1st Birthday Letter

Dear Oliver,

This is what I hope to be the first of decades worth of letters. Some of my most treasured gifts have been letters from my mother so I hope you too will consider these to be the best gifts you got when you are older. Since this is your 1st birthday I suspect this letter won't be read by you for many years.

Your Dad and I have learned what it means to be a parent this year and the pure joy we feel when you are happy. The best sound I've ever heard has been your laughter and I can't explain the pride we have just in looking at you as that seems to be my favorite hobby. We are so excited when you learn a new trick and love to see how thrilled you are with yourself when you do. Your Dad and I have spent this last year holding you, tickling you, rocking you, feeding you, throwing you in the air, pushing you in your car, carrying you in the bjorn, and whatever else it took for you to develop a love and trust for us. Our love for you was immediate, but it has grown as you have grown. When I think back over this past year, I'll remember the sweet moments of rocking you to sleep, you clapping your hands with a huge smile, your infamous pout, your first steps, and the many hugs you gave us each day. It's funny how all the precious moments you've given to us seem to erase your not-so-precious moments. You have brought a new level of love to my life and I'm so excited for what lies ahead for us as a family.

Happy 1st birthday my sweet baby boy!

Love, Mom

Par-Tay

I survived my first birthday party as a mom over the weekend. Whew, pretty exhausting! Learned a few things that I will do different next time, but all in all I think it went well. Thanks to my parents for helping me set up and taking Oliver for the night so I could recover. Thanks to Zane as well for taking all the photos and videoing. It was nice to be able to just enjoy it and not try to snap shots constantly.

Hosting 3 events, 3 weekends in a row may be the death of me. The first two weren't at the house so this week is all about getting it prettied up. Took care of all the wrapping today to get that out of the way and we've almost got all the boxes from bday gifts out. Today while Oliver was at MMO we dusted, cleaned baseboards, changed 2 bed sheets, set towels out, moved/cleaned pack n play, wiped down dirty walls/cabinets/doors, cleaned fridge, and all the items that hadn't been put away from his party. The house needed a good scrubbing and I always do better when I have a deadline. Adam's brother and his sister with their spouses and Oliver's first cousin will all be staying here on Friday night! Can't wait to meet Meredith and visit with everyone!

Oliver has been to MMO 4 times now. After the first time he recognized the building when we were inside and started crying. Today he started crying as soon as I put the car in park realizing where he was. He has taken a nap for them every time and they either put him in a swing or push him in a stroller to help him be happy. Today he was in the connecting room alone with a teacher. All the other children were in the other room. He was playing with her until he saw me and started screaming. The other teacher said some of the other children had been in there with him but had crawled back to the other room. The teacher he was playing with said she thinks he prefers to play alone with her or the other teacher. I hope he will start playing with others eventually. I know it takes time.

Tomorrow is Oliver's 1st birthday. It's crossed my mind several times today what I was doing a year ago today. I had cried like baby Tebow at the hospital and nurse friend Dana pulled some strings to get me admitted. What memories! I giggle thinking about panicky Adam wringing his hands with nerves and biting the head off a nurse that ripped tape off my arm. Even asking me just minutes before Oliver was born if I really wanted him to be in the room and hoping for permission that I didn't grant so he could bolt. Tears that just poured out of my eyes so effortlessly when Oliver was born in celebration that it was over and he was healthy. Getting that first shower after giving birth and looking at my body that no longer had a baby in it and how weird it felt for it to just be me again, but this new me was very different from the old me and I wondered if I would ever be the same. To answer that question, um, no. Not the same body and not the same life. Mom always said having a baby changes everything and no truer words have ever been spoken. What a year, what a ride, what a life. I am truly blessed.

The Clapper

My brother shot this video on his iphone. Thanks Zane!

Adam, Oliver, and I were in Avondale Estates the other day shooting photos of a new rental house we are managing. We passed the first Waffle House that was converted into a museum. I've wanted to do a tour for a while so we decided to stop. Apparently the tours are by appointment only. Oopsy! They happen to be doing a special event that day so they let us in and gave a mini private tour that included coupons for free waffles! Yippee! That will definitely help with my get fat in December plan.

One of our rental houses is having septic tank work done. We had originally been told if sewer was available (which it is) then we have to connect which is $4000 just to connect without paying for the sewer lines to be installed from the house to the line. NOT HAPPY CAMPER. This week we got a call that the house is too low and we would have to install a grinder pump ($1500) or had the option of not connecting and repairing our tank. Woohoo!! Merry Christmas to me.

Here are a few things I've been cooking lately or that have become favorites.
Pork Chop
Pork Loin
Corn Chowder
Green Bean Casserole
Sausage Gnocchi
The Best Broccoli EVER (Rebecca agrees)
The Best brussell sprouts ever
Cheeseburger Soup
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Scallops

I read reviews and tweeked many of these recipes so if you want to make any of them, message me and I'll send you my changes.

Santa Photos

Santa, Tiger, and Oliver

Last week we took Oliver to see Santa. I decided to go sit with him first and then transfer him so we got two photos. He's not smiling in either, but looks more happy in the one I'm in then when I dump him in a stranger's lap. I'll scan and post the photos.

Thursday was Oliver's first day at MMO. They told me as I could hear him SCREAMING in the hallway that if he didn't calm down in a half hour or so they would call me. While he was there I spent the first hour worrying if he had calmed down and if I was going to get the call. Well, it never came. I went to get him a little early and peeked in the back window. I saw one of the poor ladies trying to get him to take a bottle as he in Oliver fashion was swatting it away and complaining. They told me that he did take a nap (I assume in a crib!) after being rocked and that they had strolled him in a stroller. He never played in the floor with the other children. Oh, well. I considered it a success that they didn't call me and they didn't tell me not to bring him again. I'm sure the two grandma aged ladies were probably worn out! I'm pretty sure MMO is going to make me poor since I spent the entire time shopping (and saw 3 other mom's from my neighborhood out)...at least it's the holidays and I actually need to shop.

The women at MMO told me that he would probably sleep a good bit on Thursday since his routine was thrown, but nope. He managed to sleep about an hour all day with us. We loaded him up that night to go to Vinings Village for the holiday event. They had a train that rode around the parking lot, little ponies with reindeer ears, free coldstone, and a children's choir. It was cold out, but a great time. It was nice too that we didn't have to wait in the lines for him to actually ride anything. He was just as happy watching the other children ride. He giggled and giggled at the ponies.

Over the weekend we attended a 1st bday party in my neighborhood and I hosted the neighborhood holiday party. Oliver knows he gets lots of attention when he claps so he spent most of those parties walking around clapping with a huge grin. Adorable. Have I mentioned how precious he has been lately? OMG...last week just flew by. It was amazing. We had an extra TV in the basement so we decided to move it to my office that has turned into more of a playroom now. We kept it on the floor thinking he would like to be close to it like he is in the car. When Mickey comes on he goes over to the tv and touches him. It is precious.

I have to weigh in my thoughts on the Tiger situation. I am and always have been a Tiger fan. I usually always want him to win. I'm always happy for others to win as well (especially when the show their back story), but I want Tiger to break all the records. Anyway, I can't help but be a little happy that his wife kicked his ass. I wasn't surprised at all that a megastar like he has had multiple affairs. Let's face it, it seems to unfortunately go with the territory. What is interesting to me is that his wife wasn't aware of this fact and threw a freaking fit. I'm so sick of those politician wives that stand at the press conference while their cheating husband makes an apology. I think it is fine for them to publicly apologize, but why does the wife need to be there? I'm sad for Elin in learning of lies and betrayal that she didn't know existed and sad for their children that will grow up knowing about it and hearing it referenced constantly. I hear Adam now making fun of how I give sympathy to celebrities/children of celebrities "oh, poor, filthy rich person" as I mention how hard life must be for them. (He can make fun of me all he wants....we all have our struggles and I still have compassion for all people, even the super rich). However, I think Elin is playing her cards right and I'm sure this will take them years to fully recover. Tiger will be paying in more ways than financially and I'm sure wish it was as easy as stroking a million dollar check. Heck, messing with his mind/emotions may even cost him a major or two.

The Pink Pig

Thankful

I had a great week last week. Tuesday was my birthday and my family went to Houston's and Coldstone. What more could you ask for? Got lots of goodies but I think my favorites are my boots, my jacket, and my new flocked tree! My boots have barely been off my feet...so comfy! I finished my tree last night and it survived a day of Oliver. He went to it a couple of times, but I think it's going to be OK in the family room.

Wednesday I scrapbooked for 8 hours. It was heaven. I got 12 pages done and I got lots of alone time. Thursday was Thanksgiving at my Aunt Hilda's and I made my first cooking contribution this year. I guess once you've given birth the family expects you to participate in the cooking! I didn't mind....my first entree was pineapple casserole which tastes like dessert. Love it. Mom spent the night with us on Thursday and we hit the stores around 7:30am Friday morning. I got some good deals and I think Black Friday is exciting. Mom and Dad had Oliver for the weekend so Friday night Adam and I watched The Spread with Ashton Kutcher. Descent movie. Saturday I spent all day putting up my holiday decorations. I still have to put my village out and a few minor details, but I'm mostly done. Saturday night I was reminded of how low my tolerance is now. I had 3 drinks at dinner/party and I felt like crap yesterday morning. I was so mad lying there thinking about all the stuff I wanted to be doing since I didn't have Oliver and instead I watched 3 Oprah's. After I rallied, I went to Stella's 1st bday party and met mom and Oliver. Oliver did well. It takes him a little bit to get warmed up to new surroundings and then he was good. He had a really good day today too.

I haven't completed my thankful list that I do at Thanksgiving yet, but I've been working on it. Adam and I were talking about it and all he kept naming were food items. WTH?

Here's my list as regards to Oliver:

1- I am thankful he likes to hold my hand as we ride down the road while Adam is driving.

2- I am thankful he often puts his head on my shoulder when we are talking to a new person

3- I'm thankful for moments where he laughs at himself like when he sneezes, burps, or drinks tub water

4- I'm thankful he loves to be tickled and he thinks the dogs are funny

5- I'm thankful for his pout and his drunk man walk

6- I'm thankful for the smell of his breath and when I can hear him breathing

7- I'm thankful when he flops himself down on the bear chair or dog bed

8- I'm thankful for times when he moves his mouth like he's talking but nothing comes out

9- I'm thankful when he's walking and he starts walking faster the closer he gets to you to give hugs

10- I'm thankful his face lights up when he sees Mickey Mouse

11- I'm thankful when he lets me lightly rub his face

12- I'm thankful when he decides instead of feeding himself with his hands that it would be easier to slam his face down and suck up the food

13- I'm thankful for times when he's playing and clanks two items together and then throws them in opposite directions with a big smile

14- I'm thankful for all the nights I got to rock him to sleep

15- I'm thankful that I get to watch as he looks at something so intensely

16- I'm thankful for his curiosity and his health

17- I'm thankful that he looks like me. It's was so unexpected but it is also so fun.

18- I'm thankful for the journey we've had this year, for being able to keep him here with us and work, for the help we've gotten from my parents and the love they have for him, for the new level of love I feel for my husband and the amazing father that he is.

19- I'm thankful Oliver is mine and I get to watch him for the rest of my life