Welcome to my journal

Almost Christmas!!!! 

Wow, a little less than 3 months until Christmas time.  November and December are definetely my two favorite months of the year.  Even though Christmas can be depressing in some ways.  I always let Bailey adopt an angel her age, (makes it easier to buy for) and she has a blast buying things for her.  This year I'll adopt one Aubrees age too, Bailey will really like that.  I'm already in the shopping mood!!!!  Our plan as of right now is to get a cabin November 21-25 in Pigeon Forge.  The Christmas lights shoudl be up by then and I think Aubree will love strolling around looking at them.  Hopefully we can get a little Christmas shopping in then too.  The way it seems now, it may be 80 degrees then.  That would kinda be nice, but a little weird.  I was in Florida a few years ago around Christmas time and it was so weird seeing palm trees with lights on them. 

Aubree and I are at my office today.  She's being such a doll, sleeping here beside me.  She always does so good here and everyone loves her.  It's not so bad working with my baby girl beside me.

What a weekend!  I honestly hate being guilty of wishing time would fly, but this saturday and sunday, I was all to glad to see the hours scream by!  Bailey had her sleep over saturday night, and we ended up with 6 girls!  Normally that wouldn't seem like many, but add a 3 month old that LOVES her sleep to the mix, and a girl that thinks she has mono to the mix, and mommy needed a stiff drink, a valium AND a nerve pill!  I will say they were pretty good though, I just couldn't wait to get the last one out the door and grab the Lysol can.  I think I literally hosed down everything in the house twice.  They did manage to get lots of use out of the pool for one last weekend so that was good.  It's rare to have a late september day and be able to swim outside, they really enjoyed it, and now Father time can go back to being lazy!  It's almost Christmas!  I LOVE this time of year, but watching Aubree grow so fast makes me want it to take awhile getting here.  Scott and I have such fun holiday shopping traditions though, and last year we didn't get to do any since I was nurturing a young one.  This year, we can grad a setter for a few hours and enjoy it though!  The only time Aubree has been with a sitter has been the 3 days I worked and didn't take her with me, I'm thinking it's time to get one for a date night soon!!!!  Scott's band plays Oct 13 in Johnson City, then Oct 26 in Chattanooga, and I'm still debating on going to these shows.  Part of me wants to, to get to see everyone and hang out, but part of me really just wants to stay home with my little girl.  I may miss something!!!  For the Chattanooga show, I'd kinda like to have a little time to do some exploring, I've heard great things about the area.  Bailey is wanting to go too.  What to do?  I kinda want to find a hotel with an indoor pool, and let Scott go do his show, and take saturday to site see, then come home sunday.  I also kinda want to be able to go to his show.  I've been working really hard on pumping to have enough milk for a sitter so that shouldn't be an issue, it's just making up my mind........

Got a WONDERFUL new toy this weekend.  I've been dying for a new camera since Aubree came along, thinking it's the camera and not the photographer.  So, Scott finally got tired of listening to me and we did some research, and after reading on Dooce's sight that she uses a Nikon D80 and really recommends it, for our "starter" camera, we opted for the Nikon D40.  We haven't really gotten to play with it alot.  I did the new shots I put up of Aubree, those were just some simple ones, we really want to try to get fancy at some point and get some really good ones.  We're supposed to be going to an Olive and Olive Oil tasting this saturday at a Vineyard and I'm going to try to get some good ones then. 

Aubree is still growing like a weed!!  Has so much head control now.  I love when she's being carried around, that little head moving around and those eyes taking everything in.  When she's in her carrier/car seat, she will pull her head forward and it looks so akward, but she seems to love it.  It really drives Bailey crazy and she will try to "help" her pull it back.  She wakes up smiling, and even when she hasn't pooped in 2 days, she's full of grins and smiles!!!!  I love her fully, totally, completely, with all of my heart, and can't remember my life ever being this great!!! 

Time has flown!!!  One baby turns 10 years old today, while the other, turns 3 months old!!  I'm really liking the 9 year 9 month age difference as well.  Makes things alot easier when you have such a great big sister.  I love watching both of their faces light up when they are "talking" to eachother.  Aubree wakes up with a big smile for Bailey every morning.  Evidently she gets that "greet every morning with a beautiful smile" attitude from her Papaw Steve, cause she sure doesn't get it from Scott or I.  Although, I will admit he gets up much easier than me.  Right now, since I sleep with Miss Aubree, it is a blessing waking up to such a smile!  She is SO happy in the morning and lays there for awhile like she's trying to form her words, then she starts babbling and it's the most beautiful sound! 

I've really got to start getting ready for Baileys birthday party on Saturday.  I swear, this birthday has already worn out me and my pocket book and it's just today official.  The trip to Pigeon Forge and Splash Country was part of her "birthday", tonight the whole family is going out to eat at Olive Garden (her choice) for her birthday, she got one present already on my birthday (Cake Mania for her DS) that Scott gave her to entertain her on the ride, she got a present last night (monkey underwear) and another this morning (really cool monkey jean capris and a shirt from Parks Belk) AND another present for her dinner tonight, Sims Fashion Runway, THEN her big with friends party and sleepover on Saturday.  Which means, plates, napkins, balloons, streamers, pinata, food food and food, and did I mention food, oh and a cake.  Then 5 or 6 girls sleeping over, more food.  Kids birthdays seem to get bigger each year!!!  We'll be doing the same thing for Miss Aubree before you know it, one difference is her birthday being in summer, not sure how we'll pull off such a big party.  I know Bailey has never gotten invited to a birthday party in summer unless it was family.  She really didn't invite a whole lot this year.  It will be a pool party so not sure about the weather, september is always a hard month.  It has been 90's and high 80's the last few days though.  The pool water was pretty chilly this weekend but we swam anyway, determined to get a little more use out of it before it's time to close it. 

I remember when Bailey was in kindergarden, she invited her whole class to her birthday party at Planet Kids, a HUGE indoor playground/video game place with separate rooms for parties.  The party package included like 11 kids, then you had to pay $3 each additional.  We honestly didn't expect them all to show, but I believe they all did except for like 4, so that party ended up costing quite a fortune!  I also remember, her 3rd or 4th birthday, I set up a surprise party for her at a pizza place in town, she loved it!!  Of course it was much easier keeping secrets back then, that would be almost impossible to pull off now.  Almost like Santa Claus.  She still believes, but her friends don't and are constantly telling her he's a fraud.   I think part of her may really believe in the idea, and part of her just wants to be able to keep asking for the presents she "thinks" comes from Santa so she doesn't feel bad knowing mom and dad foot the bill. 

I finally had to bite the bullet and take my wedding rings to get sized yesterday.  I lost all of my baby weight within like 2 or 3 weeks, yet my fingers never went back to the same size.  I had them sized up so it's been really nice having them on again, it's been almost 9 months!  I fell in love with a beautiful old timey looking Victorian ring they had there yesterday, but our relationship was short lived when I saw the price tag of $2400 on it.  I know maybe technically that isn't considered much for an engagement/wedding ring, but still to me that's a couple of Christmas and birthdays for my kids!  My how perspective changes when you have children....were it just Scott and I, I wouldn't think twice about asking for it.  He told me that offer lay away, and I tried to rationalize it in my head that good jewelry is an investment, and I'd have two wedding sets to leave the girls, the before Aubree set that has the wrap has mine and Baileys birthstone in it, then the after Aubree set.  Still can't convince my mind or wallet though.  I'd rather have Lasik :-) 

I'm at work today, I'm goign to do 2 days a week until November, then just go to 3 days a week.  It's not easy leaving her and I am so glad that it's just leaving her with Grandma and not daycare.  At 3 months, all they could possibly do at daycare is set around, nap, or be put in a swing and left there.  I can't imagine one person taking care of 3 or 4 babies.  I imagine walking through one would be kind of like walking through the pound, all of those baby eyes looking at you so sweet, wanting to be picked up and loved on.  It's just not for me (or Aubree) until shes at least 3 years old, then it will be nice for her to have play time and friends.  Bailey never was in daycare or pre school at all and went right into kindergarden with no problems what so ever.  Granny is loving having her too so that makes things nicer.  And if they still want to take off I can always bring her to work with me. 

So, enough random rambling. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0YPTxch9OQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIAa4MZ3zXg

Some videos of Aubree watching tv

Today you are wearing your pink camo onesie with the matching pants daddy bought you on my birthday....

I bought you your first Halloween bib yesterday, it's orange and says "My Mummys hot" on the front

You've started giggling more, and are constantly smiling.  You see mommy looking at you and your face just lights up!  When daddy walks in and talks to you, you grin from ear to ear.  When sissy gets out of the car in the mornings at school, you stare at her empty spot for abit waiting for her to come back.

You constantly want something in your mouth.  Whether a boob, a fist, or a teething ring

You've started using your hands alot lately.  You can grab things and get them to your mouth and love to chew.  I still remember when you had no idea that hand was connected to you.

At 12 weeks you've already been to the beach for a week, Pigeon Forge for 2 nights, your first water park, Blowing Rock, Boone, but you've never been away from mommy.

You are wearing a size 3-6 months now, instead of the 0-3.  You fill out 3 months clothes well. 

You love having your picture taken.
You dont mind at all being put in your car seat.  And when I go to unhook you to get you out, you ball up your fists and kick and actually shake you get so excited. 

Right now you're watching the Doodlebops sing and loving it. 

You are a good sleeping baby and let us know when you're ready to go to sleep.

Right now you weigh about 14 pounds and still have your double chin and fat rolls on your arms and legs.

You have never had anything other than breast milk.  You take a bottle when you have to but mostly like mommy to feed you.

You love to "sing" and "talk" to people.  And LOVE it when mommy gets clost to your face and says "OOOHHH" and I exagerate my mouth making it a big "O".  you copy it every time and smile so big. 

I believe, no, I know, you are a genius.