Thanksgiving Weekend

What a great Thanksgiving weekend we had! David got to take Wednesday afternoon through Friday off, so we really enjoyed having him around. (I mean really enjoyed. I am seriously missing his help today!) Instead of waiting until after Thanksgiving, I cheated a little and began putting up Christmas decor on Wednesday. With the amount of stuff I have, it always takes awhile and I knew this year would be even more time consuming than usual. Three days, 26 boxes/rubbermaid containers and three full size trees later, the house was decorated inside and out. It's insane, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I enjoy having my house look like "Christmas threw up in it" as my sweet friend LL says. :)

On Thanksgiving Day, we went to David's grandparents' house in Alabama to have lunch with his mom's side of the family. It was so good to see everyone and watch them interact with Audrey. The food was delicious as usual (David's grandmother makes a huge feast from scratch!) AJ did pretty well with the ride there and back, but she is always happy to get somewhere and get out of that car seat!

On Thursday night, as is our tradition, we decorated our tree while watching the Lighting of the Great Tree on television. AJ really liked all of the colorful lights, but isn't quite sure what to think about this monstrous thing in our living room with stuff hanging all over it. It's great not to have to worry about her messing with it yet, since she is still immobile. I'm sure next year will be interesting!

On Sunday, we went up to David's parents' house and celebrated with his Dad's side of the family. Audrey got to meet one of her great aunts and her second cousins on that side for the first time. More gluttony ensued and it was awesome.

So in summary: Lots of eating, lots of decorating, lots of enjoyable family time. We couldn't have asked for a better first Thanksgiving for Audrey.

Check out the Picasa gallery for pictures. I've posted her Fifth Month's album, an album from our trip to Savannah, one with her professional newborn pictures (finally!), and of course, an album from our Thanksgiving festivities. It took me the better part of two nap times today to get caught up, so enjoy!

Thanksgiving Thursday

On this, THE BIG Thankful Thursday of the year, I am grateful for so very much. For my Savior, Who loves me more than I will ever know. For my husband and daughter, whom I love more than they will ever know. For our families and friends and all that they mean to us. For our health and our freedom. For a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. For a million other things, both big and small. My cup runneth over.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Road Trip

We spent the weekend at my brother and sister-in-law's in Savannah and had a wonderful time. We got to check out their new house, which is very close to the beach, so we expect we'll be down again soon! It was adorable to watch AJ with her cousin Annelise, who is 3 months older. They were so cute babbling to each other in their secret baby language.

Annelise has grown so much. We saw her at three weeks and then three months old. Now she is 8 months and such a big girl. She is sitting up, eating solids, has a new tooth, and is only days away from crawling. (She manages to get there when they put an iPhone in front of her!) She is constantly smiling and hams it up for the camera, which made me very happy. Now if only AJ and her Dad were as into getting their pictures taken...

On Saturday we went to the beach at Tybee Island for a little while. It was Audrey's first time seeing the ocean. She almost slept through the whole thing, but I think she was impressed with what she did take in. There were even dolphins swimming through the water to greet her. I can't wait until she can jump waves and build sand castles with me.

Overall, Audrey did great with her first road trip. She had one hysterical pull-off-the-interstate meltdown on the way there and one on the way back, but otherwise she handled the car ride nicely. We were also nervous about how she'd sleep away from home, but she did great. She adapted well (must get that from her father) and was a sweetheart. It felt good to have conquered this milestone and know we can travel with her without major headaches. Although, I do foresee her spending a weekend at the grandparents while Mommy and Daddy take a short vacation on their own sometime. A girl can dream, right?

Pictures to come soon, but here is a sneak preview:

Audrey is not so sure about sharing her monkey with Annelise. We have to work on that!

Thanks again for the food and hospitality, y'all! We enjoyed the visit and can't wait to see you again soon!

Thankful Thursday

1. My mom. Her birthday is tomorrow and I thought I'd take the opportunity to express my gratitude for her. Now that I'm a mother myself, I can better appreciate all of her hard work. I learned many lessons from her both big (manners) and small (the importance of putting together and making your bed first when you move into a new place.) She instilled in me a love of Christ, reading, and good dessert...in that order. Oh yeah, and the whole "gave me life" thing. Thank you & Happy Birthday, Mom!

2. A clean car! This week I got my car cleaned inside and out for the first time in almost 5 months. I hesitated to even admit how long it's been because I know how disappointed my dad and brothers will be, but we've had some other priorities lately. :) It looks wonderful and I'm enjoying the lack of strange sticky substances on my console.

3. Sharpie Markers. Regular tip, thin tip, black ink, colored ink - I don't care. They're an organized girl's BFF.

4. Chick-fil-A. I've been feeling a little guilty since I expressed my exhaustion of their cow campaign on a friend's Facebook status, so I thought I'd show them some love. Whether they are in need of new marketing ideas or not, they're still my favorite fast food restaurant. They are an amazing company with outstanding values, business practices, and customer service. Corporate America could use more like them. I love my Christian chicken. As someone once said, I feel a little like I'm tithing every time I eat there (which is A LOT.)

5. David. Yeah, I know he's appeared on the list before, but he's just that awesome. He has always been an amazing husband, but lately he has taken it to a whole new level. Suddenly trash is being emptied without me asking and toys are magically put away at the end of the night. He has even developed a habit of asking if there is anything that I need him to do while I'm nursing Audrey and putting her to bed. The first time he uttered those words, I swear I teared up. Thanks for sharing the load, babe. I couldn't do it without you.

Holiday Entertaining

A few years ago, a local magazine that David's cousins own asked me a few questions for their piece about holiday entertaining. As the season approaches, I thought it might be helpful to post my responses on here to give you a few tips as you start planning your parties.

What’s the most important thing to keep in mind when planning a party?

The most important things to keep in mind when planning a party are that it doesn’t have to be perfect…and that a little planning and organization goes a long way! When it comes to entertaining, especially during the holidays, people often stress themselves out unnecessarily. For example, every inch of your home does not need to be military-inspection ready! Spend your energy on the important areas – the kitchen, the main room, and the bathrooms – and quit worrying about whether the guestroom closet is clean. To help yourself stay organized, do a complete walk-through in your mind of the entire event, from where to hang coats when guests arrive to having coffee ready to serve with dessert. From there, make checklists and shopping lists and choose a few small extra details to focus on, like special invitations or cute favors, but don’t feel the pressure that everything has to be flawless.

Remember that it all comes down to whether your guests feel comfortable and have a good time in your home. Some of the best parties I’ve been to started with an Evite and included pizza.

If attending a party at someone else’s house, should you take a hostess gift?

It really depends on the event as to whether a hostess gift is appropriate. If it is a casual gathering among close friends, a present is not necessary, especially if you are providing a dish or dessert. If, however, it’s a more formal dinner party or an overnight stay, bringing a gift is fitting. If you are unsure, always err on the side of formality and take something – even if it is totally unexpected, a gift is a good surprise!

It’s important to remember a few things when making your hostess gift selection: Flowers are a nice gesture, but usually just create a hassle for the hostess who has to scramble around to find a vase. Foods such as cheese or candies are usually a safe choice, but make certain the hostess knows they are not expected to be served at the party by saying something like, “this is for you to enjoy later.” CDs and candles are also good ideas, but try to add a personal touch to your present if you can – a monogrammed apron for the cook, a Blockbuster gift card tied to a bag of popcorn for the movie lover, or a personalized tree ornament or picture frame.

How do you recover when things don’t go as planned?

Things never go as planned! Somewhere along the way, big or small, something will happen that you did not anticipate. The key is to preplan as much as possible ahead of time to avoid those surprises (plenty of simple hors devours in case dinner is running late, extra plates and chairs for unexpected guests, a basket of toys or a movie for children that show up at an adult-only party.)

If something still catches you off guard despite your best efforts, keep your cool. One of the quickest ways to ruin a party is for the hostess to let her guests see her get stressed. If dinner is burned, laugh it off and order take-out. If something breaks or someone spills something, be gracious about it and move on. The more relaxed you stay, the more comfortable your guests feel.

What are your biggest etiquette tips when planning a holiday gathering?

To me, consideration is more important than following etiquette. That’s not to say that etiquette and good manners don’t have their place, but they certainly should not be higher priority than making a guest feel welcome. Think about whom you’ve invited and what small things you can do to make them more comfortable.

Remember that people are a lot more forgiving with etiquette mishaps if they feel like your heart is in the right place.

Other tips for Holiday Parties:

• Because the holiday season is so busy for most people, get your date on their calendars early by sending out invitations six weeks in advance. Make sure that you mention the attire if applicable.
  

• If you are concerned about people being too busy, but still want to host a holiday party, consider doing something different like a Saturday brunch or a Sunday afternoon open-house.

• When deciding on the menu, be sure to have a couple of healthy choices for those trying to stick to their diets during the holidays.

• Be ready early. Given the choice between perfecting the food layout and drying your hair, choose the latter. You can always add finishing touches once people begin arriving, but there is nothing worse than being in a hurried panic and making your guests feel awkward.

• Consider keeping your pets locked up during the party in case some guests are allergic or may not be animal lovers.

Enjoy the party!

Thankful Thursday Continued

Since Veteran's Day was this week, I was remiss yesterday in not expressing my appreciation for our troops. My father and both grandfathers are former military and I am so proud of them for their service. Thank you to all the men and women that have served in order to gain and are serving to protect our freedom. God bless you and your families for the sacrifices you are making that I take for granted.

Thankful Thursday

It has been a very long week in the Sinyard household. As expected, we have all gotten this dreaded cold. I'm running a day behind AJ with it and David is running a day behind me, so hopefully we will all make a complete recovery by Sunday or so.

Since it started, I have learned the very hard truth that Moms never get a sick day. Ever. Laundry still has to be washed, shopping and errands still need to be done, and meals still have to be planned and cooked (even if it is a jar of Prego and a box of spaghetti. If the stove, oven, or microwave are involved, it's cooking.) Nobody cares if you don't feel well, least of all the Baby who is mad because her nose is all stuffy and it is interfering with her ability to eat. Okay, they may care, but not enough to start lactating and take over. Bums.

For those of you that are expecting your first, here is a list of things I'm glad we had on hand this week:

• A cool mist humidifier for Audrey's room. We bought Crane's elephant version, and have been very pleased with it. It's easy to use and unbelievably quiet.
  

• Little Noses Stuffy Nose Kit. We've used the nasal aspirator a lot this week and the saline drops a few times too. (Thanks, Nurse Holly!)

• Johnson's Soothing Vapor Bath. It's got rosemary, eucalyptus, and menthol, which helps clear their airways. FYI, it's not recommended for babies under 3 months or those with sensitive skin, asthma, or allergies.

• Aquaphor. Good for raw skin under their noses and dry skin on their cheeks.
  

Please pray we make a complete recovery soon and that we stay well for the rest of the winter. I can't imagine how we'd handle it if we got the flu. I hope we don't have to find out!

Here is this week's Thankful Thursday list:

1. YOU! Based on Stat Counter's cookie count, we reached over 500 unique visitors this week and I'm amazed! A little freaked out, since I'm pretty sure I don't even know 500 people, but very amazed. As David pointed out, there are probably a lot of single users using multiple computers in that number (not that you would dare log on at work, right?!) but still. You're reading, and hopefully laughing and praying, right along with us on this incredible journey and we're honored.

2. Afrin nasal spray. It is good stuff. It's also addictive, so I limit myself to nighttime use only for three nights. No problem here. Really. I can stop whenever I want. (*sniff, sniff*)

3. My hairdresser. I have been going to the same lady for years and she is such a sweetheart. She has helped me through blond and multi-layered mishaps and back to my natural color again. She has seen me at my skinniest, my biggest (the day before AJ was born, actually), and every size in between. I'm thankful that every six weeks I get to sit in her chair and take a load and some split-ends off.

4. My Pilgrim salt and pepper shaker set from Publix. I bought them seven years ago and they still make me smile when I pull them out of my Thanksgiving decorations box.


5. Coupon exchanging. A friend of mine suggested we swap coupons since she uses one brand of diapers and I use another. I love opening the mail and finding a sweet note from her with money savings inside!

Contradictions of Parenthood

Parenthood has brought about many surprises, revelations, and lessons (yes, even our few short months of it). Among them, I've discovered a few contradictions:

1. You gain the ability to multi-tasking like never before, but can also switch that to a laser focused one-track mind. I can successfully nurse Audrey while simultaneously pumping, eating lunch, and checking email. On the other hand, there are moments when I'm holding her and looking into her eyes and the world just stops. Nothing else exists, let alone matters.

2. You either look like death warmed over or you're all decked out. Sometimes I get dolled up and wear heels to the grocery store just to make sure I remember how to walk in them. Other times (read: most of the time), I'm "that woman" who hasn't showered, isn't wearing a stitch of make-up, and is sporting sweatpants from high school that Goodwill would refuse to accept. You know, the woman you try not to make eye contact with because you're embarrassed for her. So, if you see me looking done up at Wal-Mart, don't be impressed. It's probably the only time all week I've simultaneously had my hair fixed, make-up on, and am wearing cute shoes. If I'm in the sweatpants, do us both a favor and just act like you didn't see me.

3. Your level of patience exponentially increases and then nose dives back to zilch depending on the circumstance. I can review colors a thousand times and read books over and over or walk AJ fifty laps around the downstairs when she's crying. I have gotten up every night for months on end and, though I'm tired of it, I'm patient about it. However, when it comes to dealing with other people and situations, I'm less tolerant than I used to be (which really wasn't all that much to begin with.) Red lights - which usually cause her to start crying - drive me nuts and getting stopped by a train can result in breaking out in a sweat. I don't think anyone understands being in a hurry more than a nursing mother. We have carefully timed our outings to avoid meltdowns (hers, not mine) and leaks (mine, not hers) and rarely have a minute to spare. I am a slave to the clock and I expect things and people to be on time moreso than I ever have before. So please...count your items carefully before you get in the express lane in front of me. It would really throw me off schedule to be arrested for indecent exposure at Publix.

4. You grow closer in some relationships and distanced in others. If you have a child under a year old, you're on my speed dial these days. If you don't, chances are I owe you a phone call. Sorry 'bout that.

5. You find yourself wishing time would speed up and then moments later, praying it would slow down. There are moments during my day when I feel like I'm going to be nursing around the clock and changing diapers for the rest of my life. I selfishly wish we could move on to solids, have her potty trained, and sleep through the night. Then suddenly, after a 3am feeding when the house is still and quiet, I'll snuggle her in my arms and realize how she fits differently than she used to. How much heavier she is now than she was a few months ago. How her legs stretch out much longer and her head takes up more space on my shoulder. And I realize that every milestone she reaches means she needs me less...and I ask God to keep her tiny just a little while longer.

Weekend of Firsts

Audrey went to her very first birthday party this weekend. Her little friend Madison, whom she loves to stroll around the mall with, turned one. Audrey was adorable in her party outfit, second only to the birthday girl herself. Despite the party falling during her usual naptime, she was a trooper and loved watching all the festivities. It was a great party and so good to catch up with friends we haven't seen in a while. It won't be long before it's time to start planning Audrey's Big Bash.

Another (not nearly as fun) new experience is that she has her first cold. It is pitiful. Her little nose is running, she's coughing, and she can't breathe all that well, which effects her eating. She doesn't have a fever, thank goodness, so we're holding off on a doctor's appointment. She is still sleeping great and even made it eleven hours straight last night. I thought for sure I'd be up all night with her, so I am so grateful for the rest. Especially since I think David and I are starting to come down with it. At least we can take medicine, unlike her. She just gets a humidifier and extra TLC...and Mommy constantly coming at her with a nasal aspirator, poor thing.

I feel so guilty because I'm sure she got it from nursery on Thursday. She could have gone with me to Bible Study (there is usually at least one infant in there) or stayed at home while her Grandmom kept her, but nooooo. I was determined to put her in the nursery even though one of the workers sounded awful when I dropped her off. I didn’t want to be an overprotective mom and I wanted her to socialize with other babies. Illness is not quite what I had in mind for her to gain from the experience.

SO, I think I've decided that I'm going to have to turn into one of those germaphobic mothers. At least until we get through this nasty flu season. She is too young for a flu shot, but unfortunately not too young for the flu. I don't want to raise a "bubble girl" as David calls it, but I also don't want to risk her getting something and making us sick, especially as we head into the holidays. I know kids get sick, but she is still so little and defenseless. She puts everything in her mouth, including her hands, which everyone is determined to touch. I didn't realize this until I became a mom, but now I know: unless you are family and/or have JUST scrubbed in surgery-style, you really don't need to be touching babies' hands. My apologies to the parents of little ones that I came into contact with before I knew this.

Anyway, who knows when we'll brave public nursery again. We miss church, but it's just not worth feeling miserable, losing sleep, and being stuck in the house with her all week. Or, worse yet, the chance of her catching something serious at such a young age. There will come a time that we can get back into the swing of things and this awful H1N1 calms down, but until then, we may be attending Bedside Baptist Church for awhile.

Thankful Thursday

It's been a busy week, and I can't believe it's already Thursday. I spent most of Monday in the kitchen cooking for a friend who just had a baby. I got to go visit with her and her brood of now three kids (I cannot even imagine) for a little while that afternoon, which was great. I have no idea where Tuesday went, but I vaguely recall packing up Halloween decorations, putting out Thanksgiving ones, and going to Target. Wednesday was more errands including the Post Office, grocery store, tailor (again), and doctor's office. Today was Bible Study, drug store, bank, and dry cleaners. I feel like I spent my week in the car...and I haven't even started driving AJ to practices or friends' houses yet!

Anyway, here is my list for the week:

1. My brother and sister-in-law's safety. They were in a car accident on Wednesday and no one was hurt, nor was my nephew in the car. It could have ended very differently and I'm so grateful God was watching out for them!

2. Audrey's good report at the orthopedist! The doctor said her feet will turn in on their own when they're good and ready. I asked if the fact that we let her sleep on her stomach was making it worse and she assured me that it wasn't. I also asked if it would delay her crawling or walking and she said no. In fact, she told us that AJ may start to walk earlier because of it (better balance, I guess!) Thank you, Lord!

3. Electric mixers...and everything else that makes my job as a stay-at-home mom and housewife easier. I made a pound cake on Monday (which I still contest was a little off, AP, so I'm going to make you another one sometime) and was thinking about how awful it would be to have to do all that mixing by hand!

4. The book "When Everything Changed" by Gail Collins. It's the history of American women from the 1960s to the present and it is fascinating. It makes me feel smart just having it on my nightstand. I haven't gotten very far, but I've read enough to appreciate just how much progress women have made and be glad that I have the choice to stay at home. I hope to write a little more about it once I'm done. It may take me a whole year to finish, but I'll get there!

5. Two hours alone. I was able to slip out tonight while David kept AJ (remember: it's not called babysitting when the dad keeps the kids. It's called parenting.) I went to Wolf Camera and then moseyed around Target for over an hour. It was UH-mazing. I had so much fun picking out Christmas presents for my niece and nephew, buying greeting cards that I actually took the time to read first, and even dawdled in the cleaning supply aisle. Awesome.

Halloween pictures are up in the Picasa Gallery. Have a great Friday & weekend!

Cartoons

In case you needed a laugh today...