Announcing the new blog

Hey Everyone! We have a new website. It is still a work in progress, but the blogs (there are two) are up and running. I thought about waiting until I had all the content I wanted on there, but I am ready to blog some over Christmas so I am going ahead with it. I will not be posting on this blog after this post so go to our new site at:

www.whitefamilyblog.com

If you have a link on your blog to our site and want to link the new address, please use www.whitefamilyblog.com or the address from the main page of the site (it will be different because it is hosted by .mac and the other address directs you there) so you don't link people to specific posts from the blog. Do the same with bookmarking it on your computer. Thanks!

As I side note, never cancel a blog, because there are people out there that will pick up the address for their own use and put some really bad stuff on there. I guess they think it is a good way to get people to their sites, since people were going to the previous site anyway...this happened to my brother and it is NOT cool.

New Website

I am getting really excited about our new site. I will be working on it over the next few days as I am receiving my ilife update with some new tools that will make it a lot easier for me to design everything the way I want it today! Hopefully, you will all like it. I will announce the new address (which is likely to be www.whitefamilyblog.com as I said before) as soon as it is ready.

Good Morning, Good Morning!

The day has started off quite sufficient. There is a story to the word sufficient that I will tell one day when I am feeling creative enough to do it justice. Anyway, I have vacuumed and changed diapers and fed children. I think I hurt my back yesterday getting Sydney out of her high chair. Such a simple task, but I AM getting older. It is my birthday, by the way. I only tell that to explain why I am about to share a birthday memory I was reminded of this morning. On birthdays, my grandmother (Mawmaw. Thanks to Stewart who apparently much to her disappointment thought that "Grandmother" was to be pronounced as "Mawmaw") and my Aunt Ruth would call on three way and sing to you. Neither being prize vocalists, you found yourself embarrassed as you sat there though it wasn't as if it was in person. I miss that. Adam serenaded me this morning and I am not sure if he meant to do it, but he drew out the Ha in Happy just like they would and in a tone fit for a Muppet.

Sydney is busy being a little mom to a random white bear in a pink 80's t-shirt that says "Love" and has a heart on it. She has wrapped it, rocked it, and changed it's diaper. Too bad she isn't older, she would be a really big help with Morgan. Of course, she would also need to be a weight lifter to help with him. I think I need to start stretching and warming up before picking him up. He had his 4 month check up a week ago and he was 17 pounds and 13 ounces. He is also tall so the doctor said that he really isn't overweight. That is good to know. It doesn't matter to me though. I like chubby babies. He is so busy trying to roll over all the way. I cringe as I say that because it reminds me that I need to finish Sydney's baby book. I have all the information like milestones and such, but I haven't put it all together. Ok, I am going to stop talking about it so I won't pull it out in a panic and start on it. I will vow to plan a scrapbook night soon. There is something that I have been working on and I am really excited about it. I am putting my Mac to good use and designing a new website and blog. I think that a new format will organize my thoughts and information in a better way. Using iweb makes it so easy to update everything. I will be able to post pictures easier and put full photo albums up. Adam can get more involved with it too. I published the first draft last night and it is really cool. I won't give the address yet because it isn't ready and I need to decide if it is going to linked through a web address that Adam purchased for us a few months back. www.whitefamilyblog.com You can go there now, but nothing is there. I am not sure how all that works, but somehow Adam will magically direct that site to my .mac site, which is what I will be using. It will be easier to say whitefamilyblog.com than... my mac site. You thought I might slip and give the address, didn't you?

Oh, by the way, I am now a model for Maybelline. Their make-up really works wonders...Check out my article here. If you will remember Sydney got her big break this summer with a self titled movie. We are all really taking off professionally.

Music Lesson 1: Notes vs. Nose

Cheesy Christmas Movies

Hello, my name is Jessica and I am addicted to terribly cheesy Christmas movies. It all started the week after Thanksgiving. Hallmark channel and the Family channel are mostly to blame. I actually watched in full the following movies: A Grandpa for Christmas (a little girl gets to know her estranged grandfather after her mother is hospitalized, she finds talent and love for song and dance and ends up the star of the school Christmas play), Picking up and Dropping off (two single parents keep meeting at the airport as they drop off their children to visit their former spouses), Santa Baby...this is multi year favorite (Santa's high powered executive daughter comes home to the North Pole to help get Christmas underway and rekindles an old romance while saving Christmas). Oh, the shame! A whole month of this (don't even get Adam started, he is just thankful I can record them on DVR and he can still watch something else)!

Some of my favs

If you have a little time and would like to laugh, here are a few of my favorite funny videos, etc. You may have seen some or even all of them, but if it has been a while you might get another laugh.

Little Boy

Brothers

Animator vs. Animation

Progress

I have a HUGE list of things that I need to do and I think I am finally making some progress. It is so easy to procrastinate. It is even easier to give in when I should stand strong. Yesterday, Morgan waited 4 hours between his feedings (with the exception of the last before bedtime). Sydney went without her paci during the day. I have found that I have to be on my toes with some of these changes. The success really depends on me. If I can work these things into a routine I think they are more willingly received by the kids. If I forget to have Sydney throw the paci in the bed when I get her out (it is sort of a game to throw her bear and paci in there) then it is harder to get it away. I still take it away if this happens, but I would rather not provoke a fit if I can avoid it. With Morgan, I am trying to establish a routine with feeding, play and sleep. I think this helps him go longer between feedings. I am also trying harder with making him get a really good feeding in, even if it means trying for an hour. I am realizing that it isn't the kids that aren't cooperating. Its really us. I ultimately think they should adapt to our lives, but we are responsible for figuring out the best and easiest way to teach them how.

Here is the list of things we are going to be working on over the next few weeks/months:

Potty training
Getting Morgan to use a bottle for some feedings
Getting Morgan to use a paci
Getting Sydney to stop using a paci
Moving Sydney to a real bed
Moving Morgan to his crib
and eventually, Morgan sleeping through the night.

Now, I have no idea what order in which all this should be done. I think it all might be done in stages. For example, cut back on the paci, but keep it around until the bed transition is complete and comfortable.

Tree

I wish you could all see this tree in person. Last night it was big. This morning, after it settled, it is even bigger! Adam took some pictures before he left (he is in NYC for a couple of nights). I am in the pictures to show the scale, so just ignore me and look at the tree. Now to decorate...

Hello, old friend

Here are a few pictures to update anyone interested in what we have been doing lately

Our attempt at a family picture on Thanksgiving Day. I love the fact that I am grouped in with the kids in not paying attention to the camera.

Our heat went out last week and we ended up going to Yazoo City for the night after being told it could be a few days until the part came in. Before we left, I had the kids all bundled up in the house. We nicknamed him our little "Budge-cicle" because he was so cold, but still so yummy (and Budgey, of course). Thankfully, the part was in the next day (we are also thankful for home warranties).

We had been planning to go to Canton and ride the carousel, but I didn't think to check for time for the carousel. It closed at 7 and we were trapped by the parade (which was also a surprise). It was very interesting and though I have not actually seen the movie Drumline, I now feel as though I have been an extra in the sequel (since Canton is a movie town and all...).

Even though the carousel was closed, Sydney entertained herself (with my assistance) on the steps of the courthouse.

We did get a few smiles before....

Sydney had a meltdown when she couldn't play on the steps anymore. Adam has that "this is fun" look on his face. Can you say "time for bed"?

Morgan was content just to stroll.

This morning, I realized that all people are born loving M&M's. I am not sure that Sydney has actually had them before this weekend, but the colors instantly had her wanting them. She found them at the table and after taking a few pictures of her I realized that she was using the end of the tablecloth as a napkin.

This is so funny. I think we all know someone a little like this.

SNL Skit

Hey Bobbye!

I just remembered that I should have told you to click the link on the post below (just click the "click here"). I want you to see this because it will make you laugh. Hope you check this!

Love,

Jessica

I just couldn't resist!

Thanks for sending the link, Christy...

Click Here

Break

I am taking a break from my blog for a little while, but here are a few pictures to tide you over (for those who come here to see pictures of my babies). We will still be updating Adam's Photography Blog over the next few weeks. We will be weeding through some of his photography from the past few years as we are trying to pick stuff for our walls and hang some things!

Don't you just want to brush her hair out of her face? I do it all day!

I am looking in your window!

Adam and I moved to Fondren just before Morgan was born. We knew we wanted this house since the beginning of the year and though it didn't seem as it would work out, we ended up with it anyway (sound familiar Maggie?). Adam needed a little convincing to look at it again this summer and I know he is glad that he did! I think we put it to rest in our minds once our original contract fell through. We have ended up with wonderful neighbors that are very involved in the community. So we get weekly updates on the local happenings, as we see each other in our yards. That is how it is around here. Everyone walks or runs and they work in their yard. You won't drive down the street without seeing someone out in the evening pulling a weed or sitting outside with their puppy. One thing that Adam and I have noticed is that you can see inside people's homes as you drive by. This satisfies a secret love of mine - seeing how other people live. I am not trying to sound like Oprah, I promise. I think that there is something inviting about a house that has its shades open. It looks like someone lives there and they are welcoming guests! This area seems to have a lot of that and I think that newer homes are forgetting about that. The houses are closed up tight so you can't even tell if someone is home. We didn't know any of our neighbors in our old neighborhood and now we have hopes of actually socializing with them. This inspired me to get out of my comfort zone and try to meet some new people in the area. I went to the Fondren Ladies Auxiliary meeting, which is a purely social event. I say that to show that I was not there to help plan anything (though they hold several events throughout the year), I was just there to introduce myself to people. It was so different from church events, which is where I usually would meet someone, if not through someone else. People aren't "church friendly", though they were friendly. Some people didn't introduce themselves at all. I had to make up little ways to remember all the names and I had to approach some and get a conversation going. What a great exercise for someone who stays home all day with kids. I forget how to socialize in the real world sometimes. It is easy with my friends, because we can always talk about something or nothing at all. I am glad I did it. They did have short update on neighborhood security, which made me feel better. I see the private security company that the area has hired drive down my street throughout the day, but I didn't know all the services that they offer. They will actually meet you at your house and walk you to your door if you call them and say you are coming home and they will even inspect the perimeter or inside of your home for you. And they can be at your house within minutes if there is an emergency. Not bad at all.

Last night, we went to Fondren Unwrapped. All the local businesses stay open and have food and wine. Unbelievable amounts of food and wine. I didn't get to eat as much as I would have liked because we decided to make it a family event and take the kids. Our hopes of staying together with our large group diminished within the first few minutes. Our friend, Will, ended up roaming the street alone for half the night and he still had a great time. That shows you how fun it is. People are all so friendly (it may be all the wine). Morgan even got a little kiss from one store owner and an offer for a trade from another. The weather was great. Not too cold. We went in a few of the stores that I normally wouldn't go in (like some of the interior design studios) because I hate to pop in look for two seconds and then leave during a normal day. There was no shame in doing it last night though! Most had music and tents outside. One place that I will forever remember as the "chocolate palace" had truffles and I am ashamed to say that I ate several in a row without hesitation. The eye glasses place had crab cakes (the best I have ever had) and my next door neighbor had tomato basil soup (which I think was from Basil's and is my fav.) among other things at his interior design place. Several of our friends had booths with their art and it was neat to see them out. Adam parents came with us and helped with the kids. You know how it is, you bring the stroller but it ends up just carrying the bags. This is just one example of some of the cool things that Fondren does. I am going to put a link to the website so you can find something fun to do in this area too.

JC Penny

I don't know if any of you watch Oprah, but I at least record it in case it is a show that I am interested in watching. A few days ago, she had a show on the winners of her decorating contest. You had to have done it yourself (no decorators). The first house she showed was so unbelievable. Not all the houses were what I might want for my home, but I liked them all and appreciated the different styles. That is what I like about visiting other's homes. You get to enjoy a different style for a little while. If we all liked the same thing then it would be so boring. So back to JC Penny. I knew that they had good drapes and curtains (I love the ones that Adam's parents have and if I needed that color, I would sneak them in our diaper bag on our way out...they would be too entranced with the kids to notice me doing it), but I had no idea that they had so much else that I should see, like, and buy all before 8 AM this morning. It started with seeing the bed coverlet that I have been looking for on Oprah. Once I saw that it was on "closeout", I had to buy it. I should have waited and asked for it for my b day or something, but it was a DEAL. Sadly, so were the wall lamps that bought. They too were the perfect solution to a few problems we have in our room: No room for lamps and no lamps. Do any of you out there have any experience with faux finishing? We were considering painting our iron bed black, but now I am thinking that it may be too harsh. I wondered if I could pull off doing a bronze or copper look.

Christmas Card Pictures

Adam is offering Christmas card pictures (or other kinds) this year. Check out the blog I set up for him here.

Vocabulary Lesson/Silly Moment

This is the time of year when I often get the chiggles. Let me explain. My friend, Sarah, and I came up with this term to best describe getting the chills and the giggles at the same time. You will know them when you get them, but to help you out in identifying moments when they are most likely to appear I will give you some examples of situations when they would be appropriate.

A) Someone mentions Christmas and you imagine in your mind the cold air and all the merriment to come and it makes you draw up your shoulders, squinch your nose, close your eyes and grit your teeth in excitement as you let out little giggle.

B) You are out having a fun time shopping with your friends and it is cold so you jump in the car and huddle up as girls get to do with out it being strange.

I am trying to rack my brain and think of another situation that makes you act like a school girl and nothing but Christmas comes to mind. Oh, ok if you are in high school and you hear that a boy is asking about you and this is favorable to you might get the chiggles. Maybe if you are in Junior High and it is actually cold at the Fair and you are having fun with your friends and your Mom is hanging back a little so you "look" like you are there by yourself and you "think" you look old enough to be there by yourself. Obviously, there aren't many occasions when as an adult you get to have the chiggles. So, I ask that you embrace those moments and become a fellow chiggler.

Going, going, gone.

Last night, I tumbled down our back steps into the carport. I guess technically I fell off the side of one of the lower steps because there was a chair in the way and ended up flat out on the floor and wearing only one shoe. Keeping the shoe on would have saved me from breaking (or at least severely injuring) my pinkie toe. I am not letting this get in the way of my trip to Mistletoe tomorrow. I have suffered many a year in uncomfortable shoes so I could feel Christmas-y while I shopped. Seriously, Mistletoe Market is one of the few things I look forward to every year. It sort of launches the season for me. This year, Adam is attending with me. I have talked about it so much that Adam wants to experience the madness first hand. My one goal this year is to get a stocking for Morgan that matches Sydney's at Orient Expressed. They have more of a selection than they do online. Mostly, I like to see how many times I can say "I could make that myself" and then never do it.

Speed of Light

I have often wondered how days home with children can seem super long, yet it feels like time is passing by so quickly. I think that I have decided that I don't need Mother's Morning Out next fall. Please understand that I do need a morning or two out, I just don't think that it is long enough for me to actually get things done. I would do better with a babysitter one day a week. I just haven't found a consistent solution (or even a inconsistent one, which would help too). There are so many things that I need to do and it seems like I just can't get them done in the time that I have to myself. Naps never seem long enough to pull out the projects. Feedings are too unpredictable to count on any span of time. I only dare to take the kids to places that have shopping carts, though I don't try it often. When we moved into the house, I thought I would be able to just put our stuff in here and live. Now, I see that there are projects around every corner. Some are fun projects, like finding something to hang on the kids walls. Some are not fun, like installing a back door. The list is so long and when I try to prioritize it all, I realize how long it is going to take us to do things ourselves. For that very reason, I took the fabric I bought for our bedroom curtains to someone else to sew. The 4-6 week turn around was what was keeping me from doing it, but I realized that it would take me that long to finally complete it and there is no way it would look as nice. I do think that I will have a stab at the kids curtains. I will update you on my progress. For now, help me out by answering the survey above...

Big Sister

Sydney keeping Morgan entertained during his floor time.

Halloween

This was our attempt at Halloween. Morgan was a horse and Sydney was a Princess or a Medieval Lady - I am not sure.

Pumpkin Patch: A commentary.

We went to the pumpkin patch and had the best day! Here are a few pictures of us enjoying the day! You believe me don't you? When I got home and looked at the pictures, I was almost convinced that we had fun too. The trip was to a great place, was well organized and I totally appreciate the work that went into planning it, but for me it was not what I was imagining. I can now find humor in it and since I love to laugh I can say it was worth it to me. It serves to remind me that as I flip through the pages of the recently received Pottery Barn Kids Christmas catalog I should understand that ordering the cute pink kitchen set doesn't guarantee that my child won't slam her finger in the refrigerator door or that ordering the perfect bedding doesn't make my child want to stay in the bed all night. I seem to forget that when I see pictures of cute kids named Taylor and Madison standing outside of their ski lodge with all their monogrammed luggage. In our world, we would lose a piece of the luggage or one the kids would plummet off of the lodge porch and break his arm. I, being a planner and a dreamer at the same time, usually set myself up for disappointment. You get my point I think. Well, here are the pictures.

PBK (Pottery Barn Kids) Version: Just a fun group on a farm having so much fun.
Reality: Standing in line in the blazing sun only to end up facing the sun (notice the squinting) while someone takes your picture with a fun saver camera.

PBK: Sydney frolicking amongst the pumpkins as she tries to pick the perfect one.
Reality: Sydney tripping over roots and uneven ground as she cries, not caring about the pumpkins.

PBK: The cool breeze was so nice, look at how my hair blows across my face! The perfect day for jeans and corduroy. I am glad I have Morgan close to me so I can keep him warm from the cool weather!
Reality: My hair wasn't blowing anywhere. It was actually stuck to my face due to the sweat from the heat of the blazing sun and carrying a 16 pound baby on the front of me. Glad I forgot my sunglasses!


Ok, I do love this picture because she loves animals and it just shows her excitement upon seeing a turkey. (Note that the sweater was on for the very beginning pictures) Sydney basically ran from us most of the time and as the guide lady said "some of you may not be accustomed to forming lines".

PBK: Pumpkins for sale!
Reality: Free kid with purchase of pumpkin.

PBK: I want this one!
Reality: I just fell for the 5th time.

PBK: Let's get a bunny for Easter!
Reality: First we should find the bunny from last year and then we will talk.

PBK: Having kids is so great!
Reality: Having kids is so great. Even when you have a rough day or two.

Reformation Party

Here are some pictures from our Party at church. Sydney and her cousin, Mara Brantley, wore Medieval gowns for the occasion.

Fun in the Barn

Crafty Copy Cat

Ragan and I have planned for some time now to make shadowbox art for our kids' rooms. I have to tell you that we got the idea (ok, ripped off the idea) from Maggie. Thankfully, I don't remember what hers exactly looked like so I had to come up with my own stuff. The one thing I do remember is that Maggie used cardboard for the letters (by peeling the top layer off a piece of a box), but it was too cute and perfect for a boy to not copy that part. So thanks Maggie for your inspiration. I wish you could have seen me and Ragan crafting away and making a huge mess. It was fun though and I think we are going to make craft night a regular occurrence. Anyhow, here are pictures of my shadow boxes.

As you can see, I opted for a transportation theme in anticipation of a quilt that Morgan is getting for Christmas. The train, car, and letters were all drawn and cut out by hand. It was not as hard as I thought it would be. You can't tell from this picture, but each one has a three dimensional element to it with either the cardboard and by using raised stickers on the back of the train, hence the need for the "shadow box". Ok, so you can tell I am excited about this. I just really needed something for his walls and I am so glad that this worked out!

Crazy is the new Black

I think we can all agree that since it is 4 AM, I should be sleeping instead of obsessing over how I should spend my Saturday. My plan is to run a 5k this morning though the only reason to do it is that I have made plans to do it with myself. I don't have anyone else depending on me to be there. A friend is having a garage sale this morning. In fact, her whole street is. It is the perfect time for me to make some money and get rid of a huge box of things that we cleaned out last Monday. So make money or spend 18 dollars to get a t shirt that basically says that I followed through with plans. I feel like I will be disappointed either way. Miss out on a garage sale (I just can't have my own. Our street is so narrow and our driveway is too. My mom is too overloaded with stuff to even think about having one.) or back out on a goal. I guess not doing the 5k doesn't mean that I can't run 3 miles. This is crazy! I should have looked around my garage and noticed that getting stuff together for a garage sale was much more important to my well being than running yet again. I guess part of the problem is that the last garage sale I participate in on left me with $40. I left there and ate lunch and then spent the remainder getting things monogrammed down the street. I guess I didn't have good enough junk. I really feel like I have some good stuff this time and that I can make a little money. Maybe I could run after the garage sale and Adam could present me with a t shirt or something. I guess technically I would win first place in my own race. Ok, garage sale it is. Now, to price my stuff... or should I run...

Now, I bet I could make money on the fact that you will return to this site to see which one I did.

Budgy's Campaign

Does that title grab your interest? Let me tell the story of how "Budgy" came to be his nickname around town and why you may hear the phrase "Budgy McBudgerson for Governor". Budgy comes from Budgy Pudgy, because that is just what he is. Naturally, Budgy needs a last name so McBudgerson made sense since Sydney was Lovey McLoverson (I say "was" because we eventually start calling them by their intended names. Ok, sometimes we still use her cute names.). Adam and I are pretty silly when it comes to the kids. We make up songs, names, and sometimes even commercials. Very early one morning I, in a delirious state, remembered all the campaign commercials I had been watching during the late night feedings and holdings and came up with a commercial for Budgy. It went something like this..."Hi, I am Budgy. Budgy McBudgerson - for Governor. I care about Mississippi. It seems like yesterday I was just born here. Vote for me Budgy McBudgerson." (then in a quick voice overhead) "Paid for by the friends of Budgy McBudgerson for Governor." Ok, so just to amuse my family, who have found the thought of him running for Governor pretty entertaining, we took a few campaign shots of him wearing what is absolutely the cutest hat I have ever seen (given by Morgan's Great Aunt Tracy. There is actually an entire outfit, but he doesn't fit in it yet...give him a few days). I can promise that there will be many more pictures to come in the hat, because Adam has a hat just like it (though plaid) that I bought him last year from Banana Republic and I want Morgan to wear the entire outfit for those pictures. Sigh. It is just all too adorable for me to handle. Anyway, here he is in a onesie that I just had to buy for him a few weeks back. Ok, enough silliness. Enjoy.

Hallelujah...Paci!

We are making strides, I repeat, we are making strides. Morgan has been harassing me daily around noon to eat again...or so I thought. He just ate two hours ago and you can see that this is frustrating to me. I just tried the paci and he has had it in his mouth for at least ten minutes. It just fell out and he accepted it again. This really means something to me. It is like he is saying "Hey, I get it. It isn't ALL about me. I CAN meet you half way. You and Sydney have lunch and then I will have mine. " Amazing that just taking a paci can say all that, isn't it. He even took 2 ounces of formula for me last night too - from a bottle! I need a night out without him and without Adam at home having to hold him all night or call me 7 times. Maybe we will get there. Yes, I believe we just might.

She plays

Sydney and I built a tent using Morgan's play mat and her chair. Why is this so fun? Speaking of playing...On a side note, I of course stepped on the scale this morning as I always do (at least 3 times a week). I try not to let it discourage me earlier in the week, but as Tuesday approaches (that is my official weigh day) I start to worry. This morning I was down 3 pounds from yesterday morning. Either I have not hit a plateau (which Adam says can only be considered when one has not been able to lose for at least a month and they are doing all they should/can - again, a skinny person's definition) or Sydney has been playing on my digital scale again and has essentially broken it to my favor. I considered the latter at first so I tested it with a five pound weight added to mine and it seems to be ok. Is that an accurate way to test it? Not sure, but I choose to believe that it is real. So maybe no plateau for now, but I still need to be good today. Good thing we have nothing that I would want to eat in the house.

Roll over

I think Morgan has set a record. He just rolled over from his stomach to his back. I knew he wasn't advanced (code for chubby) for nothing! What does even mean? For nothing? Guess it is just something people say. Anyway, here is a picture because a friend told me once that people only read the posts that have pictures. Just in case...

Couch!

We have been searching and searching for a couch and I just called The Vineyard in Clinton and they are offering 15% off of their special order furniture. We have been looking at Rowe couches and I think we have come to a compromise on what we are getting. Adam wants a modern look and I want a comfortable feel. Some modernish (I guess I really mean non-classic) or straight line sofas look uncomfortable to me, but I am happy with our decision. We looked at all the local furniture stores and thankfully sought the advice of a decorator friend who suggested Rowe brand to us. We are going to go this afternoon and pick out a RED fabric. That is scary to me. A red couch. It will take 6 weeks to get here. We may have sold our chenille club chairs (or at least someone is interested) so we won't have anything to sit on for a while! Ok, so we do have other furniture to put in here temporarily, but I miss my sofa (it got moved to the living room). Here is our decision, only picture it in red.

Furniture for sale

We are going to list the following in the paper, but I wanted to list it here and on the online thing at my mom's work first. In case you are looking for something...prices are negotiable. I hope this isn't tacky, but how else can I get the word out?

Mahogany 4 poster bed (double)- $50
Mahogany bedroom suite (chest of drawers, dresser with mirror, 4 poster bed) - $200
Art Deco double bed with dresser and mirror - $200
Desk with hutch and printer table/filing cabinet (from Target, very study, dark wood) - $100
3 small wooden kitchen chairs with carving (oak) - $30
White (porcelain or metal top, not sure) kitchen table. Small table with blue and white stripes around the side of the top. Needs some love (or glue) and a little cleaning. $25
Platform Rocker with carved wooden arms. Fabric (currently red gingham) seat and back. Unfortunately, the fabric is not on the back but it needs to be. Sort of an unfinished project.$25
Antique Occasional Chair (needs to be recovered as it currently has no seat or back. Wood arms. $10
Green arm chair (great for reading). $20

Chenille Club Chairs (Camel Color). Perfect condition. $200 for pair

I may add some stuff to this as Adam and I purge our home. Yea! A clean garage is on its way!

The Gym

So Adam and I joined a gym. We needed to do it by Tuesday to get the reimbursement from his work for this quarter. It is awesome that they are doing this for their employees. We decided to go with the St. Dominic's version of the Baptist Healthplex. It is called Healthline. It is considerably smaller, but much nicer in the convenience and equipment departments. It has a pool, which I may never use, but one thing that I am really excited about is the weight machine system they have there. Your information is programmed into the machines so you can enter your pin number and it will adjust to your settings, your reps, sets, and range of motion. It keeps track of your workouts and you can print them and your progress whenever you want. After 12 workouts on a machine it will prompt you to do a strength test and up your weight. It also sports mostly older ladies and gentlemen so I don't have that intimidation factor when I am trying to do my weights in the mornings. I go on Friday morning to get set up with that. Last night, I did my fitness assessment. Basically, a guy named Jason weighed me, pinched me, and timed me all to tell me at the end that I am basically obese (according to my body fat percentage), in "fair" shape (this based on me doing as many sit ups as I can in one minute with my post c-section abs), and that I am average in flexibility (no argument there, I feel as stiff as is humanly possible). Well, that was all great to hear coming on the heels of a zero pound weight loss this week. I guess I have hit a plateau. Good thing I am gym bound now. I plan to run outside as I have been doing and use the gym for weights, the occasional class, and doing my running on days when I can't get out during the daylight hours (I don't run by myself at night or early morning). I am charting my progress and dieting woes during all this so I can look back and laugh at it once I am a size 2. Maybe I will share it later to inspire someone else.

This just sums up my life.

I have had a tiny bit of glue on the side of one tooth (from my braces) for nearly 15 years and I have never mentioned it to my dentist (who happens to be my cousin). How is that for procrastination?

New Products I like

Thomas Brand Mini Bagel Bread. That is for you Laura and Amy. For the love of our bagel sandwiches.

Great Value (Walmart) Cranberry flavored sugar-free drink mix. All the flavor of a cranberry juice cocktail we love with non of the calories or sugar we hate.

Starbucks Frozen Light Frappe Bars. Enough said. Grocery store product.

Special K Protein Water. Single serving mixes have 5 grams of protein to keep you feel longer. It works.

Adam Learns to Share

Sounds like a perfect children's book title doesn't it? There are many things that Adam does that I have always said could be a children's book. Adam and the Missing Shoe, Adam Gets a Hair Cut, Adam and the Horrific Roller Blading Accident, Adam Nearly Freezes, and Adam and the Tequila Bottle (ok, the last two wouldn't be so great). Anyway, I realized something cute/sweet about Adam the other day. I made Adam some sausage biscuits the other morning and wrapped them to go so he could take them to work. He said, "do you think you could make two more for Nate and Phil?". Of course I gladly did. It made me think back though. Anytime I send something to work with Adam he always asks for some extra for his friends. Brownies, cake, banana bread...Isn't he so sweet?

Great Post

Visit my friend Maggie's blog and see this post.

Things

We have had a very social week. We went to the Symphony at Sunset (I think that is what it is called) in Fondren with some friends. I have been doing my running and I am dreading next week! Last night we celebrated Chandler's birthday with Will and Calen (and Ragan and Chan, of course). We went to Julep and then ate cake at our house. I made a Bailey's Irish Cream cake. I tried to buy one from That Special Touch in Pearl, but they were too backed up. I will post the recipe. It was really good. I think my oven is a little off though. We came home from Julep and my mom said that Morgan would not take a bottle for her. This is a recent problem. He is very particular. I have no idea what to do about that. It may be easier on my once he spaces the feedings out, but at this point I wonder if there is hope of that without a bottle to gage how much he is eating. I don't know any other way. Later in the evening, Calen and I were playing on the computer and testing the video application in Facebook and though it said there were errors and didn't work, somehow the video was on there this morning for all to see. Just us making stupid faces. Stupid being the operative word. Sydney is going through something. I am not sure what. She wakes up scared or crying at least twice during the night. Sometimes three times. She doesn't want to sleep in the bed with us, just cuddle a bit and then she will back to bed. We are unpacking our dining room today and tonight. I have done a little bit of container gardening (yesterday) and we are thinking about running out to look at a few couches. This evening we are going to a Bomgar function with the kids. I have decided to run a 5k (3.2 miles) in October as a mini goal. A couple of friends are going to do it with me. Well, I think that is it!

The Cart

I don't think that I have mentioned our cart. The cart system is something that I developed to address the issues we were having with things from each room being scattered around the house and ending up in rooms that are not their own. I had this cart from something (I wish I knew what I bought this for) and it is so great for our new house. This house is a lot longer than our old house, making it tiresome to walk back and forth to each room, so I put things on the cart that belong in other rooms and then I deliver them to the correct room and pick up things from that room that belong somewhere else. It is a quick way to clean up a room. My dad always used this method with a box when we were little. I have been using the box method for years now, but I tend to stick the box somewhere and forget about it. Then I can't find my stuff!

Sydney likes to catch rides on the cart as I deliver things as you can see below.

Future Woggers of America

I just learned a new term. Wogging. Walking + Jogging. I was using the term Wunning. Running + Walking. Anyway, we go for a daily walk in addition to my training for the 5 miles I have to run soon. This is our double stroller. The one I worked so hard to find and then found it at Target. Right under my nose! Morgan is actually reclining pretty far back, but you can't tell from the picture. He looks like he is sitting up. He is big, but not that big!

PJ Time

The other day Adam asked me why I was so into matching outfits for the kids. Does he even have to ask? Because it is sooo cute. Besides, isn't that one of the main benefits/reasons to have kids? So you can dress them up for your own delight?

Notice Anything New?

I have added a poll (above) and...because I love facebook so much and I think this is a cool feature of face book, I have added my "status". You will notice the Jessica is... in the sidebar. It is just something fun that let's people know what is going on when a post doesn't really convey that message.

Celebrate the Late (Nights)

A long day paired with a night out doesn't produce the best pictures, but we decided to celebrate the late nights with some anyway. It's our life right now!

Daddy has style...Tim Gunn watch out!

Sydney's personal stylist (Daddy) has paired khaki cords with a heather gray polo. To finish the look he brings color to the outfit with hot pink cowboy boots and matching hair bow. The perfect outfit for a rainy afternoon with Daddy.