When the cat is away...

Ryan is out of town for a few days at a football camp and I am finding myself having a hard time getting motivated to do my daily "duties".  So instead of cleaning the floors etc. I decided to order some things for Allie Parker's nursery offline, take Garrison to the park, and play on the Internet all day :)

Here are the pictures of Allie Parker's nursery so far that I have been promising!!!  All we have done is paint, but we are picking up her crib Saturday so then things will really start moving!!! Garrison loves to play in her room- mainly because I let him get in her closet and pull everything out.  Not so sure that he has a clue about her coming- man is he in for a surprise in a couple of weeks ;)

Oh yea- we have officially decided that her name will be Allie Parker Elise Little- and she will go by Allie Parker, even though Ryan says he will just call her Allie (we'll see about that :)

Garrison took a 3 hour nap today!!!  Pretty sure this is the first time in his life (15 months :) that he has slept for that long during the day.  That is all.  Just wanted to share my excitement!!!  

Pictures of Allie Parker's nursery (well there is just paint on the walls) to come soon.

Magic Eraser Monday

** Please note- this post contains some ranting and raving ** 

  So today I decided I was going to clean our walls and base boards.  Not all of the walls in our house,  just the areas that are "high traffic".  So last week I bought some "Magic Erasers" hoping they would do the trick.  The back of the box claimed they were perfect for cleaning living room walls and base boards and that is just what this lady who is going through some major nesting wanted to do.  

  So after Garrison went down for his nap, I was going to nap for about 20 minutes then get up and start the erasing.  Well my nap lasted all of about 5 minutes, because I woke up with blood pouring out of my nose (gross, I know- sorry).  This is one of the many pregnancy symptoms I get to experience on an almost daily basis.  Anyways, so I just got ahead and got up- excited to get started.

After reading the directions it said to test in an area that wouldn't be seen- in case it totally messed things up.  So I tested it, looked fine.  I cleaned all of our doors and base boards first. They looked FABULOUS!  Almost shinning really.  So then I start on the walls.  Hmmmm... this looks interesting, its making the walls look wet.  Oh well it will dry I'm sure- so I thought. Well after giving Garrison his lunch the spots still looked the same they just had a dirty, wet glow to them, so I just took a wet dish towel and scrubbed.  Finally after a couple of hours they dried- they dried the paint right off of our walls- but yet, left the dirt?!?!?!?!  

I am so mad right now I could spit.  And I hate people that spit- including my husband!  I would post the pictures of the walls- but I just, I just can't.

  So I am at a lost.  We don't have any of the paint left from when we painted the living room and (if you have been to my house you will know this) there is no way they could mix this paint again to get a small can of it for touch up.  Our living room and dinning room were supposed to be a beautiful "Java" color- well its not- its a beautiful purplish, greyish, java color.   

So- help me please!!!! Does anyone have any suggestions?  Or does anyone feel like painting two rooms this weekend ;)

Garrison update

Here are some recent pictures of Garrison.  He is a little boy now- no longer a baby :(  This is a really fun age though.  He is now sleeping until at least 7:30 in the morning.  Can you believe it?!?!?  I thought I was destined to wake up at 5:30 for the rest of my life!  He is a very happy boy who does not meet a stranger!  He has started giving hugs and kisses, which is absolutely precious!  We have started talking to him about "baby sister", but he still doesn't have a clue!  

So while it is sad that he is not a baby anymore- it's fun to have a toddler that is somewhat independent and sleeps late :)

Garrisons favorite things:

• Food: Anything he can feed himself
• Toy: His zebra, that makes noises like a horse, that he can sit on and spin
• Game: Still is loving peek a boo
• Words: cheese, dirt, boo, and FINALLY momma (my heart melts every time he says it!)

Mine and Ryan's Christmas Present

I don't know if you can see him- but Ryan was inside eating while I was in the freezing cold running around like a crazy person in flip flops!

The view

The cutest cabin you have ever seen- I totally could of lived here if Mom and Dad would of shipped me my Garrison.

I am usually not much for a belly shot- but for some reason on this day I allowed it.

One of the 18 million deer we saw in Cade's Cove

Freezing to death

My awesome mountain man of a husband

 Over Christmas break me and Ryan went on a long weekend getaway to Gatlinburg.  It was much needed vacation.  We stayed in a cabin at the top of a mountain- literally.  On the way up to the cabin the first time I had to lay my seat back- the drop off was too much for me!   

We were so determined to sleep late every morning- but we were usually up by 7!  Well, I was usually up by 7, so I woke Ryan up.  But it was nice to just be able to lay around for a weekend and not have anything to do!

It was FREEZING, 5 degree wind chill freezing. Usually that does not scream fun to me- but it was!  We had so much fun just bumming around, shopping, and just being silly!

Garrison stayed with my parents and he did wonderfully!  They took him shopping and to visit Grandmother, so I know he had fun!  I was ok the first day without him, a little less ok the second day, but on our last day I was so ready to get home to hug my Garrison!  Thanks to Mom and Dad for keeping him!  We are so thankful for all of Garrisons grandparents!  It makes taking trips so much more relaxing knowing that Garrison is having a fun vacation too!

"The stockings were hung on the baby gate with care..."

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!!

High Hopes

I hope to post tomorrow from our trip to Gatlinburg, Christmas festivities, and there is something else but I can't remember what it is at the moment...???  I wanted to do it today- but it was Ryan's first day back at school and Garrison's first day on his "big boy" schedule- so I opted to take a nap while Garrison napped instead of blogging.  I'm terrible I know ;)  

Check back tomorrow!!!