Wrappers Delight!

It's Christmas time at the Garrison household!

Most of us know there are only 3 jobs available to elves...
- making shoes for a cobbler
- baking cookies inside of trees
- working in Santa's workshop

In these times of economic hardship, Santa has had to cut back and lay off a couple of elves. Luckily, Keebler has been hiring so no one was out of a job for long. But, we parents have had to pick up some of the slack to help the big guy out. So, Aunt Ellen went ahead and sent up a few wrapped gifts this past weekend. Kevin and I also went ahead and had Santa deliver some of Moseley's presents early so we could get them wrapped before Sweet Pea arrives.We also have our tree up and decorated. Pictures are coming to illustrate soon!

It's kind of a holiday tradition in my family that we all stay together Christmas Eve night. Me, Kevin, Staples, Nancy, my momma, Ellen, Jimbo, and Bancroft. This all got started of course when we were tiny and Nancy and Kevin weren't in the picture yet. We also had my grandmom, Mary Buff, there and we stayed at our family's house at the head of Monterey Street. A couple of times in recent years it didn't work out but last year it did and it was wonderful! So, this year, it worked out again! Here are the VIPs in our lives that will be here for Christmas.
1) Kevin
2) Jessica
3) Moseley
4) Sweet Pea
5) Kim
6) Janice
7) Randy
8) John
9) Aunt Ellen
10) Uncle Jimbo
11) Bancroft
And for an abbreviated baby visit, Staples and Nancy. Sound stressful? No way! I am ecstatic! I will love the chaos and knowing that I have tons of people to love on both Kevin and Moseley will make the new baby transition that much better.

Let's pretend for a second...

It's Thanksgiving day today...

HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY MOSELEY!

We had the best day on Thanksgiving. It was a fabulous, food filled day with family. My daddy and Victoria came up with a honey baked ham and delicious corn casserole. Kevin's brother drove down from North Carolina and Kevin's parents came down from Decatur with a Turkey from Whitt's BBQ, dressing, gravy, and potatoes.

We have a ton to be thankful for, the most important to me and Kevin is, of course, Moseley! He turned TWO years old on Thanksgiving day. He thought the festivities were all about him and we didn't try to change his mind.

I can't believe my baby is 2! He is turning out to be a sweet little boy who loves a crowd as much as quiet time with his momma. I just hope that he is always as happy as he seems now and that he loves his new sibling as much as Kevin and I love our brothers.

Road Trip!

Kevin and I went to Atlanta Friday, November 14th for a visit with Katie and Andy Tuck (and of course Sam and Lily). Saturday morning, Andy watched the children while Katie and I slowly walked around IKEA and other little shops and then had our nails done and ate lunch. It was so nice! Kevin was at a luncheon for Liz Gould Eager (who's wedding we went to that night). Saturday night we headed to the Cathedral of St. Philip for the wedding and to the Cherokee Town Club for the reception. The food was excellent and the company was wonderful! Luckily, the Tucks live in Buckhead which is within a mile of each of the places we had to go so we didn't get lost!

Sunday, I headed over to Augusta, Georgia with Moseley to visit "Stancy" (Staples and Nancy). Then Monday we ran over to Columbia, SC for Staples' induction into the South Carolina bar. I then drove back to Atlanta Monday night to pick Kevin up (he was able to work out of the Baker Donelson Atlanta office) and we drove the rest of the way home Monday night. We got home about 11pm Monday night and were so glad to be home. We are so glad we went though and had a blast at every stop.


Our "knocked up" prom picture before the wedding.


A serious picture.


Moseley having a blast with all the "new toys" at Sam's house



Sam and Moseley conducting some business in the pack-n-play



"...but I want to play!!!" Moseley resisting nap time.

What's the deal with you people!!

The first time this happened I bit my tongue. I gave the poor guy the benefit of the doubt. But today, the same thing happened for the 3rd time and I have decided it's "their" little way of getting us back.

Here's what happens. I pull into the Publix parking lot and see a car full of old (I am talking 80+) ladies hanging out in the "Stork Parking" spot. It clearly says on the sign, "for expecting or new moms." Sorry honey, you don't count. You are not of ovulating age. Worse yet were the last two times they were old men who parked there, one who had the gall to cut me off for the spot.

I am so sad you are old and probably don't want to walk too far but I don't park in the handicap spots EVER because it doesn't apply to me! I have a very small window in my life where I need and get clearance for special parking - I SHOULD GET TO USE IT!

I now have braxton-hicks contractions anytime I even think of exerting myself - so a walk through a football size field parking lot is not high on my "to do" list. Unfortunately, not eating isn't an option either so I HAVE to go to the store.

GET OUT OF MY SPOT OR I WILL FUSS AT YOU GRANDMA STYLE (...like I did at the 3 bewildered old ladies today. Satisfaction is mine!)

What has to happen...

...before I have this baby!


1) Travel to Atlanta to a friends wedding (and to see the Tuck's, yea!)

2) Travel to Columbia, SC to see my super-awesome brother, Staples, get inducted into the SC bar. (Btw, if anyone knows a cute place to eat lunch in Columbia, let me know)

3) Host a 2 year old's birthday party, at the Garrison abode. I can't believe my baby is almost TWO!

4) Host Thanksgiving supper (this will be my first time, and luckily I have lots of help!) and say many prayers of thanks for all that I am grateful for.

5) Order/buy all of our Christmas gifts.

6) Wrap all of our Christmas gifts.

7) Buy a Christmas tree and decorate it (I just know Kevin will help me!). Where is the best place in Birmingham to get trees? I want a pretty one that will last at least a month but don't want to spend too terribly much.

8) Decorate the rest of the house for Christmas. Did I mention that the Christmas spirit hits me big time after Halloween. I LOVE Christmas and everything that goes with it. Eggnog, hot chocolate, snowmen, wreaths and garlands, Christmas trees, twinkling lights, Christmas music, EVERYTHING!

Oh and all of this has to be done before December 11th b/c Sweet Pea will arrive in 4 weeks!!!

This is the moment, this is the day...

...that Tabbi has her baby boy! She went in at 1am in labor and at 7:30a she was 8 1/2 cm dilated... So... if she hasn't had her baby by now, she soon will. Stay tuned!

p.s. the title of this post are lyrics from Jeckyll & Hyde, the Musical... I am sure you knew that though :)


UPDATE! Ian Malcolm Williams was born at 12:37p on Monday. He was 8 lbs, 2oz and 21 inches long. I couldn't update you blog readers at the time b/c I was visiting him!! I saw him at a mere 2 hours old - a record for any baby excet my nephew and my own baby boy. He is the cutest and sweetest little thing with long, long fingers and toes. Tabbi looked gorgeous - I couldn't believe he had just given birth!!

It is official!

I am on the books for a scheduled C-section for December 12 at 7:15 am. I am so excited, less than 5 weeks left!

Fluuuu Shoooot

Being a family with one small child and one on the way, we are flu vaccine partakers. Being out sick isn't an excuse for Kevin - he'd have to work anyway and it's high on the miscarriage list for pregnant women. I digress.

We headed to the Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell, and Berkowitz Health Fair (woo hoo) yesterday to get our Flu Shots. They offer free shots to employees and nearly free ones to family.

I had my shot. No problem. I used to give myself shots for allergies - I have a high tolerance for needle pain.

Kevin had his shot while I was freeing Moseley's thigh for the puncture. No problem.

Moseley had his shot. No problem... what the %&$!.

Yep, he just watched the lady stick him right in the thigh with that shot and absolutely no reaction. Then he looked up and said "truck" as a toy car came into view across the room. Again, I was floored. There were tons of co-workers around and I thought I was going to be in for it. Not a peep. Not a mention. Never asked why the heck some strange white-clad lady was shooting him up in a conference room. I thought for a split second that maybe something was wrong with him and we should go see a Dr. Then, I got over it and was thankful, b/c next time it won't be so great :)

Boo Y'all! Moo Y'all!

This year, Moseley was a cow (pronounced with a "t" = taow). He loved the costume including the headpiece. He screamed every time I tried to take if off of him. My little angel, um, I mean cow.

It's here...

My BOB was delivered today! Yes! It is so beautiful and rides so smoothly.

Anyone want a ride? I have an extra seat for about 5 more weeks!

Rock Candy?!??

We had a great Halloween week. Lots of carnivals to cook for and attend. I will post some pics soon. This was how our week went...

Sunday - Ross Bridge Halloween Parade and Carnival (we ran Ring-the-Pumpkin)
Wednesday - Bluff Park UMC Halloween Carnival (cake walk cookies)
Thursday - Mom's Group Halloween Party (fruit tray and fingerprint craft)
Friday - Halloween! Fun, fun, fun!

Friday night, Kevin, Nonna, and cousin Courtney all walked with Moseley to trick-or-treat. We picked up Tally, Aaron and James and walked around Ross Bridge for quite awhile getting candy (none of which Moseley was allowed to have!). Aunt Vicki and Pop stayed behind to hand out candy and when we got home all of the decorative bags on the front porch that were filled with ROCKS were gone!!!! So, without ringing the bell, someone's poor child thought they were grabbing a gift bag of goodies but were getting a bag full of rocks. Kind of funny, kind of sad...