Wait...what?

Um. I'm confused. It seems I have a baby boy who is about to turn one in a week, who is on the verge of walking and driving and dating and going away to college OH MY GAH.

 *deep breath*

OK, I'm better now - had to get that out. It's just that, really, did he not enter this crazy world only a month ago? Wasn't it mere weeks ago that he came wailing into my life and amazed me with his loads of awesome? Because I could have sworn that was the case.

Clearly time flies when you have the best little companion EVER. Also? Tate just woke up from his nap. Didn't I just put him down, like, a minute and a half ago?... There goes that freaking time-flying thing again!

*Joey Lawrence WHOA*

Touché!

I don't think we ever have to worry about whether or not Tate will have a good sense of esteem as an adult. If anything, we will have to reign it in lest he become an egomaniac. This conversation with Mark is a prime example as to why:

Me: Isn't it so great how every parent thinks their baby is the cutest, smartest and sweetest baby in the whole world?

Mark: Well yeah, but that's only because they haven't met Tate!

Me: Um, DUH!


Hehehe...we rock.

If Life Were a Cartoon...

The other day, Tate and I visited Mark at work (with gramma, Aunt Alicia and cousins, too). We walked in and one of Mark's employees took one look at Tate and said, "He is sooooo Tommy Pickles!" I think she might be right*!

 *Tommy is known for being courageous, brave, and for compassionately sticking up for others. I hope Tate is one day known and respected for these same things!

Merry and Bright

Today is our first Christmas with Tate; both Mark & I agree that for maybe the first time ever, we sincerely want for nothing. Asking for anything just seems silly, when we have SO MUCH. And while we can think of little things we could use, they only pale in comparison to the amazing, simple joy Tate brings to us every day.

I mean, just look at this little guy!

I think he's a little confused, because we told him to never talk to strangers but then we just plopped him right into the lap of this dude...what gives?!

We are staying home for Christmas for the first time in our relationship, in order to start our own holiday traditions that will carry on through the years, lending comforting memories for Tate to share and talk about some day.  I can think of few things more important than just staying and being...right where we are, with all we have.

I pray your holidays are blessed and happy - if I could share the feeling of complete contentment I have in my heart today, I most certainly would.  Hugs and love to you all!

Best Thing I've Ever Grown

Hope you all had a happy Halloween!  We had fun dressing Tate up and carving pumpkins, as you can see:

Burton Pumpkins (and one watermelon!).  I love how every year, Mark gives his pumpkin ears. Hilarious!

Best Pumpkin of all

We don't need no stinkin' BIB!

Smiley Guy

Little Pea Pod (he hated the hat, as seen below!)

Gardener and Pea Pod (best crop ever this year!)

As the saying goes, you reap what you sow; we'd clearly subjected this little legume to far too much stimulation!

Basket full of YUM

Cutest Bean Ever!

Can't wait until next year when he's old enough to get into the candy bucket! :o)

Inchworm Dance Party

It's time to 'git DOWN!

And when you hit yourself in the eye...

you just gotta collect yourself...

and KEEP DANCING!

Staring Has Become My Favorite Past-time

About 15 times a day, I will look at Tate and get this sudden rush of happiness and think to myself, "I can't believe he's mine...I can't believe I made him and get to call him my son."  I wonder if I'll ever stop thinking that?  Something tells me it just gets better from here...

My Three Boys

When my dad, Yom and little sister, Rachel, visited us the weekend we got home from the hospital with Tate, I was so excited to be able to capture some pictures of myself and the three most important males in my life - three generations and three hearts that I carry within me always.  I'm so blessed...

Hard at Work

WOO HOO! Turns out I'm handsome, just like daddy!

I'll tell you what, though...being cute is EXHAUSTING work. Can someone hit the lights so I can get some beauty sleep?

I Dare You...

...to find a better representation of the Zoolander "Blue Steel" look.  OH YEAH, baby...I'm ready for my close-up!

(I love that it totally looks like he's peering into a doorknob here. HEE!)

This One Goes Out to my Girl Paula Dean

This morning was a rough one, nausea-wise.  My first mistake was brushing my tongue too far back while hurriedly trying to get ready for work.  I hadn't eaten breakfast yet, thankfully, because I knew my stomach wouldn't support it, so there wasn't anything to come up. The 'hurlie swirlies' got worse on the drive to work, though, and it was then and there I decided I needed some grease - good old-fashioned grease.  Originally hailing from Southern Indiana, I have a serious love of grits.  Give me a plate of cheesy grits* and I will make out with you on the spot .

Upon getting to work, I grabbed my friend Tiffany and we walked over to the House Office Building "HOB" cafe so I could load up on grits (with lots of butter and salt!), bacon, and cheesy scrambled eggs.  On the way there, I told her that I needed grits, STAT!  And then I said "There's nothing grits can't fix!"  And that, my dear friends, just might need to go on my tombstone someday.  ;o)

*Mmmm...cheesy grits.  That reminds me of the one of the best meals I ever had when I was in New Orleans for a bachelorette weekend (hi, Jilly - love you!) in 2008...NOLA - one of Emeril Lagasse's restaurants - is the place where dreams are perfectly prepared, folks.

Four Months!

Mark and I just got back from our 4-month (40% through the pregnancy!) doctor visit, and everything is great!  We got to hear the heartbeat using one of those doppler heartbeat monitors; it was so nice to get that additional reassurance that things are going well.  I actually broke down yesterday and ordered a doppler for us to use at home (I just couldn't resist; it was CHEAP) and can't wait for it to get here!  It has a cool feature where we can record the heartbeat to our computer, so stay tuned and we will upload it for you to hear soon.

In the meantime, I've been feeling really good.  Bloated (ha!) and a bit tired, with the now-routine morning stomach icks, but I honestly can't complain.  Unlike all those hangovers I once had in my partying days (JUST KIDDING, mom!), at the end of this journey, WE GET A BABY!!  So, you know, totally worth it.

Since I just sent the link to this blog out to our family and friends today, I hope to have lots of people joining us here soon.  If you've found us, WELCOME and thank you for stopping in to read about these foibles throughout our pregnancy.  Assume I'll be pretty schmoopy on here, as well as silly and sarcastic, but most of all, I hope you know how lucky Mark and I feel to have you all in our lives.  This wouldn't be nearly as exciting of a time for us if it weren't for your support and excitement.  Hugs!!

Little Things

So far, one of the least "fun" things about this pregnancy occurred last night.  I got home from work and had an instant desire to make chocolate chip cookies.  I found I had everything needed to make them and went right to work, forgetting entirely about what I’d make for dinner.  So I’m measuring, sifting, stirring away and as I dump in the chocolate chips, I get some of the now-finished batter on my hand and instinctually go to lick it off.  BUT THEN, I had to be a responsible mommy and stop myself due to possible raw egg contamination — a definite no-no while pregnant.  A wave of sadness came over me as I doled out the cookies and walked the bowl to the sink to rinse out the delicious rest.  I’m not going to lie: it took everything in me not to lick it clean.  I don’t mind having to pee every hour and watching what I eat, nor do I mind that I will soon be gaining weight like it’s my job (which…I guess it kinda will be).  But having to refrain from partaking in one of my most favorite childhood-like behaviors?  That. Stunk.

On a more positive note (according to my book), the baby is now officially a fetus and is no longer considered an embryo.  And instead of being the size of a raspberry, it’s now the size of a GREEN OLIVE.  How exciting is that?  Too bad I can’t have a martini to celebrate.  ;o)

I Own Smaller Dinner Plates

I was doing some online research for baby books today and was looking through part of one on Amazon when I…happened upon a photo of a naked, pregnant women about 6 months along.  And, well, I really hope my nipples don't get that BIG and dark, is all I’m saying…  *gulp*