I just sat in my van, while the 2 kiddos slept in their car seats, and ate an entire lunch. in the quiet. I don't care if you think I'm a loser. I'm not. It was amazing. And anyone with 2 under 2 (ish) will tell you I'm right. They fell asleep in the van and I knew if I went home they'd wake up and we would be at square one. Which would be fine, but I wasn't ready for square one just yet.

I had one of those flashback parenting moments this week. One of those from before I was a mom. When I would see kids out in the middle of the summer or winter in their halloween costumes and think, "Right on to that mom. I will so let my kids wear whatever they want in public." This week, Cham begged me to let her wear her princess Ariel costume to Target. I winced. It is beautiful, but I just automatically thought, "noooooo!". I knew I had to do it. Let her. So we packed up and almost got out the door. Then, somehow, by the grace of God, her diaper leaked and she got TT all over the bottom of her princess dress (and our floors). Shoot. Real clothes it is. I was a little disappointed for her, so I allowed her princess crown to stay on. We were all happy. So happy she yelled through the store, down every aisle, "I have on my crown but there's TT all over my princess dress at home!"

Poor Jacob. His head. It's kind of large. I have been trying to make it a point to talk to him only when I can bend down to his level. If he looks up at me he automatically falls over. top heavy. Sure hope he turns out alright. This is his year to sing, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth." He has been cutting 3 front teeth for weeks now. I don't think they will ever come in. Which means I will never sleep. Which means he will just have one little white fang up top left. It's the cutest. seriously.

Proud mommy moment this week: Grammar. Cham knows every word to Call Me Maybe. It's definitely, for sure, her favorite song. One problem. It has incorrect grammar. "I missed you so bad." What I think she means is, "I missed you so badly." So, I sing that. And now Cham will belt it out. Correctly. I die.

And she dances. Like a maniac. This week she gave dance lessons to Jake. Legit, "Jakey, this is how you dance... now you try it! You can do it bud!"

I've said it a million times... but there's no greater joy than having children. There's just. not. And giving them a sibling? Close second.

Until Next Time,
The Guff

Home for the Holidays

Yesterday's lunch was one for the books.

I went to Panera Bread with my bestie bud and the kiddos. No biggie. Well, they were out of mac-n-cheese. What Panera runs out of mac-n-cheese? It's like Chik-Fil-A running out of lemonade. Whatever. We ate there anyway. I paid $5 for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for Cham. That was really annoying. She didn't want to eat it. I told her she had to eat half of it before she could eat her yogurt. She screamed, a lot. That was all fine, nothing crazy.

Side bar. Recently, she pretends to throw up if she doesn't want to eat something. She knows I'll tell her to spit it out if I think she's choking.

She ate her last bite of the sandwich and started pretending to throw up. I turned my head and gave Jake another puff. Then she did it again. I asked her to stop and she wouldn't. So I put my hand out for her to spit it out. She spit out a little bite, and then she threw up on me. Like, vomit. And then said, "What happened to your hand mommy?" Um. You barfed on me.

Jacob is growing and growing and getting his own personality. Which mostly consists of smiling...but I'm learning that behind that adorable, all chubby cheek smile is a rascal. A real one. His favorite game is grabbing something he's not supposed to have. Sitting still and quietly. Waiting for me to notice. As soon as I do, I'll say, "Jacob! You adorable thing. I love you so much. Please put that down sweet boy." or something like that. "Jacob, no! Drop it dude!" "Jacob Collins! No way! No!" And that's the green light. He takes off. Like, yeah right, lady. catch me. He's gone in no time. whatever item in tow- he's outta there. Like a flash. When I grab him he laughs hysterically. I. Love. Him. 

Chamblee helped put the stamps on our Christmas cards this morning. If your stamp is janky- that's why. Do they mail letters with stamps in the middle of the envelope and upside down? Let's hope so.

Christmas is 12 days away. Did you know that? Seems too far for comfort. I'm ready. I'm ready to be home with my family this year and be cozy. It's Jacob's first Christmas (barely) and Chamblee has never been to DD & Nona's for Christmas. I'm excited to get them in on some Brinson traditions. Although we aren't buying anyone presents this year, we are doing stockings in our home and a few small things for the kiddos. Stockings have always been my favorite. I'm ready... Home for the holidays. Let's go.

Until Next Time,
The Guff

So So What

SO WHAT IF

I just sang a lullaby to my little girl to help her sleep. She asked me to. Her request was
Dynamite. You know, the rap song. You try to sing it all soft and sweet. It's a challenge.

I bought another chapstick today because I genuinely thought my lips were going to fall. off. It said "24 hour moisture" What a lie.

I placed a real bet with my husband. I will only tell you what it was if I win.

I did what I said I would never do. I said, "Because I said so" to Chamblee. What a cop out.

I bribe my little girl for smiles sometimes. Chocolate? Ice Cream? Cartoon?

I bought {ohmygosh, waytoomuch} candy for decorations in my house and I can't stop eating it. Caramel popcorn, Reindeer mix, Hershey kisses, Candy canes, Andes Chocolate mints, Reese peanut butter trees, etc. Somebody. Help me. 

Somedays I just want to go to chik-fil-a and drink a milk shake while Chamblee plays on the indoor playground. What? I never do it. 

I am obsessed with Lie to Me and I can't stop watching it. Netflix is the worst enabler for obsessive TV watching. No commercials? All of the seasons right there? Don't mind if I do...

I bought 2 huge. tubs of cookie dough from the sweet boy next door. I didn't know how big they were. I guess K's work will be getting a LOT of fresh baked cookies over the next few weeks.

I bought a tiny candle and a little candle jar for -wait for it- $30 from a little girl in our neighborhood. 8 weeks ago. I think it was a scam.

Yeah, yeah.

Until Next Time,
The Guff

Very Useful Engine

*K found the bananas in the cabinet, stacked with the plates.
*I warmed my hot chocolate 3 times this morning before having a sip.
*When UPS asked for my phone number yesterday, I could not remember it. I started saying a number then realized it wasn't mine.
*I was asked to sign and date something this morning- I wrote a random date in 2010.

These are all real things happening to me and I can't decipher whether I have a brain tumor blocking all sense, or it's just how my brain works. Have I always been like this? So much for blogging more often. I just don't have the time. I should surrender to that fact.

I wish I could remember to write down all of the funny and crazy and down right unbelievable moments that happen around here between 2 awesome kiddos and a flustered me, but I don't. Remember, the brain thing?

I can tell you that Chamblee is so grown up I could weep over it, and Jacob isn't far behind.

We have been busy getting ready for the Christmas season- making gingerbread houses, ornaments, snow globes and cookies. We have been decorating together, which in my {biased} opinion, is much more fun with littles toddling around. Every year we have picked out an ornament for Chamblee and this year she got to pick out her own. She would find the only gaudy Thomas the Train ornaments in the store. Bad mom. I wouldn't allow it. So, to spite me, I'm sure, she picked the 2nd most gaudy ornament in the store. An obscenely large bright blue ornament with a reindeer on it. It's tacky. She loves it. It's on the front of our tree. And the Thomas ornaments adorn her little tree. Yes, we got both. Good mom. 

We are doing Christmas differently this year and not buying presents. GASP. That's right. We will be doing something for our community, instead. Neither us nor anyone we know really need for anything. Some people do. So that's where our Christmas budget will be going. I can tell you, I am enjoying the season more already. What are you and yours doing this Christmas season?

We had family pictures taken last week for the first time and I could have died when I saw the results. Died happy. I can't believe how talented our photographer is and we are so happy with the photos.
I'll be sure to share some with you when the CD arrives. For now, I'm spending hours online trying to find the. perfect. Christmas card to go along with the. perfect. picture. It's impossible. So, when you get your card from us, be sure to tell me how wonderfully unique and beautiful it is. Because I spent forever trying to make a decision. I mean it.

Now that I think about it, I have failed miserably at telling you about Thomas the Train and how he has almost, this close, taken over Owlie's spot in this house. We have Thomas toy trains, plates, cups, bowls, toy boxes, a pillowcase, a train station, playing cards, stuffed animals, books galore, movies and Thomas shoes for cryin' out loud. It's an epidemic. It's insane. When we go to Target, we go down his aisle to say hello. Or else. There is nothing she loves more. Nothing but Owlie, and he is hanging on by literal threads. I'm happy to be called a "very useful engine" when I do something for her. When she is playing with her trains, her imagination runs wild, and that's what I love to see most.

As I'm typing, Rosie is stuck. Hanging half way off the table. James has come to the rescue. "Oh, thank you James," she says.

I tried to capture this play because it's a total rip off of the cartoon she watched this morning. She hates to be filmed, so I had to do it all secretive:

I love that girl. When I ask her not to grow up, she cups my face and says, "oh mommy, but I want to grow up. I need to be a big girl." And then I die. 

Until Next Time,
The Guff

A Doozie

I should wear my glasses. I don't know if it's because I haven't blogged in a while, and I rarely use a real computer, OR because I for real can't see. Eh, both.

Today was a doozie. I wish I had a nickel for every time I said that. I had a lady appointment and had to take both kiddos. This might be too much for you men-folk to imagine, so skip on down to the next paragraph. But ladies. Deep sigh and look up to the ceiling with me on this one: Mental picture: Me. 2 kiddos. Naptime. Snacktime. Lunchtime. Screeches. Tears. Whining to the max. I have no pants on. That's right. Feeding one kiddo while trying to stop another one from dumping out the diaper bag- all while pantless. Long, wide-eyed stares from the nurses. Like I was a freak show. Hey. Like I said. Today was a doozie.

But today is over, and tomorrow is a new day. A brand spankin' new day. Isn't that wonderful?


22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3

I can't believe it's November. We are planning a different kind of holiday season this year and I'm excited to share it with you all. I'm too tired to explain it. Next time.

Tomorrow's another day.
Hold your breath.

Until Next Time,
The Guff

Take It Somewhere Else

In. My. House. That's where the wild things are.

I took a little blog break, but have full intentions on picking back up the pace I was once writing. Do I say this every time?

Currently both of our kiddos are in the ring with a cold, however, J man got the raw end of the deal. He is really having a hard time with it. And his is much, much worse than the little lady's. We're snuggling and coughing and whining together- which is the best way to do it. Together.

Yesterday I put diaper rash cream all over my hands because I thought it was lotion. Suddenly all of the lotion in the house was missing, and I soon found that it was all tucked away in the cracks between Chamblee's bed and the wall. Days worth of sneaking it away... bottle by bottle... I found a total of 7 bottles in there.

Most days I wish I knew what was going on in her little blonde head.

I don't know what was going on last time I blogged but Jacob is now a machine- crawling and climbing and laughing non-stop. They are about 4 pounds apart, those two. One's a teensy and one's a hoss.

I've almost given up on keeping a tidy house. It lasts long enough for me to take a deep breath, turn around and notice that something new is about to get turned over and dumped out. I am absolutely loving these active ages...never a dull moment. Never say never? NEVER a dull moment. never never. Never.

There are good reasons for my absence, and I hope to share all that we have been up to soon. In time. I hope some of the changes we are making allow for more time to share, to love, to be still, and, duh, to blog.

Oh My Word. It's 11:00. I should go to sleep. Which reminds me, I'm old. I bought a bra today and the tag on it said "Age Defying Lift" WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE. That. is a true story.
TMI? Take it somewhere else. I don't care who you are, that's funny.


Until Next Time, which will be very soon,
The Guff

SFW? So What

So What If...

- I got called 'sir' in the chick-fil-a drive through. It wasn't my finest hair day.
- My glasses aren't sunglasses. I forget. I stare. People get offended. Then I remember.
- I handed all of my Publix coupons to the guy at Kroger. He looked at me like I had dimensia.
- I was at the park with the kids the other day; I watched a homeless guy roll out his mat and take a nap in the shade of a beautiful tree behind the gorgeous sunlight, with the touch of a breeze... and I thought, "I wish I was homeless."
- I had to google the words to "the wheels on the bus" after Chamblee asked me to sing it to her. Aren't I supposed to know things like that?
- I got the new iphone and Siri is rocking my world. i know, i know. I'm probably 11 updates behind, but I feel like I have a personal assistant. and that makes me feel a little better. "Add --- to my calendar." "Remind me to --- at 3:00" "When will I sleep again?" - to which she answers, " I don't know." Ugh. Come on Siri. Pencil it in. Make it happen. 
- It took me an hour to meal plan and make a grocery list. ONE HOUR. I could have been sleeping.
- Jake has one tooth, and only one, dead center of his bottom gummies.
- I put a cartoon on so I could write this.
- When we watch Ellen, Chamblee says, "He's dancing!" No, Cham, she's a girl. "No, he's a boy!" Oh, alright.
- I don't know any internet lingo. Can someone please tell me what FTW and SMH stand for?
- I just pulled this out of my fridge. No, that's not a neat Pinterest project. It's beans. Old. Beans.

Speaking of internet lingo... I've found some things recently that I love. And they are totally
SFW (safe for wallet)

Honeypot Luminary

buy here

The. Best. 

buy here

For babies? Maybe. For me? Definitely.

buy here

Um. Salted Caramel Mocha. 

Venti. 

Also comes in a frapp. 

buy here

TRENDStarter Shampoo & Conditioner

Any Biolage Matrix fans out there? 

Yeah, it was my favorite. 

I found this off-brand that said 'compare to Biolage Matrix' and was intrigued. 

This is the jam. It's just as wonderful on my hair and literally half the $$$.

buy here

There you go. Random blog made up of my drafts. 

Oh, wait: 

the kiddos this morning. 

Until Next Time, 

The Guff

Park It

Recently, I took the kids to the Children's Museum of Atlanta. I wasn't sure what to expect- and man. I was pleasantly surprised. That place is chaos- in the best, most fun way. It's like 5000 square feet of a playroom fully stocked with toys and friends for Chamblee to run around with. I loved it. She loved it. Jake loved it. I mean, he loved being carried.

Building a tower.

Gone Fishin'

Trains, trains, trains

Dress Up

Market

Magnet wheels

No day of fun is complete without ice cream!

We also stumbled upon a new park nearby. Actually two. And for the past few weeks we have been spending our days there. (sianara old park) We simply cannot stay inside when it's this beautiful out. The kids are friendly, the moms are chatty and we love these new places. We are thankful for them. They save. my. sanity. Because there's not much else to say about a park... I'll show you. 

i spy a rabbit

she mostly likes to wander

checking in on her bro

whimsy

How we roll 

We've also been walking through downtown Decatur.

Jake sleeps, we snack.

There's a park at the opposite end of the square, stocked with toys.

She drives every car. 

Then slides. Then repeat. 

I'm trying really hard to be better. I follow her around and make sure she's ok. I make sure she can step up on things ok. I make sure she knows I'm there at all times. I'm always in just the right position in case she falls or trips. I'm trying to be better. I'm trying to give her a little space. She's just so little! I'm trying to let her make friends and play with them without her mom hanging around. I'm trying to let her do things on her own. But she's just a baby! Look how far away I am: 

Alright, I know. I'm crazy. 

Until Next Time, 

The Guff

Vacay > In iPhotos

Well. K went back to work today and I am already wondering how I ever did this parenting thing alone during the days. kidding. But I do like it better with him around. He had a total of 10 days off work, and they were amazing days. We had planned a gulf beach trip and Hurricane Isaac decided it wasn't a good time. So we decided to just travel around, instead. We went to Athens, then Savannah, then Chattanooga.

hotel = jumping on the bed

stroll through downtown Athens

future alumni

pool time. next best thing to the beach...

the best

eh. second best 

It was a little raint the first day.

Not to worry, C had her umbrella handy.

It was taller than she is.

First family picture since May.

Tybee Island

My peeps

At least we all got our toes in the sand.

Except Jacob. Sorry, J.

Super, super hate asking people to take our picture. 

Of course we went to the Hilton Head outlets. Duh.

Thank you, Annie, for the book of 700 stickers! 

She wore them to dinner. There was a little trail of Thomas stickers throughout the restaurant. 

True story. Amazing. 

Went in to check on her... and fell asleep

snuggle city

happiest baby

Forsyth Park with my kiddos

Probably C's favorite day

Seriously, the best dad

Besties

Just trying to fit in

Bubbles @ City Market

Fountains @ City Market

A passerby looked at us and said, "Now that's a great family photo!" 

So I said, "Oh great! Will you take one?" 

Seize the moment. 

We had the best time. I miss it already. Oh, and we love Savannah. 

Until Next Time,
The Guff