The one where David comes home...

David is finally home from Iraq!! YAY! He was gone for almost a year. Not fighting for our country this time, so we weren't as nervous every waking day. None the less, it isn't very safe over there, so we are VERY VERY happy he is home! He threw a little coming home potluck shindig. So as usual I over ate and it isn't going to get any better since Christmas is NEXT week! Did it just come so quickly this year or what? We got up this morning, showered and got dressed to go take pictures with Santa. There was not a cloud in the sky and the weather was pretty nice so I was super excited. I got my camera all charged up, found my Groupon that we had purchased for this particular Santa in Midtown and that's when I read the fine print- Only good Mon-Thurs. REALLY? Damn fine print. So anyway we are absolutely going on Tuesday night after work. We are running out of time, so I hope the lines aren't too long. Last year in Jax we waited til the last minute and the wait was ridiculous. Thank goodness that Atlanta has more than the 2 malls Jacksonville has, so there are Santa's everywhere!!!

I got Coop a loop a new car seat today! He is officially a big boy and can actually see what is going on. I just did not want him to have to spend 7 hours facing backwards again on the trip to Jax. At least now we can interact with him a little more!

See everyone soon!!!
LOVE

The one with the Elf...

So if you know me at all, you know I love the movie ELF. I can say that every year after we finish our Thanksgiving meal, Elf is on! And it stays in the DVD player and replays several times throughout the holiday season.... it just really gets me in the holiday spirit and really makes me believe again. I wish I believed in Santa and I wish Santa really brought gifts, it would sure save mommy lots of time and money :) anyway, the daycare opened up this weekend for a "Parents day out". So Josh and I took advantage and drooped Cooper off from 10-3 and had a little day date and went shopping. We have just about finished our Christmas shopping! Thank god for Khols, it is like a one stop shop, all they need to sell is alcohol and we would have it jackspot!!! We are taking notes for next year and have come up with: A.) we need too have a X-mas saving fund and B.) online shopping is AWESOME


We don't have any lights up yet. We are slacking in that department. We better stock up know, because once Cooper understands what this is all about, we are going to be broke and he will be spoiled... well more spoiled. Gotta love the after Christmas sales!! Thank God for a basement :)

I FINALLY took my photography class Sunday. Josh bought me a class when he bought me the camera, LAST Christmas. hehe Slacker I know. So I learned a TON, its like I have a brand new camera. Although I am no pro yet, I will get there, hopefully. I really just wanted to be able to take amazing pictures of Cooper and you know how hard that is since he doesn't sit still. So we are taking Cooper to see Santa this weekend. YAY. I will get to practice a little more then and I hope to have some good pictures to report back and post!!! WOOT WOOT

LOVE

The one with the sick baby...

Don't worry, he is all better now.It was last week that was rough. I am really really hoping he doesn't have my genes. I was a puker. I know that sounds kinda YUCK, but I was. Cooper woke up screaming the other night, of course Josh was out of town. Typically I don't go into his room, but this was a different scream, so I walked in a WHEW... lets just say he was sick and had thrown up. So as I am bathing him AGAIN, and changing him AGAIN, he throws up AGAIN. I felt so bad for this little guy, he was pale in the face and had no idea what was going on. Anyway, this happened a few more times. I couldn't let him sleep by alone, so we slept on the couch. The whole next day he was pathetic but in a cute little baby way. All he wanted was for me to hold him and sleep on me, so thats what we did. We layed around watching cartoons toghether and slept. It was actually kinda nice, despite the fact he wasn't feeling good. It only lasted a day and he was back in daycare running around like normal.

Speaking of daycare, Cooper will be going full time starting January 2012! We made it a year with me working from home, but I tell ya, at the end of these Tuesdays and Thursdays, I am beat. I have 2 fulltime jobs those days. He really really likes daycare and the interaction, so I think it will be a great move for us both. Cooper has this one toy, a hammer, at daycare that he carries around all day with him. And I mean all day. The teacher laughs when she tells me, because he doesn't let it go. She washes it everyday and puts it away in his drawer. He plays really well and shares really well, until one of the other kids tries to take his hammer.... betta watch out, he can get fiesty. Even when he comes running to me when I get there, he has his hammer in hand. We have to pry it from his fingers and quickly give him his juice before he starts crying!! LOL, I guess I will be getting him some play tools for Christmas.

And by the way, I have done none, zero, zilch Christmas shopping. I really need to get on it. Time flies when you have a kid and the last thing you want to do is take them shopping all day. I don't want to start him out too early spending all mommy and daddy's money. He will learn that soon enough!

I'll have pictures this weekend! I think we are going to see SANTA!!!!!


LOVE

The one with the Turkey...

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope everyone had a great week with family and friends! We sure did. My body is totally paying for it...too much eating and drinking. I need to diet for 4 weeks until it happens again at Christmas. My parents and Karen left this morning, so Josh and I are recouperating watching ESPN, Cooper is running around.

Thanksgiving was a HUGE successs. Josh fried another turkey this year and we had like 50 sides. It was amazing. Of course I had to have a little of everything, TWICE!! LOL We had 15 family and friends over. Everyone really made the day special. We weren't in the kitchen all day cooking because everyone chipped in and brought something. It made my life alot easier.  I hope this will be a tradition for everyone. I think we will have it at our house every year. Maybe next year we will go carbless, I ate TOO MUCH mashed potatoes and mac n cheese. I still feel like I am in a coma and it's Sunday.

I did experience my first black Friday (well Thursday) shopping spree with my friend Annie. Her and her husband came over for Thanksgiving, so about 9:30 Thursday night we got ready to fight the crowds. We were both first timers, we totally looked like rookies taking pictures of the maddness in Walmart. That place was nuts. They didn't make you wait outside since they never even closed, so everyone was hovered over their favorite doorbusters. You weren't alloweed to touch anything until 10:00, but when the clock stuck, it was mayhem. We started out with the $1.96 movies and got some good ones. As we walked through the store it was outrageous how many people are pushing through the aisles. We had to ditch the buggie, because we would have never made it anywhere. We got a few other items and made it out in about an hour. Walmart is the least organized store EVER!!!!! After Walmart we came home to "rest" and eat MORE before we headed out to Target. Since we didn't need electronics our experience was quite nice. Target did it right, they actually had a structred line that started in the back of the store, most the employees has a radio and things moved smoothly. We waitined in line, only about 15 minutes.  After Target we were pooped. We got home about 2:00. I am glad I got to do it, but I don't think it is something I would do again.

Can you believe only 4 more weeks until Christmas!?! Seriously, where has this year gone? We got our tree up while the fam was here. No presents under it yet, not really sure how that will work out with Cooper around. We didn't put any ornaments in his reach either.

Cooper enjoyed his grandparents being here, he got so much attention. I think he is walking around looking for all the action or someone to hold him. Mommy and daddy aren't good enough. I think he already knows, grandparents are the spoliers!

I gotta shout out to my papa, who turns 80 on Wednesday. Happy Birthday!! We were able to celebrate his birthday this weekend. He still looks great, moving all around and traveling. He was even dancing with Cooper. So awesome to see the great grandparents interact with Cooper.

Hope everyone has a great week!! Good luck Christmas shopping and fighting the holiday crowds, its crunch time now people!!!

LOVE

The one where I eat Cooper's food...

He isn't eating baby food for those who are thinking "GROSS"!! He eats normal people food. And the most appetizing thing in my house tonight looked like the dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets and the sweet potato fries. Don't mind if I do. I love when we go out to eat with Cooper because I order him what I like... the grilled cheese, mac n cheese, chicken tenders, pizza etc. I know he isn't going to eat it all so mommy can have a little taste and enjoy her steak too :) Anyway enough about food, I don't want to eat ALL his chicken nuggets.

Josh comes home tonight and he will NOT be traveling next week. Thank goodness since the fam is coming up Tuesday. I can't say that I got much accomplished while he was gone. Usually when he is out of town, I go shopping, clean or re-organize something. Nope. Not this time. I get worn out being a "single mom" ( I say that loosely)- meaning I am asleep by 9:00 because I can. I am trying to enjoy the peace and quiet and catch up on my z's. Next week is a big week. And for the record I will be going to Walmart at 10pm on Turkey Day. I mean why not right??? I have a kid now so I need the best possible deals I can get on toys!!!!

Yesterday was the first time Cooper cried when I dropped him off at daycare. Maybe I should say bye and just scram when I pass him off. Poor guy, you know when is bottom lip quivers and he starts screaming?? Yea, that is what happened. I felt like crying my self. I know he really really likes it there though. I am thinking by January he will be there full time. He is really becoming dependent on Mommy the days I am home and it is becoming challenging. We will see, I might get cold feet and can't let go.

I don't have any pictures this week. Like I said, I haven't done much! Have a great Friday!!!!

LOVE

The one where the home is complete...

Our house has NOW become a home... No home is complete without a bird feeder. Just ask my grandparents who have a few feeders, my aunt and uncle who used to make bird houses and my parents who have their pellet gun at the back door to shoot the squirrels who try to eat the bird food. With that said, we finally got our bird feeder all we need now is the bird bath (any maybe the pellet gun). And you know what else, Josh actually was the proactive one who found the feeder. We went antiquing this weekend, better than watching the Gators these days. Anyway, we FINALLY got blinds for the living room and our room. Thanks for the encouragement from my parents. I was thinking since it is getting lighter earlier maybe the blinds will help us sleep in... ha! fat chance? I am surprised I could even still spell "sleep in". I haven't seen that in a loooong time. Anyway at least the blinds/ curtains look nice.

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!! I LOVE YOUUUUUU!! Enjoy your day off!

here birdy, birdy, birdy

We totally need a bigger toy box

my little munchkin

LOVE

The one with the fish sticks....

YES my kid loves fish sticks!! Horray! I am so excited because I remember LOVING them as a kid.You know what else I loved? The Kid Cuisines. I let him try to eat one on his own... and while he is messy and is wearing half of it, the other half is in his belly!! So good news from the McCarty house, Cooper loves it all! I am really working with him and trying a whole bunch of new foods. We don't need another picky eater :) So far, I don't think there isn't anything this kid won't eat. Yesterday at daycare, beef on a stick. Not sure what that is, my dad seems to think Slim Jims... haha. I will ask tomorrow because I am curious.

Look how fun, how could a kid not LOVE 'em

Cooper had his one year check up Tuesday and took the shots like a champ. Well he did cry, but as soon as momma picked him up, he was ok. Total mommas boy! I love it. Anyway, he is a whopping 23 lbs and 29 inches tall- which means is in the 50th percentile on growth for his age. Which is good news. Doc says we are doing everything right. He is healthy and happy, what more could you ask for??

Josh comes home late today, so we are definitely looking forward to it! This weekend is supposed to be nice here, cold, but clear blue skies! We have some things planned to do around the house, nothing major. But we have to get ready for Thanksgiving! It is just around the corner!!!

Hope everyone has a rocking Thursday!!!

LOVE