Thumb Sucking

Courtney has started sucking her thumb this week.

27 Dresses, the Movie

Stacey, Vanessa and Courtney and I went to see 27 Dresses today - Courtney was very good during her First Movie Ever - she slept through the entire thing. I said it was her first Girls Night. Afterward, we ate out and she also behaved - she was quiet and only cried when it was mealtime.

I liked the movie and thought it was enjoyable, if predictable. The male lead was a much better match to Kathryn Heigl than that awful guy from Knocked Up, a movie Todd and I HATED. The premise is she had been in 27 weddings and had the dresses to prove it. I have to mention that I have been in 7 weddings and only one dress was a rival to some of the crazy looking dresses from the movie....it was metallic green and had a heart-shaped cutout in back....but then again it was the early 90s. The most expensive bridesmaids dress I ever had to buy was $230 (+ $50 shoes) in the early 90s and we all wore formal length white gloves with it. The easiest bridesmaids dress I ever wore was a black one that I picked out myself - the bride said make it black, make it a dress you'll wear again, and make it at least knee length...she's low maintenance. The most popular color in my experience is green - 3 of the 7 weddings I have been in I wore a green dress....and that is the color I asked my own bridesmaids to wear, too.

Another note about the movie - the bridal gown Heigl wore at the end of the movie was perfect and just beautiful. It was a sleeveless A line sheath. From viewing the Mississippi Magazine brides' edition this year, you would think it was practically a requirement to wear a strapless gown if you get married in Mississippi, no matter the season!

Courtney in the Exersaucer

Cokie's Tricks

Here is our cat Cokie doing her most impressive tricks - Todd taught her, not me!

Courtney & Helen

Today we went to the Fulcher's house and saw them, Harrison and little Helen - here's a photo of Courtney with Helen. They are about the same size, but I had Courtney propped up a little straighter, so she looks bigger here.

Big Church

We went to 'big church' today and Courtney stayed in her car seat on the floor. I am just not ready for the church nursery yet. At least at day care she sees the same 9 other kids all day...I am nervous about her staying at church. She has not been sick a day in her life, so I want to stall that as long as possible. Also, today was our new senior pastor's first Sunday, so we didn't want to miss that. I did have to feed her during the service, but I was able to do that while she was still in the car seat.

Courtney's Cat Hat

We took Courtney out in the cold today after the snow stopped, so a hat was definitely necessary. I was glad to get our first wearing out of this cute hat bought around Halloween.

It's Snowing Today

With winter advisories over the Southeast today, we're enjoying a bit of snow here in Jackson. We're enjoying watching it fall. It's accumulating in the grass, on the roof and on the cars. Todd took Rufus walking in the snow and Rufus really enjoyed it.

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations

We have found a new, daily use for the book 'Bartlett's Familiar Quotations.' Courtney's legs aren't long enough for her to stand while in her baby activity center, but the book is just thick enough for her to stand on it and play happily. She has started blowing bubbles with her mouth and wants to do it constantly. She has also started grasping toys this week.

Gov. Barbour's Inauguration

Today I walked down to the Capitol grounds to witness Gov. Haley Barbour's 2nd inauguration which started at 11 am. My office is very close to the capitol so it only involved walking a couple of blocks. The inauguration was complete with speeches, a military 'flyover' and a 19-cannon salute. I took this picture of myself with the capitol in the background. The 2nd photo is Barbour taking the oath of office.

Fascinating Fish

We took Courtney to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science today to see the fish in the aquarium - she was enthralled. She especially liked the turtles and alligators.

Duet

Todd entertained Courtney by playing the piano Saturday, and she enjoyed watching his fingers!

Courtney 9 Weeks Old Photo

This is on the play mat where she can lay on her back to bat at hanging objects, or have some tummy time. Note the single dimple on the right cheek that I think is so cute.

Home Improvement

Today Todd and contractors Paco and Antolin replaced the french doors in our kitchen/dining area with newer, energy-efficient ones. Naturally, there was a tornado warning in our area today and there was horizontal driving rain and weather sirens during the time there was a big hole in the house. Todd thought this was going to be a 2-hour project but it took 8 and still requires some more work tomorrow. To quote Todd, Lord have mercy.

^$#@*(&% Car Seat Base

It took a rather herculean effort and almost two hours of my time, but I scored a victory for womankind by successfully installing the infant car seat base in the back seat of Todd's car. It took way too many cuss words to do it! Todd has a 1997 model Jeep Cherokee and it's difficult to get anything into that small back seat. Plus it was made before the LATCH system made it easier to install infant seats in cars. Whew. Now Todd can cart the baby around, too.

Courtney at Day Care

Courtney visited the day care today and I had the whole day alone to work on the GIT Program. She enjoyed staying with Ms Rosemary and Ms Leitha at the day care, and reportedly, she behaved. Meanwhile, I cleaned the house, cleaned off my office desk and filed everything, worked on the family finances, and cooked dinner. This was her 2nd time this week to go to the day care and although I was upset the first day, I was much better today.

Visiting Brookhaven

Today Courtney and I drove to Brookhaven to visit Todd's aunt and uncle, Goat and Dolores, who aren't able to drive to Jackson to visit her. Dolores is Pop Pop Mike's sister. We had a great visit and Courtney behaved so well!

Survive Institute

Tonight I saw a great presentation on self defense from the Survive Institute out of Cincinnati. Debbie (pictured), the presenter, is a former law enforcement agent and she gave a very powerful presentation. She had a group of busy ladies staying 90 minutes longer than they anticipated at the presentation. There are several main points to remember but the most powerful one is to hurt someone who is trying to attack you, hit them in the throat with the webbed area between your thumb and forefinger. It incapacitates them by taking away their oxygen. What a GREAT total presentation that I wish more people had seen.

Retail Therapy

So today after Jake and Melissa had gone to the airport, Todd, Mary Lou and I were a car full of sad sacks, and we did what any normal American family would do...engaged in some retail therapy. We went to Target, and Todd got a new game for his Nintendo DS, and Mary Lou and I looked at clothes for Courtney that she TOTALLY does not need. Here's the outfit that Mary Lou bought for her...... We also got drinks at Starbucks, so we felt much better afterwards!

Australia or Bust

Tonight we are so sad and bummed out. Jake and Melissa's flight left tonight for Sydney, Australia. They were flying through Dallas and Los Angeles, and then direct from L.A. to Sydney. We said a tearful goodbye today. Even though Todd and Jake are brothers, they have only known each other for 8 years, yet are as close as any two brothers I know. It is particularly sad to see them have to say goodbye. Melissa and I are very similar ourselves - project-oriented, energetic, no nonsense, and I am so sorry to see her leave as well. Also, for a psychologist, Melissa is very non-judgmental, which is a quality I could use more of. We have enjoyed having them live with us and they have totally fallen in love with Courtney - both of them changed poopy diapers - that's love, honey. They have started a blog which can be found here. They plan to detail their introduction and experiences in Australia.

Jake and Melissa Packing Up

So this past week we have spent some time saying farewell to Jalissa, as they leave today for Australia. Thursday night we all went to On the Border (see photo of Carl, me, Phillip, Jake, Todd, Melissa, Patrick, Wendy), and Friday night the 'boys' went to Buffalo Wild Wings while 'we girls' stayed at home. Friday night Jake's parents came here to the house to stay the night.

So today Jalissa have been packing up for their flights, and Todd and I are the beneficiaries of "stuff" that they can't take with them. I'm looking through my stack of loot now. It includes some pump soaps from Bath & Body Works, an electric toothbrush, a great curling iron, some ibuprofen, benadryl, sunscreen, wrapping paper and gift bags, a nice robe, a photo album, an empty 3-ring binder, and more. And they're not done.

The GIT Program

My boss is always talking about the GIT program, which stands for Get It Together. I am on the GIT program this week. I truly have been such a slug while home on maternity leave, or at least I feel like it. Not having the energy to return calls, to take a shower, to get dressed, or to put on makeup. But she is sleeping a bit better at night now, so I am getting some more sleep and can put some thoughts and actions together now.

So now I need to Get It Together. Wednesday I dropped by my office with Courtney so she could meet everyone and see where Mommy will be during the days. Then that same day I went and paid the day care for the first month. My mother is in town this week, since she is a schoolteacher and has this week off, and I have asked her to be my task master, so she has helped me with several projects which have been bugging me. Still Wednesday, we packed up all my maternity clothes (which are all summer anyway, and right now it is 20 degrees outside), and we sorted through my closet and got it organized. Then Wednesday I organized the pantry so I would stop buying can after can of Ro-Tel, forgetting that I already had 6 cans in the pantry. I also cleaned my room, which doesn't sound like a big task, but it was. Right now I am supposed to be writing thank you notes, but I am procrastinating. Anyway, more updates on the GIT program later.

Courtney and Pooh

This was a photo we took at Christmastime, and I had to add it to the site. She was very entertained by a pooh bear and smiled a lot at it, so we snapped this photo.

Overalls

Courtney at 8 weeks old in her cute overalls.

Paco and Courtney

Paco came to visit Courtney today and he held her for the first time!

Jake and Melissa's Wedding

This past weekend was Todd's brother Jake's wedding to his fiancee Melissa. Many of you know that Jake has been living with us since Nov. 8 - the day Courtney was born - because he sold his house that day here in Jackson. He and Melissa have both landed jobs in Sydney, Australia, and are moving on Saturday (this coming Saturday). So at any rate, we have enjoyed having Uncle Jake here and he has been babysitting and caregiving like crazy. So has Melissa. Aunt Melissa has been getting Courtney to listen to her Dolly Parton's 'The Best There Is' CD over and over again, and I think much to Todd's chagrin, Courtney likes it! Anyway, their wedding was this weekend in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and here are some photos. The first is Todd's family (one of them!) including Harold, Mary Lou (otherwise known as Courtney's Mamaw and Papaw), us, Jake and Melissa, plus Jake's sister Gretchen, her husband Owen, and Todd's nephews Seth and Jared. The next photo is Jalissa (as we call them) and us. The next one is Todd with Jake, and the last one is the entire wedding party, including bridesmaids Jill and Lindsey and best man Jason, Jake's childhood friend. We had a great time at the wedding!