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.