Just in case...

Just in case you are having a bad day- I want to make you feel better about yourself by telling you what I have done all day. Because saying "nothing" is boring, I'll elaborate.


I awoke to a phone call from Lisa. We talked and laughed and then I sat on the couch.
I decided I didn't want to do anything today. 
I ate chocolate for breakfast with my tea.
I sat on the couch and downloaded videos off my flip for about 2 hours. Labeled them.
I wrote a blog.
I facebooked. A lot.
I stared at pictures of my new niece.
-still on the couch people- 
I ate leftover alfredo for lunch. With a cookie.
Drank the rest of the Dr. Pepper.
I watched 2 movies on Netflix. Streamed them.
Getting off the couch to put in a DVD would be just too much.
Hm, what else. 
I did hang Cham's hairbow holder in her room when I went up to change her diaper and put her down. That was productive.
I ate a LOT of chocolate for fun. Stockings are killing me with the chocolate.
I got peed on. Twice. Just a little.
I swapped the clothes in the washer to the dryer, and started a new load.
They are still in there. Oops. 
I watched house hunters. 5 of them.

I think that about covers it. I mean, pajamas, chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate, movies. Other than the usual taking care of Cham Cham and going to the bathroom, I pretty much sat on the couch. How lazy is this:

I straight up put my baby down on the couch for her nap. The stairs were not my friend today. I did get off the couch to take that picture. That was productive.

Hope you feel better about yourself. I feel like a loser. Whatev.


Until Next Time,
The Guff

HO HO HO

So, Christmas with K's family is always crazy busy! His entire family lives in the same area, so we have lots of people to pack in in a few short days. We love it. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip:

Chamblee with all of most of her presents from Santa! 

Christmas Eve- Waiting for Santa & dreaming of a white Christmas

Merry Christmas Chamblee!!! 

Snowing Christmas Morning

Tasting the snow

Christmas breakfast @ Nannie's 

don't you love the decorated deer?!

Finally making the snow angel I talked about. All. Day. 

The best present of the year. BY FAR! 

I realize that she doesn't know what's going on...yet... but I felt like she did this year! Ha! We squeezed our little family Christmas in on Christmas Eve this year, upstairs, just the 3 of us. It was really fun because K and I did Santa separately... We set a budget for Chamblee's Christmas, split the budget between us and went out separately to Santa shop. That way Chamblee had presents and K and I were both surprised with what she got. It was awesome. She giggled and giggled with every present she opened- but the clear winner was the "wabbit" that her daddy Santa got her. Look how excited she is about Santa!

And her Wabbit!
Please excuse the baby talk and the boogers in her nose. Thanks. 

She just wouldn't let the thing go. It's her newest friend. Well, not her newest friend...

My sister had her baby!!! 

Which obviously means that Chamblee's newest friend is Margaret Natalie Covington. Born 12/27 weighing in at 9 pounds 10 ounces. That's right- it's a GIRL! We are so thrilled that she is here. Woohoo!!! Sorry K, that means there is a plane ticket -or 2- in the near future :) I was so shocked and honored that she shares a name with me- I just boo-hoo'd. The new baby girl will be known as Meg- sweet, precious, snuggly little Meg. I have GOT to get out there. Stat. 

This was the first year that I didn't spend Christmas at home, with my family. Which means I missed out on an age-old tradition: Monkey Bread. My mom makes it every year and we devour it. I thought I would bring that tradition with me to Chickamauga- here's how it went:

Chop up the biscuits into .25's

Shake 'em in a zippy with cinnamon and sugar

Load 'em in a bundt pan

Takes 3 cans of Homestyle Biscuits 

Contract out a cute dude to help you. 

It helps the flavor when you flirt with the help. 

 After it's all loaded in, pour a stick and a half of melted butter over the top. 

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes

Set off smoke alarms, wave kitchen towels 

DEVOUR. 

It was really yummy, and it was so nice to have a little piece of home. 

I hope your Christmas was as wonderful as ours! I can't believe the year is almost over. What are your New Year's plans? We are going to a nice dinner and then heading home for bubbly and pajamas at our new house. They say what you are doing on New Year's is a sign of what's to come the next year- and I hope that means staying home, spending a lot of quality time with my loves. And good food, of course. 

Until Next Time, 

The Guff

With A Rebel Yell...

No, I am not dead. No, I did not quit my blog.
These are answers to my most FAQ the last 2 weeks.

Now that that is out of the way, I have more to blog about than possible. I hate when that happens- when so much is going on that you want to write about- that you don't even have time to do it. SO, instead, I am stalling. I am honestly dreading going through all of the Christmas pictures that I took because I am my mother's child. I took over 500 pictures in 5 days. Yike. How did I take these pictures, you ask? Well, with my Christmas present from K, of course. My Canon Rebel. My new baby. 

Oh, I love it.

Freak. Out. One. Time. 

I am truly enjoying learning how different lights are to be shot, and that a good camera makes a big difference. Who knew? I just have the best little subject. A very happy baby girl who is now 5 for 5 sleeping through the night in her own crib. It's such a wonderful feeling to go to bed for the night- although I have to say, I do miss our snuggles. Maybe I'll reserve co-sleeping again for Saturdays and Sundays :) 

To prevent my next post from being days long, I'll now give you with a few pictures from my trip to Knoxville to see my bestie. She just had her second child, a boy, Sam. Oh my chunky. He is the sweetest, sleepiest, softest little man in the world. I love him, so. Cham loves him too- as you'll see in the pics: 

I haven't seen Wi in over a year and a half, so it was a well overdue trip. We cooked, drank wine, caught up, played Apples to Apples and baby swapped all weekend. It was divine. Can't wait for matching Christmas jammie pictures every year. Eeeeeee! 

Garth Brooks was amazeballs- the only picture I have is from a phone:

And the only video I have will never be seen. You can hear me yeehawin' and singin' off key in the background. Whoooops. 

I am so thankful that the wee one travels so well, and has perfected her schedule. Yes! Speaking of travel... K and I have been in this house a month and have not spent more than 5 days here in a row. Not one relaxing weekend. Therefore- on the way up to Chickamauga (yes, that's a real place) we made and shook on a pact- no traveling for 2 months. We can go and do as we please, but we will not pack an overnight bag for two. whole. months. We will sleep in our bed for 60 days straight. Whoa. Ya'll are welcome to come to our new abode anytime. But we will not be staying at yours for a while. I feel so good to know that. Ahhhh.....

For now, I am going to unpack. this. house. It is pretty much unpacked, but there is nothing on the walls, and there are still bags of clothes on Cham's closet floor that need to be hung up or put in drawers. Or boxed up because they are too little. SO. SAD. Maybe I will go do that while she is napping. 

Maybe tonight- if you're lucky- I'll throw together a Christmas post. There are so many pictures to go through! My parents will be in town, so I am sure they will have no problem holding, kissing, squeezing, changing playing, laughing and loving little miss C while I sort through and post the pictures. 

They are flying out west to see my sister tomorrow... ... ... ... ... ;) 

Until Next Time, 

The Guff

A Letter to Ophie

Dear Chamblee,
Your mom and dad love music. After all, you are named after an original song by your dad's all-time favorite band, and coincidentally your mom's favorite cover. While in the womb, we prided ourselves in exposing you to tons of music. Records, Pandora, your daddy's guitar and mama's singin'. Live music was important too. You experienced a hometown groove with Evan Barber, who knew about you before most, Eddie's Attic with Ryan Horne (even though most of that time was spent puking in the bathroom). You rang your birth year in (and threw water) with the best of us at Widespread Panic and you boogied with mama at the Fox Theatre when BB King & Buddy Guy came to town.

But tonight, baby, you stay at home. Tonight I leave you in the trusted hands of Miss Moot. Tonight is for grown folks actin' the fool. Tonight is Garth Brooks. Garth Brooks in Nashville. Oh My Pina Coladas. I'll miss you a lot bunny. But only 'til I hear that fiddle. Then I'll just miss you normal. Maybe.

I've been pumping all week for this, and I ain't goin' down 'til the sun comes up.

With all the love I've got (save a little for your daddy),
Mama

Linus Van Pelt

So, I've been having writer's blogger's block lately. I think it is because there is so much to talk about, I can't find a cohesive way to snap it all together. So, I've opted for Cliffnotes: We started renovations on our home this past weekend,  went to K's office Christmas party and also started Cham on a new meal plan. This week we have security companies coming out to give us an estimate to lock this whole place down, a Christmas party- yay for making another pound cake!- Garth Brooks in Nashville/visiting friends in Nashville, then a weekend in Knoxville to visit my bestie and her brand spankin' new little man. Who knows? I could have another niece or nephew by the end of this week! My sister is due any. day. now. According to her doctors. Next week is Christmas. Huh? No really. We haven't bought anything. nothing. So add that to this week. Shopping. {I just gave a loud sigh to myself at the thought of that- then heard Cham sigh back in her sleep. Oops. I totally forgot she was in here. Where you ask? In her nursery.} 

The stairs in this house are killing me. Not because I'm lazy, but because it's hard to get a bunch of stuff up & down. Ok, maybe I'm lazy. I want a pulley installed. Stat! We finally got our Christmas tree up today. Woo. I was really excited to go out and pick out a live tree for Cham's first Christmas, and for our first home. With the move and the renovations, that didn't happen. We have waited this late already and we are going to be gone half of this week, and most of next week, so we opted to save the money and put up my old rinky dink fake tree. I got the box out to set it up, and as I started placing the color coded limbs in the sockets I got all pity party and gave up.  I left it like this:

I told K, I mean, who cares. We don't have any presents under it [yet] and we are going to be home with it... for 4 more days. Wow. And, it's not even real. Bah Humbug. I don't think he liked the idea. An hour later, he tried his best to make it cozy: 

A for effort. 

Chamblee is having a hard time getting to sleep tonight... it's killin' me. I hate when she cries, and I hate when she's so tired she won't let herself sleep. There's just nothing I can do. Boo hiss. I keep hearing that suckin' sound and think YES! She's finally got her thumb... but then she loses it. How. Does K sleep through this? I can't sleep if she's awake. Period. She was such a good baby girl today, we went all over town running errands. Newsflash: don't go to the post office. Any of them. They're all packed. If you need stamps, go to Publix. Yes, that means our Christmas cards have gone out. Finally! 

I'm not even gonna proof read this thing. I gotta get this little girl to dream land. 

 "I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love."

-Linus

Until Next Time, 

The Guff

You Grow Girl!

Busiest. Day. Week. Of my life.
So busy that I started writing this 2 days ago...

I have learned that we have the best baby, in the world. Bias. She lets me run errands and prance her around the city mostly without complaint or fuss. I have to give a huge shout out to Babywise and the 5 S's. I do realize that there are dozens hundreds of different books that will tell you how to schedule your baby, or not to at all- and I think that's great. Options, that is. I'm not here to tell you what method is the best, and why. What method is going to emotionally damage your child for life, ridiculous,  or what method is going to allow them to be a free spirit and feel warm and cozy forever, impossible.  Every parent is different & every child is different. Who is anyone to tell you what's "best"? For us, Babywise works. For you, it might not.

Acknowledging that every child is different - mine's the best. Heh Heh. And the littlest. I have noticed a few little rolls on her legs, but she's not the chunky baby that most babies become around this age. She's long and lean. At her 4 month check up yesterday, we learned that she has gained less than a pound in 2 months... where she's supposed to gain about 3. Hm. The doctor came in asking all kinds of feeding questions and all I heard was "Do you even feed her?" Of course I do! I feel like I am feeding her all of the time! Anyhoos, there are a number of reasons this could be, so we are starting a new meal plan- which includes strictly pumping and feeding from a bottle so that I know how much she is getting. Shout out to my girlfriend who does this now. How wise you are. I surely hope that my milk production isn't the problem. Right now I am just not OK with adding in sucky formula. But I know I'll have to if my girl doesn't start packin' on some LB's. Plus, I'm going to miss the bonding time. With pumped bottles, K is very likely to take advantage of feeding time- which is ok. I guess. I'm stingy.

So here I sit, doing nothin' but pumping all day. I thought it was taking forever to unpack before- geez. Now I will get virtually nothing done during the day. Oh well. Tough life sitting on the couch, pumping and watching Millionaire Matchmaker marathons. Ho hum.

I haven't done any Christmas shopping. We haven't gotten a tree yet. I haven't sent out our Christmas cards. We haven't even bought stamps. K hates Christmas music. How am I just now figuring this out? I waved at our next door neighbor yesterday and he/she (not sure :/) totally looked away and kept walkin'. Doesn't feel like Christmas around here at all. I need a party. And some monkey bread.

For now I'll settle for cereal and a laundry party. Oh, the laundry of a mother. (HBC, you feel me.) Mom- how you did laundry with 4 kids is a mystery to me. How did you do anything else? People told me about the labor, the delivery, the sleepless nights... but no one told me about the laundry... Whoa.

Happy Four Months Baby Girl! We love you, so. 

Until Next Time,
The Guff

525,600 Minutes

One year ago today I found out I was pregnant.

I remember going out to dinner with K and wearing a little grey pocket tee and wooden circular earrings. We had never smiled so much. Our dinner conversation mostly consisted of giggles and deep breaths. It was perfect.

I have so much to do this week, including Cham's 4 month checkup, a mani/pedi, and about 400 errands. I wasn't going to blog tonight, but I had a cup of delicious hazelnut coffee around 7, so here I am wired and laying on my baby's bedroom floor. Praying she finds her thumb, and soon. She is so tired, sometimes I wish she understood me when I tell her it's ok to fall asleep...

Anyway, the poundcake is a good half way gone and I am already out of the milk my mom bought on Saturday. Oops. I just love the stuff.

I don't really have much to say tonight. I just put her down and thought about what I was doing a year ago at this time. Which was taking about 4 more tests because K wanted to be absolutely sure. I looked down and noticed that I was wearing that same little grey pocket tee. How cool. Is that. So, I had to write about it.

She didn't find her thumb, but she did find her way back into my arms. I'm such a sucker...

Until Next Time,
The Guff

Reversed Separation Anxiety

Can I just say something? Of course I can. It's my blog. 

Tonight is the first night Cham is sleeping in her own bed, in her own bedroom, overnight. Yike. 

And she is loving it. I, however, am a hot. mess. Acting like I just sent the girl off to college or something. Her monitor is turned all the way up, which should make for an interesting wake up call in the morning, and I have literally gone in to stare at her check on her 4 times in the last half hour. What. is wrong with me.

Why am I not sleeping? This is absurd. I miss her!

Ok, I realize that this is bonkers. I'm going to bed. After I check on her just one. more. time. 


Until Next Time,
The Guff

Isn't she lovely?

Tonight I made a pound cake. Not just any pound cake- my mom's pound cake. The best pound cake. We were going to make it together and ran out of time. She left me with the recipe and the ingredients. . . to do myself. Dangerous.


To make your own, here's what you'll need:
3 cups cake flour
6 eggs
2 sticks of butter
3 cups of sugar
1 cup sour cream
.25 tsp baking soda
.25 tsp vanilla

Allow the eggs and the butter to get room temp
Mix the butter and sugar together until 'not lumpy'

Add the eggs in- one. at. a time.

In a separate bowl, mix the sour cream and baking soda

In another separate bowl, measure out 3 cups of cake flour
over pour the measuring cup, and level off with a finger

-Preheat the oven to 325-

Add 1 cup of the flour to your butter/sugar mix.

{[Ok. I tried to mix this and flour went everywhere. every. where. So, I stirred it. Hope that's ok, mom.]}

Add in 0.5 of the sour cream/baking soda bowl
Then another cup of flour
Then the other 0.5 of the sour cream/baking soda bowl
Lastly, add the final cup of flour


Since I didn't beat the flour in, after it was all stirred up, I mixed it a while to make sure it was right.

Take a break to sign autographs give treats to your fans.

If you'd like, add vanilla extract in at this time. Stir, don't mix.

I have no idea how to take those things OFF the mixer. Ugh.

Grease the bundt pan and coat with flour. I don't have crisco or baking spray, so I used butta.

Pour mix into bundt pan.

Bake @ 325 for about 1.5 hours. Gas stove- 1.25 hours.

Lick the bowl, and clean the dadgum flour off your face! 

...and now, we wait.

While we were waiting, I got these videos of little miss being a "Chatty Chamblee" as we call her in this house. You have got. to watch them.


This is what she had been doing for about 15 minutes:



...and this is what she did when I tried to catch it all on tape the first time:



Isn't she lovely? 


The pound cake is done, and it looks fantastic.

I am so nervous... 

It turned out perfect! That does not happen to me! There is hope!

...wait. I still don't know how to get these things off the mixer. 

Krraaaaaiiiiiigggggg!!!!!


Make your own, and enjoy. If I can do it...


Until Next Time,
The Guff

Cry with me

So. Today my parents came into town to check out the new digs & help clear out the come to find out massive back yard. They rolled into the driveway shortly after the plumbers. We've had some drainage problems since we moved in- in the shower. Problems like, there is no drainage. Anyhoos... we called a plumber. All I know is that I was carrying baby girl around in the Bjorn while doing a little unpacking and then I hear water. Lots of water. Then I hear people running down the stairs. Then I hear the plumber say something like, "Get the water-something out here- and FAST." So I waddle to our back den to check things out. Well, well, well. There's water coming down every wall. Flooding. I'm about to cry. Ugh. I mean, really, I'm not surprised.

It has been a fact of life. I have bad luck. K has bad luck. When we started dating, we realized that we were a good match, but our lives would forever be unlucky if we married. Ha. We married. Since dating, I count that we've had right at 30 flat tires combined. K says it's 35. Whatev. 30+ Flat tires. in 6 years. (...and I still don't know how to change one. oops.) In our last apartment we were flooded 6 times in 4 months. Don't get me started on our car troubles- completely aside from boring ol' flat tires. And there's more. Plenty more. But don't get me wrong- I'm not complaining. K always points out that we get this extra bad luck because some people just couldn't handle it. We can, so we get it. A lot of it. And often.

So, I'm used to it. What I'm not quite used to? It all happening at once.

The robbery and the flood should have been enough for seven days. But throw in some car troubles and a few other kinks- and you have our last week. You know, the usual. There's never "too much" to handle, but it does get a little overwhelming. Especially without a little tequila. Kidding. -ish.

Turns out, the hard drives K thought he had packed away- weren't. They were stolen. And along with them every picture and video of Chamblee that we have had. Aside from what's on my mom's camera & Facebook. Cry with me. 

And then...Breathe.

Something hilarious? Remember when I was talking about wearing a scrunchie @ my parents' house a few weeks ago? Of course you do. Well, I've got that beat. Believe it. When we were home for Thanksgiving- look. what I. found:

That's Right. 

A slap bracelet ponytail holder. 

Until Next Time,
The Guff

You've Got Mail

I just checked the mail. Like, in our mailbox. I really probably enjoyed it a little too much. Walking down the driveway and waving at a neighbor (who didn't wave back) and checking the box. It felt gooood. I am kind of nervous about the neighbors. I know it's only been 2 days, but they don't seem very friendly- and I am pretty sure one of them stayed in his car extra long this morning just to avoid saying hello. Am I stuck in the 50's? I want to meet them all and aren't they supposed to bake me something for being new? Or is it just my mom who still does that? Anyway, I am thinking that I am going to dress Cham Cham up really adorably and walk to their houses and introduce myself. Who isn't friendly to a girl with a baby? I am pretty sure we are the youngest peeps on the block by about 40 years. Except for one house- I saw a school bus go by today, and a girl walked into the house across the street. She looked about 15- prime. babysitting. material. Maybe I'll bake them something...

Anyhoos. The house is coming right along. I'm exhausted from C's recent growth spurt & I get overwhelmed sometimes during the day and just nap with her to avoid the unpacking. When I'm not overwhelmed I'm scared. This robbery has really gotten to me. This house is 2ce as big as our apartment & it settles. When I'm upstairs I am sure I hear someone something downstairs. It's usually one of the dogs or the ice maker. Or a neighbor doing some kind of yard work. I swear, no one works around here. 
We are looking into alarm systems, but haven't quite gotten there yet. I feel safe, especially with people out jogging and raking all around me during the day, but I can't help getting a little jumpy :(

We ordered Chinese. Chamblee has been asleep for 3 hours. It's a big TV night. (Thank goodness they didn't steal our ol' tube) Gotta go.

Until Next Time,
The Guff

Sheila Parast is my Hero

Let me just start this post off with this. This girl is the most generous person I have ever met. Pretty much in my life. She is letting us borrow her extra Mac until we get a replacement. So K can work, so I can blog. Yes, she is also the creator of these. Which I LOVE.  And you can vote for her here. DO IT!!! And, if you thought she couldn't be any more of a saint, she also let me shop her closet for something to wear to K's Christmas party next week- cocktail attire- I don't even know what that is. I haven't had the guts or the time to try anything on yet. Yike. 

So, our Christmas cards came in today! My 1st thought was, "When in the dump am I gonna have time to do all of these?" But I'll get them done... before Christmas sometime... hopefully. They're pretty cute. Well, Cham's pretty cute.

This move is definitely harder than all of the other 6. I can only do so much while she's sleeping, and so much while she's awake. Little by little it's getting taken care of, though. Hopefully we will be box-free by the weekend. We have already had our first Home Depot trip- the first of many, I'm sure. It's about a mile down the road, which is handy, considering we have also already had our first Home Depot return. Oops, I thought the door was beige. It's white. I mostly can't wait to have a house warming party! You're invited! 

Oh, the challenge is over. Let's end on a good note, shall we?

Day 30: A picture

Me, too, bunny. I'm exhausted. 

Until Next Time,
The Guff

I'm a Genie in a Bottle Bay Bay

You thought I forgot.

Day 29: 3 wishes
I don't know how I feel about wishes. 3 Prayers:
*1* That Chamblee meet, date and marry a man as good as her father. A man who loves her as much as K loves me, or more, and will guard and protect her heart. Bachelorette reference anyone?:)
*2* That Cham lives a long, beautiful, healthy life and never experiences pain or disappointment of any kind.
*3* That K and I have a plethora of little ones. The ability to birth more of our own children- and the opportunity to adopt one day.

Oh, fine. You want wishes?
The ability to heal. The kind of reading speed and retention of John Travolta in Phenomenon. The ability to cook. Well. And often.

Until Next Time,
The Guff

Smilin' & Smoochin'

Terrific Tuesday.

Today we closed on our house, moved out of our apartment and moved into our home. We are in! It's crazy out here- no one above us running wild, no cars thumping out my window, and there are stars. Real stars. It's hard to see them for the rain- but you can see them. My husband and our dear friend Brian should get some kind of medal. Or at least something other than Chik Fil A and a hug from me... They packed the truck last night in the pouring rain, and had it unloaded, in the pouring rain, in about 3 hours. Who. Does. That. They rock.

So here we are, the 3 of us, in our first home together. Our new beginning. With boxes scattered and the radio goin'. With a bottle of our best champagne in solo cups and a sleepy baby in my arms. The baby we bought this house for. Life is good.

For tonight, anyway, I'm ok with not having a TV or our computers. Just the 5 of us, some tunes, a little bubbly and a lot of smilin' and smoochin'. And Of course my iPhone to blog with while I finish nursing.

Despite our unfortunate events in the last 36 hours, I am constantly being reminded of just how fortunate we are, and how much material things are nothing in comparison to my little 3-piece family; and all the smilin' and smoochin' that comes with 'em.

Until Next Time,
The Guff

Manic Monday

So, we got robbed.

We left at 9 this morning to do our final walk through at the house we are moving into. Tomorrow. When we got back at 1 our door had been kicked in and our dogs were roaming free. They took all that we hadn't packed- our TV, both Mac computers and K's work computer, K's new sound system. All cables and chargers, and my LL Bean bag. Ha! I think that's funny. They took my canvas bag to carry all the stuff in, but left my designer bags on the floor of my closet. Idiots.

I was devastated that all of my pictures of Chamblee were lost- until K let me know he had backed them up on a hard drive that was packed away. Phew. I have to keep reminding myself that these are, after all, just things. Just replaceable things. I'm not bothered that they are gone, as much as I am bothered that someone was watching us, waiting for us to leave and that someone was in my home going through my stuff. I feel horribly violated. We had always planned on getting an alarm system in the new house, but now I want it installed immediately. Yesterday. What if Chamblee and I had been home? It's no good for me to even think about it.

I refuse to let these ghetto thugs ruin my 30-day challenge. Thank goodness for iPhones.

Day 28: Something that stresses you out

How appropriate. Getting robbed.

Until Next Time,
The Guff

sometimes a dog is as good as any man

Day 27: Pets

I'm sorry! I had to do it! This picture kills me- kills me. It was before our "puppy" had his hoohoo's cut off... I caught them sleeping like this in K's back seat. Poor Bailey. 

Our dogs are really good dogs. Bailey is the oldest, the smallest and the most spoiled. State is the baby, the most persistent and the most loyal. Bailey will turn on ya in a second for a scrap. Bailey was inherited from family- best hand-me-down I've ever had. He is my snuggle buddy and my tear-licker. My first baby and my patient friend.  K and I went and picked State out in '05 from a breeder in Tennessee who was giving discounted full bred border collies to college kids. We went into her beautifully manicured backyard and the puppies were scattered around playing. All but one. A little chunker waddled over and sat right on K's foot. We didn't even look at any of the other pups. "We'll take him" K said as he handed over a benjamin and scooped him up. He's our relentless fetcher, our upside down sleeper and our scaredy cat in thunder storms. Our gentle boy.

I am so. excited. to provide them with a backyard!!! I hate hate hate that they have been cooped up in an apartment their whole lives (mostly) and one reason that I was so eager to buy a house was to give my boys a place to play. I am overjoyed that in 2 days they will have plenty of trees to mark- sans leash.

Rewind. 2 days! In two days we move into our new home. Yowza! It's gonna be awesome. 


We ordered our Christmas cards today and I love the one we picked. My mom got some great shots of our little hoot this weekend, so I am excited to share them with you guys...eventually. Whenever I find time to download them and all that jazz. Whatev, that kind of stuff takes me forever. 

Until Next Time,
The Guff

We Are Family!

Day 26: A picture of your family

While we have a pretty large extended family on both sides, for now, our immediate family is pretty small. Here we are. On day 1. While I have mentioned that I am torn about switching holidays, it occured to us recently that we are our own family, and will soon start our own traditions. I am excited to mesh traditions from both sides, and to create ones of our own. It will be hard to say, "No, we aren't coming for Christmas, but you are welcome at our house." But we will soon be saying that. As soon as little miss can walk down her own stairs to see what Santa has in store. Yes, we will tell our children about Santa. No, I don't feel as if I am lying to them. It's a fun tradition. Not a moral issue. More on that later.  It's a difficult concept to me-starting our own thing- but our parents did it at some point, and so will we.

Today my mom and I went out for a little shopping... look what I scored:

A Balboa Baby nursing pillow! I registered for one of these and didn't get it- but I have always thought they were So cool. Practical. Cute. Perfect. Anyway, they retail for about $45, so when I got 3 Boppy's over the course of my pregnancy, I couldn't justify going out and getting one of these, too. Well, enter Albany, GA "consignment" shop. I saw this and died. Only $22 and 25% off? I scored my dream nursing pillow for a cool $18. Love. It.

Tonight our dinner menu= Ribeyes, Deviled Eggs, Asparagus, Baked Potatoes, Salad, Rolls. Wine.

It's time to eat and my mouth is watering I think I hear my baby.

Until Next Time,

The Guff

Play that funky music

Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle- what are the first 10 songs?

The Beatles- When I'm 64
Ray LaMontagne- I Still Care For You
*Railroad Earth- Right in Tune
Norah Jones- Above Ground
The Wood Brothers- Fall Too Fast
The Avett Brothers- All My Mistakes
JJ Cale- Travelin' Light
Amos Lee- Long Line Of Pain
Ryan Horne- Let 'Em Go
**Leo Sayer- Long Tall Glasses

*The song K and I walked out of the church to as husband & wife! Says it all.
**My theme song. If you are ever in a bad mood, you will not be after hearing this. No way. Go ahead, click it & see.

Actually, I don't think I've heard our song since our wedding. That's sad. You can listen to it here. The lyrics are below, just for you.

Oh, I'm a fool for the stand up bass.

Until Next Time,
The Guff


I got no worries, I got no doubts.
Cuz I know, you got it all worked out.
You know your part, and I know mine.
And we're right in tune, me and you.
Right in tune.

We've got a straight line, to each others hearts.
We took the pieces, and we made a part.
We took a song, we made it sing
And we're right in tune, yes it's true.
We're right in tune.

We've been up and down. We've been through it all.
Came through the summer, and to the fall.
Came through winter, to spring again.
And we're right in tune, yes it's true.

We're right in tune, me and you,
We're right in tune.

Little patience, little honey It'll be okay.
A little patience, little money
We'll be on our way.

Now we know what we gotta bring
When we're rolling it's a beautiful thing,
Get that baby soarin' on two strong wings
We're right in tune, me and you,
We're right in tune.

Ohhhhh little mama, I know you.

I got no worries, got no doubts.
Cuz I know we can work it out.
Come what may, come what will,
We'll be right in tune, me and you.
Right in tune.
We'll be right in tune,
Oh right in tune!

Hey little mama, I know you.
Hey little mama,
We're right in tune.
Right in tune.

Haste makes Waste

Happy Thanksgiving!
Today I am thankful for so many things, and as my Mimi said this morning, "If we sat down and thought of all the things we are grateful for, we would be here quite a while." This couldn't be more true. I know it's cheesy, but in the holiday spirit, here are the first 5 things that come to mind that I am thankful for:

• A God who believes I am worthy of being a mother to one of His children.
• A husband who works hard day in and day out to provide for our family without fail or complaint; who loves his girls and keeps things interesting along the way.
• Our beautiful daughter who is happy and healthy, and who has forever changed our lives for the better.
• A family who I love to spend time with, and I know supports me and loves me tremendously.
• Friends who make me laugh, and help carry me through the rough days.

There are, indeed, so many more things that I am thankful for. The rest of my top ten would probably be rounded out with things like quilts by my Mimi, the Sleep Sheep, pump pencils, my iPhone and chapstick.

I am also thankful for my mom a Nona who will watch my baby while I blog. Especially when she puts her up on the dining room table for tummy time.

Speaking of my baby, onto Day 24: Something you've learned.

I have learned a lot since becoming a mother. Always have an extra outfit in the diaper bag. No playing airplane right after feeding. That 'smile' is not a smile. It's a push-and look out. Even in a pink dress with a headband and a pink blanket - people will still ask you if it's a boy or a girl. Kills me.

This Thanksgiving I learned a new lesson. I packed little Cham Cham a bag of adorable clothes. Clothes for 5 days at DD and Nona's. Clothes to take adorable pictures in. Clothes for days. Blankets, socks, headbands and hats. The perfect little vacay bag. I left it. Right on the floor in her cute little room. I went to get her into some PJ's last night and low & behold, no bag. No clothes. No jammies. No socks. Nothing. Not a onesie. So, instead of going out to enjoy a drink and some music last night, we were headed to the local Wal Mart to get clothes. Wonderful. So, something I have learned is to not be in such a rush that you completely forget clothes for your child. Boy, does that sound pathetic.

Until Next Time,
The Guff

Re-Pete

Ok. This is a for real, true story.

When my mom was a little girl she had a dog named Pete. When Pete bit the dust they got a new dog and named him Repeat. Or was it Re-Pete? I'm not sure how it was spelled.

Anyway- in honor of Repeat/Re-Pete I give you Day 23: Favorite Vacation:

My Honeymoon.

And because I am home, enjoying wine family- that's all I've got for ya...
Hope you are enjoying YOUR holiday!

Until Next Time,
The Guff

Day 22

Day 22: Favorite City


Every city gives me a different feeling, and it's hard to choose one feeling that I like the best. I've narrowed it down to 2: Athens & Nashville.

Athens gives me a homey feeling. I was born there, and even though I wasn't really raised there, I have fond memories from when I was little. My elementary school, the neighborhood pool, our old house. You know that smell that your old threadbare t-shirts get after they've been boxed up for a while? That's how Athens makes me feel.

Nashville gives me a breezy feeling. Every time I go there I feel good. I could walk around Hillsborough Village & downtown all day. I have a few great friends who live there now- and I love having an excuse to be in this town.



Tomorrow we head to somebody's favorite city. (Whose? Who knows. But someone's gotta love it!) The Little A. Aw-benny. We will be celebrating Thanksgiving with my family this year & Christmas with K's. The whole switching holidays thing is really hard for me. I am really close with my family, and hold tight onto tradition. Not seeing my family on Christmas might be a little much. I remember the first Thanksgiving that I missed -2 years ago- and I cried.

We are set to close on our house Tuesday morning. The same day we have to be out of our apartment. Very interesting. We are all boxed up and have been living on paper plates & cups for the past couple of days. We are so excited to get into our first home!!! It's been a stressful month, but it'll be worth it when K carries me over the threshold. And he better.


Until Next Time,
The Guff