First Ever Christmas Card!!!

With Love Chartreuse Christmas Card

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4 Months!

 Happy 4 Months my sweet baby boy!  I cannot believe it has been four months since you were born.  I also cannot believe that just four short months ago our lives changed forever. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and your daddy.  We love you to the moon and back. :)  Here is what you've been up to the past month...

• You still wear Size 2 diapers
• You wear 3-6 months in clothes and some 6-9 months
• You drink 5-6 6 oz. bottles a day with cereal
• You still love your swing, and you take most of your daytime naps in it.
• You love to sit in your rocking chair while you watch Baby Einstein.
• You can turn complete circles on your play mat.
• You have to wear bibs all day long because you drool so much!  I think you are starting to teethe because you chew on the bottle nipple instead of drinking out of it.  You also love to chew on your teethers.
• You love watching football on TV.  I think the motion intrigues you.  You can watch TV in your swing for a while.  
• You love your bumbo.  We just bought you the tray today, and you love to sit and play with your ball.  This is your favorite toy.  You grab the ball with both hands and hit yourself upside the head.  The first time it scared you, but now you laugh at yourself.  You have such a fun personality (except when you're wet or hungry! ha!).
• You still have not rolled over.  You will be 18 weeks on Wednesday, and I am starting to wonder if  you ever will.  I can sit you up on your play mat, and you will sit up by yourself for about 2 seconds, and you lean to the side.  
• You had your first bite of cereal today from a spoon.  I couldn't help but laugh at the silly faces you were making.  I mixed it with bananas, and you seem to like it.  I think you got more on me and the bib than you did in your mouth, but we will work on that.
• You are such an angel during church.  You still have not gone to the nursery yet.  You got fussy this morning, but only because you were sleepy. 
• You love to "talk".  You jabber 24/7.  You recently learned how to "motorboat" and it is hilarious!  You are one loud baby!  
• You know me and your daddy.  When we walk into a room your face lights up, and it is the sweetest thing!
• Since the recent time change, you have been sleeping from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., and we are so thankful for this!  

We will celebrate our first major holiday as a family of three this week!  I am extremely grateful this Thanksgiving and holiday season for the Lord has blessed us with Maddox who is healthy and happy!  Thanksgiving will also be one year since I found out I was pregnant! 

We love you little turkey! ;)

 

 

Christmas Cards!

First of all, I want to apologize for my lack of blogging lately.  I received a few emails from a few sweet readers checking on me.  I am still here!  I have been working part-time at my husband's office two days a week.  His office is 1 1/2 hours away from our house, so we leave at the crack of dawn and get home around 8 or 9 p.m. after we pick Maddox up from my moms.  Anywho, just wanted to assure everyone I am still alive and well! :)

Can you believe Thanksgiving is one week away?!  Crazy!  I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas this year with our little one.  Maddox is such a blessing to our family, and I can't wait to experience the upcoming holidays with him.  

Speaking of Christmas, it is almost time to send out Christmas Cards!  Being a SAHM and with my husband's student loans (law school) knocking on our door, it is really important that I not go overboard on cards this year.  I have been looking at a few websites, and they have cards for approx $2.00 each.  Yikes!  Thanks to my friend, Sarah, I found out Shutterfly is giving away 50 free cards to bloggers!  How awesome is that?!  You can check out the details here.  I have always been a fan of Shutterfly, as I have ordered a few items in the past.  I have never been disappointed.  They have fantastic products, and the prices are great too!  

We have never sent out photo holiday cards with it being just Wade and I, but this year since we have Maddox, I want to showcase our little munchkin! ;)  There are so many cards to choose from, and here are a few of my faves:

With Love- so cute!  I would love to showcase my favorite pics of Maddox throughout the past 4 months.

Bright and Merry- love this one!  Since having Maddox, I am suddenly drawn to all things blue!  I just love the red and blue together!  Modern and chic! 

Oh What Fun- how cute is this?!  I love the single picture...very dramatic!

Sweet Potato Pie and I Shut My Mouth...

Gone, gone with the wind...there ain't nobody looking back again.  I love that song by Alabama.  Songs like this make me miss the good ol' days.  Days when things were simple.  No one was at war.  Housing market was good.  Jobs were abundant.  

When I was growing up, we didn't "want" for anything.  Daddy worked on the farm, and mama worked in the house.  We knew not to ask for much, but we had everything we needed.  Daddy worked hard for everything he got.  He would leave early in the morning before we got up, and he would not come home sometimes until midnight just to sleep a few hours before going back to the field.  I hope to instill this hard work ethic in my son.  It will get him everything he will ever need in life.

Now, back to the reason I wrote this post...Sweet Potato Pie!  Who doesn't love Sweet Potato Pie in the South?  It is a must-have at Thanksgiving and Christmas for me.  Sometimes instead of making the larger pie, I will make a dozen miniature pies.  You can find the mini pie shells in the tin foil pans mostly around this time of the year.  I think at my local Wal-Mart, they are where the baked goodies are.  You know, the doughnuts, cakes, and pies that were NOT freshly made at your local Wal-Mart?  Look there.  I will be making a few large pies and a dozen mini pies this year.  I like to top my slice with fresh whipping cream.  Yum!  Here is the recipe I have been using for the past few years.  I can't remember where I found it, but a big "Thank You" to whomever this recipe belongs to! =)

Sweet Potato Pie

1 pound sweet potatoes

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 c. white sugar

1/2 c. milk

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust 

Boil sweet potatoes whole (with skin on) for about 45 minutes, or until done. Run cold water over the sweet potatoes, and remove the skin. 

 With a mixer, mix the sweet potatoes and butter in a bowl.  Stir in sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until mixture is smooth. Pour filling into an unbaked pie crust. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Enjoy!

Menu Monday: 11/8

 I have been seeing Menu Mondays on a lot of blogs lately, so I figured this is a great way to plan out my meals for the week.  It has really come in handy because I make a list beforehand, and I only buy what is on the list.  This cut out probably $40 worth of items junk food I do not need.  Plus, with me working 2 days a week now, I feel like I don't have to stress during the week on what to cook for dinner.  I plan everything on Saturday and grocery shop Sunday, usually after church.  I can't wait to try a few of these recipes!  Oh, and I am planning on eating leftovers which is the reason I don't have 5 meals planned this week!

1.  Chicken and Red Potatoes - Taste of Home

2.  Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin- Paula Deen

3.  Green Bean Bundles- Kelly's Recipes  (these are soooo good!)

4.  Cheesy Garlic Bread- Simple Recipes

5.  Parmesan Chicken Strips- make this up as I go

6.  Sweet Potato Fries- Paula Deen (I love her!)

7.  Sopapilla Cheesecake- Allrecipes  **you will thank me for this**

Halloween Recap

 What a fun and busy weekend!  It was Maddox's first Halloween.  When I found out I was pregnant, I bought a lot of Halloween footed pjs, but since the lows were in the 60s/70s during the entire month of October, he only got to wear it one night.  Today, the high is in the 50s, and we are expecting a frost tomorrow morning.  Oh how I love cold weather! 

On Saturday my cousin had a Halloween Carnival at their house for all the kiddos.  They had Picking Up Ducks, Jumpers, Cake Walk, Hay Ride and a Haunted House.  This is one momma who does not do scary!  I am scared of the dark.  Yes, I just admitted that.  If I have to go outside during the night, my sweet hubby watches me! ;)  I don't watch scary movies either.  I used to watch them with my sisters and cousins when I was younger, but then I would have to sleep with the light on for a few nights!  Crazy, I know.

We went to the Fall Festival at our church on Sunday night, and my little monkey was a Pirate.  Most of the costumes were too big for him, and the pirate costume fit him perfectly! When we got home from church, Wade fed Maddox, and he fell asleep half way with drool coming out of his mouth.  Halloween wore him out!  Look at the third picture from the top (1st collage)...he cracks me up!

  

New Look!

Like my new blog design?!  I love it!  My good friend, Shannon at Webbisodes designed it!  She is one talented momma!  Shannon was a pleasure to work with even though I am sure I bugged her quite a bit!  Sorry, Shannon! ;)

About a month ago, we started working on the new design.  Well, I had no clue what I wanted it to look like, but I gave Shannon a few “hints”.  I told her I love fleur de lis, zebra print and color.  She sent me a few previews of her designs, and my gosh, I was blown away at what she created!  I LOVE my new header…Maddox is just as adorable as a “stick” baby!  ;)  We communicated back and forth a few times, and this is the final product!  I’m so glad you like it!

Did I mention she will also carry stationary products such as invitations and holiday cards?  See, I told you she was talented!

Whether you are looking for a completely new look, header, signature or even an Etsy shop banner, you have got to visit Shannon at Persnickety Pages {&more}!  You won’t be disappointed!

Thanks again, Shannon!