Part of Your World

Yesterday, Micah and I had a lazy Sunday afternoon after church while Joe went into the office to finish some paperwork. I don't usually let Micah watch a lot of TV, but, when I do, he LOVES the cartoons. I'm amazed at how much he'll actually pay attention to it. Well, yesterday was FREEZING cold. We weren't going to get outside, and Micah just wanted to snuggle. So, I put in a movie. The Little Mermaid. Yes, I own it. We only watched about 30 minutes before Micah had to take a nap, but he enjoyed it so much! He was laughing at the fish swimming and dancing to the music. It was adorable!

Onto an unrelated topic but relavent to the title of this post....Christmas. This Christmas, I've found myself getting caught up in the commercialism of it all...Santa, the gifts, the lights. All of that is well and good. I grew up with that and love all that. But I've found myself mentioning Santa more often to Micah than Jesus this season. Christmas is about the ultimate gift, God's child given to us to become part of our world. What a sacrifice! Now that I have a child, it means even more. So I just want to encourage those of you who may be like me...enjoy all that Christmas has to offer but don't neglect to remember and be thankful for why we have Christmas in the first place. Have a very merry Christmas!!

Random

I don't really have anything specific to write about today. Just a few random happenings lately.

Micah really likes hiding under our kitchen table and pulling all the chairs in around him. It's a counter height table so he can stand under it perfectly.

On to another topic. I think little kids in their PJs are just so cute, especially at Micah's age. Their little bellies just stick out and their diapers are so bulky. It's just adorable.

We finally got all our Christmas lights on the house. Our roof is too steep to put icicle lights this year, which is disappointing. My goal is to buy enough decorations after Christmas (when they're on sale) each year to eventually become the Griswolds. I want to be THAT house...you know the one. The one that's soooooo tacky it's beautiful and everyone comes to see it. We're obviously not there yet, but we're young :)

Yesterday, I baked about 12 dozen cookies. I'm sure Micah was wondering what had come over me, because, honestly, I'm usually not that busy during the day. At least not when he's awake. I wanted to make goodie bags for our neighbors. For some reason, I decide to do this every year thinking it will be "fun" then end up totally stressed by the end of it. But I'm happy when I'm able to make a small gesture of giving this time of year to my neighbors. Everything went well yesterday. The cookies were made. The kitchen was clean for the most part. It was time to start cooking dinner. I opened a cabinet above me to get a dish out. I guess some things had shifted, and all 3 of my pie plates came flying out at my head. I ducked and grabbed Micah. Three glass pie plates hit the quartz countertop then the tile floor. You can guess what happened. It was a mess! Glass was all over the main part of the kitchen, the eat-in part of the kitchen, the living room, and the hallway. I went to the part of the living room where there was no glass and waited for Joe to get home. When he walked in the door, I pushed Micah into his arms and started cleaning. Needless to say, I did not feel like cooking anymore. I've never been so thankful for frozen pizza!

Bummer

So, it looks like Micah has officially given up his morning nap. It was pretty sudden. Last week he took an hour nap in the morning and a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. The past couple days, he will have nothing to do with the morning nap. Selfishly, I was hoping he would keep this schedule forever :) I normally get ready during that time, but I'll figure something out. I may have to get up earlier (the horror!). Though I do have to say now that he's not napping in the morning, he's sleeping later...til about 8:00 instead of 7:00. I know some of you reading this are probably like "Shutup!" I know I'm lucky. I guess it's just another sign that Micah is growing up, and I want him to stay like this forever! Of course I say that during every stage of his life...except that waking up every 2 hours thing...I was so glad when THAT was over :)

There are benefits to the no-morning-nap stage. Now, I have more time to get out of the house. It used to be that I had to do everything outside of the home by 9:30 to get back for nap. Then he didn't get up until 11:30 or so and I wouldn't have a good time to do anything else until after 4:00 because of lunch and afternoon nap. I can have more time with my son. So, maybe it's not such a bummer after all.

Book Worm

If you know Micah, you know that he absolutely LOVES books. Give him a basket full of toys and a basket full of books, and he'll surely go for the books every time. Lately, he likes to go play in his room by himself. I'm trying not to be an overprotective mom and make him stay with me every second or follow him everywhere he goes, but I have to go check on him every few minutes to make sure he's okay. So he goes to his room today, and, of course, I peek in on him a few minutes later. Here's what I find.

How cute! He's going to be a little nerd, just like his mom :)

Tag

Fifth folder, 5th Picture

How cute is my little man?!?!

You try it!

An UNtraditional Holiday

Thanksgiving was different for us this year as we've moved away from our family. Normally, we go to my parents' house for the holiday, and there's always a HUGE crowd there. Joe's parents go to the beach, and we sometimes join them after Thanksgiving day. This year, we had to choose whether to go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas since Joe hasn't built up enough time to take both holidays. We decided to go home for Christmas instead, which was difficult for me as I don't particularly like change.

Although this one was different, we had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving. Joe's parents came out to Jackson on Monday and stayed until Saturday. We were hoping his sister, her husband, and their son could join us, but it didn't work out this time. Let me say that I am so thankful that I have a mother-in-law and a father-in-law that I love like my own parents. I am so comfortable around them, which is great because Joe had to work most of the week and it was just Micah, me, Nana, and Paw.

We had a busy week. Neither of Joe's parents had been this far west in Tennessee before, so we decided to see the sights. On Tuesday, we went to Graceland in Memphis. I was a little skeptical about the price, but it was well worth it. Joyce, my mother-in-law, had always wanted to go, and I could tell she was so thankful to get the chance. On Wednesday, we let my father-in-law pick the activity, and we ended up an hour and a half away in Union City (no, I don't expect you to know where that is :) ) at a shop that sells Civil War era guns and relics.

Thursday was the big day. Of course Joe asked me why I was cooking so much for only 4 people. I told him just to be thankful I was cooking at all! Joe deep fryed a turkey (my first one, and I must say it was the best turkey I ever had...yummy!) while Joyce and I made a feast of ham, deviled eggs, potato salad, candied yam soufle, dressing, brocolli casserole, cranberry sauce, coconut pie, and chocolate pecan pie. After a wonderful lunch, we all took a Thanksgiving nap. All in all, it was a wonderful day!

On Friday, Joe was off work, and, since Eric, my father-in-law, loves all things Civil War, we took a trip to Shiloh National Military Park. We all had a great time taking in a history lesson, and Micah loved running around.

Sadly, Nana and Paw had to leave on Saturday morning, but I am so thankful that we got to share trully quality time with them. Although we're so far away and don't get to see each other often, I would say the time we spend together now is much more quality because we don't take it for granted so much. I'll end with a list of things for which I'm thankful, big and small.

-Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for all of us

-My husband

-My son

-Family who love and care about us

-A nation where I'm free to believe as I want and express those beliefs

-A Sunday afternoon nap

-Food, clothing, and shelter

-Having all my needs met and a lot of my wants

-A beautiful home

-The opportunity to stay home with my son

-A good job for my husband that gives me that opportunity

-A warm blanket on a cold day

-Chocolate

-Southern hospitality

-Disappointment and sadness because I wouldn't know true happiness without it

-Jacuzzi bathtub

-Music

-Love

-Friendship

-Target

-Starbucks in Target :)

The list could go on, as I'm sure all of yours could. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday as well and remember to thank God for all the blessings in your life. Take care!

Children's Museum of Memphis

Joe had the day off on Friday, so we thought it would be fun to drive into Memphis and take Micah to a children's museum. We've taken him to a couple others in Raleigh and Chicago, but he wasn't able to walk when we went then. He's always had fun, but this time was a blast. Here's a few pictures from our trip.

Here he is taking off his hard hat,

driving a car,

learning about brushing his teeth,

playing in the Mississippi,

adding to a mural,

driving a police car,

driving a police motorcyle,

playing b-ball,

shopping for groceries,

and flying a plane.

His favorite thing about the museum was a disco room, complete with disco ball and strobe light. He loves to dance. I have a video of it but can't seem to upload it today. I'll try again later.

By the end of the day, Micah was exhausted.

It's amazing how much love you have for a child. I couldn't imagine my life without him and know that Joe feels the same.

A boy and his dog...

Samson is our 6 and 1/2 year old yellow lab mix. If you've every read the book Marley and Me, that is our dog. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. Any way, Micah loves Samson. Samson does not love Micah. What I mean to say is that this 90 pound animal is scared of my skinny, 23 pound son. When Micah was a baby, Samson was very protective of him. I would catch him laying in Micah's room in front of his crib like he was watching over him. He still does it every once in a while.

Now, Micah is constantly chasing Samson around the house, and Samson will hide between my legs to get away from him. Needless to say, Micah thinks this is hilarious, and it only encourages him to chase Samson, pull his tail, pull his ears, pull his fur, etc. It's a constant battle to "protect" the dog. Samson mostly just lays there and takes it because I think he knows he'll be the first to go, not Micah :)

Lately, Micah has taken to lying down on top of Samson. It's his favorite way to relax. I'll catch him just chillin' in the floor with Samson. And Samson lets him do it. I think the dog is just thankful that Micah is sitting still and not pulling his ears.

I hope Samson will learn to enjoy Micah more as he gets older, and I'm sure he will as Micah will be less likely to "torture" him as he gets older (I hope). It's hard for a 16 month old to understand why the dog doesn't like him to pull his tail when it seems so fun. But we're working on it because Samson is a wonderful dog, and we'd like him to stay and not bolt the first opportunity he gets :)

A History Lesson

So, for those of you who don't know (by the way, where have you been??), the title of my blog is taken from a popular song sung by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. The song is possibly about Jackson, MS or Jackson, TN (I've heard both), but, now that we're here, I like to think it's Tennessee. However, the song is about "living it up" in Jackson, and, no offense, I don't see anywhere to live it up here. I'll leave you with the lyrics to this great song. Take care.

We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout,
We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out.
I'm goin' to Jackson, I'm gonna mess around,
Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson,Look out Jackson town.

Well, go on down to Jackson; go ahead and wreck your health.
Go play your hand you big-talkin' man, make a big fool of yourself,
You're goin' to Jackson; go comb your hair!
Honey, I'm gonna snowball Jackson.See if I care.

When I breeze into that city, people gonna stoop and bow. (Hah!)
All them women gonna make me, teach 'em what they don't know how,
I'm goin' to Jackson, you turn-a loose-a my coat.
'Cos I'm goin' to Jackson."Goodbye," that's all she wrote.

But they'll laugh at you in Jackson, and I'll be dancin' on a Pony Keg.
They'll lead you 'round town like a scalded hound,With your tail tucked between your legs,
You're goin' to Jackson, you big-talkin' man.
And I'll be waitin' in Jackson, behind my Japan Fan,

Well now, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper Sprout,
We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out.
I'm goin' to Jackson, and that's a fact.
Yeah, we're goin' to Jackson, ain't never comin' back.

Well, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout'
And we've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went...

Welcome

So, I'm new to the whole blogging thing, but I thought it would be a good way to keep friends and family updated since we've moved to Jackson. Keep looking for more as I figure out my way around here. Take care!