Wordless Wednesday: Cheesin'

Ten Ways You Know You're An Adult

1. It takes you an hour to plan your grocery shopping expedition. Coupons? Check. Grocery List? Check. Baby Bjorn for sniffly, must-be-held baby? Check.

2. You never run out of paper towels or toilet paper. I'm not sure what would happen if you did; it's too terrifying even to contemplate.

3. You have paperwork files for your car insurance, life and disability insurance, health insurance, utilities (tax write-off for new business!), flex spending account receipts (what's up, weekly pediatrician's office copay?) and social correspondence. And sorting through it's exhausting.

4. You draw up your menus and schedule excursions a week ahead; there's a planner on the fridge so your husband can keep tabs on things. But he still asks that you text him a reminder so he doesn't leave you stranded with a sleeping baby, late to calligraphy class. Not that that's ever happened....

5. You are insanely proud to tell your insurance agent, when he calls for information to update your account, that you've paid off your car.

6. You plan to drive that thing 'til the wheels fall off. Leave the shiny new cars (and their payments) to the sweet young things!

7. This could present a problem if you plan to have more than one child, as your car is so full of baby gear and dog hair that it's currently a challenge to go any further away than church. (No, it's not time for a Swagger Wagon! Though that is a pretty sweet video...)

8. You buy a food processor and whip up a batch of baby food.

9. Your baby doesn't really like it. By "doesn't really like it," you mean he gags at every spoonful. Nothing's made it down the hatch yet. (Perhaps broccoli wasn't the best choice for our first homemade attempt?)

10. Your disposable income goes to Ballard Designs and Home Depot, not the local manicure salon and spray tanning business. Sure, you're pale and unpolished - but your house'll look great, right?

Having a "missing my early twenties" moment. Wouldn't go back for anything but, man, I could do without the paperwork of adulthood for a day or two!

**Update: Baby food attempt #2 was a success! Sweet potatoes trump broccoli any day....**

A Marvelous Mother's Day

My first Mother's Day was absolutely perfect. Saturday afternoon Bradley and I got to Columbia, spent some time with my parents and pretty much handed Mac off for the weekend. That little boy didn't know what was coming! I've never seen anyone kissed so much.

Brooke with burp cloths for Samuel and Selah

First on my agenda was a baby shower for my precious friend Brooke and her twins-to-be, Samuel and Selah. I've known Brooke since we were girls and doubt I've met anyone as well suited to be a mom! And two babies at once? Brooke's going to be in hog heaven.

Brooke and my best friend Kristen are both due in late July, just one day apart! Though the Turner twins will probably come a little sooner than baby Wynn Watson, I'm overjoyed to welcome three little bundles this summer.

Brooke, her bump and her Bible study girls

After years of calling myself a "crier," a friend's mom told me at the shower that God blessed me early on with a tender heart; it must have been compounded by motherhood. I love that! Way more flattering than just feeling like an adult crybaby. Brooke's shower was so filled with joy and excitement that I was misty-eyed from the moment I walked in. These babies are deeply loved already, just like their mama.

Me with Samuel and Selah's Aunt Liz

Brooke's sister Liz hosted my baby shower last August, had her own sweet daughter in February, hosted Brooke's shower this past Saturday and will be hosting another for a friend next weekend. She's an expert at this by now!

Me and the mama-to-be

After the shower, B and I grabbed dinner and a movie for the first time in ages. Appropriately enough, we saw Date Night - and both loved it. I could not enjoy Tina Fey any more! The only other movie we've seen since Mac arrived was It's Complicated, a big letdown for me and definitely not what you'd call a man's movie. I was excited to find a film we could both laugh through!

Sunday morning we went to church with my family and introduced Mac to many of the people who watched me grow up. My grandmother and her husband drove up for service and then we were joined by my aunt, uncle and cousin for lunch. It was a big ol' family time!

Mac playing with his mom and Mimi

I won't share any deep thoughts about my first Mother's Day or the tremendous amount of love and admiration I have for my mom - if only because I couldn't do it justice and I don't want to spend an evening boohooing over my laptop. Suffice it to say that there were hundreds of prayers of gratitude said this weekend for good friends, a loving husband, a wonderful mom and our precious baby boy.

Whatever you did, I hope y'all had a fabulous Mother's Day weekend, too!

Emma Style

I've been a "Gleek" for nearly a year now, ever since the preview of the series premiere episode aired last summer. Glee's resident lovelorn sweet pea, Emma Pillsbury, always looks adorable -prim, proper and totally feminine. I'd love to switch wardrobes with her!

From Fox

Though some might consider her fashions a little schoolmarmish, I find her combination of ruffles, bows, cardigans, pins and pencil skirts to be absolutely endearing. She has a very buttoned-up, vintage feel and mixes in pretty, old-fashioned accessories in unique color combinations.

If I lived off of a (television) high school guidance counselor's budget, I would clean out her closet and jewelry box in a flash. (Glee's wardrobe department must be betting on the audience's total suspension of disbelief, because most public school teachers are not dressing like this....)

Take a peek at a few of my favorite Emma ensembles:

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From Polyvore

From Polyvore

Emma is a girl after my own heart, a lover of cardigans in every color. I'm inspired both by her monochromatic outfits and her distinctive flair for pairing shades. (And by her, obviously I mean the talented team of stylists who prepare her looks.)

Mad Men's Joan Holloway and Betty Draper are on vacation 'til August, but Emma Pillsbury has filled their high heels quite nicely. I'm loving this stylish guidance counselor's look.

Do you have any TV style icons? Are you a cardigan fan, Emma lover and closet Gleek too?

Seven Months

While the rest of the world celebrated Cinco de Mayo, one Mac Smith celebrated something equally worth toasting: his seven month birthday.

Macky in his celebratory birthday bath. We know how to do it up right!
Please note the clearly-not-inherited-from-Mom eyelashes.

I feel like it was last week I was finding the words to express what half a year with our baby boy had meant. And now we're flipping the calendar once more. Wow.

The last month has been filled with little, long-awaited milestones: sitting, scooting and saying "Da da da da da" to the delight of everyone in earshot.

I know the next month will be filled with just as many sweet moments, but I'm going to stop saying I "can't wait" to see what they are. I can wait. I'm not rushing any of this; I'm soaking it up. His giddy splashing in the bath, the pitiful opening of his mouth between bites like a hungry baby bird, the furious kicking of his legs from sheer excitement when his dad walks in the room.

My favorite time of day is also the hardest: putting Mac to bed. He's always in such a happy mood, his tummy full and his face beaming. The coos and grins make it hard for me to put him down, to say good night. I always do, and another morning and another day always comes. Guess that's how we got to seven months, right? I wish I could make those nighttime minutes last longer.

Tonight I'll put him down and wonder how much faster the rest of his first year could possibly speed by. Then I'll start daydreaming about a machine that stretches twenty-four hour days into long, slow months. Wouldn't I make a fortune??

Happy, happy seven months, sweet Mac. We love you!

National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer, an annual day of observance when Americans are asked to turn to God in prayer and meditation.

There is always so much to pray for, so many things bigger than us and so much evidence that this world is broken. (Have you watched the news lately?) It can be overwhelming.

Yesterday I listened to dozens of people on the radio sharing their prayers for our nation as we prepared to observe this day. I was moved and uplifted by the knowledge that our prayers aren't alone; we are joined by the hearts and thoughts of others as they pray for our country and its people.

Here's what's on my heart today:

• the health and well-being of our families and loved ones
• the healing of those who are sick or hurting
• the relief efforts in the Gulf, Nashville and Haiti
• the safety of our nation from threats here and abroad
• the safety of our troops and the peace of their families here at home
  
• the uplifting of those who have lost jobs or homes
  
• the encouragement of people who are in the "waiting room" of life, whether for a job or a baby or for anything else that seems impossible to find

I love that we have a National Day of Prayer to remind us of the importance of coming before God and sharing what's on our hearts. More importantly, though, I am struck by what a privilege it is to come before Him any time for any reason. To have a constant ear and source of comfort whenever we need it.

I read this verse hourly, for a while, when I was pregnant; I posted it so that reading it became part of my daily routine. It's ingrained in me forever, I think, due solely to the number of times I found strength and peace from its words.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 4:6-7 (emphasis mine)

What a reminder of the power of prayer and the peace that comes with it. I hope we can all feel that power and peace today. Happy Thursday, all!

Menu Monday

Our to do list this week is pretty full: errands, company, class, cleaning, packing, Mother's Day preparations and work stuff. It's not a week to wait until the eleventh hour to plan dinner.

Making a menu is the one thing that saves us from eating cereal or sandwiches for supper six nights in a row. I've been there; I know from whence I speak.

Here's what'll be on our table this week:

Monday: Mom's cube steak and mashed potatoes (I'll serve these with anything; they're my one specialty.)

Tuesday: Breakfast (Bacon and eggs and grits, oh my!)

Wednesday: Grilled mahi mahi and steamed vegetables

Thursday: Orange sauce pork chops and couscous

Friday: Spaghetti bolognese

Saturday and Sunday: Mother's Day in Columbia. I'm excited to see family, enjoy home-cooked meals, have a dinner date with B and soak up a little girl time at a friend's baby shower. In the spirit of full disclosure, I expect to eat at least a dozen petits fours.

What will y'all be cookin' up this week? Any favorite recipes to share?