Oh one day I may move back up that way, but deep down I don't see it happening. There's so many things I want to do... my problem is I'm not sure how to make it happen... I would love to create a cd of my pictures.. pictures that shows the South... old buildings... old barns, things like this. You know it all has to start with a dream.... so at least I'm dreaming. The wedding business down here has picked up. We've got one this coming Friday night. I do enjoy shooting the wedding, it's the business side of the job I don't like. People want something for nothing and they complain about everything... I can't help if the people in the pic look BIG.. heck they were BIG.. hahaha ... what can I say.... I'm just playing here, but it's really things like this that make me question if I want to go into business. Deep down I feel I have what it takes... I've just got to learn how to put it out there.. Well Gage thanks for listening to me this morning...
I went with you and your Mom to Mobile Saturday... it was crazy over there... there was so many people.... and the weather wasn't that good either. It was trying to rain and it was cold too, but I enjoyed being with you and Melissa. You'll make me feel good... and you... when you smile at me well it's the greatest feeling in the world. Well Son I'm going to go for now. Just wanted to say Hi...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

12/24/2005 (Sat) 3:10pm
Guess what Gage.... I just checked and Santa is making his rounds. The NORAD tracking station has in in Cairo, Egypt now. He'll be here before we know it... You know your Mom and Dad have a lot of fun years ahead of them.... I look back and think how excited your Mom would be on Christmas morning... she would come running in the bedroom and tell Gee-Gee and me that Santa had come and would be so excited. I miss that now, but I've got you now to tell me all about what you got from Santa. I had my time now it's time to pass it on as they say. We're coming up to your house tonight and are going to open gifts. I've got 3 little things for the girls that on one knows about and it's about to kill me. I started to tell your Dad about it, but I think it will be best this way. You know also last night I help make wedding pictures and one of the little boys in the wedding had a problem... his Mom talked about how his big brother (which was small also) was so protective of him... and it came home to me how bless I was to have health children and grandchildren. It's not about what you get or what you give.... it's about your heart... you can give gifts all day and make people happy, but if your heart isn't warm and caring you haven't done anything. Chip made me feel so good last week. They lost everything in storm and his wife's Aunt fixed her a picture album of pictures she had. Chip knew I had been redoing pictures and asked me if I could try to touch one up for him so he could frame it and give it to her. I worked on it off and on all one day... but when Chip saw it he was blown away... That just made Christmas for me... I went on and fixed 2 more for him... it's just the little things that mean the most son. This didn't cost me anything yet it meant everything... So when you grow up just remember that it's not the cost of the gift, but the it's the warm heart that gives the gift... that's what makes it truly special. Your little waves and hugs are such gifts to me. Son you are so special to me. Well Paw-Paw is going to run for now.. I'll see ya in just a little bit.
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

01/04/2006 (Wed) 7:30pm
Gage, just wanted to say HI... I turned in my notice that I could no longer be the 5th Brigade / Division Webmaster yesterday. Gage for 9 1/2 years I've been going to meetings and being a part of the SCV. This was a very hard thing for me to do, but I feel it is the right thing to do. We're starting the United Sons of Confederate Veterans. There's a big split in the camp and within the Division. All the weekends we spent together on the streets of Biloxi and Gulfport... it's all gone or in the process of being gone. It leaves a hole in heart when you have to turn and walk away from something you've enjoyed for so long. I just hope the new camp works out. I guess only time will tell who's right in all this.
On another note... guess what Paw-Paw is going to go back to school. I'm going to take some photography classes at USA starting on the 22 of this month. I think it will do me good just to get out of the house and have something to look forward to each week.
Oh yeah.. you, your Dad and me spent to day together Monday... we had the best time. You make me feel so good son. Well Paw-Paw is going to run for now. I'll write ya later...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

01/20/2006 (Fri) 3:30pm
Hey Little Buddy... guess what... you and I spent the afternoon together... We went to Lowe's and you had to 'drive' the lawn mowers... haha.. I had such a good time. You're growing up so fast... When your Mom left I was expecting you to start crying, but you just smiled, waved and said 'BYE'... it made me feel so good to know you felt good with me... Guess you're old Paw-Paw is just silly... but in time this will be something you'll come to love and look back on and smile about like I do when I think about my Paw Roberts. I'm going to do my very best to be the best Paw-Paw there is... and I don't mean by buying you things all the time... I want to spend time with you... do things with you... and this goes for all the grandkids I hope to have... It's so much fun watching you... when Gee-Gee and I had your Mom we were to busy just trying to keep food on the table.... but we did spend time with your Mom.... I come across pictures of her (us) at the park and it's so funny to think my little is a Mom now... This afternoon your Mom really make me feel so good... she was telling me about reading what I had written to you... Said she called your Dad in and was telling him he had to read it.... haha .... I just want to leave you a written record of things and how I feel.... Me doing this has been the best thing I've ever done... who knows someday you may be able to take this and turn it into a book and make a million dollars off it... I wish you could... I've been paid so many times over already... like when your Mom told me she had read this and how it made her feel... that means to me that I'm doing my job right and that when someone reads this they know my words are from my heart and not just letters on a blank page... know what I mean ... (someday Son you will understand)... well Son Paw-Paw better run.. got a few things I need to do... Oh yeah.. I don't know if I've told you or not but Paw-Paw will be starting classes this coming Monday night... do you think they can teach an old dog new tricks??? hahahahhaha... we'll find out want we...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

01/23/2006 (Mon) 5:30pm
Hey Little Buddy... Just wanted to say Good morning...Paw Paw was busy this weekend. I pulled old wallpaper down here in the kitchen and painted. I was some kind of tired last night when I went to bed.. haha.. Paw-Paw not used to that much work.. but it looks so good in here now much lighter. Well your Mom starts at the hospital today... she said yesterday that she was so excited... and I start my photo class tonight. To tell ya the truth Gage I'm a little nervous... haha.. I'm going to leave work early and go over so I'll be sure to find the class... I'll write ya tomorrow and let ya know how it goes tonight.. my biggest thing is getting lost trying to find the school.. I know Paw-Paw is silly... oh well I better run and get in the shower... Mary will be wanting to take a shower soon so I try to get in and ready for work before she gets up... Love ya son...
Love ya....
Paw-Paw

01/28/2006 (Sat) 6:55am
Good morning Gage.... It was 20 years this morning that the space shuttle Challenger blew up just after take off. Your Mom was watching the lunch live at the school that morning...your Mom was in the 1st grade....it was a big thing because the first school teacher, Christa McAuliffe was going into space. I was at work at the hospital. I had just gotten into programming then... some ladies from the Business Office had come down to the computer room and was telling us about it. It was so hard to believe then and now it's hard for me to believe 20 years has passed.

01/29/2006 (Sun) 6:45am
Good morning Little Buddy... Paw-Paw up and going early again this morning... Here it is the last of January and it's 61 degrees outside.. We really need some real cold weather to cool the Gulf down... I think that's my problem... I worry to much about things I can't change. I've been listening to the CD your you'll gave me for Christmas, "REBA #1's".. I like Reba's songs well most of them.. haha.. she's got one song "IS THERE LIFE OUT THERE" she talks about loving her family and has no regrets, but she's always living for tomorrow and has never lived for today. I think that's me... I'm always worrying about what will happen tomorrow... I guess there's a fine line we have to keep between the today's and tomorrows... I want to do photography, but I'm afraid to step out and make the investment... I'm afraid that tomorrow something will happen and I I'll need that money. It's little things like that that trouble me. Anyway... I forgot to tell you that last Saturday Sundra called me. Sundra was the little sister I never had and one of my closest friends many years ago. She was one of our bride maids in our wedding... I had found a lot of old pictures I had made of all of us from our past and made a photo story cd and sent it to her. She made me feel so good... she told me that she had watched it over and over.. she said she even sent some of the pictures to Angel, Peggy, and Mary.. Sundra wanted to know how I could remember all the things we were talking about (where the picture was made and what we were doing).. I laughed and told her that that was no problem.. the problem was remembering what I did last week... hahaha .... then she told me that she was glad I always had my camera with me and was always making pictures... these old are treasures to us... a look back at a time when time was measured by "when is school out?" Sundra is planning on coming down to see her Mom in April.. I plan on going over to the Biloxi airport and meeting her and going to dinner. It's so good seeing old friends like that and sitting and talking... talking about our kids and for me my Grandkids now.. haha.. we well I guess I better run for this morning.. I may try to fix lunch today... looks like it wants to rain... so I better get to Wal-Mart and get what I need.. Love ya son.. ;-)
Love ya,
Paw-paw

02/02/2006 (Thur) 4:40am
Good morning Gage... and it's a wet and stormily morning. Just wanted to let you know I did it.. after weeks of worrying and looking at websites for the best camera / price I purchased one last night. I'm so excited... I got a Canon EOS 20D, 8.2 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera with Canon EF-S 17-85mm...If I'm going to go into the picture business I got to go all the way I guess. I'm hoping it will be in by Tues of next week... I may see if Elaine will let me take hers to class Monday night.... Walter (the teacher) is going to have people there to show us how to just the camera's we have... and the one I got is just like hers... and she doesn't know how to use hers either.... haha .... I'm not going to know what to do with something like this... Well Paw-Paw better run .... couldn't sleep any last night... hahahah
Love ya son,
Paw-Paw

02/03/2006 (Fri) 5:30am
Good morning Gage... IT'S FRIDAY.... Gage 28 years ago tonight if things had been just a little different you would have never been. It was a Friday night that night... I was working as a Computer Operator then... getting off work at around 10pm. We only had one car back then and Gee-Gee would take me to work and come pick me up.... we had just gotten a new red Vega station wagon about 3 months before. Well Gee-Gee had come up to pick me up and she had brought our little baby at the time, Shanna, (a little black pee-a-poo dog)... and we were leaving the hospital crossing the road to to get onto HY90 and this guy ran the stop sign. Guess it was a good thing he hid on my side. I can remember it as if it happened last night... the car spun around and around... the police never found or even looked for the person that hit us I think. You know that would have required them to do something other than set up radar and give tickets... Well Paw-Paw better run... got a million things to do today..... I may go up to my Mom tomorrow and see them... Love ya Little Buddy...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

02/09/2006 (Thur) 5:10am
Good morning Gage... Well here Paw-Paw sits on the eve of his 50th birthday. My 40's were full of changes... I taught your Mom how to drive, watched her graduate from High School, swelled with pride as as got her Nursing Pin, gave her to your Dad in marriage, cried that day... just the fact that my little girl was grown, then I starting writing this journal...writing notes a person I didn't know at the time but put all my hopes and dreams in. Waited outside the door that day and cried tears of joy when I heard my new friend cry for the first time..... and for the past 1 1/2 years you have changed my outlook on life. Like the other day when you and Mom came by my office and you called out "Paw-Paw" and came running to me. Son it's little things like that, that will see me thru my 50's and beyond. As I look back it's strange to see how fast time goes... On another note... I got a new camera ... I got a Cannon EOS 20D... digital.. now I want to stay home and play with it.... hahaha ... You children are the best gift a person could ever have... Oh sure there's ups and downs as your Mom and Dad will find out, but the love in there out weights all the downs that could ever come... Well Gage I guess Paw-Paw will sign off for today.. the next entry I make here I'll have made one more trip around the Sun... hahaha... Love ya Gage..
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

02/10/2006 (Fri) 6:30pm
Gage.. well it's a fact now... Paw-Paw has entered the old age stage.... haha... Came up to see you this afternoon bur you were just so tired I didn't stay long. Maggie, Lucy, and myself are just hanging out here at the house tonight. Guess I need to stop letting myself think about to many things tonight don't I. 50 years ago tonight I came into this world.... looking back I can't see where the time has gone... the girls at work gave me 2 shirts with ties ... and Chip gave me Wal-Mart card for $25... I took it and got a card reader for my camera card... I printed out your journal yesterday at work and it was 60 something pages long. That's really something... Who knows someday you may print this out and turn it into a book.. I just hope someday you'll read it... and know how much you mean to me today... now... Well I'm going to go watch TV.... I'll write more later.... just need to go for now... Love ya Son,
Love ya,
Paw-Paw

02/25/2006 (Sat) 5:30pm
Gage.. just read on Yahoo News were Don Knotts, from the old 'Andy Griffith Show" died yesterday at the age of 81. I still like watching the old shows. I went to the Dollar Store today and got you a coloring book... it's one of big trucks... You are talking very good now and you for sure know me when you see me... you cry out Paw-Paw and hold your arms out for me to get ya.... makes my day.
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

03/04/2006 (Sat) 5:50am
Gage.. just wanting to check in this morning... yesterday was warm and now this morning it's 38 outside. We'll all been sick with a cold or something... I feel so bad this morning... Lauren went and got you from daycare yesterday and took you by the mall and then you and her came by the hospital. I came up and we feed the ducks... I think you enjoyed it the best you could... I don't think you were feeling real good... I signed up for 2 more classes... this time I'll be taking something new and exciting... studio lighting.... I've always wanted a set of lights but was never just sure how to use them. I'm hoping to finish the course up this year. Things at work aren't so good and if worse comes to worse I'll have my 30 years in July and then anytime after Oct I can retire. I'm not sure I want to retire, but I I'm not going to put up with the stress... I want to be around for a lot longer so you and I can do things together. Well Paw-Paw is going to run .... going to try and find Rx to try and make me feel better. I've got things to do and being sick isn't one of them... hahaha
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

03/05/2006 (Sun) 6:15am
Good morning Son... dang it's cold again this morning... it's 38 out there now... I came up to Gee-Gee's yesterday to check on Mary... you and Mom came out and you just played and we had the best time. I think Gee-Gee has spoiled you... haha... Gee-Gee had a good idea for me .... that was to make you a picture book... pictures of Mom, Dad, Gee-Gee, Mary, Lauren, and even one of me in there... and of course all the pets we have... I'm going to try and get it stared today... Well this morning I'm feeling somewhat better... I didn't take anything last night and I think that helped... haha... Well Paw-Paw going to get going this morning... if I keep feeling good I may try to cook lunch today..... Lauren as been helping Lane with the house he's going to buy... I'm sure she would really like something good to eat... also Paw-Paw has to get started on your book... Oh yeah... when I got ready to leave yesterday I asked you if you would give me a hug.. you ran to me and gave me a big hug and you just patted me on the back... Gage... son you are so lucky to have the family you have... people that love you so much... I know it means a lot to me.... Well I'm gone for now... Love ya...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

03/07/2006 (Tues) 5:50am
Gage... oh Gage.. Son you were the hit of my photo class last night. My teacher, Walter, just went on about how good the picture was. I really needed this little boost. Maybe I really do have something... all I know is that I'm enjoying making pictures again. In a way I really would like to leave the hospital come the first of the year and maybe have a small little business. I think I would have to work part-time still for awhile, but even at that that may not be so bad. Chip's wife told me that the hospital in Mobile where she's going will be needing all the STAR people they can find and I think I do a pretty good job of writing reports and the change may be good for me. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. I just had to tell you about last night oh... Gage it just made my day... and the ladies sitting next to me got a kick out of me putting Paw-Paw on the print... haha... Love ya... Paw-Paw got to get around and get to work...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

03/16/2006 (Thru) 4:50pm
Gage... just wanted to drop you a note to say HI... We went up to my Mom and Dad's Saturday. They just couldn't believe how big you had gotten. It's been awhile since they saw you... You, Mary, and me walked up to the old pond... you just loved it.. you picked up rocks and threw them in the woods... you got to see the cows... Your Mom had taken "Baby" away from you last Thru and it's made a big difference in you... you're much happier it seems... well I'm going to run for just now... I'm looking for you and your Mom to come down in a little bit...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

03/31/2006 (Fri) 6:20am
Gage.. Good Friday morning son... Been a bad week for the people of Jackson County / Pascagoula. Monday morning a young motorcycle cop was killed. He had been thrown off his motorcycle and a truck ran over him. I was just now talking to your Mom and she told me that they had gone to school together and were lab partners at JC. I've been kinda down all week.... I think it has to do with the fact that my career at the hospital is slowly coming to an end. I see the younger people moving around within the dept. I guess I should be happy that I'm at this place in my life.... maybe my photography will turn into something... I hope so Gage. I will at least like to have the chance to see. Well I'm going to run for now... Love ya Son...
Love ya,
Paw-Paw

04/09/2006 (Sunday) 5:20am
Gage.. Good morning son... What a day we had yesterday... I came up to your house and you, your Mom, Dad, and me went to the park up from your house. They were having an "Old Days" ... they had old cars and tractors and things like that.. you loved the old tractors... we walked and looked for hours... then we went to the mall in Mobile...You were in need of some new shoes... your feet are growing.... we had the best time.. we played and looked at things.. it was so much fun.. I know one thing when I did get home last night I was tired... but it was all worth it when you kept saying "my Paw-Paw"... There's a picture of me in at your Mom/Dads wedding and they told me you spotted it and every time you pass the picture you point to it and say 'my Paw-Paw'... haha... Son you just make my day... I told your Mom if there was some way to bottle up the way you make me feel it could cure all problems... It's the greatest feeling in the world. Well Gage Paw-Paw is going to get moving this morning... I need to run to Wal-Mart early this morning and get a few things... May go to Biloxi with you this afternoon.. ;-) Love ya Son...
Love ya,
Paw-Paw

04/13/2006 (Thur) 6:45am
Good morning Gage.... It's so pretty outside this morning.. nice and cool... and the best part of it is that I'm off from work... I took a few days off to be with Mary during her Spring Break. Yesterday we went to Mobile... for the longest time I've been wanting to make some pictures for the Angels in Magnolia Cemetery, but never made it over there. Well yesterday Mary and I made the trip... I think Mary was afraid it was going to be one of those "OH NO" kind of day... but once we got there and I got to showing her what I was trying to capture she got into it... she liked looking in the mausoleums at the pretty glass works... so she had a good time I think.... on the way home I was telling her how I was going to make a slideshow from the pictures we had made and asked her to help me find the right music for it... Mary came up with just the right song / music.... we just need to go back over there and get pictures of the Angels we missed... there was a few that somehow we didn't see... but the place was so big and at the time I was afraid Mary wasn't enjoying it so I was kinda going fast... but now that she knows what it's all about we can enjoy our time together better.... I try to expose her to different things.. like this trip.. never in a million years would she have thought going to a cemetery would have been fun... but she went with me and she enjoyed it... Like I was telling Melissa this morning... there is beauty in everything... it's up to us to find it... and I hope Mary understands that just a little bit more this morning... I can't wait until you are ready to go with me on trips like this... but at the same time I don't want to rush time... I'm enjoying you being a little boy... you will grow up fast enough... and in time you and I will make many happy and fund memories together just like the one Mary and I made yesterday... I'll always remember yesterday... Oh I may not be able to remember everything we said but in my heart I'll always remember the feeling... Well Paw-Paw better get a move on this morning... ;-)
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

05/07/2006 (Mon) 5:10am
Good morning Little Buddy... I know Paw-Paw has fallen down on the job writing here.... Gage, I'm having so much fun going to class. It gives me something to look forward to and to be around other people that likes to make pictures also. Yesterday we were making pictures of one of the ladies little girls that's in the class. She was so cute but the shoot didn't last to long... she got over it real fast. hahahah..... You and your Mom call me a lot of mornings and leave me a message on my voice mail.... I just love it... I save the messages... Melissa told me that every time you pick up your phone you only talk to Paw-Paw... Yesterday I was sitting here working on some pictures and the phone rang and when I answered it I heard "Hey PAW-PAW".... Your Mom told me that you had gotten so upset Sat looking for me... so after she told me that it was off to the shower and to your house... Your Dad told me that they didn't here me drive up but you did.. Said you for to calling out PAW-PAW ....PAW-PAW.... Your Dad brought you out and I could hear your little feet just running down the carport.... from then on you had me by my finger leading me around and playing.... Gage it's a great feeling son that you give me... I want you to know that and never ever forget it... Oh yeah.. Thur I went to meet Mary and Gee-Gee...we were in the store and you and I were looking at the toys... I picked up this monkey with these long arms to show you the arms so were so long they fell down on you or something well anyway it scared you... then you got to laughing... and I mean it was one of those deep funny laughs... we had the most fun.. And yesterday went I was coming back from class I called your Mom and she told me to come by and see the new plum trees you'll were planting... well when I drove up you jumped down and ran to me.. and away we went again... hahaha... It's great being Paw-Paw... Your Mom asked me if it was better being a Grandparent than being a Parent... It's not Gage.. it's just different.. now being Paw-Paw I understand things much better... I'm not there always and when we do see each other it's special... and Gage you are sooooo special to all of us... Well Paw-Paw better get moving.. it's Monday.. and I really don't want to go to work... hahaha..
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

06/06/2006 (Tues) 5:22am
Good morning Little Buddy... Look at the date... 06-06-06... hahaha.... Paw-Paw has been making all kind of wedding pictures this last month. I've even made a little money. By no means does it cover what I've bought oh..... I went ahead and got some studio lights... Gage they are great.. I've only got Mary to sit down for me once... but they were so good... all the others have been this little toy dog I use to make test shots with... haha... Mary went to class with me last Wed night and got to be the model... and after she started she really enjoyed it... it made me feel so good her going with me... she is going to go with me tomorrow night.. it's our last class and we're going to be showing our pics.... as for you... you now pull me around by my finger now... and you love being outside... i have a hard time finding something you'll eat oh.. Sunday I got all kind of things I was hoping you would like to eat for lunch... you didn't eat anything... haha..
Getting back to my classes... (I'm enjoying them so much Gage) the last of June I'll be starting my Wedding class and a Walking Tour of Mobile... I'm hoping to be finished by Christmas with all my classes... but I plan to keep taking classes from now on... classes on just anything... it gives me something to look forward to and plan for... well Gage ... guess I better get a move on.... got to go to work...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

07/02/2006 (Sun) 7:40am
Good morning Little Buddy.... where has the time gone Son? You're almost 2 years old and you are so much fun to be with. It's the little things that you do that makes the time I spend with you so special. Yesterday I went you, Mom and Dad to Biloxi. Your Mom wanted to get her hair done so we (the boys) went to the mall and looked around. You love tractors... all kinds... and every time you see a white truck you call it "Paw-Paws truck"... hahaha... You are so special and Lauren and Mary ... oh goodness... they think you are just IT.... I came you yesterday and you ran to the door and looked out and wanted to know where LA-LA was... hahaha and the way you say Mary just kills us... and you also have a special way to of saying "light"... it comes out real country.. hahaha... nothing wrong with that is there Son... My classes are going well... I'm really enjoying my Wedding class... Kim French is the teacher and she is so full of life and funny... at our next class we're going to she studio and make 'formal wedding' pictures. I can't wait.... I want to see how she lights the bride. I wish I had the nerve to step up and start my own business. I really enjoy do the studio pictures now that I've got my lights and everything... I keep buying things.. a little here and a little there... I've got some books on weddings and portraits and along with the classes I'm beginning to understand... now if I can just put it into action... haha
Well Son I guess Paw-Paw better run... I need to go to Wal-Mart and get some things for lunch... ;-) ... what would you like to have to eat today???
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

07/14/2006 (Fri) 5:50am
Gage... What a week son. On the 12th I had my 30th anv at the hospital. I just don't know where the time went so fast... Yesterday was Dad's birthday. I called to wish him a good one and when Mom answered the phone I knew something was wrong. She told me that when she got up she had found Dad's little dog had died. Dad was just so upset. "Poo" was his baby... he loved that little dog so much. Last night I went over to see Sundra.. she had come in Wed night spend a few days with her Mom, but before she goes up there we always try to see each other. She told me that you were so cute... I told her I knew it... haha.. we had the best time talking last night....and they really liked my pictures I've been doing... this made me feel soooooo good. Also I showed them the video I did of all of us from back in the 70's... they loved it... Well Son Paw-Paw is going to run for now.. I've got some things I need to get done.. Just wanted to tell you how much you mean to me... Oh yeah... you and your Mom just called me and you were telling me about some cows and tractors you were seeing on the way to school... You make my day Son... Love you so much.
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

07/23/2006 (Sun) 5:50am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Gage... Boy 2 years ago today it was a long day for us... You had your birthday party yesterday and the gifts you got. You are just growing up so fast. My Mom is coming down today... she may be on her way now... She's not going to believe how much you've grown. It's like you grow each week...
Last week this time I was on my way up to Whitesand Church. Sundra had come home and she and Peggy had called all our old friends. We had a kinda reunion and did we ever have fun. I enjoyed seeing all the old friends I haven't seen in many years... They are planning now for next years.... Well Son I really need to get a move on this morning.. I'm going to cook lunch and carry it up to your house... I think Mom will enjoy being up there more ... you being in your own home... Well I promise to write you later Son....
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

07/30/2006 (Sunday) 7:30am
Gage... I hope this morning finds you doing well and happy. You and Mom came by for a little while yesterday. When you'll left I followed you home. When I got there you were asleep and you slept the whole time I was there. I had come up to help your Dad put your new swing set together. We didn't get to work on it... We sat down and that was it.. hahaha.... Wish you were here so you could watch the birds out back this morning. I enjoy feeding them and watching them each morning. I was off all last week helping with Band Camp. I enjoyed it so much and Mary liked having me there with her. Friday night you'll came down to watch Mary perform and afterwards we were playing chasing you... each time I would stop you would say "Come on Paw-Paw "... it was a great time for me Son. I sure hate the idea of going back to work tomorrow. Last Thur I did a pre-wedding shoot. Ashley had her hair done as a test and wanted pictures in her wedding dress. Gage I was so worried doing it... then I carried the pictures back over to her Mom Friday her Mom called and told me how much she liked them. She told me that Ashley had said that she enjoyed the shoot and that I had made her feel at ease.... This was just what I needed to hear. I really wish I could turn this into a full time job and I hope in a year or so I'll be able to do just that. Well I better run.. need to go to Wal-Mart. Also it was 29 years ago was a very special day for me. Well life goes on doesn't it Son. Love ya...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

09/17/2006 (Sunday) 9:00am
Gage... Hi son.. I do hope this morning finds you having fun down in Fla. You'll left Friday afternoon going down to spend the weekend. I talked to your Mom yesterday and she told me you had been so excited. She told me you didn't go to sleep until around 2 am Sat morning.... and that you had played so much down at the beach and back in the pool that when she gave you a bath you just feel asleep... this was around 3 yesterday afternoon when I talked to her... I can't wait until I can see the pictures Melissa made... you'll were going somewhere last night where you could ride a train I think Melissa told me... I'm so glad you are having fun... Sorry I haven't written much... I just don't know what has happened. Well I just haven't felt like writing I'm sorry to say. Maybe I can start back. I've been trying hard to keep busy on the weekends... for the past 2 weekends I've been going down to the beach and making sunrise pictures. It gives me something to do and to look forward to. Last Sunday I got some good pictures of you at the new Beach Park. Now it was hard to do as you didn't want Paw-Paw to make your picture.... hahaha... but Paw-Paw is patient and I knew sooner or later I would get what I wanted when you weren't watching me... hahaha.. Also I made some pictures of Mary at the ball game Friday night... I really want to get a longer / faster lens for my camera. Gage I do enjoy making pictures but it's really not much fun going out looking for things to shoot alone. Well Son I guess I better get a move on and see what I can do today... Maybe your Mom will call me later this afternoon and tell me about your trip...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

10/13/2006 (Friday) 6:00am
Oh no.. it's Friday the 13th... Just wanted to say hi. I've been making pictures and last weekend Mary and I went down to Ft. Gaines and did a shoot. We had so much fun. The pictures turned out good. I wish someone else had gone with us to help hold the reflector... but I guess I've got to learn to work with what I've got right... Went down on the Pascagoula Beach and did some beach shots and made a slideshow for Aunt Pat. My Mom wants a copy once she heard I had made it... I tell ya Gage it turned out pretty good. I'm going to keep adding to it until I get about 50 pictures and then I may try to market it. I don't know... I like to dream about it. Lauren called me yesterday telling me that some girl she works with is getting married and was looking for someone to make the pictures. I may take a shot at the job. I've got were I get worried about shoots now.. I think I do pretty good work... I just need more confidence in myself. Oh yeah I'm back in class again... I'm in the first darkroom class I've got to take and I found out that there's a camera club over here... I'm going to go to a meeting this Monday night. Oh another note... one that makes me feel bad is this is the weekend of Fall Muster... This will be the first time I've missed it in 9 years. I guess it's like they say "all things must come to an end'... Well I'm going to run for now.
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

10/20/2006 (Friday) 5:40am
Good morning Gage... What a week it's been for me. Son you're not going to believe this but I've had to work this past week...hahaha It's sure made the week go by fast oh. Well our little fair came into town Monday and started up and like always it's rained just about everyday. Your Mom and I took you out there Wed to look around and you had the best time. They had this little monkey you give money to and he would tip his hat and shake your hand.... you weren't to sure about him, but you gave him some money. All through the fair you kept tell me about him taking his hat off.... It was so funny. We went through the barn and looked at the pigs and cows.... the little pigs would come up to the fence and stick their nose through... I tried to get you to scratch their head...you wanted to but just wouldn't do it. Paw-Paw goes out to Tx next week for class. Really don't want to go... I want to make so B/W pictures of you so I can print them in my darkroom class. Maybe I can shoot a roll over the next 2 weekends to have some new pictures to print in class. Well it's Friday and I'm off... guess I'll clean house today and just kill time... i'm not sure what the weather is going to do today.. I hope the rain will move on off for awhile. Well Paw-Paw is going to run for now.
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

10/22/2006 (Sunday) 5:20am
Good morning... Just wanted to tell you all about yesterday... You had a busy day son... Lauren came up and got you yesterday morning and I met you'll at the fair. Well when we got there the rides were open so we walked back to see the cows and things... You enjoyed looking at them so much and I even got you to touch a pigs ear... It's felt funny to you with their course hair.. Lauren tried to get you to rub a cows head, but you had to make sure Paw-Paw would it first... after I did then you would. Lauren rode about 5 or six rides with you. I gave your Mom a copy of the pictures.... I don't know who had more fun you or Lauren... I think it was a tie... hahaha... While at the fair Angie called and told me that she and Reed were going to be Grandparents... she was so excited. Jennifer and your Mom were born a week apart and this will be their first. Having grandkids is kinda like a glimpse of heaven.. the way you hold my hand and the little things you say to me... things like 'come on Paw-Paw' and then you take my hand... what's a Paw-Paw to do... Well I'm going to run for now.. I need to run some test on my camera... I seem to be having a problem with it giving me good sharp pictures.... well I feel like it's not.... so I'm going to do so test shots here in just a bit to see if I can say for sure if I have a problem or not.... See ya in a bit.. Little Buddy... Love ya...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

10/31/2006 (Tues) 5:00am
Good morning Gage... it's HALLOWEEN... I couldn't help but to think back 28 years ago today. Oh me... to say the least I was much younger... Your Mom was 2 days away from being my little girl... Gee-Gee and I lived in a one bedroom apt with our little dog Shanna. Gee-Gee was so uncomfortable, but she loved Halloween. Some how we got a little money together and got some candy for the kids that night. I dressed up with a mask we got when we went to Disney... Gage I really didn't have to dress up... I wish you could have seen my hair back then... yes Paw-Paw had hair at one time... I lost it after after my girls became teenagers... haha ... It's seems so funny now looking back.... What gets me oh Gage is now looking back how fast the last 28 years have gone by. I guess when your young and just making it time seems to go by so slow... and now with your Mom and Aunts I've got time to think and look back over the past years and ponder... I'm coming up to see ya tonight ... Well Son just drinking my coffee this morning I got to thinking about this and wanted to share it with you. Kinda crazy I know... but such is your Paw-Paw....
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

11/05/2006 (Sun) 6:00am
Good morning Gage... Boy did you have a surprise for me yesterday morning when I came up there. You had on a new tee-shirt that read something like "I'm Going To Be A Big Brother".... I think it's great. I'll worry now for the next 9 months like I did with you, and then I'll hold your new little baby and you and I together will spoil them. Lauren and Mary are so excited. It will be good for you to have someone to play with and to grow up with and get into trouble with.... hahaha... Well Paw-Paw needs to run this morning. I'll keep you and the "little one" posted on what's going on... ;-)
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

11/12/2006 (Sun) 5:30am
Good morning Gage... I went to a meeting yesterday on the formation of a new org. The new group will be much like the old SCV I was a member of but in a lot of ways I think it will be much better. I enjoyed seeing all my old friends I haven't seen in almost 2 years now. I'm looking forward to this new group carrying on what we lost and the possibly of having you going with me to meeting before long. By the time you get older enough to go with me we should have everything up and running. I'm so looking forward to being apart of this again. Going to give you all a call later and see if you want to come down and eat with me today... i want to make some pictures of your Mom...
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

12/02/2006 (Sat) 6:00am
Good cold morning Gage... I tell ya son it goes from being in the 70 to 36 outside. That's what the temp is right now a cool 36. You and I have been running a bad race on which one of us can be sick the most. I think you're feeling a lot better. I picked you up Thur from daycare and we came home and you played and played... and you even let me make some pictures. I got several good pictures I'm going to give to your Mom, but Wal-Mart photo lab is down. I've got one I think I'm going to have a big print made of. Wish you could see this... I'm trying to type and Lucy is in my lap sleeping like a baby. Well Son Paw-Paw going to run for now. Just wanted to say Hi and tell you how much I've enjoyed making pictures of you. My friends at work just loved them... Hope to see you today... if I get to feeling better... Your Mom is on call all weekend. ;-(
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

12/17/2006 (Sun) 6:45am
Good morning Gage... We went up to my Mom and Dad's yesterday and had Christmas with them. As always you stole the show... Mom and Dad couldn't get over how big you have gotten. Across the road there's cows and I bet you made me walk across the road a dozen times. You enjoyed looking at the cows and the little donkey that's with the cows. We walked over to where Dad had is garden and the wind was blowing just a little bit and you said "the wind is making my hair move" you just kill me with the things up come up with...and then we go to talking about what Santa was going to bring ya...you told me he was going to bring you a bike and that I could ride it with you. You also told me the "puppy" could ride it and play with your toys... The "puppy" you were talking about here is your soon to be new little brother or sister... Your Mom told me that when she showed you the Ultrasound of the baby you said it looked like a puppy... Now your Mom told me that she wasn't sure what you were going to do when she comes home with a baby and not a puppy... hahaha.... Your Uncle Gene thinks you are something else also.. (Gene is my only brother) We went yesterday afternoon to get you some Rx... yes you're getting a cold again.. and the first thing Gene did was to go to the toy aisle....He had to buy you something....We had a good time and it made Mom and Dad's day for us to come up. I just hate you and your Mom are getting sick....Well I better run for now...I've got a baby photo shoot this morning... Christie wants me to make some Christmas pictures of Riley (her little girl)... Well "little buddy" Paw-Paw is going to run for now.. Love ya..
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

12/19/2006 (Tues) 6:20pm
Gage... Today I got the call that I knew was going to come... Your fourth cousin Marilyn passed away. was 11 years or so older than me, making her around 61 - 62. You never knew her and she had only seem you a few times. I just remember little things that she did that was special to me. I remember she gave me an old record player when I was very young. I remember going to New Hebron one Sunday afternoon with Dad and Paw Roberts and buying a single record (what we called a 45, because you had to play the record at 45 rpm)... The record was Ode to Billie Joe song by Bobbie Gentry (a Mississippi girl) in 1967.
It's funny how you remember little things like that. I also remember the time she and Dixie came took me Trick-or-Treating. No matter what she was always upbeat. Tonight she walks streets of gold with her Dad, Uncle Gus... Tonight she leaves Bill, her husband, her son Blate and a Mom (Aunt Merle) to morn. Mom is to call me tomorrow and let me know about the service. It's a trip I hate to take, but one I know I must.

Also tonight I had a visitor...Lane came over without Lauren. It scared me to say the least. He told me he needed to talk to me... He promised he it was nothing bad.. haha.. He asked me if he could marry Lauren. I've got to hand it to him... it took a lot for him to come over here. He showed me the ring.. and it's a big rock.... We talked a long time and I told him that my girls mean a lot to me and that Lauren and I had been thru a lot together. I gave him my blessing. I just want all my children to be happy. He told me they were going to go out to eat and go to Bellingrath Gardens where he's going to ask her. Oh gush.. I just thought of something... we could have a wedding and your baby sister/brother the same year.. Oh Gage, Paw Paw don't know if he can do all of this.... hahaha
Well son Paw Paw going to run for now. I'll let you know had things go... ;-)
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

12/20/2006 (Wed) 7:40am
Gage... *****UPDATE***** Lane couldn't wait... he gave the ring to Lauren last night... She called me so excited... I'm so happy for her. All I want is to see you'll happy. She told me she didn't sleep any last night. Your Mom called me this morning and was telling me what you said last night... she was giving you a bath and told you that she needed to wash your hair... and you told her that you had washed it at Gee-Gee's that morning... you are so funny and the things you come up with... Well I need to get around and run to work for just a bit...
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

12/22/2006 (Fri) 6:25am
Gage... I got home yesterday afternoon around 5 from Mom and Dad's. The funeral, as always, was sad. Marilyn's boss talked about the 3 years she knew her. It was such a warm heart felt talk. To make things worse it rained. Gage it was if gate to Heaven had opened and all the Angels were weeping. If this were true they were tears of joy for a homecoming / reunion. I know of no sweeter person than Marylyn. There wasn't a grave service because of the bad weather, but the church had fixed lunch for the family and friends. After we had eaten and as I left the church the weather had begun to break, to me Gage it was if the Angels had welcomed her home and that Marilyn was home and at peace. To me Gage I think it was better it was done this way. Well Paw Paw is going to run for now.. Son I love you so much... never for this...
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

12/24/2006 (Sun) 6:30am
Gage... I just checked to see where Santa was and NORAD said he was in Australia. Hope he doesn't decide to stay down there. You know it's summer down there this time of year, nice and warm... haha.. I'll keep track Santa today and keep you posted as to where he is as the day goes by.

09:45AM--- Just checked and it looks like Santa is in India right now. He's still a long way from us still, so you better be good still. I just talked to your Mom and she said you were running around making a mess... You better be careful.... ;-)

01:05PM--- Just checked and Santa is in Finland now.. getting loser... You and your Mom are over here rapping some gifts... It's raining and getting cold... I tried to get a few pictures of you and did get one or two..

12/25/2006 (Mon) 6:00am
MERRY CHRISTMAS .... Well I just checked and some how Old Santa has made all his rounds and is back on his way home. I read on the Santa tracking web site that NORAD picked up a cell phone call from Santa and Mrs. Santa. With all the jingle bells on the reindeer they say it was kinda hard to hear, but the best they could tell is that he was about 3 hours away, this was at 5am our time so now he's about home. Santa was telling her how much fun he had and how good the children had been. They said he called one little boy by name, said he (Santa) said that one little boy had been extra good. Santa said he lived down in South Mississippi and his name was Gage Tolbert. Santa was heard laughing and saying that next year he would have to get a larger gift bag, because next year he was told that Gage was going to have a little sister or brother. Mrs. Santa asked Santa what he wanted for breakfast and they heard him laughing and tell her that he was stuffed from cookies and milk and all he wanted to do was get the reindeer in the barn and then take a nap. Well now that I know Santa is ok I've got to get started cooking...Paw Paw will be up to your house in just a bit to play you and the things Santa brought you. Love ya...
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

12/30/2006 (Sat) 6:25am
Gage... Well here we are at the end of another year. I've been off for 2 weeks now and it's going to be so hard going back to work Tues. I cooked for your Mom yesterday afternoon. She came by and we ate together. I enjoyed it so much. I think she got called back to work before she even got home. I took Mary home last night after 8pm and she still wasn't home. Looks like it's going to be a bad day today. They are talking about heavy rain coming in. Oh well I didn't have anything planned anyway. Well son I'll write you more later. Love ya..
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

12/31/2006 (Sun) 6:15am
Gage... What less than 18 hours are left in this year. Looking back over the year it's been a good one. Last January I stated taking photography classes, your Mom started taking classes to get her BS in Nursing, Gee-Gee has almost finished her classes for I/S Database. Things have been pretty good. I'm leaving 2006 with a much brighter outlook than the past few years. I'm sure 2007 is going to be a very good year for all of us. We've got your new Sister or Brother coming, Lauren will start to plan her wedding. Oh no, Mary will start to drive... hahaha As it stands now I've got 5 weddings lined up already. Not all of them will pay anything, but Gage I love shooting them. I love the excitement the little unexpected moments that I capture. I may try to get my business started this year, I don't know. Shooting like I do I get to do the fun part and leave the hard work to someone else.
Gage, I was talking to Gee-Gee yesterday and she was telling me something that really made my hair stand up on the back of my neck.... she was telling me about the "man with the boots". Gee-Gee said that you're the only one that sees him and that you've asked your Mom "who is that" and Melissa ask who you are talking about and you tell her it's the man with boots on. I'm not sure what to think. Apart of me wants to believe there's no such a thing, but on the other hand, things like this worries me. Well Paw-Paw is going to get the day started. Not sure what's going to be going on. Well for mw nothing, no party for me tonight.
Love ya....
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

02/04/2007 (Sun) 6:45am
Gage... Good cold Sunday morning Son. Where did January get off to? I just don't know. Not much going on it's just been cold and rainy everything I don't like... haha You went with your Mom, Mary, and Lauren yesterday to Mobile you'll came by here. Melissa said Lauren looked at wedding dresses yesterday and tried some on. I just don't know Gage all of you are growing up on me. It makes me feel good and sad at the same time. I really don't like this time of year because of the weather being cold and messy out it kinda makes me get in the dumps. I can't get out and shot any pictures.. I'm just stuck here at the house and Maggie and Lucy don't have much to say.. hahaha.... I ordered a new Canon 70-300mm lens for my camera and I'm looking for it to be here this Tues. I hope the weather is pretty next weekend so I can go out and play. Also next weekend will be my 51st birthday. I think this has been playing a good bit on me also. Gage the idea of getting old and worries me. I don't like the idea that well over half my life has gone by and that my years are getting shorter. I tend to worry about things I have no control over. I guess I need to make the best of today and try not to worry about tomorrow right... I'm in the last term to get my Photography Certificate. It's not anything big but to me it's something big. Well Son I'm going to go for now... I'll let you know next week how it feels to be 51.. hahaha
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

02/12/2007 (Mon) 5:06pm
Gage... Good evening Son. I've been meaning to write ya, but it's like I just can't sit down to do it. You went to your first Monster Truck show Friday night. Your Mom and Dad said you had a ball. I would have liked to have seen your face when they came out. Your Mom said you sat in her lap and never moved the whole time. She said the baby kicked and turned the whole time. I remember when we took Mary to the rodeo before you were born.. you did the same thing.. You know Sat was a big day for Paw Paw... I turned 51 and you picked out the cake and plates for the party. You got me a motorcycle cake and Thomas the Train plates. You have no idea how special that made my birthday. I'm so grateful for all I have, but there's still more I want...not more things or money nothing like that. Maybe it's just a dream... anyway you make me happy Son... the way you call my name when I come to see ya... I wanted to go shoot some pictures this past weekend, but I just couldn't get up to do it... Now days Mary has things to do all the time and I just don't want to go out by myself .... Well Paw Paw needs to run for now. Love ya Son....
Love ya,
Paw Paw

03/28/2007 (Wed) 6:10am
Gage... sorry it's been so long since I've written. March has been a busy month for me. Remember last year I started taking photography classes, well I finished this month and I got my Photography Certificate. It only means something to me, but to me it means a lot. Had 3 weddings this month also. Only made a little more than gas money on one and the other 2 were freebies... I've got to stop that.. my camera gear didn't come cheap.. hahaha... You Mom and Dad went up to the Great Lakes for a week the first of the month. The first couple of days were hard on me taking you to daycare, but we made it thru it. Hunter's Granddad passed away last week. What's so bad is he passed away alone and wasn't found for about 4 days. This worries me.. that something like this could happen to me. I wanted to go out and shoot pictures this past weekend, but everyone had something else to do... Yesterday Mary told me that Granny Carrin had fallen and broke her hip. Your Mom called me and told me that you'll were going down there this weekend. Lauren wanted to go and come Sat... i told her there was no way we could go and come in one day.. I just can't drive that long.. Think she got mad at me.. but I told her I would go with her and I would get us a room and we could come back early Sunday morning.... I don't know.. She can't see the danger of going alone... Well Gage Paw-Paw's got to go to work... love ya..
Love ya,
Paw Paw

04/15/2007 (Sun) 5:25am
Gage... Good morning Son. You're probably up by now also. Your Mom tells me you get up early and ready to go... I wish I could sleep a little longer on the weekends, but I can't so I just get up and work around the house. Last night/early this morning I woke up from a dream or something and had the worse feelings. Maybe it's just because as I get older I think about things, but never the less it really got me upset and I never really went back to sleep. It's things like this that makes for a long day. Anyway.. I'm here with you now and that's what counts. I picked you up last Thur and we drove down by the beach and rode around at the 'POINT'. We called it mud riding.. all we did was ride thru the pot holes, but it made you laugh. We did it twice... I bet the people down there were thinking we were crazy... hahaha It's little things like that that I enjoy doing with you. You always make me feel so good and you're growing up so fast and I'm so glad I'm a real part of your life. It want be long before you and I will be taking trips to any where you want to go... Oh yeah.. your Mom tells me that you go around all the time taking pictures now. You found her old camera and she fixed it for you... Nothing would make happier than if you were to become a famous photographer. I've been pretty busy doing weddings but the problem is I'm doing most of them for nothing... (no pay) I've been shooting pictures of wild flowers and it has really been fun... to capture the beauty of what we call weeds.... their flowers are really pretty. Well Son Paw Paw going to run for now...
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

04/27/2007 (Fri) 4:50am
Good morning Gage.. Paw Paw just wanted to say Hi... I've been busy but I'm not sure busy doing what. It's like my time just flies by. Last weekend our new org had a meeting to pick a name and elect officers. We voted to name the new Unit the LIVE OAK RIFLES and our newsletter will be the Rifleman. I was voted in as the new Adjutant. I enjoy keeping up the bookkeeping. Your Mom called me Wed morning and told me as you'll were coming over the big bridge there in Moss Point you looked out at the sunrise and told her you wanted to call your Paw Paw and tell me about the sunrise. That has made my whole week. i went to your "open house" last night at First Baptist to see your art work... I just stood there and looked around at all the little boys and girls and was thinking this is our future. These little hands that colored these pictures will one day be the hands that will hold the scalpels, CEO of the hospital, the police that writes tickets, the Mom that will bring her little one to your very room. Gage that day will be here much faster than you think son. Melissa tells me that you talk to the baby a lot. That's good... I hope you and the baby will be as close as your Mom and her sisters. Gee-Gee and I did something right with them... Melissa laughed and told me that when the baby gets to moving around and you're sitting with her you leave.. she said you can't understand why Mom's belly is moving around like that... Gage it's impossible to tell you just how much you mean to me and how much I love you son. Someday I hope you have children and then grandchildren... when that day comes you'll understand what Paw Paw is talking about. Until then just believe what Paw Paw is telling you. I'm going to go up to see my Mom and Dad this afternoon or in the morning. Your great Uncle Gene wants me to come up and I feel like I need to go see everyone. Well Son I'll go for now. Oh yeah.. a couple of weeks ago I helped Debbie (from Mobile) shoot a wedding. I got an e-mail yesterday from her and she said she really liked my style of photography and that she would be calling me if I wanted the work.. Just made me feel good. Well Son I'm gone for now... Love ya..
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

Monday May 28, 2007
Dear Gage and Sunshine.. My dear little ones there's things in this world we'll never understand I know and last month April 29, 2007 (Sunday) was one such day. My first cousin Jeff passed away. Jeff was more like a brother to Gene and myself. At 47 years old you just never think about things like this happening. Jeff and I grew up together, played Cowboys and Indians together so many times over at Grandpaw Roberts.. made roads under the old house and driven a 1,000,000 miles on our play roads. We laughed and cried together, but the laughter out weighed the tears for when you were with Jeff he had a way to may you forget your worries. He's had me laughing so hard I've cried... You know Jeff always had this special sense.. when ever I was feeling bad or just feeling a little low.. sure enough I would get a call... "HEY CUZ..." He was always wheeling and dealing too. He had wanted me to come up and see his little truck he had gotten.. it's one that you drive from the right side.. He would call me while going thru a drive-thru and he would just laugh so hard when he got to the window and he would be on the far side.. that was Jeff. Kids I have cried and laughed so much this past month. Each time when I think it's getting better I fall again. I never will forget our last phone call. He was telling me about some gas money he had gotten from some land his Dad had... He told me that when he first heard he was going to get a check he saw new trucks, bigger house... NO more Bills... then he said he got the check for 10 months back pay.. less than $2000.. he said boy did that dream end fast.. .and then he got to laughing and I about died laughing with him. This call came in on Monday afternoon and we talked for almost an hour. I kept telling him he needed to go ahead and get re-married.. I need the wedding business... Kids I miss those phone calls and knowing I'll never get one again has really played hard on me. What hurt me the most was his grandbaby... He'll never know his Paw Paw and Jeff loved him so much. When he would call he told how he would play with him... Kids I want you to know that I love you so much... I've tried to show you thru these journals what you mean to me. Gage you've gotten to know me, we've spent time together and played together... Son I hope we have many years of being together. Sunshine.. I'm looking forward to getting to know you and spending time with you. We just never know what the next second has for us kids... but one thing is for sure... there's a love within us that will never fade away... Even thro I may not write to you as much as I would like there's not a day I don't think about you and wonder what things you will see and what we will do together. Well Paw Paw needs to go... It's taken me this long to write this because I just couldn't bear to think about it to much... but it has really played on me.. it's like part of my feeling has been turned off.. I just don't want to feel anymore... I know this is way over your little heads for now, but Paw Paw just had to put it down on paper so they say in hopes it will help me feel better. I hope it works.. Love ya...
Love you Kids,
Paw Paw

06/26/2007 (Tues) 5:35am
Good morning Gage.. I got to eat lunch with your Mom yesterday. She was telling me about your trip to school yesterday. She said was you'll came around by the airport you said something like --- I see Jesus talking to a woman and he's riding a donkey... it's a little donkey.... Melissa said she saw nothing. You are all excited about your little brother or sister. Melissa said yesterday that you told her you wanted to hold it. Gage you are something son.... you always make me smile and feel good each time I'm around you. Aunt Lauren kept you Sat while Mom and Dad went to Mobile shopping. She loves having you and she enjoyes buying you little things. I'm so glad you've Lauren and Mary. Well Paw-Paw has got to go get ready to go to work.. Love ya Son....
Love,
Paw-Paw

07/03/2007 (Tues) 5:45pm
Gage... Just wanted to say Hi this afternoon. Things at work are in a mess. We've got a virus in the computer system I'm just staying out of the way. I've put my time in and I'm still working on the big projects, but at my desk. I'm helping Ron write the new payroll reports and it's hard to do when you don't know all the tables and what data is in those tables. It's going to be a hard task and we've only got until Oct to get them done. This is the kind of stuff I like. I'll have it... You know Son it's hard to believe it's been almost 31 years since I started working at Singing River. Where did the time go... You know it's something how ones mind can play events back from 31 years ago almost as it had just happened. 31 years ago I was 20 years old and I thought I had it all... Think I started at the hospital making $3.25 per hour. Big money... hahaha All this makes me think of Garth Brooks song "The Dance". Well Son I'm going to run for now... want be long and you'll have a little sister or brother. You know you're going to have to help Mom and Dad... but I also want you to know I'll always love you and the new baby want take your place.. it will only make things better for both of us. OK...
Love ya Son,
Paw Paw

07/07/2007 (Sat) 6:00pm
Hi Gage... We had your birthday party today at Ocean Springs Build A Bear... I think you had a good time. One little girl from your class came. She was a cute little thing... and when she and her Mom left she gave you a bit hug. The party was for up to 10 kids and I think only 8 was there so you made 2 extra bears for your new Brother or Sister. Gage, Son you are one lucky look boy and I'm so proud of you. Your Mom asked if I wanted to go watch the fireworks tonight... I really don't feel like it Gage. I just don't feel like doing anything... I wish Ron had told me more reports that needed to be done for the payroll system and I would have gone to work this afternoon and written code. What's wrong with that picture... wanting to go to work and not getting paid for it... pretty messed up wouldn't you say... hahaha .. Got a call about another wedding... and you guessed it.... another freebie.... oh well it will get me out of the house for an afternoon... and maybe it will get my name out there... I've also got a request to shot a Sr portrait session. I may get a little for that. I've got to start charging because I want to buy another camera body and lens and they aren't cheap. The little shop where your party was today... oh I would have liked to had it. If a wall could have been removed it would have made a great little studio.. I wish I had the nerve to do something like that. I don't know if my work is good enough oh. I really need to work on my weddings and start making wedding albums instead of just giving the Bride the pictures on a CD. Elaine told me that it cost about $500 to print the prints and make the album... if I can get $500 for the CD and not have to worry about the prints and the making the album... I'm ahead of the game... but a lot of brides wants the book and the works... so even a low end wedding would have to cost between $1000 and $1500 for me to make anything.

07/13/2007 (Fri) 6:36am
Hi Gage... Just wanted to say HI this morning. It's Friday the 13th... hahaha.. today is my Dad's birthday. I just talked to him and he was talking about how his hands hurt and how hard it was for him to get around now. No he was complaining.... It just makes me feel so bad to see him going down like this. I called Sunday and talked to him for along time and when we hung up he told me he loved me... I know we don't know what tomorrow has in store for us so I know I shouldn't look and worry about the future. I guess it's just our makeup, the human part of us.
Well Gage, I've got I've got 2 wedding, a birthday party, and a reception to shoot. If I where getting paid oh that would be a good thing... hahaha... Really Gage I'm enjoying what I'm doing now. I think I'm about to break out and start charging. I need the money to buy more camera stuff. I really think I can do it now.
You know Monday you're going to have a little brother or sister.. What are we going to do Gage... we're going to have so much fun... I'll come get you'll and we'll go to the park and play or go to McDonalds... we'll have so much fun... Well Paw-Paw is going to run.. I really want to get the house cleaned up today.. I'm taking today off.. Well see ya later Son..
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

07/16/2007 (Monday 4:26am
Hi Gage... Today your day will start off as normal, but sometime your life, our lives will change. You'll take on the job of being the Big Brother and I'll become Paw-Paw once again. I didn't sleep well last night for thinking about today. I know you're up to the job and will make a great brother. You know Attyson or Noah is going to be watching everything you do from this day on. She or He is going to want to do everything you do, go everywhere you go. Son it's a big job being the big brother. There's going to be times you're going to feel left out because of having a little brother or sister... but this is for from being true. You'll never be left out.. things will only get better for you. You'll have someone to get into trouble with 24/7 before long. Oh you'll fight and fuss and call each other names and drive your Mom and Dad crazy... hahaha but when it comes down to a show down you'll stand side by side to defend the other. It's a good thing to have a brother or sister. I think your Mom and Aunts are perfect examples. I'm so glad they are so close to each other and do so many things together. This is my wish for you today Gage .. that you and this new baby become best friends and stay close. Well Paw Paw going to drink his coffee while it's still hot. I got a feeling today is going to be one of those LONG days. Gage don't you ever forget or think your not Paw-Paw's little buddy... for you will always be that... Paw-Paw loves you so much. Love ya Son,
Love ya,
Paw-Paw

07/17/2007 (Tues 4:50am
Good Morning Big Brother... You told us all along that you were going to have a little brother and you indeed did. Noah Ryan Tolbert. Noah was born about 12:30 yesterday and he came into the world at 8 lb 02 oz. Gage he has a head full of black hair and your Mom said he has blue eyes. Paw Paw can't tell. He's a fine little fellow. I was up there yesterday afternoon when they brought him in and you saw him for the first time. You were so excited. You got up on the bed with your Mom and the 2 of you held him and you just loved on him and looked him over. I'm so happy and also so glad it's over. Now you will have someone to get into trouble with before long. You let me hold Noah for a little while, but only for a little while. That's ok. Paw Paw can sit back and wait.. Today I have my annv breakfast at work... There's one other person who has been at the hospital that started in July that has 32 years. I've got 31. Well Son Paw Paw is going to get a move on this morning. I took yesterday off so I've got a lot to do today.. Love ya.....
Love ya Son ,
Paw Paw

09/16/2007 (Sun 7:05am)
Gage... I guess you think Paw-Paw has just forgotten you. Well this isn't the case. You and I have been playing Monster Trucks, coloring, watching videos, and all kinds of things. Mom is always telling me how much you help her with Noah each morning. You know it want be long and Noah will be following you around everywhere you go. I want to take you over to see the airplanes in Pensacola. Maybe once it cools off some we can go over there one day and look at all the planes. I've told you you can get in them and play on them. I bet we would have a good time over there. Well Paw-Paw is going to go for now. I'll try to do better with my writing.
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

10/13/2007 (Sat6:15am)
Gage... Good Morning... Just wanted to drop you a note this morning to say HI... Paw-Paw has been busy weddings now for the past month. I've helped shoot 3 one after another. The weddings help me do little things like get you Hot Wheels when I go to Wal-Mart.. hahaha I ordered a new camera yesterday an Canon 40D and a 27-70mm f2.8L lens. I'm so excited. I went to Mobile yesterday to have some old negatives scanned and put on a disk. They were pictures of Treasure Bay that your Mom and I shot many years ago. I wanted a way I could have a print made at MPIX. Maybe someday you or Noah will like photography and I can work with you. Last weekend you and I took our first trip. We went to see the USS Alabama in Mobile. We had so much fun. We climbed up and down stairs and look at planes. It was a great day for me son. I'm looking forward to many more of these days/weekends.
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

12/25/2007 (Tues 5:56am) Christmas Morning (45 degrees and rainy looking)
Merry Christmas Son... I bet by now you're up and playing with what Santa left you. The house is full of noise and all the lights are on. Little Noah can't figure out what on earth is going on. I remember those times like it was yesterday. Your Mom would get up and come into our room and whisper that Santa had come and Gee-Gee and I would get up and run to see what he had left her. The house would be alive with screams of joy over gifts left. This morning the only noise is Maggie chomping down her food. Last night was great I got to relive some of those feeling again by watching you. Your Mom and Dad have a lot of fun times ahead seeing Christmas thru the eyes of you and Noah. Someday you too will have the joy of seeing what I saw last night, the excitement and the joy in a littlie persons eyes. Son in a way you are Christmas, you love us without question, you trust us whole heartily what more could Gee-Gee and Paw Paw ask for?
Gage, Son I love you and Noah more than you know and I always will.
Love ya Son,
Paw-Paw

Monday Dec 31, 2007 6:48PM (clear and 51 degrees out tonight)
My Dear Boys... Here we are in the last few hours of 2007. What a year it has been. There's been happiness and sadness this past year. In March I got my Photography Certificate from USA. In April I lost a great friend and cousin, Jeff. This was such a blow to all of us and even yet I keep hoping it's a dream and I'll wake up. In March I helped Debbie Clark shoot a wedding and it has been an on going partnership. She has asked me to help her do 4 other weddings this year and I'm looking for more work from her this coming year. I helped Elaine shoot 5 or 6 weddings this past year also. I shot my first set of portraits for the IPS Doctors. Mary starting driving this year... I was a nervous wreck at first, but I just have to let got and let her learn to fly I know. It's so hard to let your babies go oh. The biggest and best thing was the birth of Noah Ryan Tolbert this year. Gage and I went to see the USS Alabama ship together for the first time... just me and him. This had been a dream of mine every since the day you were born Gage. Each time I would pass the ship I would always think to myself that someday I would get to climb up and down the ship with my grandchildren. Gage I wasn't disappointed either son. That was the best day... I want you to know that. Noah I look forward to taking you also son. I look forward 2008 being full of new things you boys do and will show me. Each time I come to see you'll I always leave with more than I came with and someday you will understand this and really know what Paw-Paw is talking about here. Boys I'll close 2007 the way I always do...
Love you Sons...
Love ya,
Paw Paw

Thursday April 11, 2008 4:23AM
My Dear Boys... I had no idea it's been this long since I wrote here. I don't know where the time has gone this year. It sure goes fast. I've got sad news this morning... Maggie passed away last night about 10:30pm. I remember when your Mom brought her home... she wasn't as big as anything.. I would get up early every morning and ease your Moms door open and she would run out to go out. I just don't this kind of stuff well... I had me a good cry yesterday afternoon when I got home with her and again this morning when I found her. I know this sounds so crazy... but up get to love little dogs like you love old Paw Paws... ;-) Well boys I'm going to go for now. Really don't feel like talking much.. I'm glad I'm off today so I want have to see anyone.
Love you Boys,
Paw Paw