November 2015

Wow! October drug on but November FLEW by!  We were busy preparing for baby sissy, enjoying time with friends, celebrating Thanksgiving with our Moore Family, and continuing to count our blessings...naming them one by one.  Folks, we are truly blessed around here.

Suzanna Grace continues to have lots and lots of fun activities throughout the week.  Monday and Wednesday are school days but Tuesdays are devoted to gymnastics and wearing her amazing leotard, tutu, and leg warmers, Thursdays we go to music class, and Friday we join friends at the trampoline place and enjoy lunch out.  This baby loves to be on the go and honestly doesn't do very well when we have "home days."  I think she's mine.

                        

While helping me do laundry one morning, this crazy girl stacked the laundry hamper on her trampoline and was using it to jump even higher in the air.  I came out of the laundry room when I heard her giggling and yelling, "JUMP,JUMP!!!!"

We got started on our Christmas crafts this month as we have many friends in which to send SG original cards.  She LOVES to "paint, paint" and gets very creative in the ways that she gets it paint onto the cards.  SG uses her paint brush, Q-tips, and even experiments with painting her whole hand/other body parts and stamping them onto the cards.

ADD Drugs has become an afternoon favorite for this milkshake loving Momma and baby.  SG and I usually get our own and then I drink 1.5 milkshakes...

JJ and PopPop came to visit twice this month and even Uncle Bryson and his crew rolled through town for a night.  JJ brought SG a Frozen ATV and, like her mother, she is good at going fast and running into things when she drives it.  Since grandparents were in town and many of the Landmark men were out of town, MaMa got to play VIP at the GA vs. KY game by sitting in the Landmark skybox with the "Ladies of Landmark."  We had so much fun visiting and "watching" the game.  PopPop insisted that SG wear her maroon all weekend and we granted his request. 

Suzanna Grace and I began putting together our Christmas Advent Calendar this month since the beginning of December is going to be busy with a new baby.  She discovered that she likes ALL of the candy that we are filling our goody bags with and enjoys snacking while she works.

This baby...that smile.  She's the sweetest.

SG has gotten brave at RUSH and likes to play in the foam pit when she is bouncing.  One of the workers helped her build a princess chair for her to sit in.

Here are two things you won't see often: Dada doing manual labor and SG wearing her PJS after lunch...She sure had a fun time helping Dada rake and sweep the leaves.  (Dada then had Mama hire college boys to finish the job.)

"Dada shoes?"

Dada and I had a fun date night downtown.  Isn't it nice to be able to get dressed up and go out...even for a few hours?  I am a lucky lady and yes, this is maternity pleather...

We go to the park at least once a week to slide and swing.  SG really likes the big girl swing and is learning to pump her legs to go higher and higher.

We needed to upgrade to a double stroller so I sold the Bugaboo.  It was a little emotional to let go.  

As if a growing family isn't enough excitement, this month we, along with MA and Timmy, decided to start a Mommy Blog and online children's clothing line/boutique called Grace and James.  We have had so much fun learning about design, manufacturing, marketing, e-commerce, and all that goes into starting a business.  We are hoping to launch sometime this spring/summer and cannot wait to see where the good Lord leads us in this venture.   

Carolina James prep continues and more and more monograms keep coming in the mail...luckily the mail arrives before Dada comes home. 

We aren't sure where this obsession with cleaning comes from but we sure are glad that at least one person in our family enjoys it.

The weather has been nice so we have spent many afternoons playing in the backyard.  Suzanna Grace says, "slide, slide" and "swing, swing."

Herb, much like a turkey timer, is trying to let us know that CJ is DONE.  Sorry for a bathroom selfie but this was too funny not to share.  When I walked out, I ran into my friend Lindsey who greeted me by saying, "Well that shirt and jacket fit you well..." #truth

How can you deny this angel baby a popsicle every day?  She stands by the fridge, points to the freezer and says, "pop,pop?? POP, POP!!"

We had a "stay in your PJs and relax all day" Saturday that ended with MaMa watching Housewives at home while Dada and SG went to watch football at the Templins.  While not subtle, at all, SG likes to let you know when she's ready to go home by telling everyone "bye-bye," grabbing her diaper, and yelling "poo-poo!"  And that's your cue to leave...before you're kicked to the curb by the host.

Who loves canned ravioli? Suzanna Grace.  Some nights she can literally eat the whole can. #finedining #organic

Sorry Harry Hood, there is a new gentleman in SG's life and he isn't afraid to show a little PDA.  Our neighbor and BFF, "B" is SG's new love.  She points to his house and yells, "Beeeeee!!!" He naps later than her so when we go walking when she wakes up she'll say, "B, nite-nite."  They have the sweetest little relationship and I love watching them interact.  B talks about "Sue Grace" all the time too and often asks his mom when he can see her again.  Kyle says that he and B need to have a talk.

We go to the Y many times during the week and SG enjoy watching the grandmothers during their workout class.  She stands by the door and stretches side to side with them while she yells, "HI!!!"

Harry wanted to compare tummy sizes...

Athens Church just finished their "Be Rich" series and SG donated several warm items to needy citizens in Athens.

39 weeks...

Suzanna Grace went with me to my 39 week appointment and enjoyed playing with the toys in the exam room.  She was so sweet and patient so she got a sucker treat when we went to the grocery story afterwards.  Of course, she thought that the giant teddy bear would have really been a more appropriate reward.

Our hipster Uncle Bryson let SG borrow his bandana and we decided that she really wore it best. She thought that it made her too cool!

Poor Suzanna Grace was sick on Thanksgiving day.  She woke up sick and with a fever but luckily she took 2 naps and got back to herself (mostly) by the end of the day.  We had a blast playing with Cousin Anna Grace, all of our Uncle (including Great Uncle Joe), and grandparents.  SG, AG, and JJ did some crafts and played outside.

The day after Thanksgiving called for a change to Christmas apparel ONLY.  I found this felt Christmas Tree idea on Pintrest and made one for SG and one for Wilkes.  SG helped me decorate the ornaments with stickers and then used them to decorate her very own tree too.  The felt ornaments just stick straight to the felt tree so there is not need for other adhesive parts.

We had so much fun with the Moore's being in town and REALLY enjoyed not having to drive back and forth to MS.  Kyle got to relax and actually enjoy his time off at home.  These Moore brothers love a pick up game of anything and got very competitive over who could best teach SG how to throw the frisbee.  After everyone left, we walked over to Memorial Park to test out the new stroller and play at the playground.  SG happly rode in her new seat (something that she usually doesn't do well as she has never really liked her stroller) and then on the way home she wanted to ride on the glider.  She did a great job holding on and smiled the whole way home.

The last weekend in November called for decorating for Christmas since the countdown until Carolina James had really begun.  We went out to Jack Mills Farm to pick out a tree and even got a visit with Santa Clause.  I really thought that SG would like him since our Dada B has white facial hair and she loves it and also because SG loves everyone.  She was not impressed.  Her fear was nothing that a candy cane and Mama couldn't fix though and we did end up getting a family picture with Santa.  Here's to next year :)

SG doesn't do pictures these days and as soon as she ask her to smile she freaks out and runs away.  Could it have been the thousands of pictures that I took of her until this point or at the "terrific twos" quickly approaching? Pictures or not, she did enjoy our hike at the Botanical Gardens and racing Dada through the trails.

We have SG leave her paci's in her bed each morning and try not to let her have them during the day.  When she does run to her room to get them, she pulls her bed all the way out and grabs the paci's.  This sometimes ends up with her blocking herself in her room unable to get out.

Loving our new stroller and looking forward to Baby Sissy riding along too!