Happy Ha-OWL-oween!

Margaux loved this Halloween. She still didn't really know what all was going on, but she knew to chase her little friend Sophia (aka Ladybug) from the wagon to the door.

I love the face she is making at Wes!!

My owl and her daddy with the loot!

and to rhyme with loot, Margaux is such a Hoot!

On Saturday we visited with my parents and my side of the family, and on Sunday we dressed up for Matt's family. Margaux ran around with so much excitement. I can't wait till see what she does next year.

Halloween projects

So this fall I have made a few little crafty things that I'll share.

First... Margaux's owl costume.

The wings are felt with a little interfacing. I got the pattern for them from Martha Stewart. I tweaked things a bit for ease and for personality. The beanie I made out of an old tank top of mine that was in the goodwill pile at my house. The original owl costume called for goggles. Margaux would probably rip those off in a heartbeat, so they got the axe and the beanie came in. besides the beanie there was very little machine sewing, mostly I little hand stitching.

Next... My plate turned door decor.

I found this plate at Big Lots for $0.80. I cut out some vinyl with my silhouette cutter and put it on the plate. I then drilled some holes in the plate and used floral wire to wire it to a frame I spray painted green. I added some ribbon and a little gem and the project was done.

Lastly... Some little pumpkins.

When we built the deck I had some left over little squares of wood in a pile. My original idea involved christmas and making little presents to sit about. But I figured I had enough to make some pumpkins too. I painted the blocks orange. drilled a tiny hole in the top. Then I gathered and cut some twigs from the yard. I glued the twigs in the hole with some hot glue and added the ribbon. These will be sitting around my house through Thanksgiving too!

Honeysuckle Hills

The weekend of October 15th we had a weekend of parties and family fun. On Saturday two of Margaux's little friends had their first birthday parties on the same day. We had a lot of fun and Margaux played herself out. It was a beautiful day for getting together with friends.

On Sunday we went to Honeysuckle Hills farms in Springfield. The farm is owned and operated by one of Matt's students family. We met his father who runs the show. We watched the pumpkin cannon, the pig races, and meandered through the corn maze. It was a fun day, again beautiful weather and a great chance to support one of Matt's students.

Riding with Daddy

Enjoying the Corn Maze

Picking herself a wee little pumpkin

Pig Races!

Wrapping up August

We have had so much going on here lately. I’ve had a lot going on here at work, Matt has started back to school, and we have been pretty busy on the weekends too.

Matt actually got me on his paddle board last weekend. It’s pretty fun I have to admit. It is supposed to be a great work out, but I didn’t really venture out in the water to far on my maiden voyage.

Matt also celebrated a birthday and we made our second visit to Fontanel for brunch. They have a bruschetta omelet that is fantastic. One evening we will have to make the trip for dinner. Margaux of course had the best time. She enjoyed the live music and the attention she received from fellow diners. When the weather cools down, Matt and I want to hike the trails out there.

Last Thursday I had the difficult task of judging two beauty pageants. The girls were 5-7 and 8-11. It was SO HARD! Every one of the girls were adorable and some of them were little hams having the best time. Just precious little dolls. It was seriously hard. But luckily there were two other judges. I was a little disappointed in a winner that made the statement, “I knew I was going to win. I don’t know why you all even came “ to the other contestants that were congratulating her. I know if Margaux were to make a statement like that, that crown would have come off her head so quick. I hope I raise her to be better than that. I know that kids go through phases, I had mine, and she will have hers. I hope this little girl is in one.

Speaking of Margaux, she is getting so big so quickly. I see that she is about to get some more teeth here soon. She also will start going to a preschool 2 days a week here soon. I know that the Grandmothers will miss her those days, but she will enjoy it I hope.

First Father's Day

Margaux and her Dad had a really great first fathers day together.

We had brunch at O'Charley's and Margaux wore a really cute dress her daddy bought for her with the university he received his masters from. Speaking of... Matt's thesis was chosen to be presented at an Ag educators conference later this year and it has a good possibility of being published in a journal. In fact today he is working on another submission that will hopefully do well also. We are so proud of him.

Daddy and Grandpappy at brunch

The rest of father's day was filled with an impromptu trip to the Lane Car Museum in Nashville. They have free admission on Father's day for Dads. I totally recommend it to folks. Matt gawked talked about the features, history, innovations and special characteristics of the cars. Mommy just commented on how pretty some of them were. We definitely had a good time.

Margaux and Daddy playing with cars

there's a pretty baby in that car

Memorial day and Margaux!

Well, over Memorial Day I shucked responsibility (because I really should have stayed home and got some things done) and went to visit my friend Beth before she gives birth to baby Elyza. I think she is going to go early. Not real early, but like a week early. I’ll be jealous if she does. Margaux stayed right up to her due date little stinker. And speaking of jealous. I totally miss being pregnant. I enjoyed being pregnant. Well… up until the last 2 weeks. Maybe I’ll be ready to go there again soon, but not too soon. I’d really like to not be in our current house when we have another baby. We barely have enough room as it is.

Beth and I introduced Margaux to the swimming pool for the first time. It was kind of a dry run for our beach trip coming up. She LOVED the pool. I sat on the steps with her and she splashed and slapped and giggled. Beth twirled around in the water in front of her and she found that quite funny.

Margaux is also showing signs of her top two teeth. She may actually have enough to eat a piece of her first birthday cake. She is crawling around the house like a champ. She has mastered the two stairs we have in our house. She is in need of restricter plates on her walker she’s moving so fast. She is standing alone for short periods of time. She terrorizes the cats if she can get a hold of one, pulling out handfuls of fur or yanking their tails. She says go go. I think she is focused on the last part of her name, which she hears really often. She has a FIERCE pinch. Oh Lord she can pinch. She tries to eat anything off the floor. She often gets told No NO. If it is for trying to put something in her mouth, she will shove it in there real quick and look at you like “what?”. And she hates the security sweep of her mouth for foreign objects. Margaux will probably be getting a new car seat after we return from vacation. She is so big and long that the newborn carrier just won’t do. And to end this little summary of Margaux lately… She and her Daddy are enjoying some quality time together this summer since he is out for summer break. He has been soaking up some snuggles!

Happy Mother's Day

This time last year I didn’t feel much like a Mommy on Mother’s Day. I was still pregnant and felt that I had not yet achieved that title. I had wanted for so long to be a Mommy. I bided my time to finish college and then law school and then to pass the bar exam. I was happy, yet jealous of my friends with children and loved every moment of snuggling with theirs.

I was right in my assumption last year too. I had no idea what all was about to come. Now I’m a Mom. I’m truly a Mom. Out of all that school and all that I’ve done, I have to say I’m proudest of Margaux. Everything about her, her snuggles, smiles and giggles light up my heart. Matt was playing with Margaux in the floor the other night and I asked him if he wanted another one. Of course he said yes. I asked him if he still wanted three (which he has mentioned before). His response... that honestly he'd like four but knows I wouldn't be on board for it. Your absolutely right bud! FOUR! Nope! not happening! absolutely not! never in a million. NO.... No.... no! Two yes! any more will have to be evaluated after number 2.

I struggle with guilt on a regular basis that I’m not doing enough for her. That she isn’t getting all that she needs from me. And fear that I’m not doing a good job. Who knew that sweet baby I gave birth to last year was accompanied by so much guilt? As soon as I had her I wanted so much to do everything right. Sadly being a first time mom, I had no idea what right was. Or that the fact that right/perfect didn't exist. It took awhile. A long while. Hell... maybe I'm still trying to realize that.

I try everyday to be the best Mommy that I can be. Tears well up in my eyes every time I think about all the hopes and dreams I have for my child. I want so much for her be a vessel in which I can place all that is good in me.

Little Boo!

Her Grandmother bought her this outfit and because she is growing so fast, I'm pretty sure it will not make it till October 31st. So we broke it out a little early. Once I put it on she was so dang cute I had to take pictures! Of course Mommy is making her Halloween costume. She is going to be a purple crayon. I made the majority of the outfit in about an hour and half last Saturday night. I'll post another picture when its all finished. Its not perfect, but she's only going to be in it for about an hour to take pictures. How perfect does it have to be for a 3 month old really.

Moving on

So Margaux is getting bigger and bigger. I just started packing away all her newborn clothes. I was also surprised to find she can wear quite a few of her 3 month clothes. She doesn't fill them out but they definitely fit her in the length. She has a really long torso like her Mom and Dad. She is also sleeping through the night. She started at 6 weeks old. She doesn't do it every single night of the week, but she'll do it about 4-5 nights. The other nights she will only get up once. I've heard we are really fortunate in that she is sleeping so well. I have nothing to compare it to, but I do feel she sleeps pretty well. I've also started moving her to her crib some nights. She has started smiling back at you (on purpose) here lately and she will coo. I love it! It is a precious little sound.

Matt and I celebrated our 5^th wedding anniversary over the weekend. This is going to be such a great year for us. We have the baby, Matt is teaching and receiving his Masters (that he finished in July, 3 days before the baby was born), and I'm still starting up my law practice. We had lunch out, shopped for Baby some things, ran by target, and let Daddy look around REI.

Things are going really well. I feel like I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off. And time seems to fly by, but I'm starting to get the hang of things. Breastfeeding/Pumping while being at work is tough. And none of my clothes fit. I talked to a friend over the weekend that is also breastfeeding and she is just now back to her pre-pregnancy weight. Her baby is 7 months old. I think that whole "it will help you lose weight" may be true for some folks, but not me. I believe it is more a of a carrot to dangle in front of you to get you to try it. I know it is best for baby M, but it is definitely something you have to work at. In the mean time, I have no idea what I'm going to wear to court if it takes me that long. I have a post-partum workout video that is a killer, I'm going to try to fit it in for at least a few minutes a few times a week. And when this weather cools off, I see a lot of walks in our future.

Anyhow I'll leave you with some Margaux pics.

Here is one of those smiles

Daddy and M

And here is my little brag that she looks like me.

Here is Margaux.

And here is Me!

You be the judge! but come on! she at least looks just like me when she is sleeping!

I quick pic

Margaux is growing like a weed... a mean flower. She is 1 month old now and we are getting the hang of things. The breastfeeding is going pretty well. It is definitely hard, but we are sticking with it at least to 12 weeks. Then I'll re-evaluate. My mother says if I can make it till then, I'll be going good. I'm not so sure. Margaux wakes up two times a night, once at about 12 and then again about 3 or 4. She fights sleep sometimes. She'll doze off and then catch herself falling asleep and let out a wail. This could be why her fussiest time of day is 7-9 p.m., but in the mornings she is a happy little monkey. She is such a little blessing

I have to go back to work for two days next week. I have some court cases that I have to attend to. I also have some the next week too. This is WAY TOO EARLY to be working. My baby is only going to be 5 weeks old. This totally bums me. But I'm going to be rushing home just as soon as I can.

Oh well... the boss will be calling for my attention very soon.
Here's a picture of the gorgeous girl.