Necessity or Not?

Because I have no pictures of progress on the house to show you, I figured I'd throw this topic out for debate....

We have one last baby related shopping spree to go on to finish buying all the 'necessities' we need to bring Lily Ann home. I have a feeling that my husband defines 'necessities' differently than I do! There are two items on the list that I am having trouble with. Can you experienced mommas help me out?

The Baby Swing

I argue that this is a necessity to have when she comes home. I know that the rocking can soothe some babies who otherwise could be quite fussy. What if Lily Ann is fussy and the only thing that soothes her is the gentle rocking of a swing? I want to have this on hand just for that possibility. Lucas argues that she may not like the swing and it would be better to maybe test her out on our friend's swing before investing $150 in a big plastic contraption to set in our family room. But it might be a few weeks before we travel to their house to test it out. That is a few weeks that it could be needed. But we won't know if we don't have one. I want to go ahead and get it with our registry completion coupon (10% off ~ whenever BabiesRUs gets around to sending us the coupon). Lucas would rather spend the extra $15 later. Sigh. Such a life altering decision, I know.

Landon, our friend's baby, didn't like his swing for the first month or so but eventually grew to like it. Did your baby use his/her swing from Day 1 or did it take time for them to actually enjoy it? Do we need this when we come home from the hospital or should I wait a month or so? Or does she need it at all?

The Wipes Warmer

Our same non-swing loving baby friend loves his wipes warmer. I mean - who wouldn't? This is a fairly simple purchase that I would buy without thought except for one little problem: where do I put the thing? There is no extra room on the changing table; I don't have a table near the changing table; I really don't want to hang shelves on the wall to display ugly diaper paraphernalia. I am using the top drawer of the dresser to house all of her diapering needs. I thought about drilling a hole in the back of the dresser and setting the warmer in the drawer, but mom mentioned this might be a fire hazard I wouldn't want in the nursery.

So, do I really need the wipes warmer? Will it make the diaper changing process go smoother? Because I'm all for that. I want little Lily to be as happy as she can be. If I don't wipe her butt with a warm wipe am I a bad mother? (Okay, I know the answer to that but humor me.)


What else did you consider a 'necessity' in the first few days at home with your baby? I want to be fully prepared but feel I am falling somewhere short of that goal.

Alabama's Winter Wonderland

First of all, I have to say.....

ROLL TIDE!!!

2010 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

AND 4 IN A ROW for the BEST Conference in the Nation!



Now on to the other exciting event in Alabama.....

SNOW!!!!

On my way to work Thursday morning:

Playing with the puppy in the snow Thursday evening:

On my way to work this morning:

And flurries are falling! At 17 degrees with a windchill of 6 degrees, I'm sure it'll stick!

Schools are closed and some roads are shut down, but we're still working (which is good because I have quite a bit to get done). Hopefully I'll scoot out a little early so the roads won't be too bad.

I'm ready to get this weekend started! We are doing lots of fun stuff like more work on the bathroom and final baby preparations!!

P.S. Another bonus of pregnancy: I always have the upperhand in a snowball fight! I got the husband good, but he didn't return fire. Instead, he got the puppy good! Seeing an 8 pound dog get pelted by a snowball is quite hilarious! Poor puppy! Rafa didn't know what to do with the white stuff but he enjoyed chasing his tennis ball around in it!
P.P.S. I left my camera at work so these were taken on my iPhone... not the best quality but they get the job done.

P.P.P.S. Please ignore the Christmas decorations. They are coming down tomorrow, regardless of how cold it is.

Week 35

Dear Lily Ann,

35 weeks down, 5 weeks to go..... maybe! We'll know more next week! Today is a big day in Alabama. First of all, it's snowing! That is a rarity so we make a big deal out of it when it's here. I'm hoping we don't get snowed in at work today! Reports are coming in of road closings so you and I may be headed home soon. No one is here today anyway.

Despite all of the snow talk, the biggest news of the day has to be that Alabama will be playing for our 13th National Championship tonight! Roll Tide! We were planning on going over to your Uncle Rookie's house to watch but may be bundled up by the fire at home watching if the snow keeps falling.

Work is coming along on the house. Your nursery and our master bathroom are nearing completion. We are hoping to finish up the bathroom within the next week. Your nursery still has a few more pieces before it is complete. Uncle Rookie came over last night after we ate Mexican to see the transformation of his old room. Yes, your nursery used to be his guest room. He was impressed with how much it has changed. We can't wait to bring you home!

ROLL TIDE, Lily! Get ready to cheer tonight!


We Love You,

Mommy

Are you ready for some Christmas pictures?

I am usually a good picture taker and like to capture events that are taking place. But I've never been a good photographer at Christmas. I blame that mostly on the fact that I am a spoiled rotten little girl (I admit it) who spends most of Christmas opening presents and don't normally have the time to take the pictures myself. Now ~ that will all change next year as I'm sure I'll be snapping away as Lily Ann opens her presents. But I got to be the spoiled little girl for one last time this year. So mom had to send me all these pics she took from our Christmas events.

The 23rd

My mother's side of the family gathers every year on the 23rd for unbelievably good food and a fun game of (not too) dirty Santa.

Chaos at its best.

Watching people unwrap and steal presents from each other. Fun family times!

I'm pregnant. I finally get a chair!

Granddaddy (or I guess he is Papaw now but he'll always be my Granddaddy) enjoying the game while Jessica and Angie play with Karson

Lucas's drill bits that Dad won but Lucas eventually went home with.... in addition to the man purse. Dad, did you want the man purse?

Lily Ann's future playmates - Mimi, Will, and Karson

My grandmother's tree. I aspire to be her... mostly.

Christmas Morning

Every Christmas morning my Grandparents come over to my parent's house. We all open presents and then my dad makes the best pancakes ever. EVER. Seriously. Those are some good pancakes. I think they're even better on Christmas morning.... just because it's Christmas.

Digging through our stockings :)

Opening the rest of my stocking while wearing my cool new shades. I know. So attractive.

One of Lily's many presents... her bathtub! Yeah. It's super cool. You should get one... you know... if you have a baby. Thanks, Grandma and Granddaddy. :)

Daddy showing off his new Gargoyles... taking him back to his policing days.

One of my favorite presents for Lily Ann: a Cabbage Patch doll. Lily's Mamaw and Papaw 'adopted' her for Lily straight from the Cabbage Patch Hospital, one of our favorite places. Her name is Nicki Lynn (My granddaddy wanted to name me Nicki. Instead he got my middle name: Nicole. Lynn is my mother's middle name.) and she was 'born' on December 25, 2009!

My grandparents got me a Coach purse ~ yes, a real one!! I sort of, kind of already knew about it. But I also got a Coach change purse to go with it that was a complete surprise! I love my Coach purse! I haven't carried it yet, though. I am saving it as an extra special treat for myself once I become a Mommy. :)

A Flip camera from my parents! Believe me ~ once Lily Ann arrives, you will be seeing a lot of videos from this thing! P.S. We got my parents a Flip camera, too. Haha!


Christmas Night

Each year we celebrate Christmas with my dad's side of the family on Christmas night. This year, Lucas and I offered to host at our house. We grilled burgers, ate lots of cheese dip, and munched on some good desserts.

Some of the young ones. And an old one. Sorry, Dale.

Hiding Out Keeping Busy in the Kitchen

Darrell and his daughter, Kortney, playing shuffle board

The Hosts

Yep. That's my dog. I'm such a proud mom.

And yesterday I told you I didn't have a picture of the outside of my house. Well, turns out my mom took one. Not a very good one (sorry, Mom), but a picture none the less. You can see my awesome new reindeer ($5 from a yard sale) but can't really see my door garland, wreaths, or porch decorations. It is something, anyway. And like I said before - it is still up. Yes, now it is January 6th and the decorations are still up. Is it late enough that I can just leave them up until next year now? No? Well, that reasoning seems to work for some people.

SouthMeetsSouth @ Christmas

Remember when I showed you our pretty Christmas decorations this year? Oh.... I still haven't done that? Well, better late than never.

Welcome to our Christmas home -

And what's that in the bottom right corner, you ask?..........



That's just my husband (doing what he does best). Don't mind him!


You are welcome to gasp in awe of our beautiful new fireplace mantle! (Modest, aren't I?) I just love it! It still needs some decorative trim on the face and some stone or tile or something between the fireplace and mantle. It is a work in progress. And I'm not going to worry about those finishing touches for quite some time I can imagine. At least we are miles ahead of what was there before.


Thanks to Mom and her after Christmas bargain hunting last year, we got a brand new skinny tree for the family room!


It looks especially nice with all the goodies underneath!


Our front living room gets the big Santa treatment again this year!

They've been stored for two years since we spent Christmas in Colombia last year.

(Isn't a diaper cake part of everyone's Christmas decor?)

I decked out our Colombian chickens in poinsettias so they wouldn't feel left out of the holiday cheer.


And I just like these pictures of Lucas from Christmas Eve so I'm throwing them in here, too.


So excited about his Christmas PJ's


It's the little things.

From our house to yours.....


(I did decorate outside this year but didn't take any photos. I guess since they are all still up I can take pictures tonight. I know, I know. It's January 5th and the outside decorations are still up. I'm awful. But let me tell you ~ windchill this morning was 6 degrees! I'm not a cold weather person, so I'm just biding my time until I get a break from this hell..... or until my water breaks and I run into the lawn picking things up because I refuse to bring my daughter home to a house that still has Christmas decorations up. Yeah. Now that would be a good blog post.)

Week 34 (and 1/2)

Dear Lily Ann,

We have had a crazy couple of weeks, haven't we? I don't even know where to start!

We celebrated your 'first' Christmas. I know there is no other little girl who is yet to be born that received quite so much from Santa! If it wasn't before, your closet is now bursting at the seams with all the goodies packed away. We bought you some storage bins and a bookcase yesterday so I can begin organizing all of your goodies before your arrival.

Speaking of arrival - we had some interesting news from the doctor last week. It seems I am measuring about 2 weeks ahead of schedule. She told me not to read too much into this news and we will know a little more accurately next week..... But I am a little panicked at the thought you could be here in just 3 short weeks!! There is still so much to do!

Your dad and I have been in warp speed since receiving this news. We have finally begun our master bathroom remodel. It is really coming along! We hope to have it completed and ready to go before you come home! Your papaw and granddaddy have been helping us with the transformation. I'm glad we have some knowledgeable men in our family to help us through it all!

Your nursery is almost complete! There are still lots of finishing touches to get done. I'm nervous that it won't be exactly as I want it before you come home. Maybe you can hold on long enough to help me out! (But not too long! We are so ready to meet you!)

We have had a nice break from work over the holidays and have gotten much accomplished. But we are back to work now... all the while planning and thinking of what still needs to be done at home. The stress factor is on the rise but you are keeping me happy and calm (except for this itchy stomach and swolen feet after a long day's work). Your kicks, pokes, prods, and turns make me smile and enjoy these last moments we have together, connected so closely. It is hard to imagine I have a 5 pound baby growing inside me, relying on me for life, and inching closer to arrival. I am so in love.


We Love You,

Mommy