What a day!

I thought the rain was going to keep me from driving 2 hours to grant park to the gathering...I was honestly not going to go, but then knew I would regret it had I not gone...and I guess I was so excited that I forgot my jacket--because I was freezing...talk about a cold, wet day!

I opted to leave Rody at home with Randy- which was good. I would have been chasing him around that pavilion in the freezing cold the whole time. I enjoyed myself and I am SO glad I went!!! I told Randy that there were many guys who came with their wives...I was actually surprised how many guys did come. I would say there were around 50-60 people there at the max. I think the weather probably hindered some people's plans...

I met Melissa Reeder there ( I had not seen her since high school!) and we actually got there around 2:30 (30 minutes early) which worked out great because we got to talk to Jennifer (Mckmama) more that way! And she was just how I would have imagined...only shorter than I imagined her...but, very friendly and warm and kind. I really felt like I was getting together with a friend I hadn't seen in a while...

And here my pics, in no particular order...

PC (her husband) holding their two youngest...small fry and Stellan

Everyone brought some food or drink to share...I thought this cookie cake was nice...Welcome to Georgia MckMama!

Seeing Stellan with his mama was so cool! PC had all the kids at the Zoo in the park when we arrived, so we saw them come in...Sweet Stellan! He was so laid back and went to anyone and everyone...actually, all of the mckids were easy going and very social...I loved being able to hold Stellan and see him so healthy and happy...praise the Lord!

and yes, my parents actually stopped by. My mom happened to be picking up my dad at the airport and grant park was right on their way home. My mom reads her blog (my dad doesn't), but it didn't matter...they fit right in!

Stellan liked playing with grandma kia's necklace!

Melissa and small fry...Melissa actually gave Mckmama the idea of the name "stellan"...she started reading the blog before mckmama was a household name and when she only got like 10 comments on her posts (really??!)...so it was fun for them to actually meet!

me and mckmama! So fun to meet her!!!

Melissa...old high school buds...so good to see her and catch up! *hi melissa*

the mckfamily coming in...in the rain and cold!

here is mcnugget...her 2nd born...and big mac is behind him...her 1st born!

And small fry..#3 and the only girl of the family! She was a doll!

Overall it was a great day. The 4 hours of drive time was totally worth it. I am so glad that I went and got to meet her family...and a lot of other bloggers that live nearby!

Southern MckGathering

MckMama followers listen up...

Are any of you intested in meeting her and her family this sunday afternoon?

She is having a "southern mckgathering" somewhere in the Atlanta area this Sunday (22nd).

I'm getting details on it right now and I know that a lot of my readers also read her blog...

It might be fun to all meet up there! Let me know who wants to by leaving a comment on the post!

A couple of things

Randy and I have found a new passion... a new way to have fun and work together...an exciting adventure...



Can you guess what it is?


Yep...COUPONING!

Who ever knew that couponing and saving money could be so fun. We started getting Sunday papers about 5 weeks ago...I got a book together and a way to organize all the chaos that is coupons and we have fun looking at the website "southern savers"...which is AMAZING as well as all the sales papers and finding things already on sale and then knowing we have a coupon for it...it is truly exhilarating...sad, I know, but fun!

I've become such a fan of publix...I feel so relaxed when I go in there and love that I got a container of ALL detergent last week for .99! Between that and the homemade detergent my mom made and gave to us, we are set for a while!


Secondly, I've debated on whether or not to receive the H1N1 vaccination this year. Randy and I are vaccine hesitant on a lot of fronts and educated about it. Anyways, I decided to get the vaccine since I am in a "high risk" category and work in a school. After I got the shot yesterday, the nurse said it would take 6-8 weeks to be fully immunized, which takes us to the end of December at which point my pregnancy is in its last days. Oh well, I'll just keep praying for protection and washing my hands constantly!

Halloween 2009

What a weekend! Randy's parents came up late Thursday and spent Halloween weekend with us...we had a lot of fun...starting with the pumpkin carving...

Rody was not sure about it at first, but he ended up getting into it...for about 20 minutes!

Helping daddy clean it out..
All smiles here!

Randy and Grandpa carving some pumpkins...

Grandpa did the witch/moon one and Randy carved the "boo"--I carved the little one of the far right for Rody...

The weather held out, so we were able to trick-or-treat and attend the block party...

funny...

We went down Centenary street--there were a couple hundred people on this street-very fun. My costume was a nun..yes, I was a pregnant nun...

Rody definitely got into it...we got him to say "trick or treat", but it sounded like "chich a cheat"..so cute..our little elmo!

So, one time, Micheal Myers, a pregnant nun, and elmo were walking down the street...

We went to some of the neighbor's homes nearby...Rody was so sweet...saying or signing "thank you" and "bye bye" to each house...He would knock on the door, do his please sign and when they opened it, he held out his pumpkin!

We pulled him around in the red wagon...it was fun! He liked to get out and push it himself!

He doesn't sit still much for pictures these days!

Headed to church this morning...

We had a great time, G&G Barnett! You jail bird and witch are welcome anytime! (I joking told Debbie that this was the only appropriate time a DIL could call her MIL a witch and get away with it...ha ha!!)

And our little Elmo of course loved the lolli's...he's had enough until next Halloween!

Fall

Some recent pics of our fall outings...in no particular order...my fall break with our friends in Cashiers, NC and then our afternoon at the pumpkin patch in Riceville, TN!

Rody loved being chased in the hay bails

Family of 3.5!

Rody loved saying "pumpkin" and "tractor"

Hmm...which pumpkin to pick?

He loved petting the animals...especially the goats

And he loved being chased in the hay bails...

Rody and Eve are BFF's now...Laurin says it must be in the genes! They had a blast paying in the mountains and then again yesterday at Laurin's house!

Just call him raspberry man!

Hanging with Uncle Caleb

Laurin and Peyton

Lately..in words...

I seem to be out of the blogging mindset lately. But, I have been reading all my daily blogs...Randy likes to make fun of me for this, but he has a secret too--he has daily gun blogs that he reads- fascinating I know. So, lately...

I had fall break last weekend (with Friday/Monday off)...we headed up to Cashiers, NC to my parents cabin/condo where we met my brother, Pey/Ian/Eve, and Laurin for a fun weekend! We spent Friday and Saturday nights there--Rody and Eve played so well together and I got to have a lot of girl time with my girlies...there was a "cookie-off" contest-I did not participate or enter a cookie because last week was rough and crazy for me, but I did vote...and it was hilrious...I won't go into too much detail, but Ian, the dark horse, came away with 2 more points than everyone else's cookies and won...I'll be sure to enter my molasses cookies next year!

Rody developed some sort of rash all over his body (legs and chest) on Monday night--very strange--we took him to doctor on Wednesday and he is having some sort of allergic reaction to something or it is viral...so, benedryl at night and something else during the day (zytack?? something like that)...it seems to itch him at times and he looks down at his rash and says "ouchie" a lot, but he is so sweet about it...

We are headed to Athens tonight to stay at my parents house--Randy is playing in the annual AIA golf tournament at the Georgia Club on friday--it is a fundraiser for UGA's AIA (who he intershipped for)--this is his 3rd year playing I believe...so, Rody and I will kick it with my mom on Friday--I plan to bring all our coupons and our new coupon organizing system and spend some time getting organized--only my mom doesn't know that I am going to ask for her help--either in organizing or watching Rody and I'm pretty sure I know what she'll choose!

We are crusing through October. Rody says new words everyday--like "orange juice"...which is strange because we rarely have it and he NEVER drinks it...he is a water and milk only drinker. The only time we give him juice is apple juice with his chick-fil-a kids meals, but other than that, nothing. So, I don't know how he knows what orange juice is!!! He loves fire trucks now--and says "ire truck"...but, he calls any moving vehicle a "ire truck", but we're working on it!

That's all for now!!!

18 month stats

Randy took Rody to his 18 month well check yesterday. Rody was quite the charmer, starting with the little girls he was saying "hi" to in the waiting area. Then, his charm moved to all the nurses as he walked back to the next waiting room....Then, when Dr. Crabtree walked in, Rody said "doctor" which totally charmed Dr. Crabtree (who is wonderful, by the way!).

Weight: 27 lbs 8 oz (60%)
Height: 32 1/2 inches (60%)

He has been battling some on and off sniffles/running noses this month. Dr. checked his ears and he has infections in BOTH ears (but it didn't seem to really be bothing him until the night before this appointment when he and I only got about 4 hours sleep...), so he put him on an antibiotic and hopefully that will clear it up. Overall, he is a very healthy, vibrant little boy who loves to eat fruits and vegetables!!! Also, he is a HUGE fan of hummus...which is great. He and I usually have some sort of hummus snack when I get home and when he gets up from his nap. I am attempting to make my own hummus this week so we don't have to keep buying it at $3.50 a carton.
He is saying new words everyday...he says "I love you" and "Go dawgs" right now--his only real 2-3 word phrases. He is learning elbow, shoulder, and knee when he is getting a bath and can say and point to all of them. I am working on colors...he's got blue and yellow down, but not red or green yet. He LOVES lawnmowers...he will sit and watch someone cutting the grass for literally 20 minutes and NOT move a muscle...he has his own play lawnmower too that we take outside on a daily basis. He loves to throw "icky" away for me (trash) and also seems to like to clean things. Folding clean clothes is like a 20 minute treat for him---he picks up the laundry, throws it, picks it up, throws it...great entertainment for around 20 minutes...

I go to my 22 week 5 day appointment this afternoon. I can tell you that this baby girl is so active. I think more active than Rody was at this point. She keeps me up at night. I love feeling the movement though--Randy even got to see a kick when my belly shot up like a rocket the other night...so fun! I can't wait to meet this little one!