NYC!

Blair and I took a fun trip to NYC over Christmas! We haven't been on a "trip" since our honeymoon and had a great time. This was also our first trip without Mia and intentionally before baby #2 gets here. I had forgotten what it's like to NOT have a child around 24 hours! Here are some of the highlights...

Blair meeting "Rupert" of the Hello Deli (see Dave letterman)

The Deli, we had yummy hot cocoa since it was FREEZING!
Blair scored tickets to the Letterman show, we had a blast.

We got "upgraded" to the second row, mostly due to our good looks:)

Since we weren't there for New Years, we had to take the pix...

Saw "Wicked" on broadway. I loved it, Blair hated it. Shocking.

Museum of natural history t-rex, amazing!

Check out that head!

We saw Jaimie Fox on both Letterman and Goodmorning America, he was awesome!

Blair also scored tickets to be a part of the studio audience of GMA.

Here's our great sign that got national airtime for 5 seconds!

9-11 firestation across from ground zero.

Ground Zero, very strange to see it in person...

Blair infront of GW statue where the Declaration of Independance was signed

Tiffany's, yes it really IS all it's cracked up to be.

I felt like Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama!

NY Stock exchange golden bull statue...

Staten Island Ferry with Lady Liberty in the background.

New Curtains...

Between three of us who were sick, I still managed to finish the first of many house projects before baby J #2 comes: curtains for the dining room. With some coaching from my sewing mentor, Lee Anne, I am really happy with how these turned out!

This is what we're doing today, playdate with sweet Ella joy while her

mommy has yet another doctors appointment for her knee!

More photos of more projects coming soon. Next up, living room curtain!

Getting on my "nesting" mojo!

I've got the bug. I don't know if it's pregnancy hormones or just the boredom of being locked in the house during the winter, but I'm in major "nesting mode." I'm throwing my good friend, Melanie, a wedding shower in two weeks and my small group leader, Debbie, gave us her piano. Both of those things have given me motivation to make some changes to our living room which has looked basically the same for the past five years.

Don't get me wrong, I like our set up, furniture and "stuff." I just want some new life in our living (and bedroom) spaces. I bought two adorable lamps today for 50% off at Hancock fabrics for our bedroom. One of our lamps was broken and I was never in love with them. These only cost $15/each, not bad. Here's what's on the docket for this week:

1. Make two curtains for dining area windows. (I already bought some cute red/gold diamond printed fabric from Hancock fabrics for 50% off).

2. Move Debbie's piano (acutally, this is Blair's job).

3. Make curtain for large living area window (already picked out the fabric, waiting to see if I follow through on #1 first before investing in more fabric. It's supposed to snow this week, good excuse to get cracking to combat the stir-crazies).

4. Move furnature around (this is going to be hard, especially for the hubby since he loves the set up. We have a small living space, but have a few ideas for fitting in the piano and not changing the flow of the room).

When all this is done, I get to move on to our bedroom which is in dire need of a facelift as well. My way-too-crafty-and-cute-sister-in-law redid their bedding and curtains which made a HUGE difference (though everything she touches turns to gold). She's my sewing and decorating idol. Her house makes you want to throw up a little, it's that adorable AND organized (sidenote - we ironically both posted about running around the house and her title was "rub a dub dub, six men in a tub." She IS a school librarian, but common, can I have an ounce of that creativity?). I already bought some new frames from Kohls for our wedding picture and bridal protrait on clearance. they look great with the new lamps. I love seeing progress, I just need the patience to watch it all come together. Will post pictures with the progress this week...

The dumbest new tradition in our family...

So when our brother-in-law joined the family four years ago, he introduced us to this tradition that has long lived in the Porter family: running around the house on the first snow. The day after Christmas, we had our "first snow" and were told that this is something we have to do. I can see how this might be fun at a small house, but Blair's parents house is rather wide and large. I wouldn't say this was a fun experience, but it was sure memorable! Here are the highlights:

Just before the "run" on the porch.

Notice our feet are already cold...

Mia and I only made it ten feet until we turned around.

It was so cold, I peed my pants!
Here's Brad and Lee Anne rounding the corner. Yes, she's crying from the pain.

My hot hubby, this didn't even phase him.

Even Grammy got into it, she is way too happy at this point!

Warming up our feet in the bathtub, priceless! Mia is not so sure.

The Baby Doll

Mia's new fascination is with her "baby." The timing has come great considering there will be a real live human baby here in four months. Grammy bought this for her over Christmas, great timing!

Protein Bars...

My good friend Ali gave me this great recipe for protein bars that are super easy and yummy:

Mix in kitchenaid on low:
2 cups oats
1 cut peanut butter or almond butter
1 cup sunflower seeds (not in shells)
1 cup seseme seeds (I didn't have these, used chopped walnuts)
3/4 cup honey
1 cup chocolate chips

Put in a greased 9 X 13 pan, freeze for 20 minutes, cut into bars, and store in individually wrapped foils. Store in freezer.

FYI I think these would be yummy with just about any types of nut that you have. I would have added cranberries or raisins if i had them. This is a great breakfast to send your husband out the door with! Also a great mid afternoon snack for a preggo woman....

Yummy Crockpot applesauce...

Just made THIS awesome crockpot applesauce recipie for Mia. I tripled the apples (used a 3lb bag) and doubled the other ingredients. So yummy and so easy, great for everyone!

Merry Christmas part I...

We kicked off the holiday season by visiting the Grove park inn for their

annual Gingerbread House Competition. Here's the winner...

The belly, 17 weeks...
In front of the fireplace...

Mommy and Mia...

Opening Aunt Monica's presents...

Mia's first ornament...

Putting it on the tree, she's thrilled!

Santa's helpers putting up the decorations...

She's got the moves...

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Mia isn't quite dancing yet, but this is pretty close. She has figured out how to turn the VCR on and off and when she does, she can shake her booty!

How to pick out the perfect Christmas tree...

Take a cute munchkin with you. This makes it way more fun...

Pull each tree out and assess which one is the fullest.

You don't want a Charlie Brown tree...

Take a picture of mommy and baby since mommy is usually the
photographer and is rarely documented in any photos...

Have your husband haul it to your car while you enjoy the view...

Fascinating!

Mia's new skill: standing!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

So much going on...

We have had a really great month after the craziness of October. Lots has happened! The weather has just started turning chilly which has called for lots of hot drinks, chili, and indoor dates. We've enjoyed a few rare sunny days and have had fun letting Mia play in her new "car" from some friends. She's not tall enough to flinstone her way around, but still loves being pushed around...

The big girl in her car...
We also bought this not knowing...

...about this! Due June 2! It's already come in handy.

Goodbye nursing bras, hello maternity clothes...

Mia's first "Symphony at the Park"

This was Mia's first trip to hear the symphony. As you can see, she LOVES music! Been meaning to post this for a while, back to blogging!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

This is what my husband sang (literally) while crawling out of bed last week when we got our first cold spell. I've never met anyone who loves this season as much as he does. From November 1 through January 1, he's in utter bliss. He reminds me of Will Ferrell in "Elf." He's that close to running around the house and kicking his heels together cutting out snowflakes out of paper and singing Christmas carols. He has even found the one radio station that plays Christmas music 24-hours a day starting November 1. He's getting ready to string the lights on our massive leiland cypress in the front this weekend, just the beginning of the festivities around our house. Others include several trips to the Grovepark Inn to look at gingerbread houses and drink hot chocolate, Jenkins family Gingerbread house competition, Thanksgiving football game, looking at Christmas lights in Greensboro, or course shopping, family Christmas cards, filling in our Christmas book, and attending multiple Christmas parties with and without kids.

Here's pictures from the last hike of the year at Mt. Pisgah a few weeks ago, Blair's other favorite thing to do. Holidays, here we come!

Halloween Party!

While Blair was out of town last weekend, Mia and I had a great time at my friend, Kate's house with her two children, Jack and Ella. My friend Ali also came with her two children, Avery and Jackson. All of our husbands were out of town so it was a great excuse to dress everyone up and have an impromptu Halloween Party. We did everything from crafts, to dinner, storytime to playtime. Even us adults dressed up! Here are some classic pictures from the evening:

Best group shot. Love Ella as a lion!

My sweet little puppy dog! Ali and cowboy Jackson

The best part about this picture is Jack wearing my ski goggles with his dragon costume!
Avery was completely focused the whole story!
Don't you love her princess/fairy/flower costume!

Elvis lives!

I don't think these great hair moments are going to last forever.

So for now, I present to you Elvis!