Oh Christmas Tree....

Oh how I love the glow of a Christmas tree at night!  Especially ours I must admit!  I was always drawn to blue lights as a child..and still am (as you can see!).  There is just something about them that brings a calming peace to me.  I read once about the different colors of Christmas lights and what they mean.  Here is a list..not necessarily the one I read before...but one for your reading pleasure:

Red:  The blood Jesus shed for us
Green:  The life we have thru Jesus and the never ending love and presence of Him in our lives
White:  That Jesus is the light of the world and shines brightly
Blue:  Heaven, hope, and peace
Purple:  Royalty..which is Christ
Yellow:  reminds us of the ways in which God spread the good news of Jesus' birth
Silver and Gold:  the riches of God, such as redemption, forgiveness, and grace

Lots of "firsts"!!

Sweet baby girl has been impressing her mama alot this month!  She has had a few new 'firsts' as of the past couple of weeks.  After being totally paranoid about her last doctors appointment and her head circumference being in the 95% percentile..alot of the firsts she's accomplished lately (plus added prayers) have put me more at ease!  Hey..when the doc wants to 'keep a check' on her head to make sure it doesn't grow too fast or else an MRI might have to be done..its enough to worry a first time momma especially bad!!!  She just seems to have her daddy's head..yup..he's got a big noggin' too!  :-D  Anyways..here is what Miss Makayla has been up to!

1.  Talking!  She said 'mama' for the first time at the beginning of this month and has said it about a handful of times since!  At first I didn't think thats what she was saying..but after she did it at my parents house and they were both like "She said mama!"..I knew I wasn't just hearing things!!  And I 'think' she said "dada" once too..but not totally sure and its not happened again..but that was just the other day!  She still blows raspberries ALOT (how long does this usually last?)..we call her our "NASCAR baby" cause she sounds like she's driving a race car when doing this!  Yeah..I have a feeling watching nascar alot while pregnant and aferwards had an effect..lol!  Its gonna run in the family!

2.  Walking!  In her walker, that is!  She's nowhere NEAR pulling up or taking steps..but just yesterday I had her in her walker while I was cooking so she could watch me..and her little toes were finally able to touch the ground! So she would get excited..and push backwards and was moving in her walker..a first!  Mommy was SO proud...I'd get real excited and everything..and that just spurred her on to do it more!  She was having a very fun time!

3.  Sitting!  We've been practicing this one for a little while now.  She's been able to sit real good unassisted in my lap for a while now..but on her own she was doing so-so.  She's still not a 'pro' I wouldn't say..but tonight I had her on our bed sitting up and she was doing awesome!  Like doing it for a couple minutes with no assistance!  Very proud moment!  I'm scared to death to let her sit on the floor and do this..as we have hardwood through the majority of our house.  We bought one of those play mats a few weeks back but I'm still scared its too hard if she tips over (which is a given).  I know she's gonna fall down..its what toddlers do..I just don't want her to bang her head on those floors..that would HURT!  Any advice?? 

4.  Mail!  Ok I wouldn't say this is technically her 'first' piece of mail..that would have been her birth certificate..but I forgot to take a picture of that one!  This one was a big piece of mail..it wouldn't fit in our box at the post office!  The post master told daddy that he couldn't open it since it wasn't addressed to him..haha!  She got her very own Bible from her uncle!



anonymous commenters....

Lately I have been getting more and more comments from people who wish to remain "anonymous".  Granted, I know 99% of it is spam..but today I got one from my last post on my birthday and it was rather rude.  So..due to this I had to change some of my settings for people who wish to comment on my blog.  Sorry for anyone out there who can no longer leave a comment if you don't regularly blog..sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do.  :-)

Anyone else dealt with this (thinking I've read posts about this topic)?  If so, what did you do?

Thirty-three

33.

That is how old I am as of Monday.  I don't feel older and I 'hope' I don't look older.  Its funny..I feel like your 30's is a sneaky time.  Like your somewhere in the middle of being young and becoming old.  Does that make sense?  I'd like to look at it as being in my 'prime'..as they say.  I do feel like this is the prime time of my life..I'm happily married..settled..in the process of owning my own home..have a beautiful baby...have wonderful parents and friends. 

Yeah..I am pretty lucky I'd have to say.

My birthday was wonderful.  My parents came over for a bit..we had homemade chocolate cake..I opened a few gifts.  I have to say though..the best part of my birthday this year was having this little girl sitting in my lap.....

But it didn't hurt to get a GORGEOUS ring like this !

On Friday, we went out and I had an 'early' birthday dinner.  I chose a mexican place that I like pretty well just outside of Charleston.  The food was good..shrimp chimichungas!  Funny thing though..I went to the bathroom just before we were going to leave.  Damon apparently told our waiter that it was my birthday so when I came back out..a few minutes later here came our waiter (along with what looked like the entire staff of the restaurant) with some mexican fried ice cream!  The one guy had a guitar and they began to sing.  Happy Birthday?  Suprisingly no!  They say "La Bamba"!!!!!!!  I still don't know why (is this normal at a mexican restaurant??) but it was hilarious!  And Makayla thought it was sooo amazing.  She sat there watching with wide eyes..sucking away on her paci.

I wished I had my camera!



We have a winner!!

Sorry for the poor picture quality and volume problems (I've not had the best of luck doing webcam shots lately!)..but the winner of the 1 year subscription to Paula Deen's magazine is Venessa from "A Journey of Love"!  Thanks to everyone who entered!!!!

Miscellany Monday and last day for giveaway!



 
1.  Its been quite some time since I've done a miscellany monday so I figured it was about time to get back into it again!  Alot has been going on this weekend (well not really..it just seemed like a super busy weekend!).  Damon had the weekend off which was GREAT!  We went out friday and just lounged for the rest of the weekend (except for church on sunday).  LOVE!
 
2.  I got in both of my Christmas cards I ordered online before the weekend hit..which is what I was hoping for so I could get them all fixed up to be mailed today.  Still have to say..after ordering from both Shutterfly and Vistaprint this year..Shutterfly still is a total winner in my book.  They are faster and I just like everything about their site better.
 
3.  Its official..all my Christmas decorations are UP!  Can we get an applause?!  LOL!  I can just imagine how much time it will take next year when Makayla is walking and getting into everything!
 
4.  Laundry is caught up..most of the housecleaning is done..we're dressed and ready for the day..all before NOON!  Great way to start off a monday, wouldn't you say?
 
5.  And before I forget..today is the last day you can enter my giveaway for the 1 year subscription to Paula Deen's magazine!  Its GREAT y'all..I've been a subscriber for years and just love her recipes!  So don't wait any longer and go here to enter TODAY!  Winner to be announced tomorrow!
 
Happy Monday everyone!!


An addiction to fudge

Gosh..I made some peanut butter fudge for our church dinner this past sunday and now I'm feeling an addiction coming on!  What is it about the holidays and YUMMY rich sweets that goes hand in hand?!  I do look forward to this time of the year for many reasons..this being one of them..I have to admit!  Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE LOVE LOVE to cook and bake..but the Christmas season brings baking to a whole other level! 

Since the fudge was a huge hit at church and with Damon (and me of course!)..I stopped by Walmart yesterday to stock up on more ingredients so I can make more.  ALOT more.  Maybe TOO MUCH more!  Can you get too much of a good thing though? 

I guess my jeans will be the judge of that!

But anywho..I am planning on making white chocolate and dark chocolate fudge (Damon loves the white..I love the dark) and I bought butterscotch chips too..so I may make butterscotch too!!  My tummy is growling thinking about it.

Course I should finish putting up my Christmas decorations first!

What are your "must have's" for the holiday baking season??

PS ~ Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a years subscription to the Paula Deen magazine!!