Thursday = 22 months....

I was just asking Kim where two years have gone? Where in the world did the days go? I can remember coming home from the hospital with her and being scared as hell and then the weeks and months that followed simply seem like a blur now....22 months later and our little girl dances to a Toto concert that I was watching on the 101 tonight.  (101 is a Directv channel that runs alot of concerts....and I was only watching it so I could hear Rosanna and Africa. After that, I was going to be done. That's the God's honest truth. I'm not a closet Toto fan.)

Reese is trying to potty for us more and more. She used it tonight and we had a little success with her and threw the normal party, she takes her sippy's after chugging chocolate milk (once known as Nook) and puts them in the sink without being told to. She uses a coaster of all things! She can put the right shoes on the right foot...when she wants to. And when she messes up (rarely) all you have to do is tell her and she fixes them. She eats vegetable soup and Italian like its her last meal. She's also like her Daddy and a fan of the Mexicali!!!!Ay Ay Ay!!!

She repeats everything you say...but I have yet to hear her utter a bad word. I know I jinxed myself but nothing yet. Pretty good considering the company she keeps around here. Her Mother has a mouth worse than a sailor....haha. Uh...maybe that'd be her Daddy again. She sleeps so well, she wakes up in such good moods, she LOVES LOVES LOVES Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and is a hoot when she does the Hot Dog Dance at the end of the Clubhouse. She pooches her lips now when she dances like "Aw yeah...look at me." She is all up and down the stairs, she washes her hands when we let her...it can be a 10 minute ordeal because she loves to just play in the water. She's jumping and actually leaving the ground now. She is mastering more and more words every day and uses them in sentences very well. When we get on to her about something she'll try to work us by smiling and saying "hi Mommy, Hi Mommy, Hi...Hi Mommy" and just smiling and squinting her little eyes. She thinks we're suckers but we're on to her.

Her favorite thing to do that we sort of don't like is to "Pay bocks." or play blocks. Playing blocks means getting my big butt in the floor and rolling around to play with her blocks but we like it....I just need to shed some pounds so rolling isn't so exhausting. She can say her AB's, counts to 10, sings the Monkey on the Bed song like a champ, and all sorts of other things that just blow our minds. 22 months.....what an amazing time its has been with her and I just want many, many years of joy and good health for her. She is such an amazing blessing and we love her so much. Happy 22 months Reese! Mommy and Daddy love you very much!

Updates...

Well another weekend is over and I think Kim and I are sort of sitting here asking what the hell just happened to our two days off? I was fortunate enough to have another four day work week but I made up for it with massive amounts of work to do during the week...In fact I enjoyed having tons to do so much that I decided to share some with this coming week as well. I'm just that kind of guy...what can I say. Suffice it to say that regardless of my lack of a full week (in numbers at the office) I was plenty ready to chill at the pad but it just seems that Sunday night gets here quicker and quicker.

The weekend wasn't anything spectacular but I was able to complete some to do list stuff in the basement (Installed two new doors and re-insulated everything around them) checked off the list. I can actually already tell a difference down there as most of the heat was escaping into the garage because the doors were just horrible. Interior grade doors in a situation that really called for Exterior grade...just another issue with this house that should have been addressed years ago. Papa and Mawmaw stopped by yesterday to pick up his table that I built for his Big Steel Keg, I hung door number 1, and then we went out with Lance and Celeste. Today was another round of door hanging, a longer stint with Papa and Mawmaw, and a little playing around with Pooks this evening.

Reese is really becoming her own little person right now....her sentences are getting longer and her comprehension is getting better as well. Sometimes I think Kim and I sort of pinch ourselves at what she understands and what she is able to do now. She's also into being a little ham for the camera and she's starting to show a bit of an impatient side when it comes to getting things her way. She doesn't throw a fit by any means but she will certainly raise her voice a little and get a little gruff in her voice to emphasize that she isn't messing around. When she does that, its all Kim and I can do to keep from laughing but we politely remind her to calm her nerves and we'll get to the situation that is confronting her....it really is funny though.

I had a little fun with the camera tonight and of course, Reese was glad to oblige with some CHEEZ pics.

This is the smile with my eyes closed and wrinkle my nose look....

Similar look but with the head tilted slightly and hair in a ponytail....

The lean in and scrunch the face look again...with Daddy puckering for a smooch.

The "I'm gonna get you sucka" from Daddy and Reese working the charm....

Rocking the pony tail....she looks so different with it. Too grown up looking!

This is a phone in the ear...I'm sure I'll get enough of this as she gets older. It's just a dead cell phone we let her play with but she's showing signs of loving the phone....oh boy.

And finally...just being cute.

Relief.....

I have a copy cat.

The next question is why would I be hanging upside down off of the couch? Well....My left ear is congested. It's been this way for more than two weeks now and I'm pretty well miserable. I can't hear anything out of my left ear and the only relief....Don't ask how I found out....is to hang my head nearly upside down. I can literally feel the pressure in the ear open up and my hearing returns to probably 80% of normal. When I sit up...the hearing goes back to probably 30% of normal and clogs with pressure again. No fun.

I went to the Dr. for THIS ailment more than a week ago and they really didn't give me much. I got some nasal spray that is supposed to open my up and allow the congestion to release but to date....nothing. I got so desperate the other day that I went and finally bought a Neti-pot and tried it out just to see if that might help. Let me tell you how much of a fan I am of the Neti-pot! I thought that would be the devil and just some snot induced, nastifest. It turned out to be easy and MOST effective at clearing my nasal passages but not so much on my ears.

So back to the couch where Reese joins me for a little upside down time.

She is so much fun right now.

CHEEEEZ

A LOOOOONG week.....

And there is still snow on the ground! A week ago almost to the minutes, I was doubting whether this much talked about snow storm was going to hit and now a week later...snow still lays in spots of my yard. It took a 50 degree day today or the whole yard would still be covered. That's pretty amazing if you ask me.

The neat thing about snow in the south is that you find out things about people. Some folks have an incredible work ethic and will be where they need to be...when they need to be there. Others.....not so much. Some people are genuinely scared to get out on the roads for fear of wrecking or in constant worry about the other drivers. Some folks literally become stupid once the wheels start spinning.

I'd say that we didn't have it all that bad but seeing our "metro area" sort of shut down and wait on the City, County, State, WHOMEVER to come by and take care of things really sort of scares me. I get it that snow plows are needed and the response could have been quicker but the hide out in the house mentality just doesn't suit me. Case in point, I left town on Wednesday and traveled part of my territory and came back home...In one piece! No scars and no worse for the wear.....but adequately ashamed of our previously mentioned government services for allowing a small snow to kill the city for a week.

Last night, Kim and I went out with some friends to see comedian Brian Regan. It was a great night and Papa/MawMaw watched Reese so we could go out on our little date night but what struck me as funny was that even though there was still ice on roads....the restaurants that we passed were BLITZED with people. I guess its too tough to get out Monday through Friday but once Saturday rolls around well that's ME time so I gotta get out and get a steak. Yes, yes....I'm being a bit of a smarty but I've heard some doozies this week so pardon me while I have a little fun.

I've attached a few more pics of Reese from the snow to sort of signal the all clear sign and the OMG I'm tired of snow buzzer as well. We've got some pics to update so I'll try to do that Monday - oddly enough I get another Monday off because of MLK Day. I may work a full week sometime in June!

This is the "Daddy...I'm not really enjoying this," pose.

Candid pic trying to get Reese to look at me...rather than stare off into space looking at falling snow!

Happy Reese! Ready for spring with flowers on her shirt.

More snow pics....

In reality...this was probably Reese's fourth or fifth snow fall since she's been alive. I mean we've had two ground covering snows in just four weeks but this one just seemed to be the one to test her desire for snow. I think she likes it!

it started like this...around 10pm

Then about 20 minutes later....

 Then another 30 minutes.....nearly two inches

My buddy Steve tried to get out in it and drive around.....um, maybe that was a bad idea Steve-O

Of course I had to make the obligatory UGA and Little UGA pics....I need to make a calendar with these guys and the season changes. Maybe I can sell it and make a million....

Our streets on Monday morning. Normally flowing with buses and cars heading to work.....Not January 10th. Everyone was chilling at the casa this morning.

Let me vent for a minute now.

This is our blog and not a "Facebook" type of venue but then again I have to watch what I say because folks from work do read this blog so I'll be completely honest but respectful.....Our process at my office needs some serious tweaking for weather related events. We may get two of these events per year...if that....But to simply ignore that a process is required is nuts. This pic was taken around 9.30am after about an hour of texts and checking about the work situation. I'm essentially outside, taking pics not only for myself but in some form of justification that no one else was out there either. I'm being pretty tame but C'mon folks....let's have a plan in place next time?!.........off the soap box now. Isn't the street scene pretty....awkward silence follows from the co-worker group.

So after declaring a "mental health day" or snow day....we decided to wrap Reese in everything we could find and take her for a walk in the snow.

Reese was hesitant but as we walked into the cul-de-sac, she opened up and started having a good time.

I need to crop out the trash can to make a better overall pic but this is just a great picture of Kim. She looks so hot in her little snow outfit and her new boggin/cap

Despite loving this little red toy thing on dry land....Reese didn't much care for the idea of sledding down a hill.

Andrew showed Reese how to do things but I don't know that she was feeling the whole jumping down the hill bit.

Sometimes you try to force the pic and sometimes it just happens....this is one of those where it just happened. What a cutie.

And this one....this is like the pic in front of the Christmas tree or the little face at Burt's pumpkin patch the first time we took her. All of the sudden, a split second in time becomes a picture that we'll treasure for a lifetime and bond a Mommy and little girl for years. What an awesome picture.

January 10th 2011....Reese's first play day in the snow.

Whenever God closes a door, he opens a window......January 10th was a great day to spend with Reese and to cherish her little smile, her laugh, and the new experiences that she'll remember all of her life. I also remember January 10th.....Some dates just stick in my mind better than others. I can't clearly remember when Grandmother's and Judith's birthdays are....I'm ashamed to admit it but I just get confused and they've just been close enough that I could wing it. Sorry GMa and Sis! I don't remember the exact date that Grandmother Lucille passed but I remember getting the phone call while on vacation and coming back home. I've got Mom and Dad's birthday dialed in and obviously Kim and little Reese....but January 10th....that's when my Papa passed.

I hope you're seeing this little angel Papa. I hope you're seeing this little girl and making sure that Kim and I are doing it right. I hope you're quietly coaching her Papa and Pawpaw and showing them the way to love this little girl. I think you are.....She's got them wrapped around her finger, Papa. I know you'd love her with all your heart....and I know that you do. We miss you and love you.

Snow day!

Cupcake recipe...

This was completely robbed from a site called....www.kevinandamanda.com but I'm sure they won't mind. These damn cupcakes are out of sight! And we used Reese's cups over snickers for the obvious reason....Reesie Cups rock and we have our own little Reesie.

Decadent Snickers Cupcakes
with Chocolate Mousse Filling

1 box Devils Food Cake Mix
1 small box Jello Chocolate Fudge instant pudding mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup milk
1 cup sour cream
Chocolate Mousse Filling
2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 cups milk chocolate chips
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
1 stick softened butter
2 1/2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 bag mini Snickers
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 cupcake tins with liners. To prepare the cupcakes, place the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, milk and sour cream into stand mixer. Beat until well combined, about 2 minutes. Scoop the batter evenly into the cupcake liners. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cupcakes are cooked through and a toothpick comes clean from center. Remove the cupcakes from the tin and let cool.
2. To prepare the mousse, melt the milk chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Set aside to cool. Meanwhile, whip the heavy cream with a stand or electric mixer until it looks like whipped cream and stiff peaks form. Fold melted chocolate chips into whipped cream until well combined, then transfer batches into a piping bag. When cupcakes have cooled, press the tip of the piping bag into the center of the cupcake, about 1 inch deep. Squeeze the mousse into the cupcake while pulling the tip out. It doesn’t take much, just one firm squeeze is perfect. Continue filling all the cupcakes.
3. To prepare the frosting, beat the butter, powdered sugar, cocoa and vanilla until well combined and a nice frosting consistency. Spread over cupcakes then top with chopped Snickers.
Makes 24 cupcakes.

Messing around...

I'm no pro with a camera by any means, but I find that I'm understanding more about the camera and especially flash and lighting so I'm trying different things. This almost looks like a fish-eye pic but in reality....

It's just an ornament on our tree. I caught Reese peering at herself in one of these ornaments the other day and just knew as soon as I even acted like I was going to get my camera...she would bolt and be on to something else. Turns out I was able to snap a few pics of Reese while she was still being inquisitive...

Nice face huh?

Uncrop the photo and it looks like this.

I wish I could have caught her laughing at herself....she was having a blast looking at her little reflection.

While I was busy playing with the camera...Kim was busy in the kitchen making something that is just too good for words. We're not cupcake people....mkay? We're not all into this cupcake frenzy that the world is into right now but I ran across this recipe on another blog and I begged Kim to try to make them. OH MY GOD - these are so good. This is Devil's Food cake that has been jazzed up a little bit, stuffed with mousse, topped with home made icing, topped with crushed Reese's.......Honey hush. The pics make them look good. But eating them was just too much. This is my new favorite. Bar none. You'll have to ask Kimmy to make some more because these were amazing and chase them with ice cold milk......Oh dear.

Mmmmmmmmmm Good.

This is the part that I hate.....

Once September is over and October introduces itself on the calendar....I officially declare my favorite three months in the year. I love the fall and the stretch of holidays that follow just make it that much more enjoyable. I love the Apple Festival, fall trips into the mountains looking at leaves, cool nights setting in, the time change, Thanksgiving WEEK...I love that week, shopping the day after Thanksgiving - makes me sound weird but it puts me in the mood for the season, weekend shopping and preparation for Christmas....CHRISTMAS week, and then the holiday itself. I even like the week between leading up to New Year's Eve and Day but its all over now and I'm bummed. Just as soon as the decorations are put up...they come down. I was feeling this way last year but look what happened....the holiday came in record time! Maybe it's having a child that makes things fly by now. We had some good friends over last night for a low key dinner on NYE and Michelle said the same thing. I think days just buzz by now and having Reese makes them more special...but I think she makes them go by faster too!

I can't complain too much as we have a nice vacation to look forward to at the end of January and I'm hoping for good things from my job this year so I'm mildly optimistic about things getting better from that point of view. I think Kim has some good things in the works for her work so things aren't all gloom here right after the holidays....But I like this time of year and it stinks to watch it go.

I like all of the yards lit up with Christmas lights, I like to look in and see Christmas trees all decorated in each house, I like the craziness at the stores to a degree....or maybe not. I like the good food, the family, the overall message of the holidays - Give thanks for what you have and celebrate the birth of a savior. Now, it seems like it's back to work. Get on the grind again and peddle away. I don't want to and I don't like the transition from December into January through March. I'd rather pass and get back to September 30th if you don't mind.

Nevertheless.....Reese has had an amazing Christmas holiday and here are some pics that haven't been seen of her silliness and just show how much we love her.