Great first Christmas!

We had a wonderful first Christmas as a little family. It's always a little hectic this time of year for us but this year it was a little more hectic than usual. We decided to make most of our Christmas gifts this year in the hopes of it being cheaper and take less time....HA! It was neither! But it all turned out fine. Scout got soooooo much awesome stuff.Jason and I made him a Build-a-Bear this year since he wouldn't really care about much;we wanted his present to be more nostalgic than practical. It turned out so cute and sooooo soft; and believe it or not, he actually likes it. His name is Bubba and he wears a UT t-shirt. I think Mommy and Daddy have definitely had a better time playing with all his toys than he has. We won't have to buy him anymore clothes at all for a very long time either!!! That kid has more clothes and shoes than I do!!!He was sooo good during all our many stops too. He loves being passed around (good thing) and he handles all of the loudness and chaos wonderfully!:) He is such an awesome baby I just cannot get over it! He travels well, he sleeps in his own bed, he only cries when he's hungry and even at that it's usually no more than a whimper. He smiles all day long at everyone and is so happy. It's kind of scary cause I know we may not get that lucky twice in a row if we have another one.We are in constant awe of what a blessing God has given us. He is truly the light of our lives and we are both in complete love with this little boy.

We also got to go to Pikeville to my dads familys Christmas. It was great because my Granny got to meet Scout as well as the rest of my family. We had a really good time.Along with so many other firsts, we had another one,too. No biggie to anyone else but his Mommy, but he sat in his Bumbo seat for the first time. He seemed to really like it too. He's still working on holding his head up but that will come in time.:) I just cannot get over how fast he his growing!!!

We all had a great Christmas!! Mommy got all brand new Rachel Ray Stainless Steel Cookware, clothes and money (thank the Lord). So we were very blessed this year. In fact, this has by far been the best year of my life. I was pregnant (almost all year) and then was blessed with the most beautiful and perfect little boy ALL IN THE SAME YEAR!!!!It doesn't get much better than that. I'm looking forward to a new year and all that it will bring but the ONLY problem with a new year comes going back to work. I am having the hardest time accepting it and wrapping my head around it. I want so badly to be at home with him, but financially, it's just not in the cards right now.I'm trying so hard to pep talk myself daily but next Tuesday if fast approaching and I am dreading it with all my heart!He will be in good hands; that's not the problem. I just want to be with him during the day; not just on nights and weekends. UGH!!!! Watch the news for "Mommy Gone Berserk At Local Salon Due To Child In Daycare"!Ha!I keep telling my sister-in-law(also my boss) that I'm just gonna bring him and his pack-n-play and put it in the corner!!! She doesn't like that idea too very much!!!:)Woe is me!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!Have a safe New Years and God bless you all in 2009!!

'tis the season to be a JOLLEY!!!!!!

Wow! Christmas with an infant is rather difficult! Not to mention the lack of income on my part, the little bit of shopping I have managed to do is fast and furious! I try to get in and get out before any meltdowns occur! No window shopping for this mama anymore! But it has already proved to be the best Christmas ever. After all, I DO have the most beautiful baby in the wide world! We are so blessed and I realize that now more than ever. We don't even have our tree up people! Yet I am very much in the Christmas spirit!!!! I have used having a child as an excuse to watch every single Christmas inspired cartoon/movie this year (not that I ever needed an excuse in the past) and have had a mug of homemade hot chocolate (with marshmallows) while watching every one!! I have Christmas cards ready to go, just waiting on our pics to be ready.My sweet husband decorated the outside of the house,we had our annual Christmas ornament made, and made Scout a Build-a-Bear for his Christmas present. So I am not really behind on anything yet! I just lack the tree, indoor decorations and wrapping the gifts! So not bad for a new mom!!I am quite proud of myself actually! I guess since I have been put on a "budget" due to not working right now, I have become obsessed with discounts, coupons, and free samples! It's pretty funny actually! I have always been the bargain shopper, but I have gone off the deep end!!!! I got online one day and discovered all these websites to get all kinds of freebies!! You heard me....FREE! I LOVE IT!!! I anxiously await the papers with coupons in them and print every coupon I can get my hands on!!And most recently, I have discovered the world of "bargaining with salespeople"! It's amazing how much you can get taken off the price with just a little persuasion!!! I am beginning to get really good at it!You have to know something about my personality....I used to not be able to stand hearing people "bargain" with people. I, myself, would walk into the store, pick up my item, pay and leave.I wouldn't even do it at a yard sale!!!I'm sure certain sales associates have enjoyed many a chuckle and hefty commission at my expense in the past. But my husband is the worlds best wheeler and dealer! He even does it at WALMART!!! So he has finally worn off on me! And it's awesome!!!I shutter to think of all the money I have essentially wasted in the past!!!So, this is a personal achievement and I am proud of myself...I'm a big girl!

So Scout is growing like a weed! He is hilarious! He knows if he pretends to cry you'll either pick him up or at the very least, pay attention to him. So he'll let out this pitiful whimper,stick his lower lip out and when you look at him the biggest, toothless grin spreads across his chubby little face! And so the game continues indefinitely! He is so precious though! I am really enjoying being at home with him and I am beginning to really dread going back to work. He's already enrolled in day care, but it doesn't make it any easier at all. Now I see what so many people mean when they say "I didn't have children so other people could raise them." But you do what you have to do.I wish I could afford to only work 2 days a week! That would be great!!!!But, alas, I cannot! :) OK, I have to quit talking about it or I'll start crying!!

What a long blog I am writing today! I have had way toooo much coffee and Scout isn't awake yet....go figure!

So with all my spare time (yeah right) I have finally decided to compile my cookbook. I have wanted to do this for a long time, but I am working on it now. They won't all be my recipes though; mainly a collection of my favorites, family recipes, and some I use alot; the real tried and true ones!!! How many times have you bought or looked through a cookbook and only a handful of recipes seemed good or possible? These will all be easy and most will require ingredients you already have at home! So here's the name I have decided on....

THE JOLLEY MAMA'S BOOK OF

GOOD EATS& SWEET TREATS

(Get it? Jolley Mama? Sounds like Dahli Lama?)I'll let you know when it's finished!!! If I don't get around to blogging again before Christmas....I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New year!!!

Scout's 2 month check-up

We went to the Dr. today and she said everything looked great....he weighs 14lbs. and is 24 in. long!All that is great except for his breathing. He makes these weird little noises sometimes; almost like he's having trouble getting a breath.She says it could be something he'll grow out of but if he keeps doing it or it gets worse, then we have to take him to a specialist. It doesn't seem to bother him at all when he does it, but I guess we need to be on the safe side.So I guess we'll just wait and see. He also got two shots and his Rotovirus vaccine today,too. He had just eaten so he puked all over the place when they gave him the oral one.Then with the two shots...he was MAD AT US!!!

He is laughing smiling and cooing all the time now.It is the sweetest thing and we are just eating it up!!!!I enrolled him in daycare last week...still not thrilled about that, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.I'm sure I'll be fine.....eventually.