Molly, the Twins... and Everything After

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Seriously...

I should win the award for "Worst Mommy Blogger EVAH!". Yes, it's true. I haven't blogged about my beloved since I posted her 9 month stats. What have I been up to, you ask? Well, the holidays, a major birthday milestone (no, mine was just boring 32 and Rob's was even more boring 33), WORK, oh, and did I mention a major milestone birthday?! I need to backtrack and then catch up. I should also win the award for worst baby book update-er, as well, since Molly's super cute Poterry Barn Kids baby book sits totally, completely, 100% untouched on her bookshelf. Hey, at least I take pictures....speaking of which, are not on my PC, which I am blogging from. Man, I am GOOD.

Thanksgiving was by far, my most THANKFUL Thanksgiving of my life. My Moo totally enjoyed herself and started pushing a little kids chair like a push toy that week at my parents. (pics to come when I'm on the MAC). We spent the holiday with my parents - we do an every other year deal for Thanksgiving...next year we will be in Macon with Rob's parents. Molly and I went out to my parents on Tuesday and stayed until after Thanksgiving. Mom and Dad always have a super big crowd and this year did not disappoint. Molly, Emma and Brookie Bear had matching dresses that Mom and I made...and they were so cute. Did we get a picture of all 3 girls you ask? Nope. Pathetic.

Christmas is my all time very super favorite day of the year. This year was, of course, absolutely no exception. We went to Macon I think on Tuesday and left Christmas Eve evening (Santa doesn't follow you around - he only comes to your HOME :)) and then went to my parents on Christmas Day morning. We had a WHITE CHRISTMAS! I AM NOT KIDDING...Atlanta had a WHITE CHRISTMAS...it was the first one in like a million years (no really...I think in over a century). Molly was the cutest thing ever and had a ball. She really does well with excessive stimulation. Surprised? With me as her mother? {smile}

Santa was very good to the girl, as were her grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles. Everyone was very good to the Moo Bear. Probably her favorite gift? A Melissa and Doug crocodile push toy from Great Aunt Jane and Uncle Ray. A close 2nd is probably the laptop or purse toys from her grandparents (Rob's parents and mine, respectively). MY favorite gift for Moo's Christmas? Why, her PBK chair from Santa, of course. And her Vera Bradley garment bag. Man, they've improved on that thing since I got mine, eh-hum, 10 years ago. Pictures will surely follow.

I started a new tradition, as our new Christmas traditions began this year. I had a photo book of Molly's first Christmas made at one of the online photo places (maybe Snapfish, but, it could've been shutterfly...I don't know. My brain has never recovered from pregnancy). I am going to do that for her every year. And, if we are ever blessed enough to have another one of God's miracles, I'll do the same for him/her. I think it will be a keepsake she will cherish when she is an adult.

How I have missed my blogging. Work has been nuts. Unfortunately, Pop has not yet won the lottery, so, WORK will continue to be a part of my life for the foreseeable future. Mostly, I say this in jest. I enjoy my work and am not sure if I'm cut out to be a full time stay at home mom. I enjoy the intellectual stimulation and adult interaction. I enjoy the challenges that my work brings. On the other hand, I wish that I had a clone that could help me with work. It sometimes gets in the way of life...and that annoys me to no end these days. At 5:30, I want to log off and not look at it again until the next morning...and focus 100% of myself on the girl. Unfortunately, I work in an environment that probably, in reality, requires about 15% overtime to really be at the top of my game and totally caught up. My email hasn't seen below 50 un-read mails in about 6 weeks. It's daunting. Right now, it's 10:40, and I should be working to catch up after a day of totally screwed up connectivity, but, I just really missed Molly and Everything After and needed to give myself and my blog some lovin.

I am going to research FLICKR and see if that makes posting pictures easier. I have a gazillion from the holidays to share. Oh, and did I mention we had a milestone birthday? Oh, right. That, my friends, deserves a post all to itself.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

9 (.5) months!

Every night before I go to sleep, I look at the monitor one last time and stare in awe at the perfection that is our child. Yes, I know, she isn't perfect. She pitches fits (occasionally) and she will make mistakes in this life. Who hasn't? What I mean by perfection is that she is perfect for us. What an awesome God we have that creates such magic for us to love and nurture. What an awesome responsibility we have to raise this child. She is such a pure joy - always quick with a smile (though a terror to change her diaper), a sweet little flirt, an animal lover already. I cannot believe my baby is already 9 months old!

Molly's stats:
weight - 20 lbs, 9 oz (we don't miss any meals in this house)
height - 29 inches!!!!
diapers - size 3
clothes - size 9 months, but I buy 12 and they fit just fine
Shoes - size 3, but could really use a 2.5 if they existed! I think she is going to have my small feet
Teeth - 1, the bottom front right tooth
Sleeping - eh...not through the night, but, we'll get there. 2 naps per day (10AM and 3PM)
Nursing - absolutely
Eating - EVERYTHING! Molly is a fantastic eater (note weight above :)).
Crawling - everywhere
Climbing - everything (including up the stairs!)
Walking - not yet, but trying

Molly is the happiest baby I've ever been around. I'm only slightly biased, but, she really is just so happy all the time. I say it everyday...If everyone on this earth woke up each morning as happy as my Molly, this world would be a much better place!

Thankful before Christmas

I've been writing this post in my head at 2AM for the past several nights. Work has been INSANE and I haven't had a chance to breathe, yet alone blog! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are getting excited (and decorated!) for Christmas!!!

Thanksgiving in pictures....

That's right...not a single family picture from the day. Oops. Molly, Emma and Brooke had matching dresses, compliments of me and my Mom :) The dresses said "Give Thanks" and had a turkey on them. They all looked so cute!!!

We've been busy! Molly has 1 tooth - it came through on 11/14. I went to DC for work on the 15th and returned on the 17th - I survived, though just barely.

Molly was baptized on the 21st. It was a very special day. Our parents, my sister and her family, Rob's brother, Rob's aunt and Uncle and Marie Claude came to church with us and then back to the house for brunch. Molly was so cute with the preacher - he walked her all around the church and she smiled and laughed at everyone. That girl...she's never met a stranger! Ann's minister had some holy water that she gave to us for Molly, which was really special. We commemorated the day as a family with James Avery rings - Rob and I got plain bands and Molly's is the butterfly ring that symbolizes Christ's life as a man, his death and re-birth. I hope she will keep it forever and that it will have special meaning for her. We also got Molly a bracelet that we will have her name engraved on and the date. A few keepsakes for the occasion!

I think she has these 2 wrapped around her finger!

Emma, Brian and Jeff played Mario cart while we waited on lunch to cook!

My father in law has some mean talent with flowers...

Nanna and her Mini-Me, Brooke.

With Marie-Claude

I love how she's laying against Tom in this picture.

We have so much to be thankful for....

Friday, November 12, 2010

Pictures of The Girl :)

As promised, here are pictures of "the Girl" as of late....

Mommy got a fancy new camera...

Emma had a soccer game

I had a good time with Nanna and Pop there!

The 3 Smith grand-girls!

I went to the Varsity...an Atlanta tradition!

We went to Cashiers, NC with our friends Tara, Jeff and Charlie

This is my buddy, Charlie. He is almost exactly 4 months older than me...and our moms have been friends since middle school - wow, 20 years. And, our moms share a name (and our grandfathers do, too. The Tara's and the Larry's!)