Happy New Year!!!!

This is what I looked like this time last year. I really celebrated the new year coming in (asleep at 11:00). We watched the Auburn bowl game at the Sekula's and had to ring in the new year twice - once for Georgia time (for Elizabeth) and once for Alabama time. I totally missed the Georgia time but Chip woke me for the Alabama time.

I hope the new year brings more blessings to our family. 2008 has been a wild ride with a new baby and crashing economy on a self-employed husband in the construction business. I have a few New Year's resolutions (what good they usually do!!):

1> More devotional time
2> Keep my house cleaner (I am a clutter-horse)
3> Stop hilighting my hair (go natural-spend less money)
4> Stick to a spending budget - this is going to be very hard for me (I love to shop)
5> Get in shape - this baby flab doesn't go away by itself (at least not for me)
6> Cook more - we eat out all the time (goes with spending budget!!!)
7> Stop biting my nails (this has been a resolution every year for as long as I can remember-maybe this is the year!!!!!)

Hot weather and more projects

It was so nice outside Saturday it felt like spring time. Karlee ran around with no clothes on and we opened the windows to let the house air out. Speaking of running around, I totally forgot to mention on previous posts that Karlee has started walking. Well, little steps. The Saturday before Christmas, she took her first steps without holding on to something. Of course, she has done this every time that I don't have the video camera available. She walked from her present that Adam and Erin gave her to Erin. I was totally shocked. She just turned from standing at the slide box and walked like she has done it a million times. She takes three or four steps and sits to start crawling. I guess she realizes she's faster on her knees for now.



Sunday was project time again. I designed letters using the layer function of the Monogram Wizard. This function lets you create monogram with different fonts, sizes, colors, styles, pictures, etc. I just created a simple one color two size font to start with. I also made Mason Spratlin a burp cloth. The duck turned out so cute. I snipped the thread too close on the "o" in his name so it has unraveled. I'll be redoing it some time (I'm back at work now so my free time is gone).




Tonight I worked on a design. The result surprised me. It actually looks pretty good on the t-shirt and centered on all of my marks. The measuring part is the hardest part to me. But, I figure I can play with a $3 shirt from Target and not be out much money if it doesn't turn out like I wanted.

Project #2

I took a trip to Opelika Sewing Center today for more thread and came home with 15 colors. My total is now up to 20 so bring on the projects!!

I installed the Monogram Wizard today too and played with it a little. I'm taking a class on it February 19 and can't wait. My work is a little jagged around the edges but wearable. Since I was just starting out, I didn't know how to get the colors in sync. I had to change the thread 13 times for each color. It did the pink circle first, then I had to change to yellow for part of the K and then back to pink for the rest of the K. Then, I had to change to blue for part of the A then back to pink for the rest of the A. You get the picture. Very tedious!!! At least I got lots of practice at threading the needle. I can do that with a snap of a finger now. I wonder what I will work on next?????

Merry Christmas to All

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. It is such a joy to have a little one scooting around this time of year. We have been hustling and bustling since Saturday when all the family get-togethers started. Watching Karlee open presents and then play with other kids toys was so much fun. Chip and I were like kids again getting her ready for Christmas morning. We kept telling her Santa was coming (even though she had no clue what we were talking about).

Chip's parents gave her a work vehicle for the days she "works" with daddy. It is decked out with Beehive stickers and even came in Beehive colors-blue and yellow.



Chip surprised me with a Janome embroidery machine. I secretly hoped I would get it but wasn't really expecting it. My first practice run was quite comical. The second was not so bad. Look at the third:



I think this is giftable to my cousin who is due January 22. I plan to take a few classes in January so I'll keep you moms out there posted on the progress. If anyone has anything they would like me to practice on, feel free to drop it by. Chip included the monogram wizard software so I have tons of fonts and drawings to create from. Wish me luck in learning this thing!!

Fantasy in Lights

The tradition continues!! The Baker's, Galimore's, and Dilworth's (along with BooBoo) took our annual trip to Callaway Gardens last night for Fantasy in Lights. I can't remember exactly when we started doing this but it was way before any of us had kids. This trip was extra special. We all have children now so it was a new experience. Usually, Chip falls asleep half way through the trolley ride. This year, he had so much fun holding Karlee and pointing to all the lights.

Karlee loved looking at all the brightness. She stood on her daddy's lap the whole time and bounced up and down when the music started. We were on the back row of the trolley so she could look back at all the lights too. She made "oooo" sounds at each of them. She stayed awake through the whole ride and even dinner afterwards.

We left Auburn in time to take a trip through Santa's Village. Santa was there and Rudolph too. Karlee loved Rudolph and wouldn't stop touching his nose. We look forward to many more years of Fantasy in Lights with our dear friends. (We missed you this year PJ and Julie.)

Welcome Mason!

Mason Alan Spratlin was born this morning at 9:01 to my wonderful friends Elizabeth and Travis. He weighs 8 lbs 4 oz and is 21 inches long. I have several pictures but I'll wait and let the proud parents post the first shots of that precious little boy. He has dark red hair like his momma and light blue eyes like his daddy. It is so hard to believe he's already here. I feel like it was yesterday that she told me she was pregnant. For that matter, it's hard to believe Karlee is almost 11 months old.

Elizabeth is doing well and enjoying all the excitement of a new baby. I can't wait to raise our kids together. What a joy!!

Santa Photos

Thanks to my sweet friend Brooke, I now have Karlee's pictures with Santa from Sunday. Enjoy!

Future Duck Caller

When Chip came home last night from a weekend of duck hunting, he gave Karlee a duck call. She took it and started blowing. I mean actually making noise come out of the thing. Chip loved it and said she would definately be duck hunting with him. All she needs now is camo. Oh no!! My poor little girl is going to be boyized. They do have pink camo don't they???



My video camera needs charging or I would have video. It wouldn't do any good for this post because I don't know how to get the videos off the camera. Karlee's day of birth is still on there!!

Brunch with Santa

Well, Karlee and I went to Brunch with Santa at Moores Mill today with friends. Chip is in Mississippi duck hunting (2nd trip already this season). So, I have no pictures. However, it was fun to see all the kids react when Santa walked in the room. Karlee was squirming to get out of my arms and get to Santa. When it came time to have her picture taken, she didn't stop squirming and wanted to get down (no crying though). Who knows what the picture will look like. We'll find out next Sunday.

I did manage to catch a cute smiling (very rare on camera) picture when we got home. Karlee now has five teeth and I think more are coming in with all the chewing she is doing.



Karlee is doing well with not bothering the Christmas tree. The presents underneath: a whole different story. She has already unwrapped one of Chip's gifts. Maybe it was better to not have presents under the tree yet. Sorry for the diaper shot. She wouldn't stay still enough to get her pants on.

Where is Karlee?

Under the bed in the bonus room to find Sable!!!

Pictures with Santa

Chip and I ventured to the mall Monday night to take Karlee to see Santa. She did great. She saw him standing when we first walked up and was instantly intrigued. She sat on his lap and looked at him for a little bit then turned to the camera. My picture is very dark but the one we purchased is really good.



Karlee was in a good mood when we got home so I decided to try to take a few more Christmas pictures (not in 30 degree weather this time). These are a little better than the no smile ones from outside.





(There are no presents under the tree because I haven't had time to wrap any.)

Blessed Child

Karlee was christened on Sunday. We had such a wonderful time with family and close friends. We are so fortunate to have good Christian families to raise Karlee with. Thank you to those that joined us on such a special day.

Cute little mess

Karlee had Gerber spaghetti noodles last night for the first time and loved them. Can you tell?





After a long bath, Karlee was wide open all over the living room. She has been good about not bothering the Christmas tree until last night. I think the fun, messy dinner had her in a spunky mood. She is standing on her own but won't take those first steps yet without holding something. She's only holding one hand now and walks without falling over. It's only a matter of time before she walks by herself. I think going after Sable will make her walk before anything else does. She loves her some Sable.

Thanksgiving Blessings

Happy Thanksgiving. After spending a wonderful day with family and eating way too much food, it's nice to be at home with my two most favorite people in the world. Chip and I have so much to be thankful for today. Karlee is the biggest blessing in our lives and we thank God for her everyday. She is so spunky and her personality is growing every minute. She was nonstop today playing with everyone and was just overall a happy baby today and all days.

With the economy crumbling down around us, we are so fortunate to have a stable home and family. I am so thankful for my wonderful family (Chip's included). I'm especially thankful for a wonderful husband who would go to the ends of the earth for us. I'm also thankful God has gifted us with the most precious little girl; thankful she's healthy, happy, loving, and ever growing. I don't know what I've done to deserve such a great gift. I am truly blessed.

Christmas Pictures - take 1

So, I tried to take a few pictures Friday of Karlee in her Christmas dress. This dress was all hand-made by my future sister-in-law's mom (no not engaged yet but its coming). Karlee was totally not interested and didn't smile once until I got her back inside. Maybe it had to do with it being 42 degrees outside!!

Riding Karlee Style

Karlee loves her little "bike". This is the way a child is supposed to ride it:


This is the way Karlee chooses to ride it and play on it:


I think I have a dare devil on my hands. When I push her around the living room on the bike, she says "oooom oooom" and turns the steering wheel.

What else can she get in to?

Karlee has a new interest: opening drawers and cabinets. I've already had to empty the bathroom drawers and cabinets because she plays in them when I take a shower. Now, she has found the DVD cabinet in the living room. This is what the cabinet started out looking like.



She started out removing one DVD, chewing on it, and then moving to another. That quickly got boring so she just grabbed a handfull and let them all topple out.




I know. Get baby locks you say. I did on Wednesday and that is our project for the weekend. My advice for the preggers out there: baby proof now. You'll see that time flies by so fast after your baby is born.

Cherished days off

I truly can't wait for Thursdays to end and hate for Mondays to end. I work three days a week and stay at home with Karlee on Mondays and Fridays. In the beginning, I was doing some work from home on Mondays because Karlee was still sleeping a lot during the day. Now that she is only on two naps a day, it is so much more fun to play on Mondays than work. Karlee and I had a nice lunch at Amsterdam with Chip today then off to Hickory Dickory Park we went (minus Chip). It was a spur of the moment thing as I was driving by. I thought it would be fun to see how Karlee liked the swings.

Karlee had a ball. I would say "Weeee" and she would laugh and say "EEEEEEE". I even sat in the big swings with her and she smiled and waved her arms each time we went backwards. She even liked the little tunnel and pulled her lunch bag in it with her. We may make this a weekly activity to get out of the house before it turns too cold. Today was just perfect and beautiful.

Happy Halloween from Little Bunny Foo Foo

Karlee enjoyed her first trick-or-treating. We went downtown for a little while and then headed to the Dilworth's for dinner and more fun. I didn't count the kids but it was very controlled chaos. The daddies stayed outside by the fire while the mommies tried to feed themselves and the kiddos. Thanks all you dads!! Karlee was exhausted when we got home. She had a quick bath and bottle and right out to night-night town she went. I hope everyone else's Halloween Eve was just as fun as ours.

FYI for those that don't live in a college town, our city trick-or-treated on Thursday night so the bars downtown could be open on Friday night. Our city has it's priorities in order, doesn't it?!!!!!

First Steps!!

Karlee took her first steps behind her walker today. She had been pulling up on it all morning, then, she just took off. She walked about five steps before sitting down. I clapped and cheered and it made her smile so big. Oh goodness! Am I ready for a 9 month old walker????

Karlee also knows what a telephone is now, or at least what to do with it. She grabs the phone off of one of her toys and puts it straight to her ear (or close to her ear). She makes a sound like "hello" and smiles. She even says "daddy" sometimes while holding the phone. It sure doesn't take them long to realize daddies talk on the phone a lot!!