Happy 4th of July!

We had a very low key 4th this year.

The weather was terrible, so we took a trip to Ikea (not very patriotic, hu?) and had an indoor picnic of takeout fried chicken.

We finished the night with a few episodes of season 3 of Downton Abbey.

Hopefully next year will involve friends, food, fun and fireworks!

 

 

Pinto Beans and Cornbread

I worked with so many wonderful people when I was a southern belle. One lady in particular I will never forget. We called her Miss Ruby. Miss Ruby was an older African American woman who could be a little intimidating at first, but once she decided she liked you, she'd baby you like the great southern mama she was. I can't remember how many children she had, but she always bragged about them - she was such a proud mama!

During the years that I worked with Miss Ruby, she'd always station herself in the cookhouse. She'd come in early in the morning and get a fire going in the hearth. Her star dishes were pinto beans and cornbread, cooked in cast iron in the fire of the cook house. Whoever was visiting the attraction that day could stop by and she'd give them each a small helping of pintos in a Dixie cup and a slice of cornbread on a napkin with a smear of butter.

I loved to stop by the cookhouse and have a taste too. All of the buildings of the "un-named attraction" are original buildings to the time period, but they've all been updated with air-conditioning. I'd stand next to the air vent and let that air-conditioning go right up my hoop skirt. Miss Ruby would give me a big helping of pintos and cornbread. I'd crumble the bread into the beans and dig in. Something about those salty beans and the buttery cornbread really hit the spot on hot summer days.

I decided on Monday that I wouldn't be considered a true southern woman until I'd cooked some pintos and cornbread. I tried out Paula Deen's pintos recipe (except I cooked mine on the stove) and the Pioneer Woman's cornbread. Very tasty, but they didn't compare to Miss Ruby's.

Miss Ruby passed away when I was in college. She worked at the "un-named attraction" for many years and a few of us attended her funeral. There were so many people there - I know she was well-loved by all.

The Belle Becomes a Businesswoman

Just added a new page to my blog - check it out!

Rhea Lana's Children's Consignment Sales

I LOVE shopping for clothes for Graham. Like I mentioned in this post, we were blessed with so many hand-me-downs from friends that I really haven't had much of an opportunity to buy clothes that I've picked out myself. And on the rare occasions that I do buy something, I'm always shocked at how those seemingly affordable baby clothes add up. Especially when I think about how fast Graham grows out of his clothes.

 

This past spring, I heard about Rhea Lana's Children Consignment sales and decided to check one out. I got the CUTEST outfits for Graham - and I save mega bucks shopping consignment. The clothes there look brand new and they have the brands that I like to buy.

The fall sale is scheduled for July 21st - 25th and I can't wait! Not only do they have great clothes at Rhea Lana, but they also have TONS of toys and other baby items at a steal. The hubby and I love to take Graham to Toys-R-Us and pick out all the things we'd like to buy him. But we always leave empty handed because I know I can get the toys much cheaper at a consignment sale.

Rhea Lana has sales all over the country. Check them out!

Afternoon Storms

Here in Georgia, it's common for us to get a quick thunderstorm in the afternoon during the summer. They're always a welcomed relief from the sticky-hot weather.

First the sun will disappear behind a cloud and the sky quickly gets dark. A light breeze comes through, smelling of sweet magnolia and cool rain. You can hear the rain falling before you see it. Sometimes it comes in so fast-like a sheet being pulled over the sky. It cools the air and your skin. And watching the gray rain coming down against the green of the trees and grass is so calming to the soul. Then it's gone as quickly as it came. The rain stops. The soaked trees drip slower and slower. The sound of thunder fades away. The sun bursts out from behind a cloud and heats up the ground so fast, you'll see the steam rising up from it.

I've always loved these storms. When I worked summers outside at the "unnamed attraction," I would pray for an afternoon storm. (And a break from the constant flow of people.) I often got caught in the rain in different spots around the attraction. I'd duck under a porch, watch the rain and wait it out.  

 

I really missed seeing the storm roll in during the years I worked in a corporate setting. But even though I was inside, I still felt different during an afternoon storm. The windows would grow dark and it seemed like everyone in the office would slow down just a bit from the fast pace we usually worked at. 

 

Now that I'm home with Graham, I get to watch the afternoon storms again. Graham naps and I sit by the big front window and sip on a cup of coffee. We've got tall, green magnolia trees with big white blooms and bright blue hydrangeas in the yard-it's such a gorgeous sight to watch them sway as the storm comes in and drip as the storm blows out.

Love those rainy Georgia afternoons.

 

Graham is 8 months!

Here we are at 8 months! You are an absolute doll. You get cuter and cuter every day!

We've had a bit of a set back in the sleeping department, but in all you are still a very easy baby. I think our sleeping issues have to do with teething and separation anxiety. You've been working on your top two teeth this month and they really must be bothering you. Poor guy. I didn't even know you were teething with your first two teeth, but the top ones must hurt more. You've been waking up 2-6 times a night crying. Luckily, all we have to do is go in your room and stick the pacifier in your mouth and you go back to sleep right away. Getting you to sleep is another story. You WILL NOT NAP nowadays. I have to lay down with you in the bed and 30 minutes later you'll FINALLY fall asleep. Usually I end up taking a nap too since I'm laying there so long. Daddy rocks you to sleep at night and it takes just as long. We miss the days when we just laid you down, kissed you goodnight and you put yourself to sleep. But I do love all the snuggling so I won't complain too much.  :)

 

Your biggest accomplishment this month - scooting! You can scoot backwards and around in a circle, but not forwards...and not towards whatever it is your trying to reach. Which can make for a very frustrated, fussy baby some days. We need to start baby-proofing the house because you're never in the same spot if I set you down for a while and come back.

 

 

You also said a few more words this month - "shhh" and "tickle." Tickle sounds more like "ter-ker" but it's close enough! One time, you were holding your sock monkey toy and saying "Ter-ker, ter-ker, ter-ker." You were tickling him! So cute.

 

 

 

You've been taking baths in the tub like a big boy. You love playing and splashing!

 

 

You're still loving Lacey and Jack. You laugh and giggle at them all day. Lacey even lets you pet her and poke at her eyes. She loves you! You've also been barking a lot. (It sounds like a loud, high pitched quick scream.) Wonder who taught you how to do that? :)

 

You went to your first Braves game this month! (And they won!) You were pretty good for most of the game. We kept you out past your bedtime though and you let us know that that wasn't a good idea. :)

 

Peepaw took you on his 4-wheeler for the first time. I'm sure you'll give me a heart attack riding on this one day!

 

Graham, you are such a joy to me. I can't wait to see what the next month brings!

 

 

Water Baby

Graham and I have been taking a mommy and baby water aerobics class once a week called H2Oh Baby! It's through Oh Baby Fitness. Graham has been loving the water and I'm loving the exercise and the chance to get out of the house and talk to other young moms in my area.


My happy baby after class.

We also took Graham to my parent's pool over Memorial Day weekend. It was pretty cold, so Graham didn't enjoy it as much as he enjoys the water aerobics in the indoor heated pool. :)


Grandpa's behind us walking away with a dirty diaper. That's what Grandpas are for, right? :)

 

Looking cute in his hat and bathing suit!

 

Splashin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nap time by the pool! It's a hard life. :)

Look at that face!