Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

3 months already!

I haven't been posting very often...sorry to those who've checked.  But I have been keeping up with Colby through pictures, video and jotting things down.  It's just so hard to get everything done around the house and keep up with two little boys!  Usually by nap time, mommy needs one, too!  However I promised myself that if I hadn't posted by 3 months, then I would make a point to post an update, and here we are! 

It's hard to believe it's been 3 months since Colby was born!  We must be having fun because time is flying!  He is so sweet!  We've settled into our routine now.  He's sleeping good, and growing like a weed.  Carter loves him, and gets mad whenever someone (like Aunt Big Sister) tries to take Colby home with them.  He has his moments where he wants us all to himself.  That's ok, too.  Pretty much everything, especially getting out has been easier this time around, probably due to the warmer weather and that I just know what I'm doing this time.  I also know each stage will be so short that rather than anticipating what's next, I'm trying to thoroughly enjoy every moment because I know it will go so fast.  He's already dropped a late night feeding, which means he's ready for bed around 8 p.m. most nights.  Yes, that's a great thing!  It's also showing me just how fast he's already growing up!  I have to savor my time with him while he's awake and wants to play because each day slips by so fast. Then while he's asleep, Carter and I get time together.  This stage is working out well.  I must admit those first couple months were a blur. 

Now we're starting to see Colby's little personality.  He's a very happy baby as long as he's kept on his routine for the most part, you don't disturb him while he's playing or sleeping, and either change activities or hold him when he starts to fuss.  He settles right back down, usually for a nap.  He's just content, and it's wonderful!  He's very curious and loves to watch his big brother, play on his playmat or listen to someone read.  And he LOVES bluegrass music! (and pretty much any music, especially if you dance with him.)  So to sum up since I hear one of them stirring from nap, the past 3 months have been wonderful, and I'm so thankful for my two sweet boys!

Baby Colby

Colby is one week old today!  I just wanted to share a photo and let you know he's doing very well!  Thanks to so many friends for the prayers, e-mails, calls and texts to check on him.  Carter is also adjusting very well.  He is basking in the glow of being a big brother!  He wants to cuddle and talk to Colby every chance he gets, and he likes to help Mommy & Daddy because he is "the big boy" as he tells us.  I hope to compose and post our delivery story soon because it was so great!  Wow, just this time last week we were anxiously awaiting our new baby boy and now we can't imagine life without him!  He's just as sweet and wonderful as his big brother!  We couldn't have asked God for a better experience, and we thank him everyday for the blessings of the past week.  Here's  a picture with more news to come.  Also, his jaundice is going away, and he's regaining weight and sleeping very well.  Born on Aug 17, at a hefty 9 lbs 10 oz, (yes, that's why I felt so heavy!) he was down to 8 lbs 12 oz on Sunday.  Yesterday he was back up to 9 lbs 3 oz with a  good doctor's visit.  As our sweet friend, Melanie, says, we got a "hunk-a-baby!" Love it!

A Most Distinguished Honor

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have arrived!  A most distinguished honor was bestowed upon me today.  But first, the backstory...

Sometime in my toddlerhood, I bestowed such an honor upon my own mama.  Sometime, somewhere, she enforced discipline upon my stubborn will, and I dubbed her, "The Meanest Mama in the Whole Wide World."  To challenge my toddler wisdom at the time, she must have been the meanest, right?  So there her title stuck.  Of course, now we fondly refer to her by her special title, and I'm sure she wears it proudly for loving me enough to take the time to discipline me.

So I can't help but smile this afternoon as I listen to my toddler yell at me from his bedroom, "Mommy, You're a Mean Girl!" (He prounounces girl as /gril/.)   And for me, I know exactly why he is telling me this.  After listening to him and his new Diego he just got today (from the TV series) talk for 20 minutes when they are supposed to be napping, I told him I would take Diego away.  They didn't get quiet, so I took away Diego for the remainder of nap.   He proceeded to bestow upon me such an honor as I gave my mama not that many years ago. 

I just wanted to inform you that I feel quite honored this afternoon to have such a similar title and hope I can live up to it and will wear it proudly!  (Of course, I also enjoyed his debate with himself that followed... "No, she's not a mean girl.  But she took Diego.  Mommy, You're a Mean Girl!")  I'm also looking forward to a big hug after nap.  :)

A Favorite Photo

One of my favorite photos

Weekend Away & Easter Morning

Jimmy & I enjoyed a weekend away or "babymoon" as it's called if you're expecting. We went to IKEA in Atlanta in search of big boy furniture for Carter's new room. We thought we had good luck until we found out shipping is $199 for the bed we wanted. So we just ordered a different twin bed on-line from another store for less and put that shipping charge toward actual furniture. We did, however, find some cool storage pieces there for Carter's new big boy room, in progress.

We also stayed in the same hotel where we spent the first night of our honeymoon eight years ago (May 17)! Wow, time flies! Aside from a few rennovations, it was pretty much the same and every bit as beautiful! The food is amazing there!

We shopped just across the street at Lenox Mall. With all those new and cool stores, it's funny I had the best luck at GAP maternity and Baby Gap. Of course, we got some things for Carter, too. I guess you could say I have my favorites.

We ate at a restaurant called Davio's in Phipps Plaza. It's the upperscale mall there. The food was good. I had Lobster Ravioli, but we just got a little tickled (in this really nice restaurant) about the tray that came with the bread. On it, they served "spiced goat cheese with pimientos," olives, and some tomato mixture. Jimmy said it tasted like Mrs. Grissom's pimiento cheese, and looked like they opened a jar of olives and can of tomato mush. Not to discredit the overall experience, but it just seemed a little pretentious. Sometimes serving butter with the bread is just fine if you really don't have any great "Iron Chef" take on the items. Needless to say, we had some good jokes about eating pimiento cheese for supper. Back to the mall, the Tiffany's store was closed by vaulted doors at night. Some of the stores were Versace, Armani and an upperscale version of what looked like Pottery Barn. There was a Lambourgini parked in the middle. Jimmy enjoyed giving it a good look. You don't see those everyday.

We're not really the type to go shopping on a weekend getaway, but it was neat to see what they have in Atlanta, and actually go in some stores, like Pottery Barn and PB Kids rather than just look at the catalogs. Yes, I realize I could have just gone to Nashville, but we wanted to incorporate a little getaway. I was surprised at how many of the stores in Lenox we actually have around here, and also reminded of how easy on-line shopping really is.

But shopping is not all we did. We got to take advantage of the hotel pool and spa with a prenatal massage for me, which were huge treats in themselves! My hips didn't hurt for a week. That was wonderful! We enjoyed chocolate covered strawberries, complimentary desserts and fruit-infused water. (Speaking of pretentious, Jimmy was not impressed with the lemons, limes and oranges floating in the pitchers of water. Meanwhile, I loved it.) I certainly wanted to take advantage of the R & R since I know that right around the corner life is about to get pretty hectic, but certainly in a good way!

I also wanted to share an Easter picture of Carter with the much anticipated Easter basket! Carter had a great Easter weekend and got to spend time with all 4 grandparents. Seems like we all had a special weekend! And the Easter Bunny came through because Carter got his "Alfie the Digger," too!

It's a boy!

We're having another boy! We're all very excited, happy and blessed to have received a good report from the doctor that our baby boy is growing normally, and this pregnancy is going well so far. Halfway into it, time is flying by! We hope to welcome him in August (24 is the due date), and also choose a name before then! I framed our ultrasound photo. For those who have a hard time making heads or tails of these types of photos: his head is to the left where you can make out an ear, he is facing downward, and his spine is along the top, which makes his little bottom to the right. His arms and legs are tucked up under him, and we saw 2 arms and 2 legs during the ultrasound. He was a very energetic and uncooperative fellow. The technician told me to tell him to behave before our next ultrasound in five weeks where they'll try to see all four chambers of the heart and get a better profile picture. I'm so excited I get to see him again in five weeks! Then we'll be on the long haul for August when we get to meet him in person! I framed this photo with a little poem that I reprinted below so it's easier to read. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have! There are lots of special little poems about boys, which make me cry they're so sweet, and some funny ones, too. This particular one is going on our bedroom wall.

Little boys are treasures

Who are worth their weight in gold,

And charm everyone around them

From the time they're minutes old.

They're Mommy's little darling,

They're a special pal to Dad,

And they bring the very happiest days

A family's ever had.

~Author unknown

Rain boots

Like my new rain boots?

We wanted to go outside Monday, but the ground was still a little wet and muddy. After putting on Carter's tennis shoes in the living room and getting dirt and mud all over my carpet, I decided maybe we need some rain boots. Mine have worn out, and he has out grown his! We wear them alot living in the country. Last time I wore them traipsing in the snow and water (not so long ago), my feet were soaked and COLD. Monday, we had to make a run to Wal-mart, so we decided to check out their stock. They're pretty cute, including the price tag. We got them home and tried them out even though we didn't need them by that time. Today we really needed them, and it looks like we'll need them in the near future. Carter wore his today in the rain even though we were just in town. They still helped. With Spring just around the corner, I'm looking forward to wearing out a new pair of rain boots.

So Happy for this Weather!

So I spared you the "snow" blog I drafted to myself one night as I lie in bed thinking that if it snowed one more time or the temps didn't start to approach 50 that I might have to pack and move to Florida! I'm not a snow baby. Well, thankfully this week is going to be amazing! We've already enjoyed a Valentine's Day picnic lunch with Daddy. He was happy to see us out and about, too. In addition to the snow and cold temps, Carter has had a rough go of it with a sinus infection and double ear infection that 2 rounds of antibiotics can't seem to knock out for most of January and all of February so far. He has run a fever again all weekend so we're headed to the doctor in the morning. After not being able to get out much, we sure were looking forward to getting out this week! I guess we'll be sticking to less crowded places until we know for sure what he has now. I'm so thankful for the backyard swing set and sunshine! Happy Valentine's Day!

My Review of SUN & MOON MAT

Originally submitted at UncommonGoods

Welcome guests day or night with this cheerful mat featuring a dual image of a sun and a moon. Hand woven from all-natural coir. Coir is a durable, absorbent fiber made from real coconut husks that is naturally resistant to mold and fungus. Stenciled with permanent fade-resistant dyes. Vinyl back...

SUN & MOON MAT

Great gift

By She likes unique gifts from Murfreesboro, TN on 1/3/2011

 

5out of 5

Pros: Cleans Shoes, Unique, Durable, Attractive Design

Best Uses: Decoration, Side Door

Describe Yourself: Midrange Shopper

This rug was a Christmas gift for my aunt for her outdoor patio. She loved it! It arrived very timely, and the colors are vibrant. It truly made a great gift!

(legalese)

Happy Birthday Carter!

Carter was born on New Year's Day two years ago! My how time flies! He had a fun 2nd birthday on Saturday with pizza, cake, balloons and gifts. We plan to continue celebrating this week with the Lewis side since it's hard to get everyone together at one time, and we figured what a better gift to him than a private audience with some of his favorite people on different days. He had a lot of fun!

Happy Birthday Carter!

And Happy New Year!