Southern Belle Sunday

You can't get more southern than 73 on a Sunday in January.  This little Southern Belle pulled out her spring attire for church since it was such a beautiful day.  I had a cream corduroy smocked dress picked out, but it's WAY to hot for that!

I do hope it gets cold again or there may be some dresses Mary Frances never wears.  #SouthernBelleProblems.

I feel like she is getting so big so fast that I can't keep up with her wardrobe or her.  Walking all over the place and knowing exactly what she wants and doing exactly what it takes to get it.  Whether it's more blueberries or the toy her brother has.

Matt even thinks she is more head strong than her brother.  Lord help us!!!

This picture would fall under the category of 'everything I own is monogrammed.'  If anyone has a little girl with the initials MFM, I have a deal for you.  I even started thinking about girl names with those same initials for baby # 3 before we found he was a boy.  I mean, why let all this go to waste.

And she's off!!  She was following her big brother to the back door to go outside and play.  That's when our photo shoot stopped and I scooped her up for a wardrobe change.  No playing in the backyard in white!!

Happy Sunday!

Fratty Friday

It is no secret that Jackson is a mini Matt in a lot of ways.  But when he was not happy with how Mary Frances' high chair was rolling and decided to fix it this morning I almost fell out laughing.  He came into the bathroom and said "I need my tools."  I told him to go get them!  A few minutes later he came back from his garage in his room with a hammer, screw driver, and wrench from his work bench.

 He hammered on the wheels for a while talking to himself and saying things like "there, that's better" and "let me try this."  It was so cute and I think we have another engineer on our hands.  Jackson does get it honest.  Every male he is closely related to is handy.  It makes me so happy he is interested in tools and fixing things.

 Mary Frances was not too excited.  She just wanted out of the high chair since she had eaten all her food.

He even moved on to the back of the seat making sure it was securely in place.  This is a foreshadowing of him being a handy man for all the ladies in college.  Mary Frances will be none too happy when he is the handy man for all her friends and hitting on them.

Then when it was time for his photo shoot and  he wanted to tell everyone how he had pooped in the potty!  And we couldn't be happier!  Such a big deal for a 2 year old.

Looking so fratty and so fly in his zip up vest.  He actually wanted to wear it today!  He's just glad classes have resumed at Ole Miss and he doesn't have to be at home any more.

 I hope everyone has a great weekend!  Happy Friday!

Southern Belle Sunday

So I know this is a pretty pitiful excuse for a Southern Belle Sunday post, but Mary Frances was at her Gran-Dan and Sheshe's on Sunday so I didn't get any pictures.  But I do have some items I need to write down so I remember.

She is officially walking more than she is crawling as of this week.  She is still very unstable, but mainly waddles everywhere!  She is also 13 months old!!  Her favorite foods are bananas, blueberries, hot dogs, and mini muffins, but there is not much she turns down.  This chick can eat (like her mama)!  She is a milk kid like her brother.  They get them to drink juice at school, but it's all milk all the time at home.  It is not a battle I am willing to fight.  Milk is good for the bones and juice is just sugar.  So I am good with it.

She is still a pretty good sleeper, but has a rough night every once in a while.  She is mainly a 7:30 to 5:30 lady.  Sometimes we'll get luck and she won't wake up until 6:30.  But I am ok with early risers.  We all have to get up early to make it to school and work!  Besides, it's like Big R says, you have to get up to get stuff done!

She does seem so much more aware of what is going on.  She will even take Jackson's food and hurry away because she knows he won't be happy.  It's kind of funny.  The best part is when she looks over her shoulder to see if we saw what she did.  She also likes to act like she is putting things in the garbage.  This has turned into a game and gets her hand popped.  The good news is we won't have to worry about this in the new house since the garbage will be in a drawer.

So life around our house is pretty crazy now that we have 2 walkers, but it is funny watching them grow and interact with each other.  I wouldn't have it any other way!

Fratty Friday

To say Jackson woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning might be an understatement.  Since his tonsil surgery, sleep has become some what of an obstacle.  He no longer requires as much sleep (since he finally gets quality sleep) and 8:00 pm to 3:00 am is his new normal.

He wakes up every morning around 3:00 am and comes to our bedroom.  I change his night time diaper and put him in bed with us.  If he went right back to sleep that would be one thing, but he doesn't.  He wants milk, he wants to chat, and this morning he told me he was hungry.

After about an hour and a half of this Matt went with him back to his room and laid down.  He stayed back there about 30 minutes and came back to bed, but his alarm was set for 3 minutes from then.  All the while Jackson was screaming and crying in his bed, but was too scared to get out since Matt threatened to spank him.  He eventually went back to sleep, but was a terror this morning.

This doesn't include the hour to hour and a half Matt and I lay in his bed with him at night trying to get him to go to sleep.  I have come to the realization, once a bad sleeper always a bad sleeper.  From birth he has been a challenge.  The worst night was when he and Mary Frances BOTH decided to keep us up.  He even gave Matt a fist pump at one point when Matt walked back in the room from getting Mary Frances back to sleep and said "good job Dad!"

I must admit that since his tonsil surgery he is a much better/sweeter kid since he is getting quality sleep.  He just doesn't require as much anymore.  I think I have made my mind up that we are going to start a new routine.  He doesn't have to go to bed at 8:00, he can go at 9:00 and we won't lay back there past his 2 books and prayers.  He has to go to sleep on his own.  We had accomplished this before he moved him to his big boy bed.  The same with at night, I will change his diaper if he wakes up wet, but then it's back in his bed.  He wants to chat too much in ours.

He finally perked up for these pictures when I asked him to do Hotty Toddy!  That's when his frattyness came out!  Until then I was calling him my 6 week old, he wakes up in the middle of the night wanting milk and a diaper change.

He is just lucky he is cute because otherwise I might not put up with as much!  My children are living proof that you parent children the same way and they turn out totally different (Gaga and Sheshe don't try to chime in here and say you raised Buster and Anna the same b/c no one is buying it :))  You give Mary Frances a little milk and she lays down in her bed without a peep and it's rare she wakes up during the night.  Not to mention she is SO laid back.  No one will ever accuse Jackson of being laid back.  I mean look at that face.

It's all ok though.  He is planning on cheering for the Rebels this weekend in the Tad Pad as they take on Arkansas!!  Go Rebels!  Actually, he is headed to Baton Rouge so mama and daddy can start packing (maybe).  I might just sleep the entire weekend.  I hope you have enjoyed my little terror this Friday!  He is a challenge, but I wouldn't change him for anything in the world.  He has his daddy's good looks and intelligent  but boy oh boy does he have my personality.  It's going to be a long 20 years.

And having said that, in case you live under a rock and didn't know baby #3 is a boy!  Bring it on!!  2 wild men and my little princess.  We couldn't be more blessed!  Happy Friday everyone and Hotty Toddy.

Keeping It Real Wednesday

I have not posted a Keeping It Real post lately, but that does not mean we have not had some REAL moments lately.  They just have not been caught on camera.  But the other night Jackson saw the camera sitting out on the counter and requested his picture be taken with baby sister.  How sweet it that?

Except for the fact that Matt didn't make them pose when he honored the request.  He just started snapping!  This is typical though.  Jackson grabbing Mary Frances around the neck and she tries to break free, but doesn't fuss too much.  She is such a trooper and one tough cookie!

Jackson has also started calling her Mary.  I don't think he thought too much about it at first, but now does it b/c he knows it gets under my skin.  So when he does it I call him Jack and that gets under his skin!  Is it bad that I am playing a 2 year old's game?

Happy Wednesday!  Keep it real out there y'all!

Personal Responsibility

Between social media, traditional media, and various other outlets we are inundated with news stories every day.  Some stories grab our hearts, others generate little to no reaction at all, while some infuriate us and make us questions why people are the way they are.  Part of my job is to stay on top of telecom/wireless industry trends, news, and predictions.  In my daily search of industry news I occasionally  ok, almost always get side tracked when I see articles that interest me such as politics or trashy celebrity news.  I mean after all,  Kate Middleton and I are pregnant at the same time!!  But I digress.  

On more than one occasion everyday I mumble "personal irresponsibility" under my breathe as I sit at my desk. Some stories reek of lack of responsibility like the video below while others are subtle and may not register with you immediately.

So today, I ran across this video first and got mad and rolled my eyes, but went on about my day.  This lady is obviously is an idiot and all I can do is pray for her poor children.

The next news story that almost slipped by me was an article over outrage at Coke for trying to fight obesity.  Here was the quote in the article - "The Coca-Cola Company still remains one of the major causes of obesity in the USA and globally," says Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.  He goes on to say that Coke is trying to do damage control since they are a huge contributor to obesity.  Those evil Coke executives are out running around holding guns to our heads forcing us to drink their high calorie products.  Someone should really do something about them forcing innocent people to drink their product.  HELLO!!  Did anyone else catch that?  It's Coke's fault I decided to drink their product and then decided I'm not going to work out?  Amazing.  Our culture is crap and I have a hard time remembering everything I should be teaching my kids, like Jesus loves you and so do I, personal responsibility, be respectful of others even when they are idiots and it's hard, don't smoke or do drugs, you will fail at times but you have to pick yourself up and keep going, get and job and NEVER reply on anyone else.  Ahh, I am stressing thinking about it.

Sorry I had to vent and didn't post adorable pictures of my children that I pay for.  But I feel better now and might just go have a Coke!

Southern Belle Sunday

Mary Frances was minding her own business eating her favorite food (eggs) until I pulled the camera out and she immediately knew what to do!  She started cheesing for me!  She's no dummy!  And smiling during meal time is not hard either.  I think eating is her favorite thing to do (she gets that from me).  Eggs, blueberries, bananas, hot dogs, and poptarts are this little lady's favorites!  But then again there is not much she won't eat.  Every once in a while when I have time I try to feed her our remaining baby food so it does not go bad, but she is not much of a fan.  She is too big for that she says.

She is learning 'more' and 'done' in sign language and her brother has been a HUGE help with this.  He doesn't use it any more, but it is funny how he remembers and teaches her.  I am soaking it in for now considering he will teach her tons of things he shouldn't I'm sure.

She took 2 steps this week and 4 over the weekend!  She's getting there, but isn't too worried about it and neither am I.  She is into everything already so at least with walking it might temporarily slow her down speed wise.

Her other favorite thing to do is feed Knox.  As you could tell by her video last Sunday they are BFF's.  Both Elle and Knox are really good with her and Jackson for that matter.  Especially considering they are so rough with them even though they don't mean to be.

What a ham!  But the most precious little girl ever.  Happy cold and rainy Sunday!

Fratty Friday

We are back in a routine and I am not sure who is happier, Jackson or me.

Being stuck in the house for 10 days was no fun for anyone!  Plus, Jackson really really loves going to school.  He runs to his class every day to see his "friends."  This dude is so social.

And notice that sticker on his shirt?  He got it this morning for pooping and tee-teeing in the potty!!!  As well as a "special surprise."  That means candy.  We are not sure why he calls it a "special surprise" though?  We are thinking Sheshe started that.

But then again he could have come up with that on his own because he is always coming up with the funniest stuff.  Like when he asks us "Do you understand what I'm saying?"  Or when he had my phone on Tuesday night and opened up the ESPN college football app and saw Nick Saban holding the crystal football he said, "It's Alabama's trophy."  How does he know that?  How does he know Nick Saban = Alabama and that crystal football was a trophy?  I guess it could be due to the fact that our TV is either on Fox news, ESPN, or Mickey Mouse.

Either way I think he has a bright future as an ESPN analyst.  That would be the best deal ever!  He could get dear ole mom and dad into all the big games.  That's my retirement dream!

Oh, he also proceeded to open the Ole Miss Sports app located directly next to the ESPN one and said "Ole Miss."  But that is nothing new, he can recognize Ole Miss written in the script front.  Way to go Ole Miss branding!  But, can he recognize his own name written?  Um, no.  Ha ha ha!

Jackson's other quirk lately is calling all of his clothes "cowboy" pants or shirts.  He started out just calling the pants he is wearing today cowboy pants, but has now extended it to jeans as well.  He also called this shirt a cowboy shirt since it has a horse on it!  Whatever works and doesn't cause a melt down I am all for!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  We will just be hanging out and it crossed my mind to start packing, but I think I have just decided to do it all the week Matt and I are off.  Bad idea?  Probably so, but I just can't bring myself to do it.  Happy Friday everyone!

Southern Belle Sunday

Be prepared to say "eww."

Jackson pitched a fit today because I wouldn't let him change his PJ's after Knox licked them and this is Mary Frances' response when Knox licks her.

May I add the disclaimer that we stopped this several times, but I had to let it happen long enough to get a video.  She likes when anyone pats her mouth so she can make that sound and Knox is no exception.  Jackson and Mary Frances are two different children to say the least.

Come On Already!

Now that it is January I am SO ready to move in the new house.  My mom and I went by on Sunday and then took Matt by again on Tuesday to checkout the progress.  Everything on the inside had been painted by Sunday and the outside by Tuesday.  Both are amazing transformations and things are starting to take shape.

 The kitchen above and master bath below.  This is the nook my claw foot tub will go.

 The kids playroom above and our family room below.  They are the same color, but look different because of the lighting.

 And the dining room!  Again, the same color as the two rooms above.
Last, but not least the outside, which to me is the biggest transformation of all!  Ahhh!  I can't WAIT to move in!!