Happy 1st Birthday, AG!

Dear Ally Grace,

At 5:03 on October 8th, 2009, you changed my life forever. 

(Well, really it was nine months before, when you started making me want to barf all day, every day. But let's not split hairs, shall we?)

(Excuse me, what do you have to be upset about? 

Clearly, I'm the one who should've been crying.)

I tried to find this sassy nightgown to wear to your birthday party.

You know, for old times sake. 

I can't believe we made it through our first year! I was literally terrified (what's that?  You didn't notice?  So sweet.) of all things motherhood--from holding you, to changing your diaper, to feeding you. 

Let's face it.  God is good.

One day you'll read this blog, and you'll probably think several things.  Like, "my mom is really random and prone to oversharing." Or, "she sure does talk about cupcakes a lot." Or even "jeez, she watches some truly bad tv."


But what I really want you to think is "wow, she's insanely crazy about me."


(In the good way, of course).


And in case I'm not around to say it (annnd, why am I talking about this?! I blame Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhmel, and their dumb movie coming out that makes me cry every single time I see the preview), I want you to know that you and your dad have made my life amazing. In more ways than one.

Happy birthday little presh!

Oh, Mexico

First of all, I have to say a HUGE thank you to my friend, neighbor, and apparent blog-reader, Lindsey!  She left an adorable UGA cheerleading uniform on my front steps while we were on vacation, and it was SUCH a fun surprise to come home to!  Thanks to you, Lindsey, I no longer have to craft a uniform out of garbage bags and tissue paper.

Is this not adorable? And if you think there won't be a gazillion pictures of AG in this uniform, then you would be wrong.

It's hard to write about our trip to Mexico without wanting to drop everything and move there immediately.  Because it's an amazing place.  Well, except for the drug cartels. 

Fortunately, we didn't see any of those. (Although I did ask John maybe 100 times if we were going to get kidnapped or something.  While checking the State Dept website.  And reading the Mexico travel warning about 27 times.  I'm sure this was adorable, and not at all annoying.)

Thanks to a job with some sweet perks, John and I got to go to Playa del Carmen for 6 days, ALL EXPENSES PAID.  Excuse me, WHAT?!   Yes, you read that correctly.  Some company actually makes it's employees go to a gorgeous, 5-star, all-inclusive resort for WORK.  There is actually a guy (sadly, not John) whose job it is to scout locations for company retreats.  Which means, he gets to travel to these ridiculous, exotic locales, let's say it together, shall we? For WORK. 

Not that I'm jealous or anything. 

We left for Mexico on Wednesday morning, and arrived at the Grand Velas Riveria Maya early that afternoon.  When I tell you that it's probably the closest thing to heaven on earth that I've experienced, I am not exaggerating.  Here are a few things that made it great:

• Did I mention all-inclusive?  Did you know that means that you can eat EVERYTHING in the mini-bar, every. single. day? 

I mean, I'm only assuming, because it's not like I would actually do that.  (Okay, I would totally do that.  And did.  Every day.  And if you think I didn't stuff the entire mini-bar into my purse on the day we left, then you clearly have never read this blog). 

• We had a personal butler named, Orion.  I'm not even sure what buttling entails, or why we would need a butler.  But he was awesome.  One night, we asked him about this particular restaurant on the property that's supposed to be the "signature" restaurant.  He told us that the food was, and I quote:  "weird, but delicious."  Like, I said.  Awesome.

(Here we are at the "weird but delicious" restaurant.  And he was totally right.  I almost never knew what I was putting in my mouth, but it was delicious.)

• Also, did you know that all-inclusive means you can order room service once an hour, if you so desire?  Few things are as fun for me as eating in bed while watching tv.  Just ask John, who on our second date, saw a half-eaten donut sitting on my nightstand.  And almost threw up in his mouth.  Because, apparently guys think there's something unattractive about eating donuts in bed.  Go figure.

• Pina coladas by the pool.  Apparently I like to enjoy treats while lounging. 

(Apparently I also like to take unfortunate pictures of myself and post them on my blog)

• Dolphin Discovery!  Although, it really should've been called "Discover Sherri Flashing" or something like that, because during the part where we ride the dolphins?  Well, let's just say that my bikini bottoms didn't stand up to the task.  And a big, sarcastic, thank you to the dolphin who dropped me off right in FRONT of the crowd we came with.  Awesome.  Thanks, Flipper.  (No pictures of that.  This isn't that kind of blog, people.)
• A security escort to go running around the property.  Well, this wasn't one of the best parts...it was actually kind of awkward, but it DID make me feel like the president or something.
• These fabulous boots that we (okay, John) bargained down from $575 (dollars NOT pesos) to $75!! 

John had to have a little pep talk with me before we went shopping, because this is usually what happens when we're in a negotiating situation like this: 

John:  Sir, how much are these boots?

Sherri:  I LOVE THESE!!!!

Store Owner:  $575

John:  Hahahaha, no really.  How much?  We'll give you $50.

Store Owner:  $250

Sherri:  Please don't walk away, please don't walk away.  Oops, did I say that outloud?

Fortunately, I kept my mouth shut, and John got us a great deal.  Well, got me a great deal.  'Cause if I catch him wearing my lady boots, we'll have a real problem.

(Also, I think I may have a serious boot addiction.)

Anyway, I could go on and on, but I won't because, I am a thousand percent positive that this is really only interesting to me. But I will say, GO THERE IMMEDIATELY, if you are looking for a vacation spot. 

And take me with you.



Need Some Help, Girls.....

I am totally at a loss for what I should be feeding AG. She turns one NEXT FRIDAY, and you'd think I just might have this down by now.

Unfortunately, you would be wrong.

By the way, I have a way more interesting (No.) post about our vacation to Mexico last week.  What's that?  You wondered why I hadn't been posting?  Or you knew that because of my complete and total paranoia safety-mindedness that I must not be posting because we were traveling.

Which, when I think about it, isn't really a super stellar way of throwing off burglars, is it?

At any rate, on to my questions. 

Disclaimer: Feel free to answer, speculate, and generally throw in your two-cents whether you have children of your own, or whether you just googled answers to these questions five minutes ago.  I'm not picky.


1. When did you start giving your baby whole milk? 

2. When did you drop the pre-bedtime feeding? And do you promise that AG will keep sleeping through the night?  Because if not, I'll be giving her a bedtime bottle every night til she goes to college.

Attractive.

3.  What did your day look like when your baby turned one? (Feedings, naptimes, outings?  Collapsing onto the couch while praying that your baby would take a decent nap?)

4.  Any tips on great solid foods for little ones? AG eats some big people food, but mostly still stage 3 baby food. It's easier, and I'm apparently a little lazy. She has a bunch of teeth, and I'm sure she could be eating more foods, if I wasn't such a sissy and deathly afraid of her choking.
 
5.  Anything else I need to know? 
 
Thanks, y'all!  I'll post some pictures of our Mexico trip soon, I promise.  It basically involved John having to work (a little), while I raided the mini-bar for chocolate every morning.  And afternoon.  And evening.   
 
I also may or may not have accidentally flashed some of his coworkers during our "ride the dolphins, and OH, hey, maybe you should tell people not to wear string bikinis!" adventure.
 
Good times.

Baby D's New Look (I mean, on the blog. I didn't give AG a sassy new makeover, or anything).

Do you ever stalk read blogs, and decide that if you lived in the same city as the blog author, you would definitely be friends?
Maybe you even occasionally start talking about this person in conversations with your husband, telling him about how so-and-so did/said the funniest/coolest/most thought-provoking thing today.

(And maybe when he figures out that this is a person you have never actually met, he looks at you like you’re a total creeper.)

NOT that I know about this from experience. Because I don’t.

Except that I do.

Anyway, I’ve been reading Melanie’s blog for awhile now, and thinking: this girl seems SO sweet and godly, and I want to be just like her.

(Now I sound creepy again, don’t I?)

So, about a month ago, Melanie offered a giveaway for a free custom blog design. (Because not only is she a busy mother of two, she finds time to do these fantabulous blog creations.  It would be sickening if she wasn't so awesome.).   I read about this giveaway, and decided, well yes.  Yes, I would like to win that. And against ALL of my normally un-winning odds, I actually won.

Let me just tell you that, now, after working with Melanie on this design, I am CERTAIN that we would be friends in real life. And not just in blog life. Because she reached into my brain and pulled out EXACTLY what I would have wanted, had I been creative enough to think of it on my own.

Which I obviously wasn’t.

Regardless, if you’re in the market for a new blog design, TALK TO MELANIE. Her designs are awesome, she is beyond sweet & fun to work with, and her prices are so affordable.

Thank you again, Melanie for the fantastic design! I loved getting to work with you on this!

Athens

Dear Sherri,

Your little trip to Athens today was fun, wasn't it?  You got to re-live old memories at the ADPi house, walk around downtown, and see the (in)famous Brumby again.  Good times.

But listen.....when you're chatting with the cute, young college girls working in that adorable shop downtown, and you ask them what sorority they're in, they are NOT going to return the question.  Sorry, hon.  And don't expect them to ask what "year" you are.  I'm not sure, but it may have a little something to do with the bags under your eyes. 

And your lack of desire to try to hide them with makeup.

And the fact that you asked them where to find a Georgia cheerleading uniform for your baby.

(Btw, it's not nice to wish wrinkles and early aging upon those girls either.  Just sayin.)

I know you haven't been back to Athens in a quite awhile (due to a child who insisted upon being born during football season last year.  Diva.), but it's generally best if you don't go around starting sentences with, "when I was in Athens." 

Like, "when I was in Athens, we used to go to Mexicali all the time."  Or "when I was in Athens, we still had dial-up internet. And no tivo."  And especially not, "when I was in Athens, we only used our cell phones for emergencies, and we (gasp) didn't text our friends."

You might as well tell people that you walked 5 miles, uphill, in the snow, to your classes.

Be prepared for the college children to look at you like you're an alien from another planet.  (Or just a thirty-something.  Which is basically the same thing to them.)

Let me sum it up for you:  Just because you wear jeggings, drink Starbucks, and say things like "awesome,"  people do NOT think you're still in college.  (And probably especially because you say things like "awesome.")

Sincerely,
Your thirty-something self that gets tired at 9:30, loves HGTV, and kicks it regularly in her sweatpants.

(Hey, at least it's not a housecoat.  Yet.)

A Few Things.....

1.  Ally Grace is officially 11 months old!  Which means, next month, she'll be considered a toddler.
Coincidentally, it also means that I will no longer be able to blame things on "the baby."  Or even (shamefully) the pregnancy. 

Like this raging case of OCD I seem to have picked up, because of the pregnancy.

Or the hypothetical widening of my hips, because of the baby.

Or darn, I sure would love to come to your (insert event that I am desperately trying to get out of) but I can't, because I have to get home and feed the baby.

Regardless, I'm loving every minute of this stage with Ally Grace.  Even though she's going through what some might call a "screeching in public" phase.  And despite the fact that she's constantly got her finger in her nose, my nose, or just jabbing it somewhere in the general vicinity of my eyeball. 

But really, she's five thousand kinds of adorable, and I'll just leave it at that.  I couldn't possibly love the girl more.

2.  (I know, I know, that was ALL number 1.  Rash.)  So, I watched the show "Hellcats" last night.  It has all the things I look for in a new favorite show:

• it's on the CW
• it's all about cheerleading (hello? Bring It On, anyone?!)
• it has a target audience of teenagers

What's not to love?

3.  I came up with a fantastic combination of toppings at my neighborhood Yoforia.  Which I may have visited one (or five) too many times this week.  Potentially even immediately after going on a run.  But really, I was doing a public service by experimenting with toppings, because what I am about to share with you will rock. your. world.

Blueberries......with fruity pebbles.

Clearly I have a mature food palate. (No.)  Also, I'm pretty sure the blueberries cancel out the fruity pebbles.

4.  WHERE in the world can you find a 12 month old Georgia cheerleading uniform???  Don't worry, I'm not signing her up for cheerleading.  Yet.  But her first birthday party's coming up, and due to our inability to consult a calendar before planning important events, we may have accidentally planned it for the Georgia-Tennessee game.  Which will now be referred to as "Ally Grace's First Tailgate" by everyone that matters.

(Or probably only by us.  But isn't a baby cheerleading uniform practically a requirement here? I'm feeling scared that I might have to bust out some scissors and try to get crafty, if I can't find one that's actually made by professionals.  Or Nike.  Or just someone who sews.)

5.  And because I'd really like to end on number 5 (and, hello OCD....we're back), I'll just tell you that for Labor Day, we went to the lake. 

As per usual, we attended the Lake Rabun holiday buffet, hosted by the Dillard House.  And as per usual, we not only had the buffet memorized, we used this to our advantage to strategize our food choices, placement, and general execution.

What?  It was completely all because of the pregnancy. the baby.

Oh wait.

Yes, We ARE Those People

Voting starts today on Gerber's Cutest Kid!  Which we sincerely hope will be Ally Grace, so that we can afford to send her to college. 

(Have I guilted you into voting yet?)

Here's the link, should you be so inclined to use it.  (Please use it.)

Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone!  GO DAWGS!