Wordless Wednesday

"She died like she lived: Surrounded by the people she answered phones for"

Do ya'll watch Mad Men on AMC?  Well, if you do not, please do yourself a favor and find seasons 1-3 on Netflix and watch them, and then get your tail caught up on Season 4.  Excellent, excellent television!

This week we said goodbye to the only woman Don Draper never thought about taking to bed. 

We will miss you Ms. Blankenship!

Wordless Wednesday

6 months old

How in the world did Lucille get to be 6 months old already?!  It happened in the blink of an eye.

Oh my goodness - she is the sweetest, happiest baby ever!  I could just eat her up!

She loves rice cereal and most of the baby foods we've tried (except peaches - they didn't sit well with her).

We saw Dr. Grisham today for her 6 month checkup.  She weighed in at 17 lbs. 5 oz (3 lbs less than big brother at 6 months) and was 26" tall!  Jennifer examined her from head to toe and made the assessment that she was "just perfect!"  I have to agree!!!

Concentration

Working SO HARD to pick up some little snacks!  I love these chubby little hands!!!

New toys

Last weekend, JC used his allowance to buy a Batman suit that he has been wanting for a while.  We started the allowance thing with him about 6 weeks ago.  The first two weeks he spent his $5 immediately on the first thing (or various small, crappy things) he could find.  Then Curtis and I talked to him a little bit about saving.  We asked him if there was something he really wanted that he could save his money for:  BATMAN suit!!!  He has been wanting one since right after Halloween last year, and we kept saying he had to wait until Halloween time, because let's face it - you can't really find a Batman suit at The Wal any'ole time of the year!So, we looked on-line and found the one he wanted, and he begged every single minute of the day to go and get it.  Finally this weekend, we went and he bought his beloved Batman suit!  The plan is that he will be Batman, and Lucy will be Baby Batgirl for Halloween.  (I have great plans for her costume.  I hope it comes together like I am envisioning it!)

Yay for JC learning a little bit about saving money and for him shutting up about finally getting his Batman suit! :)  I love that little fella!

I am Batman!

While JC and I were at The Wal getting his suit, we decided to spend the last of Lucy's baby gift cards to buy the bouncing activity station that Curtis and I have been eyeing for a couple of months.  We put it together, and let me just say - the child LURVES it!!!  She has had the best time in it!!!

Ooooh, this is fun stuff! Don't you agree, Batman?!

I love these kiddos, and Curtis and I feel so blessed to be their Mommy and Daddy!!!



Wordless Wednesday

Oh yeah...

Frazzled... but blessed

I thought I would try to do a little therapy-blogging this morning.  In short - I am completely frazzled right now.  August, September and October are always my busiest months at work, but I am having to work harder now and put in more hours than ever to accomplish my work goals.  Ahh... Jesus, please just take this burden and show me the way.  I need to get my house back in order and spend time with my sweet family.

Speaking of family, Curtis has been Super Daddy!  With me working most weeknights and Saturdays, he has been taking the lead with the children. Dropping off, picking up, getting them fed, wiping noses and giving baths. Last night, poor Lucy had tuckered out and gone to bed before I got home.  :(  JC waited up for me though. :)  I did get a big smile from Lucy when Daddy brought her to me to feed her sometime around midnight. (I had slept tight through her yelling over the monitor which is right by my pillow.  Too tired? Yes I think so.)  She gave me a huge smile and looked like she was thinking, "Oh, here's my Mommy." :) 

Our sweet girls is 6 months old today.  She is such a joy!

JC started Kindergarten in August, and he is doing great!  His behavior has been wonderful, and he is learning a lot!  They are learning the D'Nelian writing style, which is totally new for me, but I am on board with whatever works!  He loves recess, computer lab, PE and art!  His school only has one assistant teacher for the 10 Kindergarten classes, so I plan to volunteer in his classroom a couple of hours here and there when my work schedule slows down.  I am so proud of him! 

JC on the playground at his school

Our family is so excited about MSU football beginning tomorrow evening!  Yay for being back in Starkville, for maroon and white, for Oby's and for cowbells!  We cannot wait!!!

What'cha got for us this year, Dan?!

This post started out very melodramatic and blah; but I do know how blessed I am!  I know that God provides and takes care of us even in the midst of the craziness of life.  I am lucky to have a job and a family that loves me more than ketchup. :)  Hey, I guess writing this blog was therapeutic after all!

Go Dawgs!

The Dad Life

Join me in this salute to Dads!!!  I see so much of Curtis in this video! :)

Who does she look like?

People keep asking us who Lucy looks most like.  Well, let me tell you... She looks so much like her big brother JC, that I often go back in time, especially when I have her wrapped in one of his old towels or blankets.  Here are some sweet examples of how much by babies favor each other. Could I be anymore blessed??? I love them!!!

Can you tell who is who???

My New Obsession

MAD MEN on AMC

New season begins this Sunday!!!

Oh, Donald Draper - you make me salivate swoon.

Heavens - it's been a long time!!!

Oh my goodness - I am so embarrassed at how long it has been since I blogged. Not only, did we welcome our sweet Lucy in March, but she is now nearly 5 months old. I have found that life with two children leaves much less time for Mommy things, like blogging, scrapbooking, showering, toenail painting, etc. Ha!

I wouldn't change a thing though!  Miss Lucille Elizabeth has brought so much joy to our lives.  We can hardly remember what it was like without her.

She looks so much like her big brother did at her age!  Speaking of her big brother, JC will be starting Kindergarten in just two short weeks!  I cannot believe it.  How did my baby boy grow up so fast.  He LOVES X-box and Justin Bieber. LOL!  He is so smart, and I really look forward to meeting his new teacher and settling in to a great year of learning!

Our little family after Lucy's baptism

I will try to get back on the blogging wagon when I have time to update!  I do miss it, but between work, raising a family and trying to keep a clean house, I have little time left.  But I cannot complain!  I am loving life!!!

Surprise Baby Shower

The wonderful Girl Scout Volunteers in Itawamba County surprised me with a baby shower for Lucy tonight. She got some great gifts from these sweet ladies!

Maternity / Family Photo Shoot

I want to tell you all about an up-and-coming photographer in the Northeast MS area - Kristen Griffin. Kristen and I are from the same hometown, and she has started a photography business. She came over and shot some maternity / family pictures of us on Saturday, and I couldn't be happier with how they turned out.

She is building her portfolio and client base now and is running a "no session fee" special through April, so if you need some pictures, please contact her through her website http://www.kristengphotography.com/.

Catching Up

Oooh, I have been such a bad blogger lately. Sorry friends! Prompted by Colby for baby info, I thought I would update! :)

We are doing GREAT, just been super busy with work, a busy FIVE year old (YES, five!!!), and getting ready for our new baby girl to be born. As I write this, I am 33 weeks pregnant, and cannot believe she will be here in just 7 (or less) short weeks. She is due March 17, but I have had a feeling all along that she would be here earlier than that. We'll see!

Our baby girl's name will be Lucille Elizabeth, and we will call her Lucy! Both names are from my grandmothers - Lucille from my Dad's mother who passed away when I was six, and Elizabeth from my Mom's mother. We are happy to be giving her these names from two very special ladies!

Here are some recent belly pics.

25 weeks 32 weeks

As I have always heard was the case, we have been much more relaxed in preparation for Lucy than we were with JC. I had everything ready for JC's arrival by the time I was like 5 months pregnant, and at nearly 8 months pregnant with Lucy, I am sad to say that the nursery isn't even ready. In our defense, we weren't chasing a wild child around while preparing for JC. Ha! It will get done - I know it will. We pretty much have everything; it's just not set up and pretty yet. I will post pics when we get it done!

I am enjoying this stage of pregnancy, other than the fact that I feel huge... She is a very active baby and I love feeling her moving around. I wonder if this will be my last pregnancy? Curtis says "yes," but I am not sure. In any case, I am savoring these special moments while my baby girl is still safe inside. But, I sure can't wait to get her here!

JC is doing great! He still loves ECEC. His teacher, Mrs. Turner, is out on maternity leave. She had a sweet baby girl earlier this month. He really likes Mrs. Mathis, who is subbing while Mrs. Turner is out. Soccer will be starting back up soon and he can't wait. We just got him signed up for t-ball again this summer, and Curtis and our friend Gabe will be coaching their team. That should be a lot of fun!!! Here is a pic of JC blowing out his #5 candle (still cannot believe my baby is 5) at his birthday party.

For Curtis' birthday, JC and I decided to adopt a puppy from the Animal Shelter. I had every intention of getting an older dog to befriend our 4 year old Daisy, but this little fella just stole our hearts. Meet Smokey Robertson!!!

Smokey is a 3 month old Black Lab / Retriever mix. He is precious and as playful as he can be!!! I know he is going to get huge, but there was just something about him we couldn't resist. After showing him who was the boss of this yard, Daisy adopted her new little brother and they are best friends. Smokey likes to chew on everything, and his favorite thing seems to be Daisy's tale. She tolerates it for a minute and then gives him a little growl and he leaves her alone for a while. They are so CUTE!!!

Curtis is doing well! He cannot wait to be a Daddy to a little girl, although he is scared to death! Ha! He is a great Dad, and I know she will have him wrapped around her fat little finger! I didn't want to leave Curtis out of this post, so here is a picture of us from this year's Egg Bowl (Yay Bulldogs!!!)

5 Things

Cristina tagged me, so here goes!!!

Five Things
Instructions: Answer 5 questions with 5 answers, Tag 5 other bloggers

Questions:

1. Where were you 10 years ago?
--Starkville, MS sharing an apartment with my bestie, Teresa
--Attending MSU, majoring in Communication
--Planning my wedding to Curtis
--Working at Sullivan's Office Supply
--Blissfully happy, not realizing how lucky I was NOT to be in the "real world" yet.

2. What is on your TO DO list for today?
--Complete Girl Scout volunteer newsletter (DONE)
--Complete time sheets and schedules for work (DONE)
--Cook dinner (DONE)
--Update blog (Working on it)
--Read and go to bed (Soon)

3. What 5 snacks do you enjoy?
--Milkshakes
--Chips and salsa
--Special K (the milk has been so soothing for my heartburn. I don't think eating a bowl every night before going to bed is part of their diet plan. ha!)
--Lemon pie
--Snickers bars

4. Where are 5 places you have lived?
--Our home in Tupelo, MS
--Apartment in Tupelo, MS
--Apartment in Starkville, MS
--Rice Hall at MS State
--Childhood home in Eupora, MS

5. Name 5 things you would do if you were a billionaire.
--Pay off all our debt
--Complete college funds for JC and Lucy
--Help friends and family get out of debt
--Build a beautiful home in the country, but close enough to town so I could still get whatever I need whenever I need it
--Give to our church

I am not specifically tagging anyone, but I would love to read any of your 5 Things! It was kind of fun!