Christmas Time Is Here

I don't have any pictures for today's post, that I took myself. I will steal one for the point of this post. I feel like one pictures is always needed! Remember yesterday, I said that Christmas can officially start now? For me, it has. I love the cold weather. This is cold weather in Texas! Last night, Stephen and I went to dinner with Aaron at this amazing Indian food place. I was freezing. I was wearing a shirt, a sweater, and a coat. Stephen had on a hoodie with the sleeves up. It was ridiculous. Stephen doesn't think it's that cold.

Taken from Luminous Landscape.

Stephen is Christmas-sick. Much like home sick. But, he's said that Christmas in Texas has never felt like Christmas. He wants snow. And not just Texas snow. But, real snow. The boy lived in Chicago. My first idea, was if we had a lot of money, to fly to Chicago and hang out with his sister in the winter. That would be a fun tradition to start! But, alas, we do not.

Instead, we are going to bake. We will make sugar cookies, traditional. We are going to make some other treat as well, I don't know what they're called. Stephen does. I've never heard of them. They are peanut buttery on the inside and chocolatey on the outside. We might throw in a few other treats as well. Probably not as good as snow, but eh, I'll try.

Maybe I should do a snow dance. One that will bring two feet of snow.

Could you imagine Ian in a huge snow suit?! Oh my goodness, adorable.

Ian's up. Blog out.

Christmas can Officially Begin!

Yesterday was Franny's birthday! She exclaimed to me how she can now put up Christmas lights because Christmas begins December 10, the day after her birthday. We had a birthday dinner with her. Mmmmm, it was tasty!

Franny knows how to cut a cake. Sort of. I'm sure there is an easier way...

Ian always makes the job easier! Ian and the birthday girl sharing some delicious cake. Franny is 23 now! That means Caroline is now the youngest bridesmaid. :) Poor Caroline.

Oh, I almost forgot, Franny was assisting Ian in tearing down the restaurant. Though, I think we're invited back anyways. The entire staff (even the cooks) made their way out at one point or another to look at Ian. I can't help that he's so rambunctious and looks like he's 6 months. I'm sure they're astounded.

Any who, I must get back to my domestic day.

Amanda

Being a Stay-at-Home Mom

is crazy.

This little one has been keeping me on my toes.

Is it oh-so-worth it!

Just to see faces like that every single day.

His longhorn tattoo hasn't come off all the way yet. And I don't want to scrub it.

For graduation, I received a wonderful gift from my parents...

Taken from Nikon.

It is wonderful. I got two lenses too. I love it. I love it. I love it.

And to end today's short post, here is my aspiring Risky Business star...

Blog out.

Mommy Goggles

Funny enough, Ian is still able to fit into last year's Christmas stuff. We got some Christmas things that were for 3-6 months, some 6-12 months. So, we don't really have to buy any new Christmas clothes. That's nice. Here's my little angel from this morning:

Do you like his new Tom Cruise look? I think he rocks it. Especially with all of the stains on his shirt. He's adorable. He's partly dressed, because obviously, he had to undress some through the night.

Graduation was a success. I'll post about that tomorrow. Yesterday, Ian didn't take a nap. AND, he didn't go to sleep until 8:30. I was really concerned that he hadn't napped by the time I left for graduation. I was sure that he was going to cry. Alas, I was proved wrong once again. I should have known, there were people there. He turns it on for people. (A few times during graduation I heard him say "DA!" really loud). He just entertained everyone the entire time. I don't know, there's just something about Ian. When he sees that people need entertainment, he delivers.

He has to ensure that everyone knows him and that he knows everyone else. So, he goes up to them and says hi. Apparently, he was flirting with my little brothers girlfriend and kept getting really close to her face and saying hi, over and over again. Cute. Good taste.

Oh, he's been trying to play too. Like, with other children. Apparently, yesterday, the kid he was trying to play with wasn't sure what to do... just sort of looked at Ian as if he were insane. Oh, children.

I must go now. The little one is throwing cereal at me.

TTYL!

Graduating!?

This is my second to last day of school. I have finished my site project and portfolio. Now, just being an intern for today and tomorrow, then walking on Sunday! It is so great! Hook 'Em!

Wow, how weird. I'll be a UT Alumni. I was talking to a friend yesterday; I never thought that I'd be graduating while engaged to an amazing man with the cutest baby on earth. If you would have told me that my freshman year, I would have called you a liar.

I am excited to graduate, but sad to leave the lab school. It has been fun working here. Despite the "working for free" aspect. But, I loved it. Now, I have to think about taking the next steps. Do I immediately get a job? Do I take some time off and prepare for the wedding while enjoying being a stay-at-home mom  for as long as possible? I am lucky to have options.

I'm at work, so I have to make this blog quick. But, I also wanted to throw a thank you out to my parents. My mom has watched Ian for a year and a half for me, allowing me to go to school. This is an amazing gift. I literally couldn't have done it otherwise. And my dad, also amazing and giving me breaks on the weekends. I can do work while he plays with Ian.And of course, Stephen. I couldn't have survived. He has supported me through school and read all of my papers when I needed help. He has been putting food on the table, grocery shopping, cleaning, doing laundry, everything. Everyone has been so helpful. And for that, I am forever grateful.

Amanda

Quiz Answers

Ian let me sleep in today, so I have to post a quick blog, I'm sorry.

Here are the answers to the quiz from two weeks ago!

1. What city was I born in? -Sherman, TX! Nearly everyone got this one right.

2. How many siblings do I have? -2 (amazing) brothers. EVERYONE got this one right!

3. and 4. The names for our next boy and next girl, everyone got right. They were freebies. I just wanted to see what people thought.

5. What is my favorite season? -WINTER! You are living my favorite season people.... living it.

6. Perfume? -Sensi by Giorgio Armani. Brad bought it for me a LONG time ago, now it's all I wear.

7. My maid of honor and I have been friends for 18 years! Amazing, right? We met in kindergarten. I recently wrote our kindergarten teacher and told her this. Don't worry, this was my favorite teacher of all time!

8. I have a collection of BARBIES! Thanks to my Aunt Mary. They are a wonderful thing.

9. I am a soccer player. Shame on you if you don't know that!

10. My parents were 19 years old when they got married. I just realized this a year ago. Don't judge me.

11. Peter Pan the Broadway used to be my favorite movie of all time. I watched it 1 million times a day.

12. And, my chosen breakfast of a champion is.... bagel, egg, bacon, cream cheese sandwich!!

Those are the quiz answers!

Now, quickly I must show you the new car seat. I greatly underestimated the size of it. I now refer to it as the Monster. You'll see in about 2 seconds....

The one of the left is the First Years one, it's my moms, the one I was going to get. The one on the right, is obviously the Monster. Can you tell I like the neutral color car seats? They are the same colors. Like Ian's pajamas?

Oh, I have an anomaly for you. Ian HATES riding in his car seat. HATES. However, apparently when the car seat is in the house, that's a completely different story...

He's such a goober.

Until next time,

Amanda

Ten on Tuesday

Happy December!!

1. What was the last concert you've been to?

I cannot remember. Is that bad? Besides ACL, it was the Black and White Years, and that show was embarrassing, I wrote a blog about it.

2. Is it easy to make you cry?

Depends on who you are and my mood. Right this instant? Most likely.

3. Do you ever feel like people underestimate you?

Not particularly. I feel like I'm usually properly estimated. Minus when I had to stay home alone because Stephen went out of town. It was my first night alone (with Ian) since Stephen and I moved in together. Everyone thought I'd stay with my parents.  /sigh

4. Name 7 completely random things you like:

1. Legally Blonde 2. Ian's pajamas 3. Stephen's doing of the dishes 4. My boss 5. Snuggling 6. Presents and 7. Meatballs

5. What's your favorite reality TV show and why?

It used to be Biggest Loser, but I haven't watched it at all this season. Nor have I watched ANY reality show in a long while. Therefore, I think it's safe to say I don't like reality TV. Minus America's Next Top Model and that one design show with Heidi Samuel (she officially changed her last name from Klum). Though, I never watch either of those shows, but I used to and I loved them.

6. What is your favorite hair care product?

Water.

7. What's your favorite song at the moment?

Some hibernation song on Ian's CD in the car. Anyone who has rode in my car knows exactly what I'm talking about. It's an EXTREMELY addicting song. That, and the All I Want for Christmas Is You song, but particularly the version from Love Actually with the kiddo singing.

8. What's the number one things on your Christmas wishlist?

To see my family. Sappy, right? Other than that, a camera. Other than that, pajamas.

9. Have you ever lost your cell phone?

Daily.

10. Did you attack the hordes of shoppers for Black Friday?

No. I did shop online though. So, I was attacking shoppers with my bandwidth I guess.

Answers to my quiz 2 weeks ago will be posted tomorrow. Thank you readers for putting up with my inconsistency. In the mean time, go read my new favorite blog, Profoundly Seth. She just had a premature baby girl named Evany. Go read!

Amanda