Christmas Card

I had been trying to get a "good" picture of Ben for our Christmas card for weeks. I finally gave up and decided to go to a profession at Portrait Innovations. They had done his 18 month portrait so I thought they would do a good job. During our session, Ben ran out of the room multiple times, bit me, and tried to bite the photographer. I was very worried that we would have nothing to chose from.

Here are some of the outtakes.....







And the winner is..........

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Giveaway

There is a wonderful giveaway from Fabulous K Creative for a blog makeover!!!! To find out more information look here!

Too Soon!

Look at that sweet face!! Too bad he isn't always that happy. I think that the terrible twos have come early!!! He is throwing and I mean "throwing" fits all the time. The biggest problem we are having is biting and hitting!!! As soon as he gets upset, he lashes out at me. The crying and screaming don't really bother me, it's the bodily harm. Does any one have and suggestion on what to do? We do timeout but he is sorry for 5 minutes and then starts all over again! What should I do when are out and this occurs? We had a full scale melt down in the check out line at Toys R' Us yesterday. The one where everyone is looking at you and is so happy that their kid isn't acting like that. I'm sure it was the first of many more wonderful moments.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated!!

The battered and bruised mommy.

Top Ten Tuesday - Letter W

Game time!!!! I though that this might be fun to play. All you have to do is make a list of ten of your favorite things. But there is a little catch. Everything on the list has to start with a specific letter of the Alphabet. That letter is randomly assigned by the blogger who you are playing with!

I got assigned the letter W from Michelle.

1. Water - I love to be near any kind of water - oceans, lakes, rivers. It is just so calming.

2. White Chocolate milkshake or ice cream - does this need a description of it yumminess!

3. Wife - I love being a wife to my husband!

4. Waffle House - Best place to go eat breakfast after going out!

5. Winter - I know that most people don't like winter but I do. It's not that cold here in Georgia and my favorite holiday, Christmas, is during winter.

6. Weddings - I really like going to weddings. I think that is fun to see "the dress", the flowers, and even dance.

7. Whipped Cream - All dessert is better with a little whipped cream!

8. Willow tree - It's one my favorite trees and looks like it should be a fairly tale with it's long flowing branches.

9. Wontons - One of my favorite appetizers for Chinese food.

10. Wrapping paper - I am such a sucker for wrapping paper!! I love it. I always buy too much at Christmas because there are so many to choose from!

If you'd like to play along let me know!! I'll assign you a letter.

Longtime no see......

Christmas Swap

I recently signed up to participate in a holiday swap. I had the best partner EVER!!!! She was so creative with her gifts that she even made a poem out of it!!!

Chocolate sampler box
Holiday scented candles
Recipe cards with my favorite Christmas treats
Interesting holiday caspari tissues and napkins
Starbucks Gift Card
Totally cute Christmas decoration
Merry Christmas hanging sign
A ribbon necklace with my son's name
Super adorable holiday towel

I am so lucky!!! Thanks Clara!!! :)

The most wonderful time of the year!

I got this from my friend Casey.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper unless it's impossible to wrap, then it goes in a bag

2. Tree--Real or Artificial? artificial but I might have talked my husband into getting a real one this year!

3. When do you put Christmas tree up? the day after Thankgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually New Years Day

5. Like egg nog? No thanks.

6. Do you have a nativity scene? we have for Ben that's soft

7. Favorite gift received as a child? cabbage patch doll

8. Hardest person to buy for? me! I'm horrible to shop for! I tend to be VERY particular on what I like.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Ben - he is so fun!

10. Worst Christmas gift? I have gotten some ugly clothes over the years

11. Mail or email a Christmas card? Mail

12. Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Story

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? End of October

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I know of

15. Favorite food to eat at Christmas? Caramel roll Christmas morning

16. Colored or clear lights? We use colored lights on the tree and white on the house outside

17. Favorite Christmas Song? I LOVE Christmas music! Two of my favorites are Carol of the Bells and I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

18. Travel during Christmas or Stay home? We will be around Atlanta, Jason and I decided that Ben would always wake up in his house Christmas morning. We are lucky that our families live close by.

19. Can you name Santa's reindeer's? There’s Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen & Rudolph (thanks Casey!)

20. Angel or Star on Tree top? Angel

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. When I was little I got to open one present on Christmas Eve. I think that I'll start that with Ben when he is a little older.

22. The most annoying thing about this time of year? Traffic and shopping crowds hands down!

If you'd like to participate please let me know!!

19 months

Ben is 19 months today. I thought I'd write down a few things he is doing right now. (Note to self: write them in the baby book!)

• loves to play catch with his daddy
• can say animal sounds for cow, dog, cat, horse
  
• loves to climb on the couch and throw all the pillows on the floor
• is taking a two hour afternoon nap ON HIS OWN!!!! (see what he was doing before)
  
• loves, loves, LOVES dogs
• makes me read him a book about 20 times a day
• is VERY talkative, some of the words we know that he is saying - "mama", "dada", "socks", "shoe", "again", "cookie","Elmo", "Nemo", "trash", "yes", "no" (his favorite word!)
  
• loves to dance and clap his hands
• rolls on the floor (for fun)
  
• climbs up/down stairs on his own
• creates catastrophic disasters - blocks, books, toys, paperwork, tupperware, shoes, etc.
• runs to me on a countdown - 1...2...3...runs to mommy/daddy
• loves to snuggle
• knows what buttons turn on and change channels on the TV remote

Story Time

When Ben was first born, and his personality was slowly coming out, I thought that he might be shy and reserved.

I was wrong!

Ben and I went to story time for toddlers at the library yesterday. When we entered the room, all of the other children and parents were sitting in a semi-circle waiting for it to begin. Most of the children were sitting in their parent's lap or standing very close by. Ben was very excited to see his friend Abby and wanted to get down immediately. Once Ben got out of my arms he was in constant motion for the next 30 minutes. During the story Ben was running/crawling/dancing/clapping around the room. I could hear other parents giggling at his actions through out the story. For one brief second I was embarrassed, but it was gone as quick as it came when I saw Ben and his crazy, sweet, fun behavior. I couldn't help but smile and say, "That's my child." When the story ended everyone clapped. Ben thought they were clapping for his performance and smiled at the crowd of people.

I'm not sure if we'll go again next week - people might need a break from the boisterous little boy who dances during the story.

Tip Junkie

Here is a site for a great give away!! Go find out what you can win!

meme

This is a fun meme that got from my bloggy friend over at Creative Momma.

The rules of this one? One word answers...only!

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your significant other? eating

3. Your hair? straight

4. Your mother? talkative

5. Your father? quiet

6. Your favorite thing? Benjamin

7. Your dream last night? Jason

8. Your favorite drink? DietCoke

9. Your dream/goal? happiness

10. The room you're in? office

11. Your fear? death

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? thinner

13. Where were you last night? Home

14. What you're not? Mean

15. Muffins/donuts? donuts!!!!

16. One of your wish list items? camera

17. Where you grew up? Atlanta

18. The last thing you did? talk

19. What are you wearing? clothes

20. Your TV? On

21. Your pet? none

22. Your computer? necessity

23. Your life? wonderful

24. Your mood? content

25. Missing someone? yes

26. Favorite pastime? reading

27. Something you're not wearing? glasses

28. Favorite Store? Target

29. Your summer? okay

30. Your favorite color? blue

31. When is the last time you laughed? Today

32. Last time you cried? unsure

33. Who will/would re-post this? Mandy :)

34. Four places I go over: Target, Publix, Macy's, Toys R Us

35. Four people who e-mail me? Jason, mom, Jenny, Terry

36. Four of my favorite foods? Japanese, Chinese, lobster, steak

37. Four places I would like to be right now: beach, NYC, spa, shopping

38. Four people I tag? anyone who wants to play along and let me know if you do!

Prematurity Awareness Month

November 12th is Prematurity Awareness Day. Please take a moment to sign the petition at the the March of Dimes site to help with awareness, prematurity-related research, and data collection.

This is an issue that is very close to our hearts and hope that you take the time to fill out your name.

Thank you.

Wordless Wednesday

This past Saturday we celebrated Jason's father's birthday and watched the Clemson game in their new theater room. Ben had a blast running around and watching the game.

The Swap!

I am so excited! I am participating in my first swap with bloggy friends. I signed up over at Clemsongirl. Check it out if you'd like to join in the Christmas fun!

Halloween

Ben had a wonderful Halloween. He had a little bit of a cold so he wasn't his cheerful self but managed just fine. My parents came over to see him all dressed up. He really liked wearing his costume which was good because it was so cool outside. He wasn't quite sure about taking candy from strangers but loved running from house to house.

Ben trying to climb in the pumpkin.

You want me to take the candy?!

Photo Phun

Post the 5th picture in your 5th album

I saw this on my friend's blog and thought I'd do it (plus I've been really bad about posting lately and this was a quick and easy one to do!)

This is Ben at 10 months old hanging out at the grandparent's house. I can't get over how much he's changed!

Pumpkin Patch

This was taken last year!!! What a difference a year makes!

We had a wonderful time at the pumpkin patch. Ben picked out great pumpkins. We had a beautiful day! It was a very crowded so we didn't stay too long. Can't wait until Halloween!!

Can't put it down!!!

Blogging has taken a backseat! I am totally in love with the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer. Thanks for the recommendation Margaret! I read the first book in two days!

A few other books that I recently finished were "The Boy Next Door" and "Shopaholic and Baby." Both were fun and quick reads.

If you have a recommendation on good books that you read lately please let me know!

Fun with Friends

Ben had a play date the other day with a really good friend of mine that has two little boys. They had lots of fun together. The cutest thing was that Ben was in love with baby Bryce. He couldn't get enough of him. He kept going over to him and giving him sweet little touches.

Think, Think, Think

Ben's FAVORITE show is "My Friends Tigger and Pooh." In the show and in the book they sing a little songs that says "Think, Think, Think" while pointing to their head. Ben has picked up this up and does it all the time but especially when he is reading his Tigger and Pooh book. Too cute!

By the way, do you notice the drool coming down my child's chin?! He has a ton of teeth coming in right now. It's worse than when he was a baby. I feel like I need to put a bib on him.

Check your pantry!

I was checking my email today and saw that I had a forward from a friend. Most of the time I delete forwards without reading because I HATE them. The subject peaked my interest and read it. The subject read "Pancake mix - also cake mixes, cookie mixes, etc..." I was shocked to read what it was about. It talked about how outdated pancake mix can kill you because it has yeast which over time develop spores. People can go into anaphylaxic shock resulting death. Here is the link that went with the email. Check your pantry!!

17 months

Sorry for some many pics but I couldn't choose!! Benjamin recently had his portrait done and I loved all the pictures. It was so hard to decide. Here are the best of the best.

I can't believe how much he has grown in the last few months. He is running all over the place and "talking" up a storm. I can see his little personality come out more each day. I also love that he can communicate so much better and "tell" me his wants and needs. I feel so blessed to have him. I love that little boy!