Hello, Hello from Taylor Kate!

Hey Everybody!



Aunt Sheri said I could post on her blog today to tell you what's up in my world...

Not much really. Just kidding! Evidently my new brother's arrival has been big news - Dad even put out the following press release:

The University of Alabama set a another milestone today with the recruitment of a 7-hour old strapping young man, Luke Russell McCook. Although, Luke came in at 7lbs 2ozs...Nick Saban said he had never seen such a specimen. Luke is already assured the lead off hitter's role in Alabama's 2020 baseball roster and will also punt return for the Crimson Tide football program, just coming off their 5th national championship in a row and 17 out of the last 18 years.

I'm not quite sure what all the fuss is about - Luke really doesn't do anything yet but sleep and eat - shouldn't he at least want to watch Dora with me? I wonder if everyone was this excited when I arrived? I'll have to ask my Aunt Sheri.

I think Aunt Sheri showed you our first official "family of 4" picture but this is the first official "Huh, so that's my brother, Luke?" picture!



Here's my dad with Luke before they came home from the hospital. (I was still in Macon visiting Grandmother, Grandad and Great-Grandad Buford at the time.) Please note that my dad is a multi-tasker - focused on Luke but still controling the remote!



And just look at this sweet picture of Momma and Luke!

Now, I didn't know these pictures were being made at the time but I can give you the play by play as it happened. In this picture I'm thinking several things at once:

• Didn't I use to swing in this thing?
• I think I did and I think it was fun!
• You really mean that Luke gets to play with my old toys?
• Was I this small when I used to swing?
• Will Arletta lick Luke's toes while he swings like she did mine?
• Can I touch him?
  

I TOUCHED HIM AND NOW LUKE'S HOLDING MY HAND!!!

WOW!

Ok, I'll stop for now but watch for more from me soon. Maybe Aunt Sheri will just let me take over the blog and post all the time! You should post comments on here that you like that idea and give a girl some support!

Bye, Bye...

ITALY PICTURES AND RECAP!!

DISCLAIMER - If you don't have at least 2 hours to look at Italy trip pictures, please go to previous posting or next posting for pictures of the cutest children ever!

Just kidding! (Well, not about the 2 hours or the cute children). Many of my friends and family members have asked to see pictures of my recent trip to Italy. This posting includes some of my favorite pictures from the trip (I took 750 pictures so please understand that it took severe discipline on my part to share only 17 of them!).

I'm extremely blessed to work for Brownell, a company that treats the Top Producers and annual Employee Award winners, to a spectacular trip! I'm also blessed to have been included on the trip this year to:

• Villa D'Este in Lake Como - http://www.villadeste.it/t0_thehotel.html
• Villa La Massa just outside of Florence - http://www.villalamassa.com/t0_thehotel.html
• and the Four Seasons in Milan - http://www.fourseasons.com/milan/

It was a week that I'll never forget and a trip that will be forever unmatched in: luxurious accommodations and food and handsome men and fun and shopping... I could go on and on!

Several of you have asked me to post a self-portrait on the blog (Ugh!). Let's get that out of the way first and this is absolutely the best that I can do! 5 of the girls at lunch mid-week in Bologna. We had so much fun at this lunch! From left: Debbie Bell and June Tingle Griffith (both from Mobile office), Haley Johnson (the coolest airline rep ever and one of our Hosts for the week - we couldn't have asked for a better fit with our group!) and Kerry Stegeman (works in Atlanta office with me).

Now that we have that out of the way, let's look at the sights of Italy! I couldn't wait to see the distinctive Italian windows in person! I felt like I was looking at a painting!

The view of a hillside of villas from our private tour of Lake Como! Wow!!!



Maybe it's the Wisteria along the retaining wall, or the fact that it's Lake Como, or the fact that George Clooney lives 3 villas down but I think I could live in this one!



Does this lawn look familiar to anyone? (Think 007 and another handsome man!)




This is the lawn of Villa Balbianello where the scene from "James Bond Casinso Royale" was filmed - where James recuperates at the end of the movie!



And now a full view of Villa Balbianello. Truly spectacular, not to mention very interesting!


http://http://www.thevillapassalacqua.com/index.php/villa-balbianello/






Statue as you walk up to the Villa and more Wisteria (may be my new favorite flower/plant - purple, of course!).

Speaking of Mr. Clooney, here's his little abode on the Lake -

And the Villa to the left of his that he's turning into the guest house. Oh my!

Ok, so it's not an Italy "sight" but isn't it cute? The Italians definitely don't drive Exursions!

Moving on to Florence, a picture of the famous Ponte Vecchio! It's amazing how many people can squeeze onto this little bridge!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_Vecchio

The Duomo in Florence. I can't describe how huge it is so here's a link that gives a little, no big perspective:
http://www.paradoxplace.com/Perspectives/Italian%20Images/Montages/Firenze/Florence%20Skylines.htm

And the line waiting to get in -

The lawn at Villa San Michele - not a bad way to spend a late afternoon before dinner, right?

And a picture of the exquisite Villa San Michele - high in the hills overlooking the city of Florence. Breathtakingly beautiful! Can you see the rooms tucked into the hillside? And the Wisteria going up the side of the main building (on the left)? And the handsome Franco, General Manager of the hotel sitting on the lawn? Just kidding, he's in the next picture!

All the ladies were a bit enamored with Franco! This picture of Gayle, from our Richmond office, gazing at him is how we all looked during a most enjoyable 3 hour dinner!

Moving on to Milan. The Duomo/Cathedral is not quite as large as Florence's but still overwelming! (I was pretty entertained by the bread advertisement on the left side scafolding).

Now to be serious for just a minute - Every day of the trip, I saw God's hand in this beautiful country. The Italian people are "southern" in hospitality and friendliness, the Alps as we flew into Milan screamed "God created us!" and how easy it was to close my eyes and pray to Him a prayer of Thanksgiving for the opportunity to visit Italy!

Thanks for sharing in my trip memories!

Luke goes home!

Hello everyone! Today was a big day for Luke - He came home from the hospital! As you can tell, he's very excited about being at home.



Also today, Grandad, Grandmother and Great-Grandad brought Taylor Kate home from Macon to be reunited with Momma, Dada and Luke! She thinks Luke is a doll - play doll that that is!

Here's a picture of 3 handsome men for you! Buford always looks sharp in those overalls! (His hat says Best Grandad in the world!)



I'll try to post pictures tomorrow of the siblings together!

Presenting Luke Russell McCook!!!

He's here!!

Luke Russell McCook
Born on April 23, 2007 at 7:35 am
7 lbs, 2 ozs
19 1/2 inches

Oh my goodness - isn't he cute?? :-)



And the full length picture -



Dad's already being silly and Luke's only 2 hours old!










Mom and Taylor Kate on the big day!!
TK had eyes for Mom and Dad only - Luke's just not the focus yet!










Could Lauren be any prettier only 2 hours after Luke arrives? I don't think so!








And just like with TK - only the largest Baby Boy balloon would do!

Of course we have to close with the first official Family of 4 picture! As TK would say, "WOW"!!

More pictures tomorrow!!

Hello all!

Well, obviously it's been too long since the first posting and new pictures of our cutie pie! No doubt that I'm biased but really, isn't she too much?



Matt, Lauren and TK have just moved into a new home (pictures coming soon of the coolest play room ever!) and Aunt Sheri, Grandmother Margaret, Granddaddy Allen and Great Granddad Buford had the pleasure of Taylor Kate's company from Thursday to Sunday morning during the big move! Wow!

Here's Miss Taylor Kate in her favorite spot in Aunt Sheri's house - looking out the front door at all that's going on in the world! Let's go outside and play!




TK made a new friend at Aunt Sheri's! They became such good friends that Mouse went to the new house too!



Ok, really, let's go outside! Taylor Kate will even bring her own bag. Come on!!



I got a new hat the week before in Richmond but it looks much better on TK!



And what can we do inside if we can't go outside? Play hide and seek of course! Where oh where is Taylor Kate? Do I see feet behind that curtain?

Here she is!!

Oh, what fun!!

I had to get the pics of little bit on here so I can post Italy pictures when I return next week! Yea!!!

And in 2 weeks?? Pictures of Little Boy McCook (and more of TK too!)

Trip to GA Aquarium with Jason, Helen Claire, Colin and Tommy

Our trip to the somewhat new Georgia Aquarium during Spring Break week for Jason and the kids ( I think the adults had more fun than Colin and Helen Claire... maybe not, Helen Claire REALLY liked the penguins)!!!

A picture of the beautiful family!



Petting the stingrays... or was it the shrimp?... or was it the starfish? How many cool interactive tanks can one Aquarium have?



Miss Sheri couldn't resist the posed shot! My, my, what a beauty!



18 years later and the boys still won't look at the camera!

My favorite picture of the day!

We had the most fun! When can we go back?