Christmas Review

Tis the season for family holiday plaid

Playing with my Christmas gift (from 1988)

My Aunt's beautiful tree 

All 9 grandbabies at my inlaws  

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

Baby Stuff part 2 of 2

I first did my list of must haves for your baby now I'm going to bring you up to speed on what you don't need at least what Nosy Rosie thinks you don't need!

Nosy Rosie's "Don't Need" List

#1

1. The Bumbo Chair
D asked this to be on the top of the list.  I borrowed it from my sister in law and he hated it.  He constantly tried to get out of it.  May be useful if your child lacks the "adventurous spirit"/bad behavior that mine has.
2. 8000 Bibs
People LOVE buying cute bibs.  But seriously you only need a few.  I keep 2 in rotation at home and 2 in the diaper bag.   Teething bibs come in handy too when the drooling starts but those are only good until they learn how to rip them off.
3.  The Changing Table
Just get a dresser and slap that changing pad on it.  The one in our nursery has  2 smaller drawers on top one houses his diapers and wipes and the second with other diapering must haves and burp cloths.
4. The Wipe Warmer
Until my toilet seat and/or paper become warmed for me I will not be spoiling my child with this.
5. Coats (in the beginning stages)
I know this sounds crazy but has long as they are in the removable car seat all you need is the JJ Bundle Me Lite for spring and fall and the JJ Bundle Me Original for winter you will be set!

#2 One of our "keepers"

#5 Peeking out from his Bundle Me Lite

Christmas is coming up fast hope y'all are ready! 

Have a Merry Christmas!  

Margarona's and a College Graduation

via

Ride 1 of my 3

The Margarona
(said aloud to the tune of
The Knack's "My Sharona")

My baby sister in law graduated from the University of Cincinnati last weekend.  She barely had her drivers license when Andy and I met so to see her at this point in her now adult life brings a tear to my eye!  We can't wait to see what's next for her.  She showed us an amazing time in Kentucky Cincinnati.  All of Andy's family were able to make it with the exception of a couple brothers in law.  We kicked off the celebration with some MARGARONAS at  El Toro!  Yes, it's what you think it is, a margarita with a tiny corona in it.  Then we headed across the border to Newport, Kentucky to partake in some beer drinkin' and bull ridin'.  A perfect college graduation celebration if you ask me!  We had so much fun and were so glad we could celebrate this milestone with her.  Sadly this weekend won't be as fun as the last-I am working all of it!

The Grad & Patrick 

Happy Graduation Shell Bell - We Love you!

Baby Stuff part 1 of 2

Diaper Cake Centerpieces 

The Williams Sonoma crew and our baby mama
(outfit: dress-Francescas's glasses/watch-Michael Kors
tights-found randomly in back of my closet)

Favors 

A two part blog already?  Forward for a newbie I know.  A very sweet coworker of mine had her baby shower recently.  It was a delicious luncheon at the local country club filled with adorable favors, diaper cakes and baby gifts galore!  I was flattered when she enlisted my expertise for what to register for.  (I have one baby, which makes me an expert!)  When registering for baby D I had to take my sister in law/mother of two with me.  Baby stores are very overwhelming.  I not only needed her advice but also her muscle to drag various items from aisle to aisle to make sure everything would match.  "Who cares if it's on recall, this highchair matches our dining room!"

Rosie's Baby Registry Must Haves:

1. The Medela breast pump:

The parts are interchangeable and make it so easy for a mama on the go.

Other nursing mamas can spot that black tote a mile away and knows what you'll be up to during your lunch hour!

2.  Summer Video Monitor:

So you can hear and see that your baby is ok.  Will also be useful during his teenage years.

3.  Macclaren Umbrella Stroller:

Expensive I know, but handles like it's on rails!  It's a luxury car stroller!

4. Babycook:

#9

It steams, it chops it shuts itself off!  No more excuses — make your own baby food!  

5.  Rockabye CD:

D falls asleep to the sweet sounds of Journey and the Beatles, they even have a Kanye!  

6.  Baby Bjorn :

Your baby is going to be your greatest accessory why not wear them in style!  Used this a lot while grocery shopping until D could try to escape sit in the shopping cart.

7. Carters Onesies:

Who am I kidding get Carter everything!  Their stuff is so cute, affordable and durable.  We opted to not find out what we were having so registering for every size of white long & short sleeve onesies was a must.   

8.  Hooter Hider:

Will not make your breastfeeding invisible to those around you but does help.  

9.  La-Z-Boy:

#6

Forget the trendy glider!  I must credit my mother for this one.  I was thankful for it the night D was barking like a seal with croup and I didn't want to leave his side.  I kicked up the footrest, reclined back and was comfortable for my first impromptu nursery sleepover.  

10.  LL Bean Diaper Bag:

Monogrammed of course with parents initials!  Looks good and not too girly so Andy feels comfortable taking it.  "No, I'm not going on a hiking trip this is my diaper bag!"

Boy Meets Tree

                                         

The tree has been up for over a week now.  I was impressed our little man he didn't even seem to notice it and almost hurt since Andy and I are very proud of it and he didn't even give it the time of day!  Those days are now over.  He's noticed it...and by that I mean he'll touch it using another object.  As he looks back at us as he extends his truck into the tree I am sure he's thinking, "But I'm not touching it."  Oh do we have a long road ahead of us.  

Nosy Rosie's Christmas Decorating Tips:

1.  Take your stalking/key holiday piece with you EVERYWHERE while picking out decor 

Inside our house we try to carry a burgundy/dark green color scheme to match our Pottery Barn tree skirt and stalkings.  We tried to make sure all the bows, wreaths, pillows, etc have these hues.

2. Hang outdoor lights inside

No need to put your life at risk outside in the cold on a ladder.  I hang our icicles lights along the top of the windows, a little tape and tacks and we're in business.  

3.  Less is more

The more you put up the more you have to take down and store!  

4.  Be thrifty 

No need to shop the fancy stores so many discount stores have bows, inexpensive wreaths and holiday goodies that will give your home that warm fuzzy holiday feel.
5.  Greenery/Garland 

Inexpensive and they make everything much more Christmasy (is that a word?  I didn't get a red line so it must be?).  Boring mantel?  Light post?  Need a table scape?  Slap some greenery and a bow or some of those cute berry things in the greenery and you're done!  

Happy Holidays!

Thankful for Haircuts

Bieber Fever

We ended this long holiday weekend with a first...HAIRCUT!  D has traded in his bieber-like locks for a shorter more sophisticated look.  His Aunt/Godmother works at an amazing children's salon called Snip Its.  It is over the top adorable and super fun.  They do birthday parties for girls and do their make up and hair!  The haircut went about as well as I thought it would.  Full of screams, suckers, animal crackers and tears.  I was shocked that it was a 3 person operation!  Aunt Missy did an awesome job, he didn't sit still for longer than 3 seconds the whole time.  She even used a neck trimmer!  Here are a few pics I snapped in between entertaining, holding arms and being in charge of the sucker twirling.  

One last look at those long locks

The first snip!

There was even a prize at the end!

Bakecation*

The holiday season is upon us and I am baking up a storm.  I baked a pumpkin pie for both sides of the family and to enter one into a contest at work.  A few years ago I was feeling overly domestic and decided to bake a pumpkin pie from SCRATCH!  Cooked the pumpkin, made the crust and it to everyones surprise turned out well.  It wasn't the prettiest pie you had ever seen but it tasted great.  I mean if I can do this anyone can do this.  Here are some pictures from my recent bakecation* and recipe.

Recipe (Makes 2 9inch pies):

1 cooked pie pumpkin - cut, seeds removed, cooked at 350 in a pot with lid and little water (cover the bottom of the pan) for one hour or until soft.  Once cooled scoop out the filling and puree in food processor.  

Mix together - 

3 cups of pureed pumpkin 

3 eggs

1 can of evaporated milk

1 1/4 cups of sugar

1 t of cinnamon 

1 t of cloves

1 t of allspice

1 t of vanilla extract

1/2 t of salt

Pour into your crust bake at 425 for 15 minutes then reduce to 350 for 45 minutes.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

  

*Bakecation = taking some vacation time from work to bake  : )

Happy Adoption Day!

Did you know that November is National Adoption Month and today is National Adoption Day?  Well, it is!  My full time job is in adoptions.  My job deals a lot with families in the final stages of their adoption process.  I help make families (and make them legal)!  It melts my heart every Monday when I watch these families being created.  Hollywood adoption have always been fascinating to me, thank you Angelina Jolie.  The latest celebrity adoption trend seems to be domestic adoptions e.g. Kristin Davis, Denise Richards and Mariska Hargitay.  I have some sweet friends in Tennessee that are on a waiting list right now to adopt a baby from Africa!  Since I only see the final stages of adoption it has been neat to follow their process through her blog.  (Her kids are super cute too!)  Enjoy and have a great weekend!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas, it's soooo close.  I can't wait!  I am so sick of all the complaining; "Christmas stuff already", "It's not even Thanksgiving yet", "blah blah blahhhhhh".  The proof is in the figgy puddling - "It's the most wonderful time of the year".  There is even a song that says it, so it must be true.  Why wouldn't you start celebrating as soon as possible?  My husband loves the cozy feel of our house at Christmas that for his birthday(which is Halloween) he asked to decorate the house!  The fun Starbucks cups, Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark, the decorations...I love it all!  Back to the Starbucks, have you tried the Peppermint Mocha?  It's like Christmas in a cup.  Are you ready for this holiday season?

D's 1st Christmas last year

The question this year is 

how do I keep this away from that?

Our "soon to be terrorized" Tree

Nap Time (12 months)

He was fully and properly dress when I left him...  

                                                        

Tailgate Time

Fall is in full swing.  It is one of my favorite times of the year.  Bring on the leaves, cider and tailgating!  Marrying a baseball player he was unaware of this foreign affair.  After his first OSU tailgate a few years ago he was hooked!  Don't let me mislead you that we are the hardcore every game, rain or shine tailgaters. (But we do enjoy hanging out with those people!)  These pass couple weekends have been packed with football games and tailgating.  We did our first Browns tailgate which was amazing!  Our friend coordinates his tailgate menu with the opposing team.  (Is that genius or what?)  And I busted out for the first time "Marg" our sweet Margaritaville machine.  What you don't have a traveling margarita machine that's charge is good for 60 drinks?  Get one NOW!  Happy tailgating y'all.          

Me and Marg

Go Browns!

Andy's first OSU game

After the Buckeyes big win!

Tailgating Must Haves:

Layers of clothing
Margaritaville
Cooler - Monogrammed of course!
Emergency Kit containing the following:
Wine opener
Wet Ones
Tissues
Bandaids (learned this the hard way when Marg fought back...)

Don't forget to thank a veteran today!  

Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Anniversary

I know first birthdays now an anniversary.  We are a baseball family and we go big in the fall and jam as many events as possible in the offseason.  Today is our 5th wedding anniversary.  We have been through a lot in these 5 short years.  A short stint in the minor leagues, 6 different addresses and one sweet baby boy.  It's hard to believe it all started with a chance meeting in Siesta Key over spring break, yet we only lived miles from each other while both attending Kent State.   We have survived with God, love and a stiff drink sense of humor.  Even when we are arguing it always ends with laughter, even when inappropriate!  I am off to celebrate this anniversary at my second job!  Oh the joys of a working mama...  

Andy - Thank you for a wonderful five years and I'm looking forward to many more!

Memory Lane 

Columbus 2006

Ann Arbor 2009

Thanksgiving Eve 2005

Halloween 2009

California 2007

Chicago 2008