CHILD OF GOD

On Sunday we had Elle baptized in the church I grew up in and by the minister who was my youth director and also married Kenny and I. Our sanctuary is under renovation so they are having the service in the newly renovated fellowship right now.

Kenny's parents drove up from Fairhope and Elle was so blessed to have a lot of her family there for this great day!

Getting Elle dressed in one of the preschool rooms.

We were so nervous that Elle was going to scream at two things. The water and then Eddie taking her because she is having some stranger anxiety but she did great. Even sat through the rest of the church service quietly. Yay!

Elle, Kenny, me and Eddie

We did not have a baptismal gown in the family so I had one custom made for her by this seller on Etsy and I absolutely love it! She did such a fantastic job. And she also asked that I send her the slip back so that she can embroider Elle's initials and baptism date. We will continue to do this as the gown is passed around and down through the family and I love that thought.

Had to include this picture because my mom's TV died and my uncle just was not having it so he surprised her with a new one before we went to church Sunday morning. So of course Kenny had to check out some Sunday football on it when we got home. Priorities people!

My mom and I prepared a simple brunch of quiche and strawberry goat cheese salad for everyone. My aunt brought this amazing caramel cake all the way from Atlanta that reminded me of Minnie's caramel cake in The Help. It was so good and I am going to share the quiche recipes with you tomorrow because it was my first time to make quiche and they were awesome.

MEET THE FAM

I interrupt the regularly scheduled programming to announce that a picture of Elting was featured on my favorite baby blog today!

Spearmint Baby

On with the show....

On Friday morning after stopping at City Bagel for lunch (of course) we headed to Hattiesburg. My aunt and uncle were coming in town from Atlanta. This would be the first time they met Elting, their great niece. It is still kind of weird for them to hear us call her Elting because the name is my mother's maiden name and their last name. And it is an unusual name, especially to hear it used as a first name.

One of my mom's best friends, Susan and her husband, Dennis, were kind of enough to host all of us at their house for a shrimp boil. Dennis is from the coast and bought the shrimp that day. They were incredible. I am so sad because I am realizing I did not get a picture of Susan and Dennis. But the dinner was so much fun.

My Aunt Pam and Uncle Mike

Uncle Mike and Elting were good friends by the end of the weekend.

Had to include this picture from Saturday morning. This was my high chair as a little girl. My mom pulled it down from the attic and is going to keep it at her house for us to use. It is still to big for Elle but it did the job. She will have plenty of time to grow into it.

BABY'S FIRST GAME

Oh my gosh we have been so busy and I have so many things to blog about. We headed out of town this weekend for our first home football game against LSU and then headed to Hattiesburg where all of our family came in town to see Elting be baptized. So since there is so much to talk about and so many fun pictures I am going to break it all up into separate posts.

First off STARKVEGAS BABY!! We were so excited to take Elle to her very first game and it was a biggy. The bulldogs were facing off against LSU. After our sad loss against Auburn we were hoping for a win!

On Thursday we woke up and a cold front had moved through and it turned out to be very chilly. All the things I had brought for Elle "just in case" it was a little cool I ended up putting on her. Everyone was supposed to wear white and luckily I had brought a pullover because by game time it was freezing!

My BFF Megan who is due January 8 with her own little baby. Cannot wait!

One of our silly attempts to get Elle to nap at the tailgate.

Sisters!

Not sure what to think about this tailgating business.

We were anxious to see how Elle did at the game. The answer...not so great. We had a lot of things working against us. Kick off was at 7:30 and that is PAST her bedtime. So she was exhausted despite our attempts to try and get her to nap at the tailgate. Ha yea right! And the game was so loud, even though we had ear plug in her ears. She cried the entire first quarter and then we left. We ended up watching the game in the Alumni Center where it was very warm. Elle ended up staying up the rest of the game and playing, having the best time. We were sad we did not win. But still so excited for the rest of the season.

All bundled up in her tights that were waaaay to big, turtlneck and coat. It was cold!!

She fell asleep while we were walking off campus to our condo. So sweet. Poor tired baby.

THE SONG

Does this happen to yall.....you just become totally obsessed with a song? Every once and a while there is a song that has me listening to it on repeat, looking up the lyrics so that I can sing every single word right along with the artist. You listen to the radio just praying that song will come on so you can belt it out. Kind of reminds me of when I was in 7th grade and I would call the radio station and request The Fugees Killing Me Softly and wait for them to play it. Then I could quickly hit record on my boom box and have it on a cassette tape. YES!

This is THAT song for me right now. I know everyone feels this way because Adele is just huge right now. Never mind that, this song makes me wish just a smidge that I was back in my angsty heart broken days so I could pretend this song was about "us."And do not even pretend that you didn't do that!

Oh well, I will settle for literally belting it out to myself on a daily basis during our morning walks. People probably think I am bonkers.

WEIGHT LOSS UPDATE- HOORAY

Last week I stepped on the scale and miracle of miracles I saw the pre-baby number on the scale!! The pre-baby number!! And then a couple days later it was 2lbs under the pre-baby number!! I am beyond thrilled. Those last 5lbs had been stubborn suckers. I still want to continue to lose and would like to lose at least another 10lbs.

So what have I been doing? I owe it all to that wonderful jogging stroller. I walk everyday at least 3 miles but usually 4 or more. After my Labor Day weekend binge the weather was so nice that I walked up to 8 one day. With the walking I have found that I can pretty much eat what I want in moderation and continue to lose weight.

I will be sure to keep all my devoted readers updated on my progress. (wink, wink)

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Kenny has been out of town a lot lately for business. And I am one tired out momma. So when our friends Joe and Tracy invited us to their lake house for the holiday weekend we were excited to go. Only thing was...we didn't feel right about asking my sister to babysit the entire weekend. Kenny, wanting some daddy daughter time proposed that I head to the lake and spend some time with friends and he would hang out and keep Elle for the weekend.

Our entire family had the best weekend! I headed to the lake with Tracy Saturday morning to meet Joe and his parents and our girlfriend Rebekah and we were out on the water by that afternoon. Kenny loaded up Elle and took her to the zoo for her first time. They had a great time and I got lots of pictures!

Seeing Mommy's favorite. The elephants!

Panda bear was just passed out right next to the glass. Kenny had to get a picture.

After the seeing all the animals and even catching a sea lion show, Elting was worn out.

Back at the lake a little tropical storm named Lee was putting a damper on our plans of getting a good tan. When we woke up Sunday morning we could tell we weren't going to see the sun that day. So we spent the entire day snuggled up inside eating, watching girly movies, eating some more, drinking, eating and watching more movies. It was a smidge disappointing for everyone else because it was the last weekend of the "summer" but it was PURE HEAVEN to me to do absolutely nothing. At one point on Sunday I was in a recliner and felt drowsy so I rolled over and took a nap. HEAVEN I tell you.

We also played beauty parlor. Tracy had watched a YouTube video on how to do fish tail braids so she practiced on my hair because I L-O-V-E for people to play with hair.

Not a bit of make up in this picture and we wore yoga pants and tshirts all weekend.

Despite having gained a few pounds from all the junk we ate. I came home from the weekend feeling the most rested I have felt in a very long time and grateful for some down time and girl talk. And it was a HUGE bonus that I knew my little girl was so happy to spend so much time with her daddy. She is obsessed with him and totally smitten with him. It is so cute!

She looked this happy in every picture Kenny sent me this weekend.

BOYS OF FALL

It's that time of year and I could not be more thrilled. Kenny and I are so excited to be season ticket holders again for this football season and are loving all the excitement surrounding Mississippi State right now!

Life is about to get so crazy with all the traveling for home games plus everything else we have going on. We are planning on taking Elting to a lot of the games and seeing how it goes. I am praying that if we are laid back about it all that we all can have a good time. We could be totally out of our minds.

This past Thursday night the Bulldogs came to our hometown to give a beating to the Memphis Tigers. So Kenny and I went to the game with friends. Of course we had to make sure Elle was sporting maroon and white for her first game ever. And of course we had to get a family picture of this momentous occasion.

The game was so so so hot and kind of slow because the Tigers didn't put up much of fight. In typing this I just realized that we will be playing the Tigers for three games in a row. Memphis, Auburn and LSU. Hopefully we win against all those kitty cats!

GO DAWGS!!

ANOTHER YEAR OLDER

Yesterday was my birthday. And my new age makes me feel old. Because it so close to one that really makes me feel old! Sorry if that sounds ambiguous. I just still feel like a kid, or least a college kid. Ha! But I am not a college kid. I have a child of my own. I am a grown up!

However I will say that when I was younger and I thought about the future and this age my life is exactly where I thought it would be. Happily married, babies, a home, friends, jobs, family. It is a good life. A life where birthdays shouldn't be a depressing thing but a pat on the back and a chance to step back and appreciate everything our little family has achieved.

So it is only appropriate that yesterday was a great day. Elle and I met up with a close friend for a fabulous patio lunch. My sweet little elderly neighbor brought me a happy along with farmers market veggies and a birthday cake. I am having a veggie night! Can't wait to slather those maters with some mayo and cracked pepper. Kenny sent me flowers. Everyone I care about called me to wish me a happy birthday. Then ended the day with drinks, a delicious dinner and desserts with girlfriends on another patio.(Even blew out a candle in some creme brulee!) And finally came home to thank my amazing sister for babysitting and letting me go out with my friends and kissed my little girl good night. Outside of Kenny having to be out of town yesterday for business and not getting to spend the day with him it was one of the best birthdays I have had in a while.

FOTO FRIDAY

Apologies for the blurry picture. But these two were just looking so sweet in their matching pink and of course my iPhone is what I had. Love this picture though!

WALKING ON SUNSHINE

So during my unofficial blogging hiatus I decided that Elle and I needed to try and get out of the house more. She likes being out of the house and it makes me feel better to. So I decided to start going for a walk everyday. Only problem is it so hot out right now. So I feed Elle in the morning and then we get ready and go before it gets to hot.

For a while I was just pushing Elle in her car seat and her snap and go stroller and it was fine. But all this walking helped me break my weight loss plateau!!! My body just seemed to want to keep those last 5lbs but now I am 1lb away from pre-pregnancy weight and I of course want to keep losing after I hit that pre-pregnancy weight.

So it was time for something more long term when it came to strollers. I had gone back and forth on purchasing a jogging stroller but my birthday is in a few days and literally the only thing I could think that I wanted (besides sleep, relaxation and some me time) was a jogging stroller. Times have changed!!

Looking at strollers I could not justify the price of the BOB stroller so I ended up choosing this beauty. The Scwhinn Turismo Single Stroller with the swivel wheel. My mom and sister graciously gave it to me for my birthday. And I am obsessed. I love it so much!!!Compared to the snap and go I was pushing it is like walking on air. It moves and turns so easily and Elle is much more comfortable and cooler. Even Kenny seemed impressed by the sheer amazingness of this stroller. When it gets cooler I hope to go out a couple times a day.

MOTHER OF THE YEAR - INSTALLMENT 1

I am saying Installment 1 because I am sure there are bound to be more instances where I try and beat myself up for something I did or didn't to. Elle has a long life ahead of her so stay tuned for more installments and feel free to laugh at me like I have learned to laugh at myself.

Yesterday I had Elle down on the floor and on her mat for some play time. I will sitting right next to her piddling on the computer. I was handing her toys and talking to her while she played.

I must of looked away for a second and then my phone rang and it was my mom. Leaning over to grab my phone and say hello I see it...

A HUGE HUGE SPIDER ON ELLE. HUGE! She had spit up on her outfit earlier so I had changed her into this little pale pink cotton onesie. And the stark contrast of that sweet little onesie and that wretched spider just hanging out on her belly. So I have my phone to my ear with my mother on the other end and I am fa-reaking out.

Luckily I managed to think fast. I grabbed a stack of post it notes nearby and brushed the spider off of Elle and then squashed it. I immdiately stripped her and checked all over her body for any bites. And thank goodness there were not any.

So now I am just having these horrible flash back images of that spider on her. And yes we get our house sprayed and our house does not have a bug problem. I have no idea where that spider came from and I shudder to think how long it crawled around near her.

The funniest thing about it. When I looked down and saw that spider she looked right back up at me all doe eyed with those big blue eyes and smiled. Had absolutely no idea that nasty old bug was on her.

WEEKEND UPDATE AND SNEAK PEAKS!

Yea I know July 22 was a looooong time ago. Anywho! Kenny and I had a fun weekend. He has been out of town so we wanted to be sure to spend some quality time together and with Elle.

Friday night we ordered pizza in and snuggled up on the couch to watch Source Code. And it was good. So good I actually stayed awake for the entire thing which is highly unusual for me.

On Saturday my lovely sister was nice enough to babysit her niece and let Kenny and I go see a movie. We chose Horrible Bosses. Everyone had been talking about how hilarious it was. And to me it was just okay. I think part of the problem was I was sitting next to some much older people and they kept shifting uncomfortably because the movie is extremely vulgar. So that made me self conscious to. Does that ever happen to anyone else?

On Sunday I went for a long hot walk (more on my walking to come. I ordered a jogging stroller AND I have broken my losing plateau!!!) and then Kenny and I went for late lunch/early dinner before coming home to watch all of our Sunday night TV.

So we were so excited to see our sneak peak of Elle's six month photo shoot by the fabulous Molly at Good Golly Photography was posted last night. I love the pictures and cannot wait to see more!

PAINTING WITH A TWIST...AND SOME WINE

Last night we had a girls night to celebrate my friend Tracy's birthday. We decided to switch things up and doing one of those painting classes where you go and all do the same painting and drink wine. It was so much fun!
I do have to say I am seriously unartistic. It can be the simplest task and I will mess it up. I try and blame it on my left handedness. So it is funny in this picture that we are smiling and the instructor is down there working on my painting.



Sorry for the blurry picture but I had to include the one of all our paintings. It was so fun to see how they all turned out. As poorly as I thought I did, I woke up this morning I kind of liked my painting. I definitely want to do this again.

After the class was over we were leaving i.e getting kicked out ha...and it was POURING so we ended up sitting on the patio for an hour or two talking and finishing our wine and letting my hair frizz.

BAD BLOGGER! BAD

I know I have been a horrible blogger. Kenny and I have been busy plus I need to try and take a break from technology/social media. I have a problem these days where I am staring at my computer 24/7. Before when I was in a office all day I did all my work and web surfing there and when I came home I hardly even opened my laptop. But now that I am working from home I am having a hard time drawing a line as to when the COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE SHUT!!!

It is something Kenny and I have talked about and both need to work on. I will start posting again regularly. I love keeping this blog up to date and I know our family checks it often for updates on Kenny and I and to get peeks at Elle. So since it has been a while here are some pictures for the family and friends to get their fix.
Won't be long before she really will be riding her furry sister around.

Aunt Annie and Elle hanging out in their most patriotic colors to watch the USA Women's World Cup game.

We had Elle's 6 month photo shoot (pics to come) so we put this little robe on while we waited on the photographer.

We went to lunch afterward the photo shoot and she was worn out!

And Kenny and I are so thrilled that Elle is really starting to belly laugh. I took this video last night and it just cracks me up.

I HAVE TO DISAGREE

I started thinking about this article tonight while I snuggled my freshly bathed daughter, giving her her bedtime bottle. This my favorite part of the day. She smells so delicious and she is so tired that she drinks her bottle quickly and usually falls asleep in my arms allowing me to place her in the crib, give her kisses and then tiptoe out of her nursery.

I remember reading this article right around the time I had returned back to work. The article basically says that parents exaggerate the joy that having children brings them to make them feel better about the financial cost of having children.

A study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, suggests that parents create rosy pictures of parental joy as a way to justify the huge investment that kids require.

Six months in, I cannot even imagine this to be true. In the last six months Elle has brought so much joy to our lives that it is even hard to describe. I find myself tearing up all the time out of happiness and love. I find myself smiling ALL THE TIME because I know she is watching me and I look at her for even a second she will smile back at me with her open mouth grin that she does. There is so much laughter in a house with a baby. Whether it is Kenny's reaction to something gross (ahem) that she has done. Or we have found yet another way to get her to do her rare belly laughs. Or she hits another milestone that we have been working so hard for her to hit. The only word that can describe it is joy.
And no amount of money, (though children ARE expensive) would EVER outweigh the amount of happiness that Elle has brought us in the six months that she has been in our life.

So bring on the tutitions and the clothes and the diapers and the cars and the ballet lessons. It is so incredibly worth it!!

FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND

Our little family had a great long weekend of hanging out, watching the Casey Anthony trial closing arguments, a movie date and then a Fourth of July BBQ with friends. It was one of the weekends that did not seem to fly by. It went by slowly.

On Saturday, Kenny and I just hung out around the house and then we grilled out that night. After we ate we all loaded up and went to Cheffie's for some gelato. I love their gelato. I was telling someone the other day that when you have a baby you can't have any spontaneous dessert runs. We put Elle down no later than 8 pm so if a YoLo urge strikes you can't really go out and get it. So Saturday night we planned on eating early so I could get my fix.

On Sunday, we watched the closing arguments for the Casey Anthony trial in the morning. Then my lovely sister was gracious enough to babysit for us so Kenny and I could have a date. We are so lucky to have her in the same city. We went to brunch at Bronte in the Davis Kidd bookstore and then we went to see Pirates of the Caribbean. Kenny loves those movies. I thought the third one was horrible but this one was much better.
This one had gorgeous mermaids. And I have to say the whole mermaid storyline made me really enjoy the movie. After our date which was heavenly, (Man! We miss going to the movies so much) we came home and Kenny grilled out BBQ baby back ribs and grilled corn. It was delicious.

This weekend I also made my first round of baby food. I made carrots and sweet potatoes. I calculated that I saved around $15 dollars compared to the price of jarred organic baby food and it is better for her to. Score!


Monday afternoon to celebrate the holiday we went to our friend's parent's house to have a potluck celebration and then go see fireworks. There was so much food. And so many kids and adults. It was a lot of fun. Elle was so busy watching everyone she ended up falling asleep in our arms at one point so we let her nap in the car seat. Once it got dark someone had bought a bunch of bottle rockets and sparklers so all the kids (with parents) were having fun shooting those.

And do not get excited. I am NOT four months pregnant as it might appear in this picture. I need to not arch my back and poke out my food belly in such a way.

After the party we were all supposed to go and watch a firework show but Elle was up past her bedtime and honestly Kenny and I were a little beat so we decided to call it a night.

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend as well!!