Busy day

I'm kind of out of whack with the time. I had to ask my mom, "Did we just get here yesterday?" because we hit the ground running! After a 7 hour drive, we went to the mall last night. Today we went to church, spent the afternoon at Mema's, and went to Target this evening!

Sage only gets Wednesday-Friday out of school this week, but obviously she is just not going to be there on Monday and Tuesday. It's really not enough time, and I'm trying to figure out how we could stay longer. Guess we have to take what we can get. We are definitely making the most of each moment.

Tomorrow we will have our annual holiday tradition of going to Build-a-Bear. Guess what their holiday theme is again? RUDOLPH! Ya'll know how we can't get enough Rudolph in our house. This will be Jaggar's first year participating! I can't wait to see what he thinks. He's already gasping at the Christmas lights. Guess where lunch is??? 5 Guys! I just have to say that I will not eat a burger ANYWHERE out, except there. Okay, I get veggie mostly, but I do splurge with their fries. I cannot wait!!!

Boo boo and I at Mema's this afternoon

On the road

Yesterday, the kids and myself headed north to my hometown of Louisville for the holidays. It is the MOST wonderful time of the year. We got here safely, and the kids did great on the road. We are enjoying being with family, and I am and will be snapping pictures while we are here. This is during the trip right before Jaggar crashed. That's "his look." The "I-can't-even-move-my-head-anymore-my-eyes-are-about-to-roll-back-in-my-head" look. Makes me laugh everytime. :) It's a bit out of focus, but you get the idea.

Just Because

I love her. And this song. I had this CD right after Travis and I got married, and I'd sing it ALL the time. Celine Dion has been one of my musical inspirations to sing for a long time. I will find myself randomly singing her songs at the oddest times. She's really untouchable, and she has such a loving personality that shows when she sings. I need that too! Ha, I mean really. I want people to say that about me when I sing. I think I've got some work to do in that!

Here Comes Santa Claus

Well, it's been two weeks since Halloween, and you know what that means! Yep, Santa Claus is comin' to town. Or the mall. They had a big balloon shaped like Santa in front of the mall that said he'd arrive today in a parade at 9:30. Though I've been kind of disappointed in Quintard Mall's lack of delivery in this area, it's all my kids know so....we were there and Meagan and Kylie met us.

We almost did NOT make it since Sage woke up with a sore throat yesterday morning, but she didn't have a fever. By 1:00 the school had called and asked me to come and get her. I knew that couldn't be good. A few hours later, she was running a fever, and I knew what it was. So we took her to CARES. The result: strep. Poor girl. She got that painful penicillin shot, but she still woke up in the night in pain. Since she didn't have a fever this morning and felt up to going, we went for it. Travis is in Auburn shooting the game, so I'm outnumbered.

Waiting for the "parade." That is in quotes for a reason as you'll see in a minute. This is a typical picture with not one kid looking towards the camera. Granted, the sun was obviously in their faces.He was just glad to be out of the stroller. The way they did it was their "parade" circled around the mall at the rate of a snail. We were at the final point of the parade where Santa actually entered the mall, so we had quite a bit of waiting.
And finally, they see it!
He does too!
The one and only float of the "parade." I didn't take a picture of the red cross truck that was the grand master of the parade. Oh wait, or was it the 2 girls walking with the "Goodys" banner in between them? Sorry for my cynicism, but let's not call something a parade when I've got more of a parade in my driveway. But HEY, the kids were just excited to see Santa.
I do love the chick-fil-a cow! Actually, I love chick-fil-a!
And there he is!
Santa!!
The first thing he did when he got out (after telling the awaiting kids "Merry Christmas") was to donate to the Salvation Army, and he also said something about giving was what it was about since Jesus gave us His all. Very impressive, Santa. I still do get teary when I see him for the first time. That plus the kind of morning it was, I suppose. ;)
And who was one of the first to see him? Grayson! Emily said he kept saying, "Um, hi Santa. I want a horsey. Hi, Santa. Santa..." So cute! I did take the kids up there later to see him, and they would barely get near him. Although Sage did manage to muster that she wanted "Go-Go, My Walking Pup."

A True Friend

The other day, I picked something up for Chrissie here that she couldn't find in Birmingham. So she mailed me a check for it, but the check came along with THIS. It was the highlight of my day, let me tell ya.

I only hoped I knew what was inside. YES! I could have cried tears of joy. THESE are only the two best things that you can get at Whole Foods this time of year: yummy cupcakes and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. PUMPKIN Chocolate Chip Cookies. My two very favorite things in the world combined into one. The box should have more appropriately said, "the gain 10 lbs during PMS box." I may be picky about what types of foods I will eat, but one thing I will NEVER deny is that I LOVE sweets.
Here is one of the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies in all of its glory. YUM. Thank you, Chrissie!!!

Going for a Stroll

Last night I heard a lot of laughter and then saw this. Yes, that is Sage's doll stroller. Someone fit quite nicely in there.
Ha, I don't know why Sage looks like a deer caught in headlights. Maybe she thought she'd get in trouble? I love it when these 2 play together so nicely.

It's Beginning...

to look a lot like Christmas. It is in Sage's room, at least. Just like last year, she started asking right after Halloween if we could put up the tree. I was really not in the mood with 80 degree temps and a very busy one year old, but then we remembered HER tree. That's the reason we got it last year. So yesterday afternoon, we put it up and got a preview of what it will be like with the real tree and Jaggar. Not sure if we'll have one this year, ha.I could have taken an entire memory card of pictures like this. He would also sneak to the back to try and take an ornament off without anyone looking.

Decorating

Finished and pretty

FYI: the time changed yesterday, and I HATE it. I went to bed at 9:17 last night. I want to find out who invented that great concept and let my kids stay at their house at night.

He just can't help himself. ;) "Ball. Ball. Ball." I opened the door to Sage's room this morning, and he immediately came running and screaming from his room because he remembered that tree.

Sage is proud.

Notice all of her Christmas friends that are underneath it. When we were finished, she wanted to hold hands and sing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" like they do on Charlie Brown Christmas. She and I did. Travis watched. He refuses to sing in front of me (for 7+ years now), in case you didn't know.

25 Things

It's been a long time since I've done one of those "25 things about me" lists. Back in the days of myspace, I used to do these every so often. I enjoy reading them, so I thought I'd give it a whirl myself.

1. I love heat. I am probably the most cold-natured person you will ever meet. To illustrate this point, I have a space heater that I actually have near me most of the day. Before I go to sleep and before I wake up in the morning, I will put it beside me in the bed and turn it on. The bad part about this is one time, I fell asleep on the couch with it turned on beside me. I woke up with 2 small burns on my wrist that left scars.

2. I've had every hair color (I mean, besides blue, pink, orange etc) that you can imagine. Red, black, brown, blonde...I used to change it every time, but now I feel most comfortable blonde. Travis would love to know what my hair color actually is. Hint: It's the darker part underneath and also closest to the roots. ;)

3. I LOVE The Office. My mom finds it almost painful to watch because Michael Scott is so stupid, but I really love that. I've always loved dry humor.

4. I really try to be kind to people, to engage them, pay attention to them...just to be NICE. With that said, I have a bit of a flaw in this. It irritates me (and this is not right or okay) if I see someone that I think is being rude to someone else or even to me...well, that kindness can be thrown right out the window. I don't know if I want them to know how it feels? Or if I want them to know they can't just treat someone like that? I don't know. I'm a work in progress, I suppose. Oh, and don't even think about messing with my kids. Then this whole statement gets erased. ;)

5. It's very difficult for me to just go and start a conversation with someone. Maybe it's because I don't work outside of the home, so I'm used to just being with my family? Or maybe I'm a snob like Travis says, I don't know. Kidding. Once it's started, I'm all for it. I just have trouble initializing it. I'm outgoing, I just need a push sometimes. :)

6. This is kind of stupid because I think these things should try to tell something about you that perhaps the audience wouldn't already know, but I have to throw this in there. I love FLASHY things. Shiny. Sparkly. Noisy. Chunky. If it shines and makes some noise, I love it.

7. I had Bell's Palsy when I was a senior in high school. I cannot tell you how much that sucked. The doctors said that they didn't even know if it would completely restore itself. I had to sleep with my eye taped shut. Obviously, my face did return to normal, but it did, in fact, take several months. I have pictures, but they will NEVER be seen on here. Think Halloween. Yuck.

8. I hate loud, repetitive noises that aren't musical. Dogs barking. Tapping. Stomping. A friend told me that maybe it was because I AM musical, but I don't know. I just find it annoying.

9. I probably should have been on medication when pregnant with Sage. I was borderline crazy. Ask Travis. But I was completely elated and normal when she was born. When I was pregnant with Jaggar, I was great. Normal me. But when he was born, I cried a lot. Worried. And wondered what I had done because 2 really overwhelmed me.

10. I've been turning our family over to more and more organic foods. It is painfully and ridiculously expensive, but I just don't like the idea of my son drinking 1/2 gallon of milk a day (seriously) from a cow on steroids. It can't be good for you.

11. I've had a few friends tell me that anytime they go anywhere with me, they make sure that they have makeup on, outfit accessorized, etc because that's how they always see ME. Funny thing about that is that since Jaggar was born, I really never wear makeup unless I absolutely have to. And I wear whatever I can find that is easy to throw on in the mornings. It's good to know they don't see me as the bum that I think I am though!

12. In high school, we had to do exit interviews in front of the class. My interview was good. The only criticism was that I said "like" too much. I STILL do that to this day with the added phrase of "you know what I'm saying." I also find myself saying, "It's just like...." in addition to the simple, yet profound "like." Listen to yourself speak. You have phrases that you throw in all the time too. If you can't think of them, ask someone around you. :)

13. I get embarrassed for people. If someone does something that I know they're about to be reprimanded (however so lightly) for, I want to disappear. I can't stand to see it.

14. Our house was shot up in 2005. Yeah, like with a gun. One bullet went through our front door, through the playroom door, and out the back of the house. One went underneath the window in the formal living room. One went into the trunk of the car that was in front of the family room where Travis was sitting. Had it not gone into the car, it very likely could have hit him. The mother of one of the boys attends our church. It was a very long story and a very low point in our lives that caused a lot of fear and anger, but it makes for a random "Hey, there's not something that happens every day," fact now for this particular survey.

15. Sayings like, "Life isn't measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away," "Sometimes we build walls not to keep people out but to see who is willing to climb in," "If you don't love me at my worst, you sure don't deserve me at my best"....well, those kinds of sayings make me want to stick 2 fingers down my throat. I HATE cliches'.

16. I don't drink, smoke, chew or hang with those that do. HA...kidding, kidding. the cliche', I mean. I don't smoke at all, and I really don't drink often. The reasons behind these are strictly for vanity purposes. I will NOT have unnecessary lines and wrinkles on my face from smoking. AND I don't want to sound like a man when I talk. Gross. AND it's just EXPENSIVE. And alcohol is way too loaded with calories to overindulge in.

17. I remember when I was in kindergarten, someone told me that I had a big nose on the bus. I hated my nose for a while after that and when I was older, I swore I'd get nose job. Funny thinking that way now, since I think my nose is perfectly fine. Now I'm more realistic in my plastic surgery expectations: face lift in 20 years or so, liposuction... ;)

18. I'd rather eat a snack than a meal.

19. Becoming a mother was the greatest thing that ever happened to me minus salvation. It just did something to me. Made me who I wanted to be and makes me want to be better. (I have tried to do this whole thing to make it strictly about me, but I just had to throw that in there.) I love my kids, and of course, Travis! He loves me for me, even the ugly that I won't tell you about. ;)

20. I used to drink a 12 pack of Diet Sunkist in 2 days. I lived on that stuff. Now I drink 2 liters+ of water a day. Definitely a change for the better.

21. For some reason, since I had Jaggar, I have worse acne than I have EVER had in my life. It's terrible. And embarrassing. I THINK it may finally be getting somewhat better, or else I'm just used to it?

22. Mondays are the most difficult day of the week for me. I am physically drained from Sunday. Sage starts a new week of school. And for some reason, my house looks like a hurricane went through it EVERY MONDAY, and because of the above reasons, it's very difficult for me to clean it up.

23. I am way too self conscious and overly concerned with what people think about me. I'm my own worst critic, so I think that others are that way towards me too. I'm learning that assumption is generally false.

24. It makes me slightly uncomfortable to see 30 and 40 somethings (heck, even 2o somethings) posting ALBUMS full of pictures that they took of themselves on facebook. ESPECIALLY when they're trying to look like they are unaware or sexy or in deep thought. It is SO awkward! I mean, they aren't with their friends or anything. They're just sitting around alone. I'm all for a self portrait, but most of the time, I'm being silly. I just can't take myself seriously doing that, but hey, to each his own. Maybe #23 is my problem in this case.

25. I'm very grateful for Word Alive and the things that I get to be involved in there. I had my eyes opened this morning to the perspective that I can grow comfortable with of being able to watch 1000s of people worship. It's really beautiful.

Wow! I honestly never thought I could get 25 things without sounding stupid or narcissistic. Maybe I did or didn't accomplish that!

To Grandmother's House We Go

Or should I say, "THEY go." Yep, I did it. I called for backup today. You know, it's probably a normal thing in most families to let your kids go to their grandparents' alone. My parents don't live here, or I'd be all over that. Travis's mom is great, but they live in Heflin. Every time that I drive there, I feel like I should be in Atlanta. Also, and probably most importantly, I just LIKE my kids. I like being with them, but I need to do a better job of allowing Travis's family to get to know these sweeties. I can count on one hand how many times I've left Jaggar with someone other than Travis, but this was his first time to go to Grandmother's house without me.

Travis, who is doing a shoot at UAB today, was coaching me how to leave them on the phone. He is the much more paranoid one about leaving them than I am. He was telling me to let Jaggar play outside first, make sure he's comfortable, etc....right. Jaggar took off and didn't look back, and Sage has been to stay the night several times. Now I sit here and hear the sound of silence. Completely alone for the first time (minus Travis taking them for a quick trip to the store...which has maybe happened twice) since Jaggar has been born. That's a little over 17 months, folks. Year and a half technically speaking. It's been nice, but what have I done? Bought milk at Winn dixie: for Jaggar. Went to Target and bought a Christmas present: for Jaggar. Now I'm washing THEIR clothes, and I didn't even eat until after 3 today. Ha, the work of a mother is never quite done. Thought quiet is boring after a while, I am enjoying it right this second. :)

Long Days

Sage has been asleep for almost an hour, and it's only 8:36pm. I went in her room and took this picture with my phone, and she didn't move. Truth be told, I don't care for these school days. I'm not over it. I hate that someone else is spending more time with her than I am. I hate that she comes home so exhausted that she falls apart over EVERYTHING. It is TOUGH. And I'm tired too. I get up before 6 everyday, and I know this is normal life for the working person, but I have still not adjusted to it. What happened to doing what WE wanted? I want to write the teacher and tell them how ridiculous it is that they take all of our time and are wrecking our home time. I know this is dramatic. I said a special prayer tonight. We were in her room talking together--just she and I--about school, and she told me how the kids made fun of her because her apple was big. Then she said they made fun of her because the pencil she chose was small. Of course, to us, it is ridiculous. I told her though, "Well, that's not making fun of you. They were laughing at the apple and the pencil, and that's just silly."

But she must go through a lot all day. Now she does LOVE school, thank God. I've been there to visit and on a field trip, and she had a lot of friends. She wakes up excited and ready to go everyday. But I thought about it after she went to sleep: I don't want my main focus when she comes home to be getting onto her for what she is or isn't doing. My main goal for her is to build her up so much that nothing at school will wear her down. It's a tough world out there, and I want her to feel so loved and special in this family that it overcomes anything she can experience outside of this home. It has been difficult for me having 2 kids at the ages they are right now, respectively. I'm trying to read her a book; Jaggar is standing on it. I just want a balance. Still getting there. I pray that God makes her sleep sweet tonight and that tomorrow she wakes up refreshed. Me too.

He's Just So Cute

I tell him that a million times a day. In song. In funny voices. Whispers. He's a little over 17 months now, and wow, that time flew. Jaggar has suddenly become a little chatterbox. It's so funny to hear him speak in actual words. "Jaggar, do you want to go bye bye?" "Nooooo!" ha. He can also say:

• ball (EVERYTHING is a ball.)
  
• bird
• dog
• "STOP!" (whenever I open the back door to tell the dogs to stop barking)
• thank you
• bye bye
• and his favorite, "cookie," which is pronounced "tookie." And he LOOVES his 'tookies." I think he may have gotten my sweet tooth. :)

His main communication is still kind of chimp-like towards what he wants at that moment. Followed by a spine tingling scream if you A). Misunderstand B). Don't respond quickly enough. or C). Tell him No. He is VERY vocal right now though. And loud. If I'm out with him, you can be sure to find me. He's kind of become a little bit more of a mommy's boy recently. And by that, I mean he acts like he likes me and is attached. Right after I quit nursing, he just preferred Travis ALL THE TIME. I wasn't bitter or anything. But I took him to dance with me today, and he just sat in my lap for the longest time. He is such a fun, sweet boy (when he's not hitting, though he does it with a smile), and we love him so much. Jaggar has brought us so much joy. The other day I heard Sage doing that, "Mom. Mom. Mommy. Mom. Mommy. Mom....*then* WHATTTT?!" Jaggar immediately said, "Hi." I was CRACKING up.

Earlier in the year, I said that I wanted another baby and would probably get pregnant in the fall. Well, guess what? It's fall and the very thought is TERRIFYING. I'm a planner. I like to plan out my life, but I just don't feel ready. Jaggar is SO busy and still little (though more and more say, "He's a little BOY now!"), but I don't want to go through it all just yet. I don't want to get fat. I don't want to not sleep. It's just a lot to think about. A lot to go through. I had a much rougher labor, delivery, and RECOVERY with him than Sage, and it has not faded enough from my mind. So until then, I'll live vicariously through all of my expecting friends out there. :) And I'm not sure another baby could compete with all this cuteness.

I can pretty much see the thought going through his mind of sailing that cup off of that chair in this picture.

Don't you just wanna squeeze him???

♥

She's a Star

Sage's school had an academic pep rally today with the theme "Be a Star!" To qualify, she had to have all S's in conduct on her report card and no tardies or unexcused absences. Since she fit all of those categories, she got to dress up like a star today and attend the pep rally (or pepper rally, as she says). What was she? A ROCK STAR, of course. I took some pictures because I thought that she looked so cute. Travis said, "Is she an 80s rock star?" ha, either way, she was proud of herself and rightfully so.

She actually said, "I look like you, Mommy." Hey, if my child thinks that I look like a star, then who am I to argue with her?

On the way to school, I told her, "Sage, you are the prettiest little girl I know. You are so pretty on the outside AND the inside." She smiled and politely and genuinely said, "Thank you." Such a sweet girl.

Check out all of that jewelry. I KNOW that she felt like me in all of that. I can pile on some bracelets and trust me, she can too. :)