Wordless Wednesday - Happy Halloween!!

Addie Turns 1 !!

Well, despite my best efforts, my baby is now a year old! Where in the world did the time go???

It seems like just a couple of months ago that we were heading to the hospital before the sun came up...excited about the day ahead of us and anticipating the moment when we would finally meet our baby girl.

But it wasn't just a couple of months ago. It was actually over a year ago, and that little baby is walking, trying to talk, learning new things everyday and she is allllways hungry!

We had a little party at our place. Just a backyard barbeque with our favorites to celebrate a big day in our lives. Pictures? Why, of course! :)

Fresh Start, Clean Slate

Well, my vacation post got deleted while I was trying to finish post two of our vacation. So, it looks like I've been given a fresh start! Hopefully I can become a better blogger from this point forward. :)

Is it really August???

So, July was a craaaazy month!

We really did enjoy our vacation, but almost as soon as we got back into the swing of things, Addie came down with the croup. And before she could get rid of that, the poor thing caught a cold. Not to mention the four teeth she's cut in the last few weeks.

Needless to say, we haven't been getting much sleep around our house. But, things do seem to finally be getting back to normal!

You can expect a few updates to come...vacation, our living room redo, and of course some new pics of Addie!

We're going on vacation!

We've been planning a trip for quite some time now, and I cannot believe it is here!!

In the past few days, as we have been trying to get our stuff together, I've learned a few things.

1...I am borderline neurotic when it comes to packing. Wes has been making fun of me because I have an Excel Spreadsheet a list, with everything we need typed out. And sometimes more than once...better safe than sorry!!

2...Wes actually CAN pack for himself. He's always been lucky enough for me to do the majority of his packing for him, but I've been busy. I wonder if he feels lucky that he got to choose his own clothes this time?

3...It is WAY harder to travel with a baby!! One little bitty baby needs LOTS of stuff. Why do we need a suitcase and three carry-ons to haul all of the things an 8 month old needs??? Seems kind of crazy, huh?

Well, I can't wait to be in the air and headed to a cooler climate (hopefully). I'll put together a great big update when we get back, but I'll most likely throw up a mini-post or two. :)

Wordless Wednesday

Menu Monday

One of my dear friends Becky does a post on her blog every Monday listing her menu for the week. Every Monday I read the delicious meals that she has planned for the week and I cross my fingers hoping that she posts the recipes. :)

As for me, since the baby came along, menus rarely get planned, and if they do, well...it is usually something I am ashamed to admit. We've gotten really comfortable with Stouffer's casserole and chicken nuggets.

But, thanks to Pinterest, it is a lot easier to find new recipes.

Drum roll please.......this week We Have a Menu!! And I think I may start posting each week. So, hope my menu can inspire someone else this week. :)

Monday - Pork Chops, Creamy Fried Confetti Corn and fresh green beans.
Tuesday - Salsa Ranch Chicken Wraps with Rice
Wednesday - Bowtie Lasagna with salads
Thursday - Frozen Pizza
Friday - Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff with salads

Enjoy!

We've been busy!

I can't say that the things we've been busy doing should have kept me from blogging this long, but hey...what can you do?

We've been swimming A LOT!

A second tooth came in. :)

Addie turned 8 months old!

We met our sweet friend, Stephanie Fisher, for an 8 month photoshoot at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

See, like I said...reeeeaaaal busy!

We've spent time with friends, with family and each other. I'd say it doesn't get better, but every time I do say that, it does.

Addie Has a Tooth!!

Can you see it???

My First Mother's Day

One of many amazing days we've had lately. I felt so special and loved, and it was great to be able to share the day with other mothers in my life.

Wes woke me up with breakfast in bed and gave me cards that he and Addie picked out for me. And my gift...AMAZING! A day at the spa complete with a massage, manicure and pedicure. I CANNOT wait!!

After all the relaxing we got packed up and headed to the Birmingham Zoo for the day. Christie, Adam the girls and my parents joined us. It was really fun. It has been many years since I've been to the zoo, and they've done a lot of work to it. The exhibits are amazing, and Addie really loved the spider monkeys. :)

A Picnic in the Park

Well, a picnic on the quad anyways. :) We had some beautiful weather last Saturday, so we took advantage of it and headed to the quad on campus for a picnic. It's a special place for us, because that is where Wes proposed to me. :) So, we picked out a nice shady spot near "our bench" and had lunch, played, took some pictures and enjoyed some quality time. Here are some of my favorites!

I had such a blast! Honestly, I can't remember the last time I went on a picnic, and I definately plan on doing this often with Addie. It was a great way to spend some quality time together and it was a really inexpensive way to have some fun!

Addie's First Easter!

What a great day! We spent the day with a few of the people that we love the most and just enjoyed the time to spend together, the beautiful weather, and the many blessings we have.

We headed to Church in the morning. But, because it was Easter, my parents and my sister-in-law, her husband and kids joined us! It was nice to have them there to celebrate the real reason for the special day!

Addie got dressed in her Sunday best, and I must say she looked adorable!! Here is a picture of her with my parents before heading to the service.

Because she had been sick, we chose not to put her in the nursery so she joined us in the sanctuary. She was SO good! She loved the choir special and was singing right along. Actually, my mom ended up having to take her out because she was singing, LOUDLY, when noone else was, and we didn't want her to disturb anyone.

After Church and a costume change, we headed back to our house and I proceeded to pull off Easter lunch (if you can call it lunch when you eat at 4:00). :) We ate, we hid/hunted eggs, we played and laughed and had a blast!!

Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better day! And I sure do hope that all of our holidays are as special and joyous as this Easter was. :)

Aaaaaand, we're back!

Wow! Life is never boring with a little one around!

Addie's been sick, AGAIN! This time she had Hand Foot Mouth Disease (HFM). And I have to say, it was pretty awful!!

The fever is the least of the problems. She also got these tiny little blisters on her hands, feet and IN her mouth. Her mouth hurt to eat food and to suck on her paci. Poor thing couldn't sleep and was soooo grouchy!

But, she's healthy again, and napping for the time being, so, I'm going to try to catch the blog up on everything that has been happening lately!

I haven't been a very good blogger lately!

Life has been hectic, and unfortunately, blogging is one of the last priorities on my list in cases such as this.

Addie has had yet ANOTHER ear infection (her second in a couple of months) and she is just now getting back to sleeping well in her bed. I barely survived sleeping in the recliner with her for almost a week. But, whatever it takes, I guess. It helped her to stop coughing, and that is what is most important.

As I get the house back in order and settle back into our routine I will begin to post more. I've got a few things that need to be blogged. :)

I Melt!

It was still dark outside, and I was struggling to open my eyes. I didn't want to get up. My bed was warm and my covers were fluffy.

And then I heard her.

Through the monitor I heard the sounds of my beautiful, sweet baby singing. She woke up singing! And it was the best wake up call I have ever had.

How can one little baby melt my heart like this!?!

Another Amazing Weekend!

I know I've said this before, but the weekends go by waaaaay too quickly for me these days. But, they continue to be amazing, so you won't hear any complaints from me.

Saturday was my very first "Me Day" since Addie was born. Wes and I have been out on a couple of dates, but I haven't taken time away for myself yet. I sure missed my girl, but it was wonderful to have some quiet time.

I had a massage, met a friend for lunch (with cupcakes) and pedicures, and then we had some friends over to cook out. It was a gorgeous day, and Addie enjoyed her time with Nanna too.

Oh, and drumroll please..........I finally finished organizing our office!!! We still have some work to do. Wes is going to build a new desk, and we have some furniture to move out of there, but for now, it is as good as it can get, and I couldn't be happier.

Now, I just need to get all of the laundry done. That is my next task. It has been a hard couple of months from stomach viruses, colds, sinus issues and Addie's continuously running nose. Once we get everything put back together we will be able to enjoy our weekends rather than spending them cleaning.

We also have a big project in the works. I forgot to take before pictures, but I will be sure to take some when the project is complete. We're getting a brand new patio. Our patio out back was small and not very functional. So, Wes busted that out of there and will be pouring a new one this week. It is going to be MUCH larger and I just can't wait to get my patio furniture out there.

And since posts are more fun when they have pics...here is Addie's new face. I think she is actually rubbing her gums together (teeth are on their way) but she is just so darn cute!

Well, hope everyone has a great week! Happy Spring!

Sprinkles for Sprouts

Our favorite baby and family photographer, Stephanie Fisher Photography, is sponsoring a giveaway on some adorable kids hair accessories from Sprinkles for Sprouts on Etsy!

Wow! These headbands are so sweet!! Each one is so beautiful, and they are all different from each other and any others that I have seen lately.

Not just for babies either! The headbands look great on Stephanie's 5 year old daughter too. Check out her blog for some pictures and more information on how to enter.

There are several ways to enter, but most importantly you need to check out Sprinkles for Sprouts and let Stephanie know which headband you like the best. She is accepting entries through Sunday, March 20th. Good luck!

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Since having a baby, I have found it more difficult to find time to read. But I thought it was important that I make some time because of the fact that I love to read so much. It hasn't been easy, and it has taken me a while, but I just finished my first book this year.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is written by Beth Hoffman and it is a New York Times bestseller. Here is the summary:

"Twelve-year-old CeeCee is in trouble. For years, she's taken care of her mother, Camille, the town's tiara-wearing, lipstick-smeared laughingstock, a woman who is trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen. When tragedy strikes, Tootie Caldwell, CeeCee's long-lost great-aunt, comes to the rescue and whisks her away to Savannah. There, CeeCee is catapulted into a perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricity -- one that appears to be run entirely by strong, wacky women. Both hilarious and heartbreaking, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt charts the journey of an unforgettable girl who loses one mother, but finds many others in the storybook city of Savannah."

It was SO wonderful! The characters are amazing, and it was so much fun to read that I found myself smiling.

I HIGHLY recommend it, and hope that the author decides to continue this story in another book.

Cute Baby Headbands!

I love bows and headbands on baby girls. Especially big bows! But I just don't think they go with casual clothes. And sadly, Addie doesn't have enough hair to hold her clippies yet.

I was browsing craft blogs when I was pregnant and I came up on a great tutorial for making cute and simple baby headbands on Emilie Handmade. I set a bookmark just knowing that I would use it someday.

Well, today was the day! These headbands are so easy to make and sooo cute. They are the perfect headbands for every day wear. I even think they look cute with pajamas! (I only know this because I tried one on Addie and she happened to be wearing a sleeper at the time.) And I was able to make 6 in 30 minutes....6!! Well, just wanted to share the fun.

Katie Turns Two!!

I had such a great time yesterday! I was able to spend some time with great friends to celebrate Katie's second birthday. She was so excited that it was finally her big day!

Katie's mother, Amy, and I have been friends for almost 11 years. I was in her wedding and she was in mine. I was there the day she found out she was pregnant and the day that Katie was born. And she spent forever and ever at the hospital with me while we were waiting for Addie to make an appearance. We share some great memories! And I am glad to add her daughter's second birthday party to the list.

We had some great weather, so I took Addie outside. Uncle Andy showed her the bubbles and she went on the swing for the first time.

We had a great time, and Addie was exhausted by the time we left. Thanks for sharing your day with us...Happy Birthday Katie!

Wordless Wednesday

Valentine's Day & Addie's First Solids

My little valentine in her Valentine's Day outfit.

She loved her surprise! It went in her mouth shortly after this was taken.


Last night, while most people were celebrating their love for each other, we were celebrating the chance to give Addie her first taste of solid food. And it was great! She was so hungry she kept crying between each bite.

I think she loved it. The proof is in the picture!

Blogging in Style!

Check out my new toy!

Gone are the days of making time to get in there on the computer to rush through a blog while Addie is taking a short nap. I can now blog from the comfort of my very own couch...or recliner depending on my mood. :)

Wes and I decided it was time to invest in a laptop and wireless internet and I am so glad we finally did. So not a necessity, but it is nice to splurge on a toy every now and again.

We've been busy....

To say we've been busy lately just might be an understatement!

I celebrated a birthday a couple of weeks ago...my 29th! Last birthday in my 20s and it couldn't have been better! Addie made me a card with her daddy's help, and I got to spend some quality time with family. Of course, Addie was the star of the show, though. :)

Here she is with her great-grandfather, Papa, and with her great-grandmother, Nane.

Last weekend, Wes and I went on our first date since Addie was born. It was really great to spend some time really focusing on each other without interruption. We went to a wedding, shopping and out for a nice quiet dinner. All of that and still in bed by 8:30...please, don't judge! We are tired around our place.

Addie spent the night at my parents' house, and she did great. They really enjoyed having her, and I really enjoyed 11 straight hours of glorious, heavenly sleep. :)

On Tuesday we went to see Stephanie and Mandy at Stephanie Fisher Photography. We always have a great time with them, and they are sooo great at what they do.

We will get a slideshow of all the proofs in a couple of weeks, but here are the pictures from the sneak peak.

The family picture is going to be hanging over our couch ASAP!

And, sadly Addie turned 4 months old this week! She is growing up too fast. She wasn't able to get her shots because she has an ear infection, but she is growing like a weed. My "little" girl weighed 16 pounds and 4 ounces and is 25 1/4 inches long.

Anyone know how I might be able to slow down the whole growing up thing?? Advice would be much appreciated!

Best Invention Ever!

We love our Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo! Little girl is content to sit, somewhat bounce, look at lights and "talk" for at least 45 minutes...sometimes longer. :)

And there are times where she will just fall asleep sitting in it. Such hard work...being a baby and all.

Another Great Weekend!

How is it that weekends seem to FLY by?!? I can't get enough time at home so I try my hardest to make the most of the time that I do have. That is probably why weekends seem to grow more and more packed as the weeks go by.

This weekend was really great! I got some much needed quality time with Wes and Addie, got a lot of cleaning and organizing done (I'll blog about that later), and still managed to have a little fun!

Saturday we went to see Bailey compete in the Little Miss Sipsey Valley pageant. It was her very first pageant, and she won the prize for 2nd runner up!



Congratulations Boo!! You looked beautiful!! And we are so proud of you. :)