Photographer

Ok, so I know some of my Memphis readers are preggo right now (congrats!!), so I thought I would do a post on how WONDERFUL our photographer is!

http://www.shannonpaynephotography.com/

This is her and her SWEET family:

Sorry Shannon, I stole the pictures from your blog...hope its ok!

She is so reasonably priced and SOO talented. She moved recently to Nashville but still comes back to Memphis pretty regularly. If you are near Nashville or Memphis, you should definitely check her out!!

BTW, not getting anything free or discounted for this post, just really feel she is great! :)

Shocking. (Insert Sarcasm)

Anybody else soo shocked to hear that they broke up? Yea, me neither. Please....you were a rebound, pure and simple.

I'm still having a hard time deciding what to be for Halloween (yes, I understand it is July). Now I'm thinking of the Wizard of Oz (me-Dorothy, Tom-scarecrow, Thomas-lion, Elle-Toto, Atticus-tinman)...but I also would rather have something more original. I thought of a frog, prince and princess..still done alot. Anyone have any ideas?

Precious baby boy went back to daycare today. I hope he is ok! He has just been so sick!

Would you please get that thing out of my face? It is TOO early for all that mom.

Oh and we had a new meal last night. Baked chicken marinated in a buffalo wing sauce. SOO good and not too bad on the calories either!



Is it guilt?

So I'm pretty sure there is no one in the blog world (at least in the south) that doesn't read Kelly's Korner. Well, we had a sick baby this weekend so Saturday night I was up surfing on the Ipad. I came accross her prayer post. Ya'll I read each and everyone of those stories and just cried and cried. It hurt so much I honestly had to make myself put it out of my brain. Do you ever feel that way? I know I should pray for them, which I did immediately and have since but I almost don't think it is healthy for me to read about them....but THEN I feel immediate guilt for not reading. They are going through it and I can't even make myself READ about it?

Like I said we had a sick sick baby so we didn't do much this weekend but I'll leave you with a precious picture from our "vacation" when he was feeling much better :). What a stud.

SUYL...Marriage Advice

We have only been married two years so I feel a little silly giving marriage advice!

However, the best thing I was ever told that I feel like has helped me the most is that when things seem like they are at their worst, remember the feeling you had when you first met your husband. Remember the shared dreams and goals you have. I like to remember the feeling I had when ALL I wanted was to marry this man....still makes me smile to think about it.

Thomas' Baptism

Thomas was baptized when he was about three months old. Tom is Catholic so we decided to baptize Thomas Catholic. He was baptized at Tom's childhood church, St. Michael's. His godparents are Laura and Mark, Tom's sister and brother in law. The whole family came out for the baptism, as well as some great friends.

Our family of three :) Don't you love Tom's seersucker suit? Swoon. Thomas' baptism gown was Tom's dad's (who was 52 when he had Tom) so that means it is at least 90 years old.

My best friend Julie with her daughter, Savannah

Not a fan of the water :)

Afterwards we had an all out party/brunch in our backyard.

Before anyone had arrived

Thomas' aunt Marta MADE the gorgeous cake.

Mimi and her boy

My brother and his son, Barron

It was a wonderful day with friends and family.

No autographs

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/may/29/my-new-home-growth-potential/

So we were local celebrities a little while ago. My sister in law's friend writes the "My new home" article for the Memphis paper each week. She has been wanting us to be on it since we moved in. I was not too game for it but decided oh well!

I think the article turned out pretty good. Check out the link above for yourself.

Here are the remaining pictures they took of the house. We are now in either the move to the suburbs and a bigger house or get a contractor NOW and add on decision time...so far the hubs and I don't agree...

Our front den

Excuse the million bags at the front door and the baby swing!

Dining room

Back den

Thomas' Room

Front Bath

Teeny Tiny Kitchen

If anyone in Memphis has just bought a home and interested in being the subjects for this article, just let me know. She is always looking for more people!

Fourth of July

Fourth of July this year was busy! The Saturday before we had a cookout at my cousin Debbie's house. I made a treat I found online called rocket dogs. They were a hit with the kids!

Ok, so I thought they were pretty good too. Just hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls put on skewers. Cook for the time the crescent roll package says, place cheese on top and tie a ribbon. Presto!

We were all decked out in our red, white and blue.

Thomas got to spend some time with his "B" (my only living grandparent).

Not long after lunch though, his red, white and blue had been discarded...only his bib remained...which I sewed! I have been starting to learn...just don't look too close! He's not really a fan of the sunglasses which is why they are so crooked.

Thomas also had his first drink of sweet tea...He was OBSESSED. What do you do? Aunts and Cousins SPOIL him.

Later that day we had a birthday party for our nephew Elliott. He turned four! This is Elliott with his mom and Thomas. We think he may have been a little jealous of his mommy's attention.

Laura always makes their cakes. I wish I was that good! Look at that smile he has!

Thomas also got to spend some time with Aunt Marta.

He LOVED playing with Elliott even though it was an hour past his regular bedtime. He is such a good boy!

The next night we had a neighborhood cookout that I attempted a red, white and blue cake for...

Well, at least it tasted good :). It started raining right when the cookout started but it cleared off and we were able to enjoy a little time. It was sooo humid though. The neighborhood association rents a big water slide. We can't wait till Thomas can play next year...or maybe I can!

If you doubted me at all about the humidity, check out my hair...ugh!

Finally, Monday morning, the ACTUAL fourth of July our neighborhood has the longest running parade in Memphis history. We decorated Thomas' stroller and walked in it. It was hot but fun.

Please excuse the hot mess on the left below.

At the end, a firetruck sprays the water for everyone to play.

It was a great busy weekend.