::This Week Re-Cap::

So, lots has happened since I posted last. On Thursday I took Brant to the doctor to check out his ears. He has a slight infection in his right ear and still has fluid present in both so they referred us to the ENT. We have made an appointment for next Friday.

We had a great weekend (Friday and Saturday that is). I went to a baby shower for a friend on Saturday and had a great time. However, on Sunday, I woke up with a stomach bug that would not give up. I missed work on Monday and Tuesday which is not like me, and Brandon took Brant to school and picked him up and did everything for him Sunday through Wednesday. I think he proved a lot to himself, but it also made him realize how much moms do. Especially moms that work and have to get a baby ready and out the door by 6 am. I was so grateful for him. He allowed me to get well, and took care of my every need. He even had Brant in matching clothes!

Wednesday took me back to work and in the routine. All the while Brant has been having a blast at school. He seems to grow up more every day. His new words are bubble, hi, bye, and he signs thank you very regularly. Especially when we leave school, I always make him say thank you to his teachers.

Also, for those of you who are in the know. My brother and his wife are having a baby in June and Brant will have a cousin just 2 years younger than him. Holidays are going to be DOUBLE the fun now. I have posted the link to their blog they are starting up under my fave blogs on the right side of my page...so check it out!

Here is our week or so in pictures...love you all. Will be trying to post a video in the next day or so that I took tonight. Classic! Getting excited about my birthday. I will be a 1/4 of a century old a week from Saturday. (How old does that make you feel Mom?) Enjoy...

Watchin my video with my popcorn and marshmallows

Am I cute or what?

This is just too precious not to put up.

Brant's fingers were yummy after Jello day at school. He licked them all afternoon.

This is Brant tipping back the Ginger-Ale mom needed for her tummy...it was empty.

This is Brant getting creative while Mom cooked dinner

Here is Brant having a meal with a friend at school!

This is Brant hugging the turtle outside the school...precious!

::Sorry its been a while::

So its been a while since my last post. A lot has gone on. Nothing too interesting to write about, but fun for our little family. Let's see...

On Sunday the 13th Brandon and I had been married a WHOLE YEAR! They say the first year is the hardest, and if that is the case, I am in store for a lovely, fulfilling, and EXCITING time, to say the least, in our marriage. My Mom and Sis were in Israel, so since the only babysitter we use here (MiMi) was gone, we opted to take a trip the next weekend. So, on Friday the 18th we left for Gatlinburg. I had never been and was really pumped. We rented a small cabin up the mountain between Pidgeon Forge and Gatlinburg. It was a very pretty time of the year to go, not as pretty as fall I am sure, but it was pretty none the less. We spent Friday looking around and getting settled and then Saturday we hit the shops (my idea of course). See, the holidays are a rough time of year for Brandon. He has Christmas, our anniversary, my birthday on Feb. 9, and then Valentine's Day, all in a row. Needless to say, he was excited for me to pick out some gifts and knock them all out while we were there! With no argument from me, I came home with two new Polo dresses and a new rain jacket! Both things I need and have really wanted for a while. We wanted to see some snow, and were even worried that we might get snowed in. However, we did not see ONE flake, which I was depressed about, although we got back on time to see our little one, who we missed desperately...sort of.

Here are some pictures to sum it up...

So, the week and a half for Brant has been fun. He saw his first snow, and maybe last for a while. He got to spend a weekend with MiMi and PawPaw eating popcorn and marshmallows, playing with his friend Haydo, and being rocked to sleep. Now he is back in the routine...getting up early, being at school all day LEARNING (Blah), and getting his second haircut today! Here are some pictures from his week or so...

::Brant's Photoshoot::

This afternoon Brant and I played outside and I took the opportunity to take some more pictures of him (like I need more). One day is going to ask me why I took so many pictures of him.

::Check Me Out::

This Christmas I got two pairs of footwear: An AWESOME pair of Nike sneaks, just like Pat Pat's...and a pair of rain boots. Since it was muddy outside on the playground today my teacher remembered to put the boots on so I wouldn't mess up the Nikes. Check me out!

::Yay It Worked::

Right after I was about to give up it finally worked! Here's saying HEY to Israel!

::Sorry So Delayed!::

To those of you who are mad at me for not posting in a while (Nanny), I apologize sincerely. It is no one's fault but my own, and I left my camera battery down in Macon and had to get it mailed to me (thanks again Ms. Debra). And I know that no one wants to READ my blog; they just want to LOOK at my blog. My words are boring without pictures of Brant, I know!

Anyways - this week has been great. Brant is really adjusting to our new schedule...we are now at school from 6:30am - 3:00pm instead of 9:30am - 6:30pm. I think we are both absolutely loving the change. Especially with this new weather, he gets to come home and play outside with Mommy...and Mommy gets to come home and actually get things done before she crashes on her pillow. I cook more, I hope I clean more, and I know I get to see Brant more. I really think this is a wonderful, positive change for the new year!

Mom and Lauren are in Israel so Brant wanted to give them a little shout out. Let's hope they can get it soon. I uploaded it but now it is not working. Go figure! Hopefully I can get it figured out tonight. My Dad is all by his lonesome this week, so if you feel like it, check in on him!

Sidenote...Brandon and I have our ONE YEAR anniversary on Sunday...I really can't believe it! We are going to have a little get away the following weekend which we are really looking forward to. I know my mom is looking forward to it after 10 days away from him!

Keep them in your prayers and I hope everyone is enjoying life after the holidays! It's back to the grind as they say!

Here are some pics from this week...he LOVES his Zebra tent from MiMi and PawPaw.

::Macon in Pictures::

Will write more when I have time, but here are some pictures from Macon this weekend. He got his first haircut. I will put before and afters below! Love you all!

BEFORE

AFTER

::CHRISTMAS::

Brant loved his books he got from Santa!

This is Brant on Christmas Eve watching a video of himself on the blog...he thinks he is SO funny!

This is Brant pulling his new wagon with blocks from Nanny! He loved riding INSIDE it too!

These are Brant's new boots! I thought he would be more interested in them because he is always trying to put on Brandon's, but they weren't the hit!

If you look on the table you can see Brant's Jungle Extravaganza! He loves animals and picking them up and putting them in your face while he makes the noise. After he saw these he didn't really care about opening up anything else, but I made him open up the Nikes! TOO CUTE!

My mom and dad took more pictures that I hope will be sent to me soon! They have some really good ones. I hope all your families had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. We head to Macon on Saturday to celebrate Christmas with The Arnolds! Can't wait!

::Pictures::

Sorry for the delay in posting. Things have been busy around here. Brant just left for MiMi and PawPaw's today. He will be there until Brandon and I go over there for Christmas Eve! Here are a couple pictures from this past week....Enjoy!

::Pics from Staff Party::

These are some pics from my staff party this past Saturday. We had it at a gym and Brant had a blast. Hope you enjoy! We love you all!

::All Boy::

So, I know I have said this before, but I HAVE to say it again...

MY CHILD IS ALL BOY!

On Friday at school he was running, as he does EVERYWHERE, through the classroom, and he fell and busted his lip. The front desk administrator came back to my room where I was changing diapers and looked at me and said, "He's alright...(pause)". Any conversation that has started this way has ended in Brant being hurt somehow. I just looked at her and said, "Blood?" She replied that there was some, but mostly just drool. Apparently when he fell he bit his lip and so it looked pretty bad. Today it looks worse, I think because the bruise is coming out, but needless to say I don't think I will ever have a picture that he does not have some bump, bruise, cut, or runny nose. I am just going to have to come to terms with this.

Today I got my new table and Brant's new dresser. I will post pictures of my table below. I love them both! After we got them I decided to clean the bathrooms. I did clean the rest of the house as well, but the bathrooms needed the most attention. As I was cleaning Brant's bath tub I had the water running, which can be pretty loud. I didn't hear him approaching quickly, and here is the result...

He jumped right in, clothes and all. Had a blast splashing and sliding while I RAN to get my camera. He thought it was the funniest thing ever...and so did I...until I thought that him swimming in my cleaner probably wasn't the best thing for him. So I snatched him out and let him run around naked until I was done....which he also thoroughly enjoyed!

So happy Saturday to you all. We are heading to my staff Christmas party tonight and off to church and lunch with friends tomorrow!

Happy Early Birthday to my sister-in-law Amelia Hardman and one of my best buddies Ayesha Nasmyth! I hope tomorrow is a special day for the both of you. I put this up in case I become absent minded and forget to call...I probably will due to that self-fulfilling prophecy that I learned about in educational psychology.

Here's the table...for those of you who care!

::Christmas and Money::

These are the two words that can sum up this weekend. I spent most of it with my wonderful mommy and we spent lots of money! It was all well spent and in my opinion needed...so you can't say that we were irresponsible!

I got my hall bathroom decorated and I must say it is beautiful...just right! Thanks mom!

Brandon and I also got our wedding present from my parents...etiquette does say you have a full year to get the couple a gift. We got a new kitchen table...thanks again!

Brant got his main Christmas present picked out from MiMi and we got all my Christmas decorations purchased and put up. Most of the decorations I already had but Mom helped me fix them and make them look like they should. Our tree is up and my mantle is decorated with stockings. I also have three trees on the front porch that Brant loves! I think our house is really beginning to look like a home! Thanks to all of you who are responsible...

Here is a quick pic of Brant in front of the tree. He loves it. I will put up more pictures of the rest as soon as I can!

::Happy Birthday::

I am the worst. Today was a very important person's 40th birthday and I blew it and forgot to call! Maybe this blog shout-out will make up for it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOTT MACMATH!

I am not sure if you are an avid reader of this site, but I know your children are....so Maddie, Lanes, or Haydo...go get your dad and show him this!

I love you Scott! Thanks for all you have meant to me over the years! I know this isn't as cool as the banner I made you back in the day, but can it suffice?