Ode to the iPhone

Although some (A-master) called you an addiction
I called you my life planner
We were together for 1.5 short years, but your mark on my life will live on forever
I am sorry for the way I treated you on occasion
If I could find you I'd never drop you again, shatter your face, or let baby girl drool on your precious white cover
My heart is deeply saddened by your sudden departure in Target Tuesday
How you disappeared from my hands I'll never know
You carried so much valuable information within your Otter Box
Oh, what I'd do to have you and all 1,800 pictures and videos back in my hands
And all my songs from iTunes that I can never recover
My hope for the remainder of your days on Earth are that whosoever picked you up loves and adores you as much as I did
I couldn't bear to think of someone besides myself mistreating you
Please, please my sweet iPhone miraculously show up in the shoe department where I last saw you
I am lost without you

Cookie sheets

I have neglected to tell y'all this because I am ashamed. But the first step to recover it admission right? Well, I am the loser mom at daycare. Loser. Reese always comes home with these little gift from her friends at daycare. Emma and Luke always give Reese books to read. What do I send? Nothing. Candy, when I remember. Not this year. No, ma'am. Since pinterest came into my life I am a changed woman. I decided a couple of weeks ago that I would do the girls at daycare a cookie sheet chalkboard. So the following is a play by play of how it all went down.


First, I made this picture of my baby because she was looking cuter than ever.




Then I got all of my things together.

Cookie sheet $1 at Dollar Tree (and I am not kidding when I tell you that I almost asked a worker how much they were. I've been a little off my A game lately. Can you tell?)
Paint brush
Ribbon
Chalkboard paint (I used the spray kind on some and the liquid on others. The spray is around $8 at Hobby Lobby and the liquid is about $12 at Lowe's.)
Sanding block- free because the hubs already had that
Spray primer- which is technically optional since I forgot to use it on a couple of mine.
Painters tape

Since the cookie sheets have some sort of slick finish on them (which I would be willing to bet is harmful to our health in one way or another) the paint will not stick. Trust me I tried it. So I scuffed it up with a sanding block. Don't you love my action shot here?

Then I taped the edges with painters tape. Or you could just paint the whole thing with chalkboard paint. Totally up to you.

Then I called in for reinforcements to drill my holes. But if you don't have those types of reinforcements you could just use a hot glue gun. Which later you will see why I should have done just that.

Here is the step I forgot when I was actually documenting with the camera. Spray the board with primer so the chalkboard paint has something to stick to.

I painted 3 coats on mine, but it might could have used more. I'm just very impatient at times. After that dried, I cut the girls initial out with my Cricut and glued it to the board.

Also-side note- the spray kind has a very smooth finish while the liquid will leave a more lined look. Which looks better is all according to preference.

Periodically I had to stop the project to get a stick out of Reese's mouth.

Tie ribbon through the holes...And the final product....

And another version which lead to a marital dispute. I recommend waiting until after the holes are drilled to put the initals on the board or it could turn out like this...

The boys got a ball and camo socks. I wanted to do them chalkboards too, but put footballs or baseballs on them. Adam said absolutely not because it was too girlie.

Dollar Tree also had round and rectangle platters that would have been absolutely adorable.

I would have loved this as a kid. Plus they are easy and inexpensive.

P.S. I have found multiple uses for chalkboard paint. It could become some type of obsession for me.

15 months(yesterday) and Zoo Lights Safari

At 15 months old:

She is, without a doubt, a fashionista. I don't know if it's the 1 red shoe, the pink pants, or the orange pumpkin shirt, but girlfriend is workin' it.



Weighs: 21 pounds


Height: not sure

Wears a size 3 diaper and 12 month old clothes.
Loves milk and orange juice. Oh, and her paci. (Don't tell her but I am cutting off the tips in a couple of days.)

Isn't a great eater. When she does eat she likes bananas, sweet potatoes, rasins, and carrots. Her favorite food is Puffs. Adam taught her how to dip things in ketchup this weekend and she loved it.



She is a skilled and talented waver. She waves at everybody, everywhere. Her whole wrist gets involved and it is precious. She follows every wave with blowing a kiss.

Other than waving some of her hobbies include making 3 messes while I try to clean up 1, climbing on the step stool in our closet, pulling the toilet paper off the roll, cleaning out all drawers within her reach, and carrying around wash cloths in each hand. She also enjoys having me carry her around every waking second.

A couple of weeks ago I had to carry her to daycare because Adam was out of town for training and when I dropped her off she cried the ugly cry. From what I understand it went on for quiet some time after I left.



In the last 2 weeks she has learned so many new words. To date she can say the following: MaMa, DaDa, bye, bird, PawPaw (she has a PeePaw, but it is possible that he has now been renamed), MawMaw (again, she doesn't have a MawMaw. She has a MeeMaw.), D.D., Addison (which sounds like Add son), Hudson, Autie, Dixie, and her own version of Chinney.

Thanks to a Pinterest project she had paint from head to toe.




We went to the Birmingham Zoo last weekend to see the lights. We rode the train and saw Santa. The train went much smoother than Santa.



I had decided that we were not seeing Santa this year because I knew she would cry and scream and have a complete meltdown. I hate it when I'm right. But I love that picture and I am so glad that we had her picture made. When I picked her back up she waved and gave him high 5.

How a year can change things....




I underestimated the weather Saturday night, but thankfully I had a blanket in the car. She wrapped up for the train ride.


That Santa, he is everywhere at the zoo. On the train ride he and Mrs. Clause greeted us and then he was waiting when we got off to have our picture made with him.



There was also a petting zoo type thing with pigs, goats, and miniature horses. Her favorite part was the rocking chair.





By the end she was exhausted. We changed her into her PJs and she went sound asleep.



Please excuse me while I take a trip down memory lane.

When I was looking for her Santa picture last year I found this picture. And, oh my heart.

Never Grow Up

Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause your dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light


To you, everything's funny
You've got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have honey
If you could stay like that


Oh, darlin don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darlin don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

Won't let nobody hurt you

Won't let no one break your heart

And even though you want to

Please try to never grow up

(Here's a link to Taylor Swift's song Never Grow Up. If you have a child brace yourself before you listen. It made me emotional.)

Letters from Lodia and other random thoughts

You know what makes me laugh. You other mothers out there can hopefully relate. Sometimes I will ask Adam to watch Reese for a minute (for instance while I use the restroom) and then I might ask him to do something small (for instance take something out of the oven) and he will say, "I can't. I'm babysitting". You never hear the momma saying, "Sorry I can't cook supper. I'm babysitting". Or, "sorry I can't wash the clothes. I'm babysitting." He is trying to make me laugh when he says stuff like this. And, for the record, it isn't babysitting when it's your kid. It is called parenting. But to his credit as he says this he almost always headed to do whatever I asked him to. A-master is a good man. Good, good man. And, might I add, a good babysitter.

The above story was purely hypothetical.

Friday night Adam and I went Christmas shopping. We stopped by and spoke with Santa and from the way things sound Reese is getting something really fun. Adam has doubts that she will play with it, but isn't that the risk you always run with the kiddies?


I ran across these snazzy Dorothy shoes while out shopping and I knew the girl would love them. Or, at least, her momma would. When she wears them she looks down at her feet. I guess because they are so bright. I would have loved these as a kid.


When I really need to distract Reese so that I can get some things done, or if I just need a moment without carrying 20 lbs on my hip I pull out the rocking chair. We have to hide it from her most of the time because when that chair comes out she turns into a little fearless rebel. Last week she was rocking her little heart out and when I got the camera out she crashed and burned. I was sitting right beside her and the chair broke her fall, but as MeeMaw and PeePaw were sure to point out this could have been a dangerous. Yet so funny:)



On another note we received our first letter from Lodia on Friday. A case worker translated and wrote what she said. On the back she drew a little flower. My favorite part was the end when she says, "I love you". I had just mailed off our first letter to her along with a picture of us which is what World Vision recommended doing. We also have a few small gifts to be mailed soon.


Currently, our satellite has gone out so we are spending a lot of time just staring at each other. This just thrills Adam because now we are going to have the satellite people come out and fix it along with adding HD and DVR upgrades. Santa has come early to see the hubs;)

All I want for Christmas

is for everybody that I love and adore to be healthy and happy. And I want everybody to not get so stressed over the holiday silliness and just remember the real reason for the season. And peace on Earth and all that jazz. That's really all I want, but Adam just KEEPS on at me to give him a list of a few things I would like. 5 things were his requirements.

A Kavu purse like this.



I realize these are probably on the verge of going out of style. What? Already out of style? Say it isn't so. Well let me tell you about my purse these days. I don't carry one. I put my phone, keys, and my wallet (when I don't forget it at home) in Reese's diaper bag. But you know the problem with that? Sometimes (rarely) she isn't with me. Then I find myself carrying those 3 items in my hands. DANGEROUS! Wednesday, after I went to a workshop, I did a little shopping. When I got to the checkout I realized that OH MY GOODNESS MY KEYS! WHERE ARE MY KEYS?!?!? Right where I left them. At the photo center. They were promptly returned to me. But you see how dangerous to my sanity this is, right? I think one of these little jewels would be the perfect solution since I can just sling it across me and not have to worry about it falling off my shoulder etc. Anyway, one of those would be nice. In a solid color. Maybe black.

I adore TOMS. Really I want a pair in every color. But for now I would take these.




I tried them on and instantly loved them. I think I like this color, but then I saw these and I am torn.


What do you think? If you don't like TOMS have you tried them on? Because I was the first to make fun of them, but they will change your little piggies lives. Adam went to great lengths to get me a burlap pair last year. (P.S. Thanks Adrienne and Adam H for making that stop in Troy and getting those. They made my Christmas complete.)(P.S.S. I noticed that Reese had a pair of Tiny TOMS on her list this year.)

I could also find a use for this latte maker




I go my McDonlds, oh, at least 4 times a week for a caramel latte. My only fear for this gift is that I would never be able to make one as good as McDonalds therfore I would never use it. So this is an iffy gift. What do you think? Would it be a mistake that would do nothing more than take up counter space?

This next one is a stretch. I'm not sure Santa could pull it off. And I am not sure that I even want to tackle this. But wouldn't it be just lovely if I woke up on Christmas morning and our extra bedroom had been transformed into a craft room like this one..


Or, oh my, I do like this one...


Or this one. Definitely this one.


I love crafts. Not that I'm good at them, but 90% of the time I have some sort of craft project strewn across the bar in the kitchen. My recent addiction to Pinterest has done nothing to help this problem. And recently I have been flirting with the idea of getting MeeMaw to teach me how to sew. But then I question why I would want to do that. I can't even get on the elliptical without holding Reese. She would never allow me to sew. I think Adam is tired of all the projects. He has really been wanting to turn the extra bedroom into a craft room, but I have hesitations. Like what if we want another baby in a few years? Then I will have to turn that room into a nursery, and find somewhere for all my stuff and yada, yada, yada. It is exhausting to think about.

Adam, I realize that is only 4 things. 2 if you want to be exact since the latte maker is an iffy and the whole craft thing is a difficult Christmas gift, but work with me here. You can always give me a Hobby Lobby gift card.

How about y'all? Do y'all do spouse Christmas gifts?? Or pool your money and buy a joint gift?