Is it Thanksgiving Yet?

I'm already starting to salivate.

Mmm... broccoli casserole, mashed potatoes with gravy, lima beans, cornbread dressing, collard greens, rice, creamed corn, pineapple cheese casserole, macaroni and cheese...

Ugh! I'm counting down the days!

Turkey? What do you mean I didn't even mention turkey? Forget the turkey! Forget the ham! Even forget the sweet potato pie and coconut cake! Give me some more of those good vegetables and casseroles!!!

Anybody got a family get-together they want to invite me to? I've got a better idea - let's just skip the awkwardness of me being there not knowing anybody, and you can just go ahead and bring me your leftovers. That works. See you Friday, the 28th.

Grandma and Grandpa's is So Much Fun!

There is so much to see and do over there!



I went yesterday and got to play the piano,

I helped Grandma (un)organize her kitchen cabinets,

I got to play in their front yard and see their beautiful yellow maple tree at its peak,

and I got to play with their much more patient cats (but there isn't a picture of that from this time, so Mama is adding a much older picture of me and Buzz. And of course, I wasn't requiring much patience in this picture).

And then I went home and Mama and Daddy put me in a box (see previous post) and made me eat my shoes.

*I promise we do put pants on Bennett. It just so happens he's not wearing any in a couple of these pictures. :)

Bottom's Up

Last night I was talking to Josh in the living room and realized I heard Bennett starting to whimper. It slowly got louder and more desperate sounding, and when I turned my head to look, this is what I found:

He had dropped a toy in this box, and when he leaned over to get it out he couldn't get back up. I just love his little feet barely touching the floor. It was so funny!

Today

Today is a monumental day. For a few reasons.

First of all, and probably the most expected reason, we have a new president-elect. The first African American president. I’m not a big political person – I actually despise discussing politics, but watching that coverage last night when they projected that Obama would win about made me sick. Really. An overwhelming feeling of heaviness came over my entire body and I felt sick to my stomach. I was surprised by my reaction, but that’s what it was.

I actually like Obama okay as a person, not that I know him personally or have done much research about him, but the way he presented himself during the debates was much more pleasing to me than McCain’s presentation. What a creepy old man. And he was a little childish and quick to slander. Obama seemed to keep his cool and stick to the facts. BUT that doesn’t mean I liked his facts. I’m scared to death of his plan. “Spread the wealth?” Seriously? Spread my wealth (ha) to others who haven’t earned a thing? Anyway, not getting into that. I just wanted to point out number 1 reason for today’s monumentalness.

Second, Bennett is up to about 15 steps or so walking! And the only reason he only takes 15 steps is because that’s how far apart me and Josh, or me and Daddy, or whoever and whoever are. But he’s not quite to the point that he’ll just take off and walk into the kitchen from the living room. He is SO not afraid to let go and go, though. He’s too confident for his own good, actually. You’ll hold his hand and most the time he’ll try to get you to let go of him before he even has his balance. He wants nothing more than to walk.

Lastly, and this just warms my heart. Don’t get me wrong, I am the proudest mother of them all to see my boy starting to walk and nothing makes me happier than to see that big ol’ smile headed towards me before he collapses into my arms, but the way new sheet rock looks in a once run down rat’s nest of a house just makes me beam. The sheet rock went up yesterday in our money pit!!! It is so beautiful! They are mudding it today, will sand it tomorrow or the next day, and we’ll be ready to paint either this weekend or Monday! HALLELUJIAH!

Okay, so we’ll be ready for paint, but we won’t paint yet. There is still lots to do before that step, but still. To be to this point is a dream come true. I thought we’d never get here. I was going to post some pictures of the unfinished sheet rock, but I thought I’d wait until it’s all smoothed out and finished. YEA!

I know I already said, “lastly,” but can I just add that gas at the Race Trac down the street is $2.05?

Ohhh (with a sigh), I don’t know what our future holds, and it is a scary thought that the Democrats are going to be in control of it, but for today I feel good.

Happy Halloween!

So, last night was Halloween. We had a good night. I just love any excuse to hang out on our front porch. I got out there yesterday afternoon and swept the porch and the steps and sidewalk so that it would look nice for our trick-or-treaters later. I then started gathering items to make a little table arrangement to put on the porch. I didn't want to just have the basket of candy - that's no fun.

Mama came over to help me get Bennett ready, and she decided that the lions on our front steps needed to be illuminated. So, we put a couple candles under their chins to make them kind of spooky.

Then, there was the task of getting Bennett dressed up. If you read this blog, you know I had a hard time deciding what he would be. There were so many options because of his head full of hair, but I didn't want it to be cheesy and regret my choice later. I had narrowed it down to either Albert Einstein or a treasure troll. I wanted him to be Einstein, but was afraid I wouldn't be able to get him to look enough like him to satisfy me. So, I bought the white hair spray but also bought a thing of the green in case I had to go with plan B. I went to Goodwill and got a pair of black pants and a black vest and cut one of Grandpa's old ties down to Bennett size. A white button up shirt, a little black eye liner, and Josh's old saddle oxfords and we were good to go.

I am happy with the way it turned out, but for some reason I see a little Al Sharpton or somebody in him. There's just something that makes him look a little like a black man to me. Am I crazy?

Anyway, he was an absolute hit. The trick-or-treaters loved him, and a couple of their parents took pictures of him. After letting him hang out on the front porch and greet trick-or-treaters for a while, Josh and I put him in the stroller so we could go visit a few of the neighbors. They got a kick out of it. One of our neighbors almost insisted that we send a picture of him into a newspaper or something. No one could believe that was all his hair; they thought he was wearing a wig. And of course, you had a few people talking about how cute "she" was. Seriously? What parent would dress their infant girl up like Einstein? With a mustache and black eyebrows? Okay, maybe somebody would, but not me.

Bennett gave out about ten 'til eight and wasn't able to stay dressed long enough for Uncle Greg to see him. They had to settle for very sleepy and very angry Einstein in PJ's. That was almost as funny as the real deal, if not funnier.

But we got to enjoy Miss Elizabeth dressed up all warm and cozy as a lion, and Miss Malia as a black cat.

Tag, I'm it!

Okay, so my sister-in-law Lauren tagged me with this survey, and I am not one to sit out while others play a game. It's a long one, so get comfortable. Here goes:

1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:35 to nurse Bennett the first time, 8:30 the second time.

2. Diamonds or pearls? Neither, really. Josh hates jewelry, except for my engagement and wedding rings.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The Sex and the City movie. I was really afraid that it was going to disappoint me, but it so didn't. I loved it. (my mom and I went - we get free popcorn on Tuesdays. We're going to see "Rachel Getting Married" soon.)

4. What is your favorite TV show? The Office, and I really like the new show, Privileged. It's actually pretty good.

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? More often than not, it's oatmeal.

6. What is your middle name? McLeod

7. What food do you dislike? I do not enjoy marshmallows, beets (you are so right, Lauren - they totally taste like dirt), sushi, or any kind of gamey meat.

8. What is your favorite CD at moment? I don't listen to CDs anymore. Usually just the music channel on TV, and that is normally classical or easy listening. I know, I know. I'm getting old.

9. What kind of car do you drive? A 2004 Toyota Sequoia that I absolutely love. I hate that it is a gas guzzler, but I do very little driving anymore, so that's how we justified it.

10. Favorite Sandwich? Not a big sandwich person.

11. What characteristic do you despise? I can't stand when people I don't know or hardly know want to tell me all about their life happenings. I get really irritated with them, but then I feel sorry for them because they apparently have no one else to tell.

12. Favorite item of clothing? Some of my favorite items of clothing were my maternity clothes. My favorite now are the t-shirts that I've had forever that feel like silk because they're so thin and worn out.

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Back to France, but in the spring this time. It was too cold last time, although Christmas there was amazing. I want to take Bennett once he's old enough to appreciate it.

14. Favorite brand of clothing? Whatever is on sale. That's so bad! This is why I never look cute!

15. Where would you retire to? I don't really know. Maybe one of the Carolinas. Probably South.

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Unfortunately, I can't really think of a very memorable birthday. My birthday always gets a little overlooked since it's during everyone's Christmas parties and such. Yes, yes, please feel sorry for me.

17. Favorite sport to watch? College football (Go Dawgs!).

18. When is your birthday? December 13th.

19. Are you a morning person or night? Neither. I enjoy sleep way too much.

20. What is your shoe size? 8

21. Pets? Just one little kitty. Poor Ponce is lost and gone forever, I'm afraid. So, Stewie is our sole guard cat now.

22. Any new and exciting news you would like to share with us? Yes, but it's not my news to share, so I can't. Ooh, mysterious, huh?

23. What did you want to be when you were little? A singer, a lawyer or a teacher.

24. How are you today? Tired but happy.

25. What is your favorite candy? I really love Tootsie Rolls but I seem to always forget about them. The only time I ever used to have them was at Halloween, so any time I have one now it tastes like Halloween to me. Josh's dad always sneaks a pocket full into the Georgia games when we go with them and I have a couple then. Yum.

26. What is your favorite flower? White lilies.

27. What is a day on your calendar you are looking forward to? December 17th. That baby needs a haircut! And a birthday cake to stick his face in!

28. What is your full name? I think I'll follow Lauren's lead and pass on giving out that info.

29. What are you listening to right now? I can hear Josh downstairs on the phone with someone, and every once in a while I can hear Bennett across the hall bumping his little jingle elephant in his crib. I'm a fan of silence.

30. What was the last thing you ate? I was in heaven today. We went to my grandparents' house in Alabama for my grandmother's birthday and I had sweet potato souffle, cornbread dressing, creamed corn, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, pasta salad, brown and serve rolls and sweet tea. Of course there was some meat served, but I always pass that up when I can eat all of those wonderful veggies.

31. Do you wish on stars? No, not really. Once in a blue moon I will, if I'm somewhere that I can really see them and one really stands out or something.

32. If you were a crayon what color would you be? How about orange? I have no clever reason why, it just came to me.

33. How is the weather right now? It was beautiful today. A little on the cool side, but not cold enough for a jacket. How annoying are these days when you need a jacket or a sweater for the first and last part of the day, but not during. It's so hard to know what to wear, and you're always stuck carrying around a jacket or a sweater in the middle of the day.

34. The first person you spoke to on the phone today? My Daddy, I believe.

35. Favorite soft drink? Dr. Pepper, but it's kind of like Tootsie Rolls. It is my favorite by far, but I never buy it. It's like I forget it's out there.

36. Favorite Restaurant? Chain restaurant - Carrabba's. But I love tapas restaurants like Pura Vida or Loca Luna.

37. Real Hair Color? What you see is what you get.

38. What was your favorite toy as a child? Easy Bake Oven. Why can't it be that easy to make a cake now? Well, I guess it kind of is, but I mean a real cake. I'm not a cake baker. Sorry Jeff and Greg, I guess someone else will have to take care of your birthday cakes now. No more 4 inch wide, 1/2 inch tall cakes from your big sister.

39. Summer or winter? Summer. I don't like being cold. And I definitely don't like my baby being cold. I feel like such a bad mom when I go get him in the mornings and his little hands are cold.

40. Hugs or kisses? Hmm... I like both. But I can't wait for Bennett to be able to hug me. I can just imagine how good that's going to feel.

41. Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate.

42. Coffee or tea? Hot Coffee. Iced Tea.

43. When was the last time you cried? It's been a while, actually. No, mabye not. I think I cried when we were watching something the other day. Oh, the little girl that had a bone condition making her face completely deformed. It was called "A New Face for Marlie." That was sad. (See, Josh? I do have a heart.)

44. What is under your bed? It's funny you ask, because I just looked under there this morning looking for my phone and happened to see that there is a brush, a Christmas ornament, and a sock. And to think that I might have just said, "nothing."

45. What did you do last night? Went to Douglasville's Chili Cook Off. Josh was a judge. That means he ate 22 samples of chili. When he was done, he went and bought some tickets so he could buy a few more samples before settling on one and buying a bowl of chili.

46. What are you afraid of? My loved ones being hurt. Mostly physically, but emotionally too.

47. Salty or sweet? Totally both. Wendy's frosty and fries. Trail mix with m&m's. Chocolate covered popcorn. Mmmmmm!!!

48. How many keys on your key ring? 3, I think. 1 car, 1 house, and 1 parents' house.

49. How many years at your current job? Yes, raising a child is totally a job. 10 months.

50. Favorite day of the week? Saturdays.

51. How many places have you lived in? How many cities, or how many actual places? 2 cities. Douglasville and Athens. 6 total places.

52. Do you make friends easy? No. For some reason, I'm not really a people person anymore.

53. What is a pet peeve? People riding down the road with their blinker on. People using "your" as "you're." When Mama and Daddy say something about their license, and then say something like, "I don't know where they are." It is one thing! A license, not many.

54. We all waste time. What do you do that wastes the most time? Read other people's blogs.

55. Are you a nerd? Yes. If you could be a fly on the wall and witness some of mine and Josh's conversations. The voices, the faces. Yes, we are total nerds.

56. Fiction of nonfiction? I prefer non-fiction, but enjoy fiction also.

57. What is something that you miss? Grandpa. Josh and I being able to just go out whenever we want. College.

58. Have any hobbies? Not really. I scrapbook occasionally. But not the real crazy scrapbooking like I've seen some ladies into. I don't have the zig-zag scissors.

59. What is something you're passionate about? My family. Making sure Bennett is eating as healthily as possible.

60. What is something you've learned from your current job? That it doesn't have to cost as much as people think it does to have children. That it feels good to be needed, but it feels better to not have a baby that cries for you all the time. That eating healthy is easy. So much more, but my brain is done for today.

I suppose I won't tag anyone, since most people that read this blog don't have one of their own. Kelly, please feel free to respond with a survey of your own, but I didn't want to make you feel obligated by tagging only you.

Hair Update

I just can't imagine why anyone would think he was a girl.