My 1st Picture Post!

It's not perfect, but I'll get better with practice! Thanks for the lesson, McCall!

Tutu cute!

I have been inspired by my friend, McCall. She writes an awesome blog that I read daily (and I looooove that she is able to update it everday so I can get my fix!). You can check it out here. And not only is she a fantastic writer, she is the craftiest person I know! I see her cute stuff and tell myself I can do that...well, maybe not that exactly but something like that. My 1st project was a birthday tutu for Caroline. I wanted it for her 1 year photo shoot that will be here before you know it, so I decided to start early in case I had to make a few of them. :-) Turns out, I only needed one time! It's not perfect, but it was made with a lot of love. I just need to add a big pink bow to it, and we're all set. Check it out:

More projects to come...I have a big birthday party to plan!

PS--Check out all of McCall's fun giveaways on her blog! She's got the hook-up from some great artists on Etsy who also inspire me. Actually, nevermind. Don't check them out because then you will want to enter too, and I won't win! Just kidding! :-)

"This whole parenting thing is a crapshoot."

really old picture but it's the only one I have of all 3 of them!

This is a favortite saying between my friend, Kristin, and myself. We are both 1st time moms--as you know, I have my darling Caroline and she has cutie pie twin boys, Mason & Jace, who are almost 8 months old. We compare stories, notes, and horror stories at work, through Facebook, texts, and during playdates. Everything is a big mystery to us. And I'm hoping it's not just us...is this a common theme among 1st time moms?? Here are a few of the mysteries we try to fumble through togther...or as Kristin put it today: the blind leading the blind. :-)

When do we take away the notorious 4th bottle? Actually, neither of us had really thought about this until another friend (NOT a 1st time mom!) brought it up.

When they have lots of green snot, I mean more than you think those tiny little heads should be able to hold, and are coughing but not running a fever, do you call the doctor? And if you do, is there a big, red note in your child's file that reads: "CRAZY NEUROTIC MOTHER!!!!"?

Solids--what, when, how much??? Puree or just chop? What can we give our kids to snack on that's not a hunk of carbs (aka--puffs, Goldfish, Mum Mums, veggie sticks...aka--all of their favorite things). Is it really a meal if they only ate 3 green beans, 2 grapes, and 15 kernels of corn?

Nursing (this is all Kristin...no luck on that front for me)--can she really make it for a whole year? Is she a bad mom if she supplements? On a side note...I know that it definitely does NOT make her a bad mom. She is a total rock star for breastfeeding twins!!!


I know that there are a million other things that she and I have talked about, but my tired brain can't remember them all right now. If I think of anymore, I will be sure to add on a postscipt. Lucklily, the thing all of kiddos are good at is sleeping (knock on wood that it continues, and that I didn't just jinx us!). They're also sweet, smart, loving little bundles of happiness...most of the time...so we must be doing something right!!

But, if any of you moms have any advice/suggestions, bring it on! :-)

Pumpkin Patch

I've always loved holidays, but now that I have Caroline, I love them even more! We went to the pumpkin patch today to pick out just the right one. So glad I have a "real" excuse to carve one this year!

What?! 10 months old?!

I know, I know, I say this every month, but where has the time gone? September was super busy and flew by. Caroline and I took a trip to MS to visit family, I squeezed in a trip to New Orleans to see one of my friends get married (Amy was a beautiful bride!!), and we've done a little work around the house and yard (it only took us a year!). Caroline is doing great! She has quite the personality and a fantastic smile. We can finally spend some time outside since it's not a million degrees. We had a great time play and scoping out the park for her (insert long dramatic pause here) 1st BIRTHDAY PARTY. It's right around the corner and will be here before we know it. Here are her monthly facts:

*She has started eating "big girl food" for some meals...favorites include green beans, corn, grapes, and chicken nuggets. We're also giving her little tastes of what we're eating. She was a big fan of Margarita pizza last night!

*She has started giving me hugs! Love, love, love when she leans in and grabs me around the neck (she's been doing it to her stuffed animals--she LOVES stuffed animals--but no living beings have got the honor until recently).

*She has a favorite word, and it is "uh oh". Throw your sippy cup down...uh oh. Throw your paci down...uh oh. Throw your bottle down...uh oh. I'm trying to teach her that you don't say "uh oh" when it's on purpose! :-)

*She is saying "mama" on a regular basis. Best word ever!!

*She is walking with her push toy.

*I've started putting shoes on her to try and get ready for cold weather and *gulp* "real" walking.

*At Gymboree, she will wave and clap along with the songs we sing.

*She has 5 teeth now...2 on top and 3 on the botom.

*She loves Gerber veggie sticks and YoBaby yogurt.

*She weighs 18.4 pounds (she didn't gain her usual pound this month--she was eating less because she was sick with another ear infection/cold and teething).

*She pulls her bows out almost as soon as I put them in--it drives me crazy! And reaches up to pull at her hair just in case I snuck one in.

*She can empty out a drawer, cabinet, or diaper bag faster than you can believe!

*She will shake her head "no", smiling the whole time. Is this a sign of what's to come??

Blueberries are yummy!

On Grandmama's front porch

I can feed myself!

See?

Charleston!

Here are some pictures from our trip to Charleston...only a month late! :-)