Bad News

Bad news. I have the flu. It hit out of nowhere - but it hit hard. I've drank more Sprite today than in the past 5 years combined.

Praise the Lord for parents that live near by and for a company that understands.

Although...this is my last week of work before vacation that leads into my maternity leave. I'll have to check on that.

Hopefully I will be well enough to work some tomorrow. And that no one else will get it!

Off to sit back on the couch.

Ice Day

I guess it's officially winter. Yesterday the weather dropped over 30 degrees in one hour! BRRR! Plus, with the ice, Eli's daycare was closed today. We spent most of the day snuggled in the rocking chair gazing at the Christmas lights.

We also might have had a nap or two.

More snow began to fall after Eli woke up from his long nap. He enjoyed looking out the window at the snow flakes. He also helped me make Harvest Apple Bread and a chocolate pound cake for my manager's birthday. Our home is very warm and yummy smelling!

Eli also enjoyed watching Looney Tunes and now Cars.

Well, he's ready to play. See you later!

Good times, good times

I just want to say that being this pregnant, it's important to celebrate the small things. For instance, I've been meaning to make banana bread for the past week. I've also been meaning to clean my kitchen floors for...well, too long to remember.

Chris had to work late last night and Mom came over to care for Eli. He's dealing with a cold/sinus mix and cutting three teeth.

Since Eli wasn't interested in solid food, I gave him some favorites and let him "play" with it. He had grapes and these veggie dip cheetos like things. Naturally, he dumped them all over the kitchen floor and was cooking with them (I also gave him some bowls and spatulas). This is all while I was working on the banana bread. The point was to basically make my floor as dirty as possible so that I would be FORCED to clean them!

Thanks to Mom's entertainment for Eli, I was able to make 4 loaves of banana bread, fold and put away clothes, sweep, and mop my kitchen floors. The important thing is that I believe this is the FIRST time I've mopped my floors. I'll admit - I'm a Swiffer type cleaner and the floors only get mopped when Mom is helping out. So, for me to use my new blue bucket and mix some ammonia water and USE the mop is a big step for me. Yeah for growing up! In fact, I even took my socks off so that I could know what it's like to walk barefooted on a super clean floor!

Plus, Mom was able to get Eli to go to sleep by 7:45!!! So, I had another full hour to myself. Although, I'll admit. I got the heating pad, propped my feet up, and enjoyed a hot piece of banana bread while I waited for Chris. Then I slept super good! Praise the Lord!

Eli slept 12 hours and woke with a low grade temperature. Poor little guy. But don't feel too sorry for him - he is too busy walking between the Christmas tree in the living room and the one in his room to know that he doesn't feel well. He is enchanted with them! And, if you come over - he'll take you by the hand and show them to you!

More cleaning for the next 36 hours. Aunti O...aka Rebekah...is coming up for the weekend! YEAH! So, the goal is to clean both bathrooms and the guest bedroom. The "man"room is a mess! Plus, the menu for the weekend includes homemade bisquits, sausage, eggs, peppermint coffee, chicken'n dumplings, gumbo, french bread, grasshopper torte, and sweet tea. Last but not least, many rounds of Mexican Train by the fire at my parents house! CAN'T WAIT! WE LOVE IT WHEN AUNTIE O VISITS!!!

mkgirl

One of the best movies of all time is You've Got Mail. I am always in the mood to watch it. In fact, I think of it often throughout the different randomness of my life. I always aspire to have my hair cut and wear clothes like Kathleen Kelly. About a month ago, I became reconnected with a missionary aunt...Aunt Cindy Jenkins. While we were in Mexico I spent a good amount of time in her home (in Guadalajara). I was telling Chris that her zucchini bread recipe is the first recipe I can remember getting from someone. And, yes, I still make it to this day!

Anyhow, Aunt Cindy and Uncle Rick are now missionaries in Barbados. Yes, very lovely. Back to the point of the post. She has a blog that she updates daily, but it is not open for public viewing. When she emailed me my username and password, I giggled a bit. My password is "mkgirl." So funny! Being in the states for the past several years, it's easy to forget my identity as a missionary kid.

But, every time I log in to read her blog, I get a few seconds of girly giddiness when I type m-k-g-i-r-l. At the same time, I can imagine Kathleen Kelly logging on to her email in her pj's and tapping her fingers - shopgirl waiting on mail from NY152.

Ok, back to reality.....

Christmas is in the air!

What a fun filled Christmas weekend we've had! Friday night we celebrated Chris' dad's birthday with some very delicious mexican food. Eli enjoyed all of the decorations and the opportunity to play with Uncle Kyle.

On Saturday morning, I had our Ladies' Mingle and Jingle event at a church member's home. We enjoyed yummy food while decorated jars to fill with hot cocoa. Nothing is better than homemade gifts! Chris helped a friend move and Eli took a trip to WalMart and Lowe's with his PaPaw.

Saturday evening we went to the Keeling's home for Christmas supper. This is a new tradition for us. We had a Thanksgiving rehearsal dinner - where we tried new recipes before the actual holiday. It was loads of fun! Aunt Mandy helped Eli decorate sugar cookies. He l-o-v-e-s red icing and sprinkles! We enjoyed telling old memories (ofcourse!) and making new ones. The thing we love about the Keeling clan is that it's just like family. No formalities...no frills. Just good times with great friends. Their tree was glowing...and well, we were all tired. I think we would have all slept in the living room if we had the chance!

On Sunday, we took Eli to the mall to get his Hallmark ornament. Chris gets him the collector's truck each year. This year it's an old Ford truck. Sunday evening we went to First Baptist's Christmas performance with Michael and Bonnie (cousins). It was wonderful! Eli loved the changing lights and Little Drummer Boy. They had a local high school's drum line perform and Eli danced thru the whole thing! Afterwards we went to Mazzio's. The fellowship was great...the food...well, that's another story.

So, here are a few pictures...

My Friday!

Today is my FRIDAY! And, I'm going to a Christmas banquet for lunch, which means 1) free lunch, and 2) goodie bag! Oh, the small things of life!

Eli stayed with Mom and Dad last night. I got so much done! I did several loads of laundry, made lasagna, garlic bread, and peanut butter cookies. I also cleaned the kitchen and made 4 cards! All of course while listening to Christmas carols.

But, we sure missed our little one. It's so fun to watch him walk around and his discovery of the ornaments on the tree.

Here are the latest pictures of Eli:

Eli helping PaPaw and Grannie put Abi's crib together

Learning to use tools - note the cute red shoes!

What a busy week

Today will be a catch-up post. I was off all last week for Thanksgiving. Oh - so nice! I conquered cleaning the baseboards in the living room. Then, I paid the price the next day. My body is definitely very pregnant!
We had a great Thanksgiving at Mom and Dad's house. Mom made breakfast enchiladas from December's Southern Living. The recipe is a keeper! Micah, Glenda, Chris, and I played Rummikub. How hard can that game be? Mexican train is much easier! We also watched The Christmas Card. Love it! It's a new movie that we bought at the Christian book store.
Friday included the famous LSU-Arkansas football game! I think people may look forward to that more than Thanksgiving itself! We were pleasantly surprised that Arkansas pulled the big Win (31 - 30). It's always a good game and the rivalry is thick at our home!
Saturday Mom and Dad came over to help with the Christmas tree. Remember, I am very pregnant. Anyhow, we couldn't have done it without their help. Seriously. Plus, my mom is a super cleaner! We decided not to put a lot of decorations up...well...because I'm super pregnant and Eli is in to everything! He is super impressed with the lights on the tree.
Sunday we woke up to SNOW! The best was rocking Eli with the tree lights on while the big flakes fell outside the window. So cozy! Not sure there is anything better.
So, now we're back in our "normal" routines. Chris' job continues to go well. I only have 3 partial weeks of work left! Eli's walking is getting stronger by the day. Only, now he wakes up for over an hour each night just wanting us near.
I'm going to the doctor on a regular basis now. Yeah for Abi's arrival! We have her crib up - no bedding, but the crib is up! I've got to get the big diaper bag and car seat cleaned up. She'll be here before we know it!
Have a wonderful day everyone!