Sold!

When we moved back to Charlotte, we thought it would be a breeze to find a house.  We were sadly mistaken!  It has been an ORDEAL to find our "forever" home, but we finally did.  We put an offer down on 5 different houses and walked away from each for one reason or another.  During the whole process, Mike kept reminding me that the Lord had the perfect house for us and we just needed to be patient.  Everyone knows how much I wanted to listen to those words.  

We put an offer on a house a few weeks ago and the next day it was accepted!  We had the pest inspection and home inspection today and everything went pretty well.  Only a few minor things we would like the owners to fix.

I might have already started planning a housewarming party.  I just needed an excuse to see everyone.  We're excited to move in a few weeks and start making it our home.  Our door is always open, so feel free to come stay (unless it's past 9pm and I will probably be in bed)!

Girls Weekend 2012

Last weekend, we headed to our Annual Gibbs Girls weekend.  

Em drove from Tuscaloosa, I drove from Charlotte and mom and Lora flew from GSO & RDU.  Somehow, we all pulled into Chateau Elan at the exact same time.  We didn't waste anytime once we dropped our bags in the room.  We walked the property, checked out the spa and found ourselves at one of the property restaurants ordering adult beverages.  That evening, we headed to a local Mexican restaurant where everyone tried to get the other person tipsy.  Mission accomplished.

Saturday morning, we woke up to mom asking what time it was and/or coughing (love you, mom)!  We began to question why we didn't get 2 rooms, but all was quickly forgotten once be started talking about food.  We had a great breakfast, made best friends with the chef then headed to the spa.  We were at the spa from 9:30am until after 2pm.  We had massages/facials, relaxed, ate lunch in our robes (my favorite part) and took advantage of all the spa "extras".  

After the spa, Em and I headed back to the room so we could just chill.  Lora took one for the team and went on a nature walk with mom.  Apparently it wasn't too painful since they stopped halfway through the walk and had drinks at the pool bar.  

Late that afternoon, we all quickly got ready for the winery tour and tasting.  We had a good time sipping wine and being obnoxious as usual.

That evening, we all got dressed up and headed back to the winery for dinner.  The food and wine were amazing.  After dinner was over, mom might have been trying to talk us into going to the restaurant/bar next door for drinks and dancing.  Her daughters are lame and said no.  We were all tired and wanted to lay around and then get some sleep.  BORING...but a perfect night in my book.

 Mom misbehaving as usual

 Happy 60th birthday mom!

Sunday morning, we all woke up and got ready to head out.  Mom and Lora had to get to the airport to catch an early flight and I was ready to hit the road so I could see my little man.

It was my first time away from Anderson and I missed those chubby cheeks!  Mike and Anderson had a great weekend together  and I was so thankful for a weekend away.
Until next year...

This is what happens...

when the four of us are at the spa together.

Clearly we don't get out much!

I should caption each photo with what we were saying at the time, but I will leave that to your own imagination.  Bless them!

Weekend away

I am leaving tomorrow for the Gibbs Girls annual trip.  This year we are heading to Chateau Elan, right outside of Atlanta.  It will be my first weekend away from Anderson and I have mixed emotions about it.

I am SO EXCITED to spend the weekend with my mom and sisters and sleep without the baby monitor.  But, I am a control freak and won't be able to control Anderson's schedule while I'm away.  Crazy, I know.  Mike is completely capable and I know he will be fine, but I will still be worried. (plus he has assured me that he will follow the schedule and keep track of it in my journal-love that man)

I am sure we will facetime an excessive amount this weekend and that will help my craziness.  To make matters worse, I get back on Sunday evening and fly out on Monday morning for a work trip.  Mike gets the award for super dad!

I'm ready to drink too many glasses of wine, laugh at random things mom says, rent bikes, tour the winery, relax at the spa, consume lots of yummy food, get some sleep and of course make more memories!

Happy weekend!

3 Months

Anderson,

We made it to the 3 month mark!!!  Those first few weeks of your life are starting to fade...not sure if that is good or bad.  I don't remember as vividly as I used to just how tired, clueless and scared I really was.  Apparently time does heal all wounds :)

You have had a very busy 3rd month of life.  You got to meet all your "West Girls" Aunts and your friend Gus at baby Charlotte's shower, met your cousin Malia and your aunt Stephanie, had your first play date with Austin, met your great grammy and great grandaddy, met your great grandma (Deedee), met your new playmate and "sister" Emerson, lots of nanny/poppy/O'Malley and mimi/pops time, several house hunting trips, packed up your house in Knoxville and moved to Charlotte.

You have continued to grow and develop right before our eyes.  Not only do you love sucking your pointer finger, now you love the entire fist.  Your neck has final gotten stronger and your cheeks don't weigh you down as much.  You can hold your head up and lift your head up while you are having tummy time.  You like to roll from your back to your side but then stop.  Thankfully you have no started rolling all the way over yet.  Your newest thing is drooling...not sure where it came from.  But you are constantly blowing drool bubbles and letting it soak your shirt.  You smile and laugh every time we hold you in a standing position.  You got in the johnny jumper for the first time and LOVED it!  I see many hours of jumping in the near future.  You are continuing to sit in your bumbo for longer stretches.  You are reaching for toys and hit them back and forth.  I wouldn't say you are actually holding them yet, but I think that will be any day now.

I go back to work on Tuesday and all of our routines will change a bit.  Although I'm excited to go back to work, I will miss you so much during the day.  You will be well loved during the day with Miss Beth and Emerson.  I have to travel a few different times during October and November so you will have a lot of "dad and lad" time.  Hopefully by your 4 month birthday, we will have found a house for us to move into....here's to hoping!

We are thankful that you got your dad's genes of being flexible.  You have been great during our travels (minus the meltdown you had on the way back to TN last time), sleeping in different cribs, houses and not letting it mess with your sleep schedule.

Each month gets better and better, and we're excited about all the milestones ahead.
We love you sweet boy!

3 Month Stats:

Weight- 13lbs 4 oz (I weighed you on our home scale so not sure about accuracy)

Length- 25 inches I think.  We got out the measuring tape and it seems you have grown

Eating- still taking a bottle at 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm and 7:30pm (about 4oz-5oz each feeding)

Naps- 3 naps a day ( about 1 hour each)

Night time- most of the month you were sleeping about 10-11 hour stretches and then going back to bed for 2-3 hours.  For the past 2 weeks, you have been sleeping 12-13 hours at night. THANK YOU JESUS!!!  You go to bed between 7 and 7:30 and wake up no later than 8:30am.

Behind

As you can tell, blogging has taken the back burner lately! The last month has been pretty busy for us. We were getting the house ready to put on the market and then the good Lord blessed us with multiple offers a few days later. We are VERY thankful our house sold so quickly!
We have also made multiple trips to Charlotte and Winston over the last several weeks. Lots of house hunting, grandparent and friend time.
We are trying to finish packing our house but it is much more challenging this time around with an almost 3 month old. The last few days have been spent packing, eating at our favorite restaurants and getting in as much friend time as possible!

Poor little Anderson has a lot of change coming his way...leaving our house in TN, moving into a friends lake house for who knows how long and mommy going back to work. Let's hope he is much more flexible than me!

With all that to say, our house and lives are a little crazy and disorganized right now. I have a lot of blog catch up to do very soon!

Nanny with her 2 favorite boys...and of course O'Malley always has to be touching A


Hanging out with Abs and Gus


Meeting Deedee, his great grandma



Trying to pack while keeping the baby entertained


Still a happy baby among the craziness



I will become a much more regular blogger after the move...hopefully!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

2 Months

Happy 2 Months, Anderson!

It's been a busy month for you...travels, new faces, lots of "firsts", more sleep and a much happier momma.

We went to the doctor yesterday morning and you got your first vaccines.  The first one was oral and you gulped it down, then came the 3 shots.  Your chubby face turned bright red and you started screaming like I have never heard before.  You were so pitiful.  Once the shots were over, I scooped you in my arms and you stopped crying.  I am sure the shots hurt (and you were a little shocked) but I think you added a little drama into those screams.  You might not have my looks, but you sure do have some of my personality. 
I loved you the minute you were born, but my love for you has really grown over the past month.  You are sleeping great at night and I really appreciate that.  Every time you smile and giggle, my heart melts.  The next month is going to be really busy for us, so hope you are ready for it!

2 Month Stats:

Weight- 12lbs 5 oz (hoss)- 75% percentile

Length- 24 inches-75% percentile

Eating- taking a bottle at 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm and 7:30pm

Naps- 3 naps a day (some good days and some bad ones)

Night time- sleeping 8-11 hour stretches at night

Firsts this Month:
-Road trip to Tuscaloosa, AL
-first Mexican birthday party
-Birthday party for cousin, Nate
-smiled and giggled for the first time
-Met more of your relatives (Ohio Briners)
-went swimming for the first time
-had your first kiss...even if it was from your cousin
-grew another chin :)
-sat in the bumbo
-move from one end of the crib to the other during the night (crazy)
-began making funny faces (example in picture below)
-found your hand and love sucking it
-continue to love sleeping on your stomach (I know, call DSS)