Craig's Dad Retired!!!

After 40 years of working at Cameron, Frankie has now retired!! Yes, that was 40 years working at the same place. On his last day, most of the family (except Steph) was able to go to his work and join them in some of the Last Day Festivities! When we all got back home, we went to dinner to celebrate at Valley Ranch. After dinner, we had a little retirement ceremony at our house. Craig set up the fire pit and and Frankie tossed in his work clothes!!! They burned well, and it was therapeutic!!!

A couple of weeks after the actual retirement day, we had a party for him at Valley Ranch. (I guess we all really like that place.) Lots of folks came out to wish him a happy retirement, and Craig said some very nice things to and about his dad.

Frankie and his sister, Aunt Crissie

Frankie and Ashlee (Clinton's cousin who will keep him out of trouble)

The crowd, including friends, family and some of Frankie's co-workers

More of the crowd - Steph's side, David Beegle talking to Trent and Rachel

Front Row - Uncle Bobby (Frankie's brother, Grandma (Frankie's mom), O.W and June (Parris' dad and step-mom); Back Row - Trent and Rachel, a man I can't make out, Trey (Clinton's cousin who will get him into trouble), John, Jenn, and Steph's parents', Doug and Katherine.


It was a great day, and Frankie is really enjoying his time off. Becky is enjoying having him at home, too! I they are starting to settle into retired life together! Congrats, Frankie (Dad)!

Clint's Name

I have been asked a couple of times about Clinton's name, and the origin thereof, so I've decided to post about it.

We decided long ago that Baby Boy #1, if such a person ever came into our lives, would carry on Craig's middle name, Allen. This was actually determined before I became part of the Cox family because this name has been in Craig's family for...ever. It belonged to his maternal grandfather, whom he loved dearly and respected very much. A.C. (Allen Conner) Kirk passed away when Craig was 11, but he and his family still talk about him often and fondly. He was a man of great integrity, and I am happy that our son will carry his name.

The name "Allen" actually goes back further than Craig's grandfather, though. Allen Albritton came over with Captain John Smith, one of the first settlers in the "New Land."

With the middle name decided, we considered some other family names we could use for a first name. Clinton Rutherford is my maternal grandfather, and not only did we like how the names sounded together, we love the fact that our little boy will represent both sides of his family by sporting the names of two of his great-grandfathers, men we have always loved and respected. I was proud to call my Grandpa and tell him the good news last week!

Thus, Clinton Allen Cox. We've had this name in our back pockets, but as soon as we found out he was a he, we assigned part of his identity with this name. We feel like Clint's name will take him from childhood to adulthood seamlessly.

Clinton Allen Cox

While Clinton has been around for several months now, we didn't really know who he was until yesterday. This means that we are roughly half-way through the pregnancy, and everything is looking great! The doctor said Clint weighs about 12 ounces, and he is probably about 10 inches long. She also said that he is a boy! We got tons of pictures yesterday at our appointment.

Hopefully you can see him from these pictures. In a couple of years, I'm hoping we'll have something like this:

Or this:

And in another few years, something like this:

I fully anticipate that Clint will be just like his father, and I absolutely can't wait!!!

What It Is

What what is?

Craig and I are going to have a little baby! If you read some "recent" posts, I alluded to this fact, but just to clear the air...Yes, we are going to have a baby - more than likely in June. The due date is June 26, 2009, but we all know what due dates mean!!

On Friday, this Friday, February 6th, we hope to find out "What It Is." We have an ultrasound appointment, and provided Pumpkin McRiblet cooperates, we'll be able to finally assign a "he" or "she" to "him" or "her". The doctor will be looking to make sure everything is growing right, but we'll let her worry about that, and we'll mostly be focused on one area. :-) It will be cool to see how much Pumpkin McRiblet has grown over the last six weeks since the last ultrasound.

A couple of weeks ago, I thought I felt Pumpkin McRiblet move, but then I didn't feel anything else, so I thought I might have misinterpreted those feelings. But now, regardless of what I felt before, I can say, definitively, that I feel Pumpkin McRiblet move on a somewhat regular basis. In fact, as I sat down in my car to go to work this morning, Pumpkin McRiblet kicked me. I guess nobody really wants to go to work.