The Birth of Liam…..

Greg — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:52:05 +0000

You can’t really put into words the feelings that come with being a part of one of Gods most amazing miracles “life” but I am going to do my best for memoir sake.

It was about 3am Saturday morning when Jackie woke me up and said “hey, I am having contractions, and they are about 10min apart, thought you should know”. So we stayed in bed, and I had my iphone app (once a geek always a geek) out counting the spaces between them. So at 6am we causally get up, I call my mom to come over. I make breakfast, Jackie takes a shower, and then comes out and says “sooo we might not have as much time as I originally thought”. That is when we kick it into over drive.

Have you ever tired to coach a laboring woman in a car driving down the interstate? It is not like the movies. Also a helpful tip, don’t take the on ramp onto the interstate at high speed during a contraction, I was full sure the baby was going to fly out right there and then. Jackie made phone calls between each contraction, I found this very funny. She is crazy like that.

We arrived to the hospital just in time, because Jackie was at a 10 and it was GO time. We were only there 90 minutes, because at 9:39am Liam John Hogan made his appearance. The first thing I noticed was his amazing long eyelashes, and of course that HE was a boy, because up until that point we had no idea.

Its at this moment in time when the world around you stops and everyone around you vanishes into the background. As soon as Liam was out, one of the most important requests we had was that we wanted him on Jackie, skin to skin immediately, there is nothing more important then that bond. What I did not expect was how important this was for me too. The three of us all together in the total chaos as doctors and nurses pull and fix and give orders and do what they do best. Jackie and I lay there in tears of joy and sang “you are my sunshine” to Liam as he cried his first cry. This truly was and is one of the most fantastic life moments a father and his family can experience. The unexpected moments that come from something so intimate and awesome. I did not expect it, but it made it that all the more amazing.

When Desmond arrived at the hospital, we were all looking at Liam in the nursery, and his first question for me was, “is that my big brother?” If you know me and you know Desmond, then you know there could not have been a more perfect question asked. Now we get to grow together, laugh together, and enjoy life together. I am the father of two boys, and I have never been happier.

The Fair Photography Contest 2010

Greg — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:27:59 +0000

Every year I enter a few pictures into the Georgia National Fair Photography contest, The last two years I have entered I have always placed. This year is a little different. This year I am no longer allowed to enter as a “beginner” because I am now considered a “Professional Photographer” do whaaat?! How exciting yet scary at the same time! So now I really have to step up my game, because each year I either place 2nd or 3rd, and this year I want to place 1st Who knew I was competitive? I sure didn’t! So I have made my selections, but the one I am most proud of is the one above. By far this is my absolute favorite picture I have taken this year. I also did know know this until today but www.photofriday.com had selected this photo as a “noteworthy” selection for their theme “Summer Time” a few weeks ago. To me, this is a BIG DEAL! Very exciting.

The other selections I have made are below. The 1st two will be entered into the creative category. The 3rd of my wonderful nephew Danny entered into the “action” category. Bottom left will be “Black and White”. The WTC picture will be for the “photo journalism” category. The last one of Jennifer will be entered into the “Beautiful Sister” category (she told me to say that).

Desmond Sings Some Songs

Greg — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:11:59 +0000

Cancakes for buttcrust!

Greg — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:55:26 +0000

Dear Desmond,

It really only feels like yesterday that we brought you home for the first time from the hospital. Now in the coming days we will be bringing a new person into the family, just like we did you. Only this time you will be there to be a part of it all. You may not remember all the details, but the details will be here for you to read. In the last two and half years, you have made me laugh, cry, and brought a level of joy into my life that I have not experienced since your mom.

The way you smile and look down to the floor but your eyes drift up and your lip does this little flip when you know you have done something funny, but want to see us laugh first. It is truly priceless. The way you copy everything we say, no matter how big the word is.

The way you kindly and sweetly asks for buttcrust (breakfast) in the morning. How you always want a “snackie” to eat.

I love the way you love on me with huge hugs, and tell me that you “luvmetoo”.

I love how we muscle (wrestle) and “get each others cookies” (tickle) and you run off screaming “no don’t get my cookies!”.

I love how tough you are, so tough that I do not even worry when you fall any more.

I love that you sing, and you sing all the time. You sing the songs that no other child I know your age sings.

I love that you play my guitar, and you ask for my pick, because then you feel like you are playing just like I do.

I love how you love the dogs, when they are at a point in their lives when they need it most (the end). They once were our children, but now life has gotten so big for us, that you are our children, and they are now yours. You love them, as we love you.

You are about to be a big brother, a role I know a little something about. It is not an easy job, but its one of the best jobs. You won’t know that until you are older, and as much as I tell you now and over the years, you may not believe or listen to me. But one day you will know it, and he or she will always look up to you. You will always be the superstar, you will always be bigger in your siblings eyes, and you will always be the one he or she goes to when they wont go to mom or dad.

You are only two and a half now, but soon you will be eighteen and a half, and by then, this will all mean so much more. You are my greatest creation, my finest photograph, and the perfect version of me, I love you, and can’t wait to see you as a big brother.

-dad

the furlough….

Greg — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:56:35 +0000

Sometimes I have these great ideas. Sometimes they just don’t work out. My latest great idea? Give myself a haircut! I youtubed it, how hard could it be? Yeah well there is a reason we have people who specialize in giving hair cuts. I am calling this haircut “the furlough” because lately, I feel as I am being cut back in all areas of my life. I am going to list the pros and cons.

Pros: i wont need a haircut for at least a year.

Con: i look redonkulous.

Pros: military discounts. (not really!)

Cons: i still look redonkulous.

Pros: less shampoo needed, again, saving money!

Cons: yep…you guessed it, i look and feel redonkulous.

Pros: no more bed head.

Cons: see above cons.

Pros: for good luck, i rub my own head.

The last time I had it this short, my dad took me, and the above photo was taken to prove it, and yes my mom cried for days.

24 #FAIL

Greg — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:10:42 +0000

The following took place yesterday….all events happened in real time…………

6:00am Checked on a friends veggie garden to make sure they all looked OK. Most of them were dead. #FAIL

7:45am While making an attempt to urinate at work in a bathroom stall, I was shot at by what felt like a bullet bouncing off the walls of the bathroom. It turned out to be the button off my pants. I escaped with only minor injuries.

7:56am Washing my hands, I looked in the mirror and discovered I had only shaved half my face. #FAIL

11:45am Drove back to garden to water some more and then home @ lunch in 140 degree car with no AC to change pants and shave.

12:45pm Go back garden to turn off water and then back to work and realized I still forgot to shave. #FAIL

5:00pm Planned to go to Ingleside Pizza for a nice family dinner, end up at Mellow Mushroom because of huge storm. #FAIL

5:45pm Desmond in complete melt down mode, falls out of booth, hits mouth on table, blood, screaming, still no pizza. #FAIL

6:30pm God unloads the heavens of all the water he has in stock. try to get Desmond into back seat into his chair, climb in with him close door, child locks are on, im now locked in and stuck inside backseat with him, in a down pour, climb into front seat, pull something “down there”. #FAIL.

6:45pm Hydroplane down I75 sideways, for just a split moment saw Jesus, he says HI. Desmond says “what happened?”

7:03pm Try to pump gas in a down pour with flip flops, ankle deep in a small version of the Gulf BP oil spill all around me. #FAIL

7:04pm Credit Card fails, have to go inside, tell Jackie $35? she says $40 to fill her up. (OK).

7:06pm Filling tank, it stops at $35.06 have to go BACK inside in downpour to get change applied back to card. #FAIL

7:08pm Desmond says, “I have to go tee-tee on potty” Jackie takes him in, returns 3 minutes later, grossed out, I will not include details, but little guy has to hold it.

9:36pm Go to bed……..

2:00am Wake up……..not able to sleep. Jackie…..not able to sleep. #FAIL!!!

6:00am Alarm, #MAJORFAIL!

and I am done, thank you.

Little Wild Thing

Greg — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:06:08 +0000

My Heart Songs

Greg — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:29:15 +0000

Remember that dream as a kid you to use to have, the one of being a childhood rock star? You are the lead singer of a band, and you write the songs everyone sings, and play the guitar for the world to hear? You know you have dreamed about it. The funny thing is, that dream never really goes away. The older you get the dreams may get smaller, and reality kicks in, and real life takes over. But the dream of being that rock star never really goes away. Its always there, its always at the back of your mind, and it always creeps forward when you least expect it. You may hear it in a song, or see it in a movie. You want to be “that guy” the one who has it all together and gets the world to sing along with you.

When it comes to expressing myself in an art form I fall short because I am kind of a shy guy. It is something I am working on. It is something that has slowed me down, and I believe has held me back from many opportunities in life. I know now why I love to take pictures, because I get to hide behind the camera and make the magic happen there. There is no fear of me making a fool of myself.

So where am I going with this? Well…they say that parents lead by example. I believe that to be true, Desmond pretty much does just about everything I do, says the things I say and shadows my every move. I do not want him to be shy and miss out on something he might be good at because of it. So over the past month I have picked up my guitar and I sing. I sing the songs I love, my “heart songs” (yes like the weezer song, a personal favorite or mine) I sing the songs I can play, which is like 3 songs (poor Jackie), but I sing them during bath time. My hope is Desmond will learn its OK to sing, singing makes the heart feel good, singing makes other hearts feel good, and the world could use more of that.

Gawd our Fawda.

Greg — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:58:22 +0000

That’s what HE said….

Greg — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:00:12 +0000

(When cleaning up the backyard I discovered this. He is all boy.)

Top 5 funniest things Desmond says.

1. “Gawd our Fadda” (when saying the Blessing)

2. “I got Your NOse! and its running out the door!”

3. “I wanna ride in daddys race car” (as in my 95 purple honda with no muffler)

4. “You teetee’d on the potty! good job! you want a tee tee treat?” (he tells us this…..)

5. “Where the bumbo go? Charlie got it?” (as in the big bumbo seat that Charlie has currently)