Hodgepodge

Time just goes and goes and goes and then it's gone. I picture a clock with it's hands going around so fast that you can't even see them. Yep, that's how I feel. It slows down a tiny bit after midnight, slow enough that I can do some things but still fast enough that before I know it it is 3am. Back when I wasn't on maternity leave, josh would often come to bed around 3 and I couldn't imagine what could still be going on after 1. Now I get it. Things. There are always things to do. Relax is one of those things. I like to relax. I'm relaxing right now. So relaxed I don't even feel like posting all the pictures I intended on posting from Christmas to now.
The last month in brief:

• Christmas - Spent in N.C. Enjoyed the food, family and friends. We had wii tournaments- they were SERIOUS. Did I win any of the big ones? No. Am I sore about it? No. I did do the best at flapping my arms like a bird and landing on the targets. Sonny went on his first boat ride (pictures to come). He was so impressed he fell asleep (I blame the cold not the activity itself)
  
• New Years - Watched it on TV, ate some brownies and had some grape juice. The store was out of sparkling stuff.
• Came back to NY. Nice to be back home. It was cold. Frigid. Snowy. Snow storms in NYC are pretty for about 5 minutes then its like the tar pits, only if tar was slushy instead of sticky. It's gross.
• Went to Orlando for my sister's bridal shower. The shower was nice, her friends did a great job. Had cake tastings for the big event. Cicely went with Raphsodic Bakery- Too bad you aren't invited to the wedding because the cake is going to be AWESOME!! Really. The flavors we chose and the design, I can't even think about it without getting excited. Weather was soooo nice. Sonny and I would go outside and walk to the end of the road to the lake with NO COAT. It wasn't even cold. A t-shirt was sufficient.
• Back to NYC. Went to the Mvsevm of Natvral History (that's the way the cool people write it) tonight for This is your Brain on Ping Pong. I always love being someplace after hours, things just seem more magical. I wore lipstick - cause I'm almost 30.
  

I have so many pictures to post! I'll do that this week sometime. Here is a family portrait in the meantime.

Cotton Pickin' Good Pictures

There are advantages of having a great photographer for a husband. When we were at Grandma's Christmas Eve, we went by the barn and into the cotton field behind her house for an impromptu photo session. These are some of my favorites. Other Christmas family photos to come later.







Now this next picture is my ultimate favorite. I love everything about it. It's what I had in mind when we went into the field and I think it's perfect.

so far in my belly...

Creamed corn, collard greens, biscuits, dressing (stuffing), candied yams, freezer jam, field peas, jell-o, Turk'y Roast, mashed potatoes, Carolina Treet, green bean casserole (made from scratch by Aunt Karma), Duane's Punch, peanut butter squares (the only way I'll eat peanut butter), a fish fry (tilapia & shrimp), hush puppies, sweet potatoes, green beans, brownies, pecan pie...

Sounds good huh? It was. All of it. I just love me some southern cuisine. I wish i had pictures of it all. I want this camera. Or maybe this one? If I had it now then that would have been good. Maybe Santa is late and didn't know I was in North Carolina. I bet he'll bring it when I get back to NY. Ya hear that Santa??

Southern Comfort

Saturday morning Sonny and I woke up early and caught a flight to North Carolina to spend his first Christmas with the Maready's.

We had his blessing on Sunday. It was nice. All of josh's brothers were here so they were all able to participate. It was short, sweet and special.

He needed to look sharp. I'd seen a lot of special onesies on Etsy, but didn't want to spend the money on one when he is between sizes and would only get to wear it once. So i designed what i wanted and my friend Bea sewed it for me (i'm not the most patient/skilled seamstress). Here are a few pictures josh took later that day (I was real glad he didn't have a blowout in it):






He's a pretty happy little thing (except when he is getting his nose sucked. He sure hates that) and has been good with all his cousins. He likes to watch them play and doesn't mind the tiny hands coming at his face all the time to pet him. He likes attention.

If I don't post again this week, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Blah Blah more pics of sonny

Here are four of the pictures from the photo shoot the other day. Don't be surprised if you get a birth announcement from me one day (hopefully soon) and one or more of these are used.
josh took them.









DANG!! That boy is goooooooooood looking.

If Money were no Object - Part 1

Let's just say you didn't need money to buy stuff and you didn't need a job, and the Environment was in perfect condition and you could own things guilt free- this would be the start of my Christmas list this year:

This Watch

This Purse

This Kitchenware

This Fridge

This Ring

And I would be a zoologist and study Elephants, Giraffes and Monkeys.

Garfield = Socrates

He might not look like it here, but Garfield is philosophical.

When I was a kid, my Mom bought me some Garfield stationary (remember when stationary was a big deal? think Lisa Frank). On the top there was a drawing of Garfield looking into a serene mountain pond and typed underneath it said "A Pond is the Perfect Place to Reflect".

Every time I wrote on it I felt so grown up and introspective.
I wish I had that stationary now.