Eden's Travels: Day 3-6: My first time in Mississippi

It seems to me that babies are just social magnets. Eden is certainly not an exception.

Thursday ...

From the time we arrived in Mississippi, Eden drew people to her like crazy. Our first stop in my hometown was to visit with my Grandmama, Mary Joyce Jones, at her new apartment in the Heritage House. She got the most joy out of seeing Eden; goodness it was a sweet visit.

When we left, we walked with Grandmama to the dining hall and met all the ladies at her table that she eats meals with each day. Of course, she had to show off Eden to her friends, but we got introduced, too. As we made our way out of the dining hall, we had to stop at two other tables just so they could take a look at "the beautiful baby."

Our next stop was Eden's Granddaddy's office. Everyone there had waited to go to lunch so that they could meet Eden during her first visit to the office. And of course, her Granddaddy wanted to take everyone to lunch to celebrate her being in town.

Our lunch stop was Ichiban Buffet. Eden's CC and Granddaddy like it because it reminds them of being on a cruise; her Momma likes it because she can get sushi while out with family. After lunch, Momma, Eden, and I stopped by Babies-R-Us for a few essentials, and then made our way home for to get ready for Eden's afternoon visitors.

While we were waiting for her next guests, CC gave Eden her first pair of sandals - I wore them 30 years ago! So cute!

And Eden's Daddy played "lets-see-how-much-we-can-do-before-Eden's-Momma-gets-too-nervous."

Then, it was time for a visit with Grandmama, Mama D, and "The Great Aunt Kathy" - notice great is used as an adjective and, um, not to indicate age - Great Aunt Kathy just doesn't have the same ring to it :).

Eden and the Great Aunt Kathy had a great conversation. I don't know who was making whom laugh, but they sure had fun.

Everyone had to sit facing the baby, of course, since she was the center of attention.

Eden also met little Annabelle. Well, Annabelle met Eden since she slept through part of the afternoon.

After a nice visit, Eden and her Daddy and Granddaddy relaxed on the porch to rest up for her last visitors of the day.

Then, Momma and I took Eden for a quick stroll around the neighborhood to get out some of our excitement waiting on her next guests. While on our walk, Eden got to meet Mrs. Oden - her Grandparents' fun neighbor.

Finally, the last visitors of the day arrived - my college suite-mate Mica Ballard Stevens and her daughter Belle. Belle was born last fall and was also a month early. She's been sweet enough to share clothes with Eden over the past few months and even brought a few cute dresses for Eden when she came. What a sweet girl!

To end the night, I got to go to dinner with Mica, Belle, and my college roommate Mandy Deweese Fisher who has just moved back to Jackson (well, Madison) from Alabama. It's been over 4 years since we were all in the same room. What a great visit it was. Now, instead of talking about what boys we like, the kind of guy we're looking for, and trying to figure out what we'll do for our careers ... we talked about the babies we love, the kind of guys we have (great ones!), and how we'll mesh our careers and being mommies. It's so nice to be able to pick up again like we never stopped living together.

Well, Eden's now awake and ready to start the day, so I'll have to finish writing about Eden's first few days in Mississippi later. More socializing to come ...

Friday ...

To recover from our three days of travelling and visiting, Eden and I stayed at CC and Granddaddy's all day on Friday and Saturday while Eden's Daddy was off on the bachelor party for my brother. We started the morning off with a nice stroll around the neighborhood with CC.

After the walk, Eden helped me with my e-mial. Then, I read her some of my favorite books from when I was little. Eden's CC saved them especially for her and had them placed on "Eden's shelf" in the new library downstairs. My two favorites growing up were "Where did the baby go?" and "There's a monster at the end of this book." Eden enjoyed them, too.

Then, she was ready for nap time in her travel swing with her lovey Tiger.

After a nice nap, Eden had more visitors. First, she met Ms. Sarah, a good friend from our old Sunday school class when we lived in Jackson, and Sarah's daughter Mary Holland. Mary Holland was born a month before Eden, and Friday afternoon was their first play date.

Eden also got to meet her my Daddy's sister, her great Aunt Janet (pictures to come). And, afterward pooped out from all the excitement.

To end the day, Eden got to visit with her soon-to-be Aunt Courtney who came to visit while the boys were on the bachelor party and held a bottle for the first time. Granted, she didn't exactly know what she was doing, but she did instinctively put her hands up to hold it. To finish out the night, she enjoyed her new favorite bath accessory - the mesh baby sling. She so loves kicking and splashing now that she can relax in the bath.

Saturday ...

While Eden played with her Granddaddy and CC all day ...

... Courtney and I spent all day (literally all day, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.) putting together the slideshow for their rehearsal dinner.

It was a long day. The slideshow is perfect. Really. It's perfect, and I could not have done without Courtney. Can't wait for everyone to see it in a few weeks.

Goodness, it was a busy three days ... a wonderful, busy set of three days.