Mornings are loud around here

Matthew screams when he is happy - and he's usually happiest in the mornings. This morning in particular was loud with Grandma and Grandpa here to entertain - and be entertained! :o)

Matthew is thankful for Grandma and Grandpa!!

So, are Mommy and Daddy!!!!!!!

Pumpkin Parfaits

Okay, I know this isn't the best shot - but, I did want to share this low fat, yummy recipe.

I saw Rachel Ray make this pumpkin stuff and decided to modify it a little -

1 can pumpkin
1 can fat free sweetened condensed milk
1 box instant vanilla pudding
2 small containers of low fat Cool Whip - thawed
1 box of Ginger Snap cookies - crumble about 1/2 the box of g.s.'s in a food processor.

Just mix the pumpkin, condensed milk and pudding mix all together and add the Cool Whip. In my glasses, I put in a few spoonfuls of the pumpkin stuff, then a few spoonfuls of the crumbled ginger snaps and then a few spoonfuls of some more Cool Whip - and then did it all again. Lots of sugar - but low fat - :o)

None of RR's was low fat or fat free and she used the real deal whipped cream.

Watching over his kingdom

eleven months old

I'm eleven months old today!! Time flies - it's hard to remember what all I've done this month cause I'm just soooooo busy.

I work really hard at standing up all the time. Of course, I haven't quite figured out how to get down once I've stood up - I guess that's what Mommy and Daddy are here for. I like to check out what's in cabinets and drawers.

I'm especially fascinated with watching Daddy get ready for work every morning.

I take my two naps every day. I usually know that I'll sleep really well for my morning nap. My afternoon nap is a little less predictable on how long I'll sleep.

I like my walks outside - I do like to look around at everything.

Mommy and Daddy give me a sippy cup for lunch and dinner - I can't say that I'm too thrilled with it - but, I guess that's the only way I'm getting my formula. As for food - I'm not very fond of eating with my fingers unless it's Cheerios/puffs, cheese quesadillas, cheese from pizza or crackers.

I heard that Grandma and Grandpa E. bought my new car seat. I haven't used it yet, evidently, I'm getting too tall for my current one - even though I'm well within the weight range.

I need a haircut, but Mommy can't bring herself to get me one til I'm a year old - that's coming up soon, though.

I liked playing peek-a-boo a lot til I started standing - I would crawl underneath my exersaucer and play it with Mommy. I think my favorite toy is my barn that Grandma and Grandpa H. gave me. That and the shape sorter - I could play with those all day.

I love my Mommy and Daddy a lot, and I know they love me!

He's cruisin'

Matthew is seriously on his way to walking. He started cruising between the recliner and end table today. Funny - I couldn't have told you what "cruising" in babies was six months ago.

An official parent....

I went to Walmart specifically to buy diapers and coffee!

My weekend with Reba, Kelly, and Bond, James Bond

Okay, can you believe that I went to the Reba McIntyre/Kelly Clarkson concert last night??!! My friend, Guyla, asked me if I wanted to go. It was a lot of fun - as you can imagine - there was a big mix of people there. It's always fun just to people watch, too. I seriously forgot to bring my ear plugs, though. I was planning on bringing them and just plain forgot. I think I would have felt like a big nerd sticking them in my ears - boy, I'm getting too old for those loud concerts ;o)

Today, we went with our friends, Steven and Summer, to see the new James Bond movie. We enjoyed it. Reviews have been mixed - apart from the action scenes - which are a little too close and disorienting - it was good.

Easter egg hunts in our house

For the past several months, Matthew has been carrying around his toys and putting them in usual places - and leaving them there. Thankfully, Mark watched him put his little golf ball in the hollow leg of his exersaucer or I don't think I would have ever found it.

I found some toys in one of our kitchen cabinets today. The dryer ball was on a shelf in his bedroom. I don't have pictures of when he would bring his toys over to the pop can containers next to the dryer(which is off the kitchen).

We sure are thankful for our busy little guy!!

s'mores

I'm trynig out homemade s'mores. Homemade marshmallows and homemade graham crackers and some yummy chocolate bars - dark chocolate for me and milk chocolate for Mark - not homemade ;o) We'll see.

I call her Big Bertha

I think that's the name of a golf club - but to see this elliptical in comaprison to our previous one..........she IS Big Bertha!!! She didn't even fit in the back of my RAV. We(okay, the three men who helped me) had to break the box down and put the parts in. Thankfully, the nice strong men loaded it all up - it was very heavy! I love it already!

And, a bonus for me ('cause Mark experienced all of the headache on this) - they're sending us over $150 worth of iFit programs because the part they sold us to repair our old elliptcal was actually not even possible to fix. They didn't tell Mark that til - hmmmm - how many phone calls and e-mails later?

The devolution of a teething biscuit

Gone are the days of relatively "clean" meals. Yes, he got a bath right after this :o)

Battle of the Ravine

Every year we go to the big tailgate party before the football game between the two universities(which are, interestingly enough, right across the street from each other). Matthew wasn't too sure what to think of the band. By the end, he was kind of beebopping along to the music, though.

We didn't go to the game - too late for Matthew. We watched some of it on tv - we won!

**you can't tell it by the pictures - but there really were a lot of people there. As true Edwards's - we go early and beat the crowds ;o)

Not so much

Matthew has finally grown in to his sunglasses. Needless to say, he wasn't the most thrilled with them. Thankfully enough, his puffs and cheerios were enough to distract him - there is hope.

Celebration cupcakes

This is how tired I am of politics right now. Now matter who wins - these are to celebrate the end of the election! Mark is bringing them in to work tomorrow.

Funny - most of the faculty seem to be Democrats and most of the students seem to be Republican.

I'm certainly not trying to make light of the situation - I pray the God will show mercy on us as a nation - I think we need it now more than ever.

Merry Christmas to us!

I just ordered it - I'm so excited!!!

$2.039/gallon!!!!!