Fantasy of Trees '08 cont

Here's more pictures I just have to share. I have some better ones of all three of us & some with Mom & Mamaw that were taken there that I'll have to scan in later.
Just us!
Waiting in line with Daddy to meet Santa!
Making time for some snuggles...
Daddy's favorite tree...Pirate stuff plus ducks!
Mommy's favorite tree...all blankets!

Thanksgiving cont & Fantasy of Trees!

After we all woke up from our Turkey Comas, we decided to go to the Fantasy of Trees. So Mom, Mamaw, Joey, Livvy & I headed out. It was so much fun! I have been almost every year since I was born. This year was so exciting being able to take Livvy & see her reaction to everything. She loved all the lights & decorations!


She made Thumbprint Ornaments, but she wasn’t so sure about it…

Handprint Potholders, she loved swishing the paint between her fingers (I finally just got the paint from under her fingernails this week!)…

and met & had her picture taken with Santa for the very first time!
She didn’t cry at all. She just started at him. It was too cute! ( I'll scan in the better pitcture with Christmas stuff.)

But her favorite part, I think, was playing with the water bottle...


Enjoy!

Thanksgiving 2008- Livvy's 1st!

My little turkey!

Mom slicing the turkey. It's not just a man's job!

Mamaw preparing the table, while Dad hovers waiting to chow down. Haha!

Am I the last person to blog about Thanksgiving? Sorry, I told you this is our busiest time of year! Anyways, we had a very nice Thanksgiving. It was Livvy’s 1st! Livvy & I slept in on Thanksgiving while Joey went to our church’s “Turkey Bowl” to play & take pictures. When Livvy & I woke up we had fun watching The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. She loved the music & floats!

That afternoon, we had dinner with my family. It was odd. It was only Mom, Dad, Mamaw, Joey, Livvy, & I. Normally most of mom’s side of the family comes over, but not this year. It was still very enjoyable & the food was amazing as always.
Livvy even had her own turkey dinner baby food which, as you can see, she did not like. She would much rather just have whatever is off of our plates. After dinner, we lyed around for a while & played with Livvy. I had a video, but it wouldn't upload...gr...

We had originally planned to go see Joey’s family after dinner, but they were all sick. So, we opted to stay home to keep Livvy from catching it. I felt so sorry for them & we missed seeing them! We’ll definitely have to visit soon & we’ll be there for Christmas Day.

Just like every year, I have so much to be thankful for. Our Savior, my faith, my sweet husband, my beautiful baby, my loving family, my caring family-in-law, friends, health, food to eat, a roof over our heads, medical care when needed, jobs, the country we live in, the children in my Sunday school class & all they teach me, the opportunities I have to share what I have with others who might not be as richly blessed. Every day, not just during this season, I hope I can recognize & appreciate all my blessings (even the hidden ones).

Cally's latest...

giveaway! My uber talented friend is giving away free stuff. So check it out!

They've got the moves!

And the most awsome Wedding/1st Dance ever! I agree with Tara, I wish we'd thought of this!!

The 24th Annual....

It's that time of year again! This week kicks off what is usually my busiest & most favorite time of year (Thanksgiving-Christmas). Not only is it Autumn which brings Thanksgiving, but this week every year Knoxville hosts The East Tennessee Children's Hospital's Fantasy of Trees. The Fantasy of Trees is the hospital's largest fundraiser. This year, all proceeds go to purchase equipment and other needs for the hospital's inpatient units, Surgery, and Radiology departments. I love service, no matter what kind! But this fundraiser is particularly close to my heart. My family & many friends work the event as volunteers. I've been almost every year since I was born, & this will be my 11th year working the event. I have seen how many lives have been touched by this incredible venture. Including my own niece (by marriage), Jalene, who battled cancer at the young age 2yr old & won with the help of ETCH.
The event begins the day before Thanksgiving & ends the Sunday after (Nov. 26-30th). There are crafts for children(free & $), lively shows, beautiful displays, & even Santa Claus! Most definitely something for everyone...even the "Scrouges". Check out the links for more info, times, & prices. There will also be a link on my sidebar for information year round! I invite you to come kick off the holiday season with something you will never forget & is sure to become a family tradition.

I must admit, I do feel really odd this year. Normally, I start working as an recruiter for this event in August or September. But this year, things are so topsy-truvy that I haven't done any recruiting at all. Also, last year, pregnant & sick, & worked all but 4 shifts & loved every minute of it. This year, I'm working only 1. I keep being told I shouldn't feel bad, but I can't help it! It's odd, not like me, & definitely not my typical routine this time of year. I can only hope that next year will be more settled & I'll be back to my normal. At any rate, we will definitely be attending & working so expect pictures!

Catching up on "first's" #1

I included in the title of this "#1". Why you might ask? Maybe it's because I know myself enough to know that I will more than likely be behind on updating everyone on "1st's" at some point in time again. I know, hard to imagine. But things happen!

First off, on Sept 29th Livvy turned over for the first time! Only from belly to back though. Back to belly wasn't until Oct 16th.

On Oct 9th we took Livvy in for her 6mo check up. She was 17lbs, 15oz & 27in long. She had grown SO much in just 6mo!! We also got the clear to start her on baby food other than cereal, which we did that night. Her first food was green beans & she loved it! Now she has tried all the veggies, most of the fruits, & is working on the meat combinations.

In between all this Livvy has been trying to crawl, pull up, stand, & even take steps! She's not quite got the whole crawling thing down yet. She rocks though! Maybe she'll be like me. I barely crawled any time, just went straight to walking at 8mo. Oh no, if she does take after me...look out! She's still a little wobbley when she stands, but she gets really excited about it! If the notion hits her, she trys to throw your hands away & take off on her own. Then she realizes, she's not sure how & flops down on her toosh. She's very proud of her new shoes too & loves to walk in them! She's not content just to sit still anymore, it's time to be in the floor and on the move!

Then, on Nov 6th Livvy cut her 1st tooth! She had been having trouble sleeping for a couple nights & now I know why. Coincidentally, she also got sick for the first time that night. We figure it was because her saliva was so acidic that it just upset her stomach. Poor baby! Oh! And she cut her 2nd tooth on Nov 17th.

Last & most recently, she seems to be attempting to say names. While Grandma (my mom), Mamaw (my mamaw), & I have been trying to get her to say things like "Momma, Mamaw, Grandma", Grandpa has been trying to get her to say "Grandpa", Joey has been trying to get her to say "Daddy", & when we visited a couple weeks ago Nanny & Papa (Joey's parents) & two of our nieces, Jalene & Janele, were trying to get her to say all of their names too. But she opted for "Di-di", which we believe to be "Daddy". On, Nov 15th Joey was playing with her when we got home from a date night. They were laughing & playing, when she started to rub her eyes because she was sleepy. Joey looked at her & said "Oh, Livvy!" Sympathy apparently makes you fall asleep faster, so she quickly tried to stand up & start jumping agian. After a minute she was getting sleepy agian. She decided she needed snuggles, so she looks at him & said something that sounded like "Oh, Di-di!" & reached to hug him. It was too cute!! Joey was really proud & excited that she apparently said his name first, of course. She said it a few more times that night even. Then the next day after church, Joey had a meeting, so Livvy & I sat in the hall waiting for him. She wasn't very happy he was gone, so I was trying to distract her with her picture album we made. When we opened the book to the picture of Joey she grabbed it & patted the picture & kept saying "Di-di! Di-di!". I know they aren't supposed to know what "Dada" & "Mama" really mean or associate them with people yet, but it seems like she does. Who knows! I attempted to get it on film, but all she did was smile.

We're a little proud...can you tell? I'm sorry I don't have any pictures now. If she's playing & I get the camera, she won't turn over. If she's smiling & I get the camera, she clamps her mouth so I can't see her teeth. I haven't gotten anything of her standing up or walking yet. And good luck getting her to say "Di-di" on video. I'll keep trying though...I promise!