Inspired...

Ross and I watched Julie & Julia last night on pay-per-view and I LOVED it! I am not much of a cook but it made me want to run out and buy a dutch oven and cook up something!!! Everyone is talking about New Year's resolutions...I think I will try and cook a meal a week!!! Wish me luck!

Christmas Eve....

One of my besties Kim came over with her husband and twins last night and a great time was had by all. Ross cooked up a seafood feast of crab scrampi, crab legs, fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, broiled grouper, crab cakes, etc and it was delicious. I am definitely a lightweight as I had two glasses of champagne which made me very tipsy. We exchanged gifts....I received the cutest calendar, winter candy apple stuff form Bath & Body Works and The Pioneer Woman cookbook which was at the top of my list. Emerson got some books and a little interactive purse. Emerson was in a very good mood and agreeable to being held by someone other than mom and dad which is unusual lately. Hope everyone has a great Christmas!!!

Diamonds are a girl's best friend....

My lovely friend Pam came by on Tuesday to exchange Christmas gifts with Emerson and I. My little baby girl got the most darling little diamond earrings...what a lucky little girl!!!

My poor little baby has been sick for the last three days and I didn't have the heart to leave her on Friday and go to work. We were up all night Thursday night because the poor little thing would wake herself up snoring. We did steam showers every 4 hours with special vapor bath and then we would rub baby vicks all over her feet and chest. Then I would have to hold her down and squirt saline up her nose and then suck it back out. Needless to say it wasn't fun and boy was she a grouch. I mean seriously....it's amazing how much patience you develop with your own baby.... I would so not be this patient normally. I think we are on the downward slope of this sickness and hopefully it has ran it's course since both Emerson and her Daddy have had it this weekend....I hope so...very busy week working and Christmas!!

Her Very Own....

I put up a cute little tree in Emerson's room....not that she spends a significant amount of time in said room. It's a little 3 foot white tree with pink and green balls...all together it was less than $20 so I felt pretty good about it and it's so cute at night!!! She's somewhat interested in all the christmas trees and rolls around the living room to get to them....I know next year will be a battle. I'm so looking forward to Christmas this year...not only am I off both Christmas Eve and Christmas but I have this adorable little girl to be thankful for!!!

Santa Baby

Emerson had her first visit with Santa on Tuesday night. We waited in line for about 30 minutes and then handed her over to him. He had candy so no tears....I'm glad that there wasn't a meltdown. I am looking forward to Snow Day this Saturday...they bring in loads of snow and build little slides and stuff...I think we will forego the slides but it's a photo op!!!

Making Memories....

So, Ross brought home several bags of sugar cookies and I decided I would channel Martha Stewart and make some iced sugar cookies with Miss Emerson. Mine are certainly not magazine worthy and I think I ended up with more flour on myself and the floor but it's a memory nonetheless...one that I don't have from my own childhood. I guess my attempt at parenthood is to see if I can make it through her life without screwing her up or scarring her emotionally. Needless to say...she seemed to enjoy it....she enjoys anything with the name sugar in it!!!

Dear Santa.....

Santa...if you're listening....which you supposedly are....I would like a fancy schmancy Nikon camera so I can take ridiculous amounts of photos of my baby!!! Thanks!!

Yummmmm.....

Well....at least I have this to look forward to. As usual...I am working Thanksgiving and the day after, and the day after that....etc., as does my mom, so we are celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow. I'm most excited about the yams. I always looked forward to this time of year...because of the candied yams. I married a wonderful man who loves to cook...thank heavens because I would starve...and I don't have to wait until Thanksgiving for these anymore. I get them any time....all I have to do is ask!!! Yummmm!!!

Decisions...Decisions...

I am having a very difficult time biting the bullet about Emerson's dress for Christmas pictures so I have posted these with hopes on some input....HELP?????!!!!
I'm not even going to mention which one I like the best just so I don't sway any judgement!!!

What a big girl....

Emerson will be 7 months old next week...I can't believe how fast time flies. I miss my little baby already. She is sitting up great now....assisted ofcourse....she doesn't yet go from laying down and then sitting up but she can do this for a long time and then....pooooff...she falls over!!!

Next week is Thanksgiving...and as usual I am working. It's okay though because I am off Christmas Eve AND Christmas...I have never been off for both since becoming a nurse!!! My parents and us are celebrating on Tuesday since my mom and I are both working and my mom bought a 21 pound turkey for 4 people....she promptly mentioned it was on sale...so I guess we'll be eating some turkey next week!!!

Another Beautiful Day....

So nothing too exciting to report....I had a meeting at work yesterday and my friend Cori and I decided to take the girls to the park. Another playdate....yes....they weren't really digging it though...I think Emerson and Adalae would have preferred napping in their respective car seats but nonetheless we did it anyway. Can't do a whole lot at the park with two 7 month olds but swing them but it was BEAUTIFUL outside so I thought I'd share a couple of pics I snapped with my trusty Iphone!!!

Pomp and Circumstance....

My brother, Frank is pictured in the left

My brother, Frank, retired from the US Navy a couple of weeks ago after serving out country for 20 years. Hard to believe that he is 39 years old and retired. Geesh...if someone would have told me that when I was 18, I might have picked a different career path. Nonetheless, Ross, Emerson, myself, my parents, my niece from Maine and Frank and Jenn's son Zack and numerous other friends and family gathered for his official retirement ceremony. It was full of all the military traditions of presentation of flags, etc. My brother served in the first Gulf War when I was in junior high and I remember wearing a yellow ribbon every day to school. He also was in Gitmo Bay, Cuba with all the Iraqi detainees during the current war in Iraq. I am very glad that he came home safely after each and every deployment. Some other families certainly weren't as luck as ours!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween everyone!!! Sadly...my vacation is over and I return to work tonight!!! Hope all of the little ghouls and goblins stay in the womb this evening....I would love a good first night back....especially since I have to work the dreadful 13th hour due to Daylight Savings. I would like to say that I was very productive the last two weeks...but I wasn't. Emerson and I basically just hung out for the last eleven days. I did get all of my coupons organized into a more efficient system but that's about it!!! Everyone be safe and have lots of fun!!!

So not a joiner.....

So, Emerson and I were invited to her first official play date. We met up with a friend from high school and her 8 month old little boy this past Tuesday. My friend Georgia had been to this group on other occasions and was kind enough to invite me and my babe along. It was actually kind of nice to hang out with other mothers of with kids in the general age range as Emerson. Most of my friends have kids but they are age 3 and up. So we sat under a shady tree, which wasn't really necessary as it was very overcast and threatening rain the whole time. Caterpillars would drop off on us occasionally. So all the little ones had their lunch and the adults chit-chatted and they were amazed that my little 6 month old child wonder drinks from a sippy cup. Anyway, Emerson enjoyed the swings for about ten minutes until mother nature foiled our plans....shucks! We plan on doing it again on next Tuesday...can't wait!!!

Guide to babies...

Hats off to my ladies.....

As we were leaving McIntosh, we happened by this little store selling all sorts of vintage wares and I couldn't resist making my friends try on these and taking their pictures....many thanks to them for being such gracious models!!!

3rd Annual Trek to McIntosh....

So as usual...I take my vacation the end of October and for the last three years this has been one of the highlights. This year I returned with my friend Pam from work and my life-long friend Kim, who I have known since before elementary school. We wandered around for a couple of hours and bought a couple of things...I picked up a couple of Christmas gifts. Pam and Kim decided to have some deep fried potatoes...so they set up ONE potato and peel it and deep fry it...so a potato cost about, what, 20 cents....well these high dollar potato chips will set you back $5.00. So hence the picture of the 5 dollar potato chips....very reminiscent of the 5 dollar foot long commercials from Subway that invade your brain daily.



Anyhow....we had lovely weather...and it was the longest I have been away from Emerson, minus when I'm at work. It was weird not dragging out the stroller, diaper bag and all the various accessories that accompany child rearing.

I'm sure I shall return again next year...I do love this cute little town!!!

Ghost with the Most.....

So my friend Pam showed up at work with a delightful box of goodies for Emerson...no, not candy....baby clothes....all stitched up and ready for Halloween. I put Miss Emerson in one of the creations yesterday and as usual she was extremely patient in our little photo session. Actually she had her pictures taken a lot yesterday as we had the obligatory 6 month old pictures taken yesterday and I got nickel and dimed to hell and back, but that's a different story. Anyway...this is short and sweet as I'm headed to Micanopy with the peeps!!

So the latest Jon & Kate news is that TLC has changed to name of the show to Kate Plus 8...and coincidentally...Jon has since sent a cease and desist order to stop all filming of the show along with taking out $230,000 out of a joint checking account. Seriously....who just has $230 grand just sitting around!!???!!! These people need to get a grip...those 15 minutes are almost up!!!

Seriously Mike Seaver...????

Do you remember Kirk Cameron, former child star and current promoter of the banana-as-proof-of-God theory of evangelism?

In a video posted recently to YouTube, Cameron lays out a plan to subvert 'Darwin Day' on November 22, 2009 -- a date marking the 150th anniversary of the publishing of Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species." Cameron says that he and like-minded activists plan to deliver 50,000 copies of an altered version of Darwin's book to students at dozens of U.S. universities.

Cameron explains that this "very special" edition of the "Origin of Species" will include an introduction explaining "Adolf Hitler's undeniable connection" to the theory of evolution, and highlighting "Darwin's racism" and "his disdain for women." Cameron's edition also exposes the "many hoaxes" of evolutionary theory, while presenting a "balanced view of Creationism

He compares Darwin to Hitler....I mean come on...seriously!! By no means am I a religious person....spiritual yes...there is no way we are the only ones out here in this vast universe. I definitely believe in a higher being...but I don't think this person is necessarily called GOD. I could rant all day about religion...I live in the bible belt...and I have met many a christian hypocrite in my lifetime!!!!

Venturing out to save a buck or two...

So on Wednesday, Miss Emerson and I were out takin' care of some business...meaning giving all my money to the property tax dude and homeowner's insurance and I decided to go into the consignment store and check it out. I am weird about some things but I figure with clothing you can throw it in the washing machine and all remnants of
H1N1 should be killed by the hot water. Anyhow...I found some great deals...like this Gap Jacket for $3.50. Seriously???!!!



And a couple pairs of jeans for $2.50 each....
and a denim jumper for another $2.50 and this cute little shirt for $2.00! Wow, I might have to frequent these places more often!!!!

Welcome October...I've sure missed you!!!

I love....love...love this weather!!! Emerson and I both put on long sleeve shirts yesterday!!! The air conditioner is off...my house is 73 degrees all on it's own!!! My oldest and dearest friend Kim Shaver came by for a visit yesterday and brought Miss Emerson the CUTEST halloween shirt ever...Emerson is so loved....she is always getting presents from my friends. My friend Pam at work has bought her several things to wear her first Halloween...too bad I'll actually be working this Halloween so we won't be doing a costume this year!!! I almost always take a week off in October and this year is certainly no different!!! Pumpkins...candy...sweaters.....YEAH!!!

Things Miss Emerson needs....

I saw these lovelies on another blog I frequent....people make fun of me for putting these gigantic bows on Emerson but I don't care....I love them and I need some of these for sure!!!



I also love these!!! I can't wait to buy lots of these different embroidered bloomers...especially when she starts crawling....



Oh my goodness and this one too....




Oh...and we'll definitely have to have some of these as well...especially this winter with a cute onesie.....



I should see about some overtime at work...hmmmmm!!!!

My little baby is growing up so fast.....time please slow down!!!!

Emerson turned 5 months old on the 22nd. It's amazing to look at pictures and see how much she has changed. I don't know how much she weighs currently but it's around 14 pounds. She is steadily losing her head full of dark, Ross like hair and it's coming in as this really light blond. She rolled over from her belly to her back the day she turned 4 months old...and then steadily refused to do it again...until she rolled over again 3 times in a row and has again refused to repeat her performance. She is eating more solid foods every day but is very impatient about sitting in her bumbo chair and has now decided to scoot the seat backwards between bites. I guess we're going to have to break down and go ahead and buy a high chair. She is laughing spontaneously now...and has recently discovered her fur siblings and just laughs and laughs at them....especially when they bark!!! She is still wearing 0-3 months clothing....which is unfortunate because her fall wardrobe is all 6-9 months...guess I'll have to shop some more...geesh...note the sarcasm!!! Emerson is a very happy baby and is only fussy when she is tired!!! She does great in the car and took her first long road trip this past weekend and she did awesome!!! Yes....my baby is growing more and more every day!!!

Sippy Cup Adventures

Emerson is always very interested in whatever I am drinking out of a glass and tries to grab it and makes funny little faces like she is going to gulp it down so I ventured to the local Walmart and bought her a couple of selections to try. She mostly chews on the spout but does take a few sips here and there with some assistance from mommy, ofcourse!