Christmas Morning, One Reason I love my Husband and Potty News

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

And Miss Emma was nestled all snug in her bed, while visions of Elmo danced in her head.

Some pictures of Christmas morning.  We kept the french doors closed (glass covered mostly with Christmas cards).  Then opened the doors after Jason and I were "awake." Any thoughts on how many more years we'll be able to pull this one off? It bought me a good 30 minutes, and camera set up time...

Obviously, the piano was a big hit.

And later that morning, apron clad and all, we listened to lots of this.

It wasn't long until the stockings attracted Emma's attention.

Ready to cook.

Thanks to Grammy and Doc, who always find matching PJs for everyone each year, Emma and I slept in (and wore most of Christmas day) our Owls.

And finally, since Emma already had such great practice, we ended the day with some of Jason's family and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.

Now rewind.  This kitchen is what my Mom, Nanna, got Emma for Christmas.

Of course we were happy to put it together for her--since she's spent, oh say, 30 years putting gifts together for kids.  I was prepared to knock it out myself last Wednesday since December is an insane work month for Jason.  But the best gift I got this year might have been Jason's insistence that he was going assemble the beast, DESPITE billing 17 hours the day before, and then working at least 12 more before coming home to begin.  Now, we've all noticed the completely FLAT box it came in right?

So I peeked in as he was "unpacking the box."

And reading the directions.

And beginning assembly.

Four hours and just a few colorful phrases later, Ta-Da!

I was already fast asleep when he came to bed--and probably just getting up when he left for work the next morning.   If only you could wrap a bow around such an act of service, both to me and Emma...  AND if only Emma could cook actual food with it--we'd be having feasts every night!

PT update: We're entering day 3.  I have left the house with Emma only once in the last three days-- to go to Kmart, during which we made 2 trips to the super clean bathroom in the span of 10 minutes.   I hope we're getting closer, but my next post might be calling for reinforcements.  I finally broke down and bought training panties (the kind with really think cotton in the middle) at the suggestion of my mom.  They seem to have helped, but the proof is in the pudding--or tee tee--right?  Who am I kidding--if you know the secret, PLEASE leave me a comment and let me know!

And the Party

There is so much to catch up on. I"ll start with our family party for Emma. This year more than last, I realized how difficult (and special) it is for Emma's birthday to be so close to Christmas. At times, it felt like a "warm up" for baby Jesus' birthday, but of course I want it to be special for her, independent of Christmas. So this year, we opted for a family party...Elmo themed of course. I think Emma had a good time--she definitely mastered the art of opening presents, which made Christmas Eve and Christmas morning go pretty quickly (all things considered).

Of course I would have loved to make Emma's cake, but let's be realistic people.  Publix has good cakes, for reasonable prices (especially when you have a $4/off coupon) and it is the middle of the holiday season.   Here is the "Elmo" theme Emma requested and I picked out.

And of course it would have been fun to "make" our own Elmo decorations...but have y'all heard? Party City sells them!!

Regardless of the lack of "homemade" Elmo accoutrement, Emma blew out her candles just the same.

And licked icing off Elmo.

And opened presents from our generous families.  May I present Abby Emma Cadabby!

All we need now is some rain. (Please note the tutu again...)

Go Grease Lightening. 

And the bouncy house.  It took care of all that cake and icing sugar in no time.

Please notice again, the tutu.  I believe it is Emma's favorite.

Emma ended her day talking on the phone.  Although we're not sure who she was talking to, she was really into the conversation.

Thanks to our wonderful families for taking time from their hectic holiday schedules to spend with us. And thanks for all the calls, emails and texts wishing Emma a Happy Birthday. I think she has started the two-year old world in style and with lots of love!!

Now, please excuse me, as we are finishing day 1 of intense potty training and I believe the timer is about to signal another forced potty sitting.  Christmas updates will be coming soon!

Happy Birthday!

***updated with sound now*** (music by Andrew Osenga and Andrew Peterson, respectively).

Wow. Time flies.  I love love love you Emma!  Happy 2nd Birthday today!

Merry Jib Jab

My friend Jen put this cute video together using Jib Jab.  It stars our friends Shannon, Mary Beth, Jen, me and she needed a 5th, so Emma too!! They are fun and easy to do.  Enjoy!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Ok, back to baking, wrapping, cleaning and sewing.  'Tis the Season!

(Almost) Last Minute Shoppers? Free Shipping!

The Birmingham Bargain Mom (link to the right) highlighted this website today, but I wanted to make EXTRA sure you readers (and blog stalkers) knew about it.  Just go here:  for a listing of all websites offering free shipping on Dec. 17th (and their requirements to qualify--like minimum spending amounts).  It's some really great stores--like J. Crew, Kate Spade, Best Buy and Crate and Barrel.

Gotta run and continue the mad dash preparations for Emma's 2nd birthday AND then Christmas!!  Happy Shopping!

Fa La La La La....Oink Oink Oink

We've finally made it home from Atlanta after visiting my aunt and uncle.  It was a good trip, but I came home with a special "souvenir"--a cold from the deepest depths of bad places.  Add a compounding secondary infection and it has resulted in a voice change reminiscent of adolescent boys, trash cans FULL of tissues, nearly two empty bottles of mucinex and one filled prescription of Zpack.  Please pray that No. 2 is still safe inside his "incubator," blissfully unaware of the feverish little men inhabiting my chest and nose, and protected from any drug side effects.

Meanwhile, I'm currently trying to nap while the Eminator catches some Z's but tossing from my left to my right side for "drainage" purposes isn't really relaxing, so I decided to sit upright instead--and here I am, blogging.  So, let's catch up.

After Thanksgiving Day, we enjoyed (or rather sweated and cussed a little through) the Iron Bowl on Friday.  After Bama secured what seemed like an impossible victory, Jason packed up and headed back to Birmingham (the wheels of justice continue turning, regardless of the holiday season).  This fact left Emma and me at the mercy of the my aunt's and mom's social calendar for Saturday.  As fate would have it, they had already planned a "cemetery outing" which involved putting flowers on many family members' graves.  Weighing the the entertainment value of this trip for Emma, and ultimately deciding cemeteries are not proper places for toddlers to run and play, I opted instead to take Emma to ride the Pink Pig---an Atlanta tradition since 1953-and one my mom and aunt remember from their childhood. (And thanks to my friend Deborah for bringing this attraction to my attention!)

Side Note: The excursion worked out really well because we were also able to see my friend Ashley, and congratulate her on her recent engagement! She is going to be a beautiful bride and I'm really excited for her and her fiance Whitney. They were also VERY accommodating, letting Emma and I intrude on them during Saturday morning hours, watch an Elmo DVD, listen to talk about "tee tee" and they didn't mind Emma spilling snacks everywhere.  It was great to see them both and congratulate them in person!

After leaving Ashley's we headed to Macy's at Lenox where we bought our tickets.

I surveyed the line and decided to head for the food court to fuel up for the wait ahead.

Even though the wait wound up being only 25 minutes, what better way to pass the time that taking pictures in front of the pink pig photo backdrop.

Next we entered the tent, home to the seasonal Pink Pig.  "Pink" is an understatement.  Shelby Eatenton Latcherie would have been proud and jealous. I'm pretty sure the entire place was covered in "blush and bashful."

And here she is. Priscilla pulling into the station for another group of riders.  (Behind her is one of the cars from the original train at the downtown Rich's store.)

The (very short) ride takes you through scenes from the 1950s, like the one below.

And on this special day Priscilla discovers, she's a perfect pink pig, just like her mother.

  "Guarding" Priscilla from any other suspicious and interested onlookers.

OF COURSE there was TONS of pig paraphernalia for sucker grandparents and parents (like me).  My favorite?  Well, the pig nose of course!!

It was a great mommy daughter date, and I really enjoyed getting to spend the time with Emma.  A wonderful way to start the Christmas season--and maybe even a new tradition!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We've had a great Thanksgiving.  Good food, good family, good times--and well, little sleep.  Emma especially enjoyed learning to play piano with her second cousin, Zoe.

"Hey Zoe, do you know Heart and Soul?"

We have certainly received so many blessings this year, for which we are exceedingly grateful.  I hope you have enjoyed this Thanksgiving as well. Our Heavenly Father remains ever faithful!

The Other Blind Side

I wonder if #36  will be available in 5-7 years to "coach" No. 2.

Which One Doesn't Belong?

I opened my refrigerator yesterday and this was the scene.  Got it yet?  I'm not sure when or how, but I'm positive I know WHO in my house is responsible!

Of course I remedied the situation, but I'm sure some of you are now swearing off ever eating at our house again for fear of hair infestation!

Reauxll Tide Rewind: Here's to You Section U1-A, Rows 3-15.

I'm a week late posting this, but better late than never, right?  Like 92,000 other people, we headed to Tuscaloosa Saturday a week ago to watch the Tide compete for the SEC West championship against LSU.   LSU is such an exciting game for many reasons, not the least of which is some AWESOME tailgaters hitting the road from Baton Rouge.  And while I definitely want the Tide to win, Tide fans don't generally "hate" LSU like, say Tennessee or Auburn, which makes for a much more enjoyable tailgating experience--at least for me.  And let's face it. This is my blog.

Jason and I arrived about an hour before kickoff so we had some time to pound the pavement and see the sights.  Like Club La Bengal.

(What this picture can't convey is the alarming loud hip/hop music coming from inside the tent.  I was sure at any minute a light ball was going to descend and a dance contest would begin).

And the CBS stage.

And some "Tiger Tail"

Did someone forget to tell her Halloween was two weeks ago?

Disclaimer: I am not in the habit of photographing other women's behinds (or men's, or my own for that matter).  However, I was so astonished this young lady decided to adorn this piece of Tiger flare that I felt the need to capture it.  Seriously.  Just think, after getting dressed, she stuffed a faux tail in her pants, looked in the mirror and called it good.  Different strokes people. Different strokes.

Nevertheless, as game time approached, Jason and I walked the ramp and assumed our usual seats.  Jason's family has secured the same seats for at least the last 20 years and I've been going to games with them for the last 8ish.  Generally, the same group of people return season after season, and let's just say you get to know your neighbors pretty well over the years.  We sit on the second row of our section, so we know best the people on our row and the first row.  There are a few other faces I recognize outside the designated parameter (like a man who bears a shocking resemblance to Conway Twitty), but that's about it.  That is, until this game when I was introduced to a whole new Tide Pride gang.

Somewhere around the second quarter,  right before the 45th LSU player injury and after an incomplete touchdown pass to Julio, I was too nervous to look at the field anymore.  So I turned around.  Whoa.  At that moment, I realized there are entire rows of regulars who sit behind us that I had never before encountered or noticed.  For nearly 8 years I have shared countless hours with the same people less than 10 ft away from me and I've never even bothered to look them in the face.

As I surveyed my new crowd, It was a whole new world. My eyes were immediately transfixed by the mundane, and they zoomed in on what seemed to be the most comical of ordinary stadium paraphernalia.  It was as if my brain was producing its own TV sitcom--in slow motion.  I saw different Tide jerseys, half chewed cigars, sorority stickers, stickers with expletives, and different ways to hide stadium contraband. They ordered different things from the concession stand.  They yelled different cuss words.  They went to the bathroom at different, yet still inopportune, times.   Just as I started to mentally dig deeper into my Brave New World, LSU earned a safety and my attention was quickly diverted.  But my curiosity is peaked with you Section U1-A, Rows 3-15.  I may not know you now, but I'll pay more attention next season. Rest assured.

I recount this vignette because my pregnant blood pressure cannot take reliving the memory of the first 3.5 quarters of the game.  In the end, as the story has now been broadcast, the Tide clenched the win and secured a spot in Atlanta at the SEC Championship.

It looks like I have a less than a month to manufacture (or purchase) tasteful amounts of GATOR HATER props. Watch out Tebow.

Tis the Season

to buy your tickets.

7:00, December 14, 2009

Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church

You can order tickets online here. If you don't remember my post last year about the concert, this is hands down the BEST christmas concert you and your family will attend.  I might even personally guarantee your money back if you aren't overcome with the true meaning of Christmas when you leave. (Hmm, maybe I should talk to Jason before I commit to that guarantee...)  Nevertheless,  Andrew Peterson is a phenomenal singer/songwriter living in Nashville and he has put the entire story of Christ's birth into the most beautiful concert. (Incidentally, he brings some really talented musicians with him too). The "tale" begins with the Old Testament prophesies of a Messiah, includes Passover, and culminates into Christ's birth.  It meaningfully ties the Old and New Testaments of the Bible together, demonstrating God's loving plan of redemption for His people.

The first year we went, I was pregnant with Emma, (big pregnant too--due any day), and I was overwhelmed with praise and emotion (or hormones, you pick) for our Heavenly Father.  I found it SO special to be pregnant at Christmas, where we celebrate the birth of the most special baby: our Savior.  I'm thrilled and feel blessed to be pregnant again this year at the same time--and to return to such a wonderful evening where my "to do" list, shopping, cooking, decorating, gift wrapping, traveling and the like, all takes a HUGE backseat to the REAL reason we celebrate.

So plan now.  Find time to go. It is worth it.

No. 2

Not the pencil.

Not Bama's earlier season ranking.

And not this guy either:

But Baby No. 2!

I guess I'm in a whole new realm of technology announcing my pregnancy on the blog!!  Regardless, Emma is pleased to announce that she will be a big sister in May 2010.  She is also thrilled to tell you that she has a baby in her tummy just like Mommy.  Just ask her.  She will almost convince you.

That puts me 12 weeks pregnant, and feeling pretty good. Jason and I are very excited and look forward to meeting this new bundle!! So here are the answers to the questions that are burning through your mind (ok, maybe not burning):

1. Due Date: May 19, 2010;

2. No, we will not find out the gender before birth;

3. Yes, we have names in mind, but we don't share them before birth;

4. Emma and No. 2 will be 29 months apart; and

5. I will be referring to this baby as "He." (Of course, I do not KNOW he is a he--see 2 above, but (1) I do not like referring to my child as an "it" and (2)  I really want a boy, so I'm practicing visual thinking, speaking and er, typing.  That said, I would be of course thrilled to have another girl and for Emma to have a sister.  Nonetheless, until the Lord convicts me otherwise, No. 2 will receive male pronouns).

And now?

ROLL TIDE

Tootles!

Guess Who's Ghetto Now!

I hesitate to post the following.  However, I've never really shied away from disclosing slightly embarrassing personal details, so why start now?  Let me first begin with this:

Since last Sunday, the Eminator has struggled to reset her internal clock and "fall back" with the rest of us.  The result is an early morning wake up call, which leads to a cranky mom and a late afternoon cranky Emma, forcing an early bedtime and only to repeat the cycle the next day.  My first hypothesis is the light coming into the windows earlier in the morning wakes E up.  So, we need a solution.

First,  I priced blackout lining for the drapes.  Man, that stuff is expensive.  So, before I commit to the purchase, I need to make sure we have indeed identified the problem and that's where the aluminum foil comes into play. Classy, huh?

I fully expect I am violating all kinds of Homewood city ordinances--or at least Edgewood decency policies, so please don't report me!  Any of you parents out there know that you'll try anything for a well rested child--and momma!! I sure hope our neighbors don't mind!

Go ahead.  Let the comments flow.  I expect them to be merciless.  But I promise to report back on our "experiment."

Snuggies-n-Smores

Do I have your attention yet?  I feel like it should be a personal life goal to never type or use the Snuggie TM in my daily life.  Alas, if this were an actual life goal, I would have now failed--miserably.  What, you might ask, would compel me to experiment with this oversized "blanket" (aka bathrobe turned backwards)?  It would have to be an exceptionally good cause.  Good thing I love our church functions--and our church small group.

Incidentally, and before I continue, it continues to baffle me beyond all things imaginable that someone is making a FORTUNE from these things--despite the gaping draft you feel in the back when you stand up--hospital gown style.  Some quick google research revealed that not only did the Snuggie make over $4 million in 2008, but the projected revenue for 2009 is somewhere around $9 million.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  Further investigation reveals that Gary Clegg (father to the Snuggie) birthed the idea after finding it necessary to cut a hole in his sleeping bag since the TV remote wouldn't work through the fabric:


"Gary Clegg said it began in 1998, when he was a freshman at the University of Maine in Orono and living in a chilly dormitory. He cut a hole in his sleeping bag because his TV remote wouldn’t work through the fabric, and subsequently asked his mother to sew a sleeve onto it, he said. Mr. Clegg added a second sleeve and otherwise refined the design in the ensuing years. He gave the appendaged blankets as gifts to friends, and finally, with an investment from his brother, Jeff, mass-produced them and started selling them onSlanket.com in early 2006."


And think I believed my mom when she told me that I wouldn't get anywhere in life sitting on the couch watching TV.  Let this be another lesson to all those couch potatoes out there---sloth can breed millions people.  (Read the entire NY Times article here.  And please don't think the term "Slanket" is escaping me.)

But, I digress.  My first experience with the Sunggie was Sunday night. Our church has a "fall festival" of sorts and every small group lines the soccer field with trucks. There are games, trunk-or-treating, and lots of good food.  This year, our group designated a theme and it was, you guessed it, "Snuggies-N-Smores."  I highly recommend the latter.  As for the former, after I tied the back together and rolled up the yards of extra sleeve material from the "one size fits all," it wasn't too bad.    Regardless, it was a great night and we had lots of fun. We were definitely well equipped with lots of snuggies, a fire pit, toddlers and candy.  All the makings of a great night!

Do they make toddler snuggies?  Not that Mr. Clegg needs my advice, but it could be an untapped market.  Until then, Emma will remain snuggie-less, and at the mercy of dear Tom to provide her some much needed juice.

Meet Vance, Patrick, and Chris (L-R).  A picture really does say 1,000 words.

Apparently, hot buns were also on the evening's menu.

Dear monogrammed Kala.  What would we do without her married monogrammed trick-or-treat bag?

Sweet Ashley--the marshmellow roasting master.

Undoubtedly the best part of the night.

Until next year friends.  I'll be scouring QVC for the next up-and-coming trend to inspire our tailgate!