Having fun with Family!

We made it! The trip actually went very well. Brady did so good. He barely cried at all and he slept almost the entire way. Brady is napping so I just wanted to do a quick update. Otherwise I'll be so tired and overwhelmed when I get home that these will never make it on the blog. These were taken within the first 20 minutes after we arrived yesterday. Enjoy!

Just a Preview

We've been home from Cincy for almost a week and things are just now finally getting back to normal. It's past my bedtime and I'm too tired to post a lot of photos, but I will try to find time tomorrow to add more. I thought I'd go ahead and share this one though - Brady went for his 1st ride on the swings while we were there. He had a great time, although I pretty sure he was more excited about watching his cousin, Macy, on the swings than he was about actually swinging himself.

Cincinnati Trip & other Randomness

Okay, I hate blogger - I added this picture late and since it's a total PITA to move them I had to leave it here at the top. This is B this morning before church. I thought he looked too cute in his polo and jeans and had to snap a pic.

Wow, I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post! Actually, I can. I'm the worlds worst blogger. I'd much rather read other people's blogs than write about my own boring life. Which reminds me - I updated my blogroll on the side, I've found some more fun blogs to waste countless hours of my life reading! Enjoy!

Well we made it home from our trip to Cincy in one piece and without any major meltdowns (by either Brady or myself). Which was a lot better than our trip up there - Brady didn't like the plane rides too well. The plane rides were actually heaven compared to the first few nights we were there though - Brady hardly slept at all for the first 3 nights. It was a nightmare for me! And we are crazy enough that we are going to do it all over again in about 2 months! Rob's brother is getting married Memorial Day weekend and we plan on flying up there for about a week. Hopefully though things will be easier since Rob will be traveling with us this time. At least he can shield my boobs from onlookers as I try to nurse a screaming child in the airport and on the plane! Oh, how I feel for those poor souls who had to sit next to me on our last trip!

So, let's get on with it. Here are just a few photos from our trip. I took a TON, but I hate uploading them - it takes too long to do and it's too hard to rearrange them. Does anyone else have this problem?

Brady with 3 of his girlfriends (the kids of 2 of my friends from high school)

We had a mini high school reunion with our offspring! It was so good to see these girls again. I hadn't seen many of them in 8 years!!! Too long to go without seeing good friends!

Mike, Macy & Devin...the real reason we made the trip in the 1st place - Macy's 1st B-day party!

Brady & Macy hamming it up. They LOVED eachother!

Brady turned 5 months while we were there. 

Brady with another girlfriend, Lola. Lola's mommy (Sarah) and I were sorority sisters in college. They live in Nashville now, but happened to be in town that weekend. Check out the look on Brady's face - meltdown in action!

Aside from a little health scare from my dad, which landed our family in the emergency room one night, we had a great trip up north and I'm now itching more than ever to pack up our house and move! Unfortunately we haven't had any showings in a very long time. My friend Katie told me that I should plant a St. Joseph figurine in my yard to bring good luck. She said it worked for both her sister and parents when they were selling their homes. I had never heard of this before so I googled it and sure enough lots of information came up about this. I haven't bought my figurine yet, but I'm gonna try to find some time this week to get one. Hey, whatever works, right?

Katie also sent me a facebook message today to tell me she loved the Chicken Fafalle recipe I blogged about last year. This got me thinking that I should really do a favorite recipe post since I've really started enjoying cooking.  I'll link to (or post the recipes) of my favorites and if anyone has any of their own they can comment and add to the list. I'm gonna force myself to get started on this and (hopefully) it won't be another month before I get it up!

Finally, an Update!

I know it has been way too long since my last post, but I've been a little preoccupied lately since I finally decided to join facebook. I've been having too much fun stalking peoples profiles to spend time updating you over here. A lot has happened since my last post. Brady turned 4 months old on Friday. He discovered his feet about 2 weeks ago and finally rolled over (tummy to back) last week. Rob & I were so excited for him. He did it 4 times, but then the next day acted like he had never done it before and hasn't done it again since. I think he has forgotten already!

My parents came down to visit for the weekend and we had a great time visiting with them. We even took Brady to the beach for the first time. On Sunday we were really looking forward to going downtown to eat brunch at the Spot of Tea, but I completely forgot about all the stupid Mardi Gras parades and we drove right into the mess. We saw some VERY interesting people. Anyway, we just turned around and came home because we couldn't get anywhere near the restaurant and figured there was a good chance they'd be closed anyway. Here are some pictures from our beach trip...

Now for some really exciting news.... My niece, Macy, is turning 1 year old next month and I was really hoping that somehow I would be able to make it home to celebrate with our family. Rob & I talked about it and decided that I should take Brady and fly home to visit! We'll be in Cincy for about a week and a half! I am so excited, yet so nervous at the same time. I hope I can handle Brady all by myself on the airplane and in the airport during our layover. And I hope having him out of his normal environment for this amount of time doesn't totally screw up his "schedule." Lately though he hasn't had much of a schedule anyway. I definitely think he is going through the "4 month wakeful/sleep regression" phase right now. He went on a nap strike about a week ago, but I think that is starting to get better. Then on Saturday night starting at 3 am he woke up every 45 minutes! Thank goodness my parents were here so that they could help out with him on Sunday morning while I went back to bed! Last night was better in that he only woke up once (but stayed up for 1.5 hours). My mom got up with him first, but he wouldn't go back to sleep so I eventually had to get up and nurse him back to sleep. I hope this phase doesn't last too long!

We're back from Cincy & Happy Anniversary to Us!

Rob & I got home late Monday night and we are still recovering from the long trip. We were starting to go a little crazy after riding in the car for 12 hours! When we finally got home my feet had swollen up so much they looked like sausages...I almost started crying when I saw them!

We had a great trip home where we celebrated my birthday and my mother & sister hosted a wonderful baby shower for me. We received tons of great gifts! I am so grateful for such generous friends and family. We have very little left to buy ourselves. Below are some pictures (mainly from the shower) of our trip.

Upon returning home we were very excited to learn that our glider & ottoman for the baby's room had arrived. The nursery is finally coming together! But I still have so much organizing to do!

Today is also very special because it is Rob & I's 4 year wedding anniversary! I can't believe it has been that long already. Rob & I were talking last night about how much we have changed and how "adult-like" we have become over the last 4 years...it's scary! I truly feel so blessed to have Rob for my husband. He can aggravate the hell out of me sometimes, but he always makes me laugh & he is definitely my best friend. I am so lucky to be able to share my life with someone so great. I love you Rob!  My parents sent us a very generous gift card to our favorite restaurant - Felix's Fish Camp - for our anniversary dinner. Rob had to work this evening so we will be celebrating on Saturday night. Thank you mom & dad....you really outdid yourself between all the baby presents, the shower, my birthday gift, & our anniversary! We appreciate everything you do for us!

I'm still alive!

****Side Note: In the midst of typing this last night first our wireless router went out and then to top it off our electricity went out! That's why this is just now getting posted. ***


Wow, I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post! I wish I could say that I've been super busy, unfortunately though I've just been lazy. Let me give you a quick run down on everything that has happened since my last post....

Rob & I were able to get home to Cincy for the 4th of July. We stopped at his parent's house in Kentucky and stayed with them for a few days before continuing to the Nasty Nati. While there we were treated to many delicious meals. Then Rob's mom wanted to take me shopping for baby clothes....this baby now has a fully stocked wardrobe! You would not believe how much stuff she bought us. In addition to this very generous gift his parents also decided they wanted to pay for the baby crib. But that's not all....Rob got a very exciting surprise as well....they gave him their old '95 Corvette! He is thrilled to have a sports car again. There's just one problem...he's scared to drive it because he doesn't want to leave it unattended in a parking lot!

When we finally got to Ohio we had a great time there as well. We again ate tons of delicious food including all of our Cincinnati favorites. My sister gave me a box full of baby items including some more clothes. My mom also had a stash of clothes she was saving. Then to top it off we made a trip to the Carter's outlet where she bought us more, plus I couldn't resist and bought a few adorable outfits myself. Then to top the trip off, my mom bought us our travel system...a Chicco stroller & car seat!!! I was so excited to get our first official piece of "gear" for the baby!

We were also able to spend the 4th at "the cottage" where we have spent the last 8 Fourth of July's (minus last years'). "The cottage" is owned by the parents of Rob's friend Tommy who always make us (plus the 100 other people who show up) feel welcome....as well as feeding us all! I wish that I had some pictures to post, however, it was very rainy this year and I was worried about getting my expensive camera wet!

Since we've been home we have sold Rob's junky Blazer (yeah!) and now have my old Alero for sale. I am sad (not really) to report that our kitty Tiger is no longer with us. She had been having some major behavioral issues for quite some time now which I am certain would have continued to get worse once the baby arrived. I finally got fed up when I caught her pooping on the guest bathroom rug (for the 20th time) and decided she could no longer live with us any more. This combined with her random biting and clawing attacks on me and every stranger that entered our door told me she wouldn't be a good fit with a child. I think about her every day and pray that she will be adopted by a new lovable family. 

I suppose that I should let you in on my new "hobby" since I currently don't have a life....digital scrapbooking! I am already addicted! This is something that I have been wanting to try for a very long time. It is actually what I had in mind when I convinced Rob that I needed my MacBook and my new Canon Digital Rebel camera. Before I spent any more money on software though I wanted to "try" it to make sure I liked it. I then learned that you could download a free 30 day trial of Photoshop Elements from Adobe.com and there are various "free" digital kits you can get from 2peas. It is taking me a little bit of time to figure out the software, but so far I am loving it. It is so much faster, cleaner, easier, and cheaper than "traditional" scrapping. I discovered 2peas in a bucket about 4 years ago when I first became interested in "traditional" scrapbooking. They have many different forums and information available for photography/scrapping. I love looking through their member galleries for inspiration. Here are a few layouts that I have created this week...

Currently I am sitting in an 80 degree house because our air conditioner decided to go out this afternoon. We're pretty sure it is still under warranty so hopefully it will be getting fixed very soon. We 're hoping someone can come to fix it tomorrow or Tuesday because we will be leaving to go back to Ohio for my baby shower on Wednesday morning. Otherwise our house will be stinky and miserably hot by the time we get home :(

At least my excitement over the shower will keep my mind off the fact that our house will be slowly rotting in 95 degree Alabama heat! I am really looking forward to this. My sister & mother have been planning it and it sounds like it will be really nice...they're even getting me a Chick-fil-a nugget tray and a cookie cake! Now, that's my kind of food! It's also going to be really fun to visit with a lot of old friends, neighbors, and family. I can't wait to post pictures of all the goodies we get! I'll also post a pic of our travel system and all the adorable baby clothes courtesy of Grandmas A. & C.