Final Trip to Atlanta Before Bodie

Ben and a group of guys headed out to Steamboat for a five day ski trip last Wednesday, so Emery and I loaded up Thursday and headed down to Atlanta for some fun with Hayes, Kelsey, Granny, Opa, Nanny, friends and extended family. What a fabulous 48 hours! We started off with a trip to the Georgia Aquarium Friday. Emery has been before (last year), but it just gets better and better each year. Two year olds are so full of wonder and amazement (and bad behaviors, but I digress). We went with my parents, Alison, Hayes and Kelsey and made plans to meet up with my cousin Alicia, who was babysitting Bree, and my friend Christy, mommy to Caleb and Sloan. Christy's husband had joined Ben in Steamboat. Thanks for spending the day with us!

Hayes was attacked by a remote controlled shark the moment we walked in the door. Pretty neat toy. Yes, Emery is wearing flip flops in January. Pick your battles. I packed shoes and socks in her backpack, but she insisted on her princess flip flops the entire day.

Christy and Caleb at the stingray touch tank. Emery loved this as well, though I swear she would jump into the water if not restrained. She's already asking when we can go to the pool. Poor thing. We've got months!

Just like last year, the penguins were Emery's absolute favorite part of the aquarium. She really interacts with them.

Due to my "delicate condition," my poor mother got stuck crawling through the penguin observation tunnel with Emery about twelve times. Sucker!

The "Dory tank." Such pretty fish.

Post lunch ride on a seahorse and mermaid for the crazy cousins

Dance off near the entrance/exit. Journey was playing on the speakers and Hayes just can't resist him some "Don't Stop Believing!"

Saturday I was treated to a luncheon/sprinkle at The Swan Coach House in Buckhead for the ladies in my family. Mom and Alison treated us and outdid themselves with this diaper cake and little prams filled with "Bodie James" M&M's.

How cute!

Kriya, Alison, Mom, Donna, me (with Bodie), Alicia, Michelle, Nanny (holding Kelsey). Thanks for a wonderful "sprinkle!" I can't wait for Bodie to meet all of you. He's going to be one spoiled little boy.

Busy 2012 Thus Far!

2012 is wearing me out and we've only just begun! I've been nesting like crazy trying to get ready for Bodie's arrival, which is scheduled for Wednesday, February 15th at 12:30. Woohoo! Obviously I am having a C-section. Although I'm not thrilled about the recovery, I cannot wait to meet my little man and TO NOT BE PREGNANT!!! I've definitely reached the miserably uncomfortable stage. I really shouldn't complain as my pregnancy has been easy breezy compared to most, but everything is a struggle right now, especially sleep. Oh well...three weeks to go. Our big projects so far this year have been to potty train Emery (successful, for the most part) and to completely renovate our master bathroom. I am in love with my new bathroom! I don't have any "before" pictures, but imagine a very early 1990's bathroom and you get the idea. Lots of brass fixtures coupled with peach and teal tile. Ugh. We kept the footprint basically the same, but expanded the shower, flipped the new tub and raised the height of the vanities. A fresh coat of soothing gray paint to compliment the new floor, fixtures and counters and we're done. I worked with a company called Dreammaker to do all of the work and I am completely satisfied. The month without a bathroom was well worth it.

Ben's vanity

The shower! I love the rain shower as well as the adjustable wall mounted nozzle. Our water bill is going to be massive. I just stand in there for hours. Ahhhh....

My vanity, which is no longer at midget height. Why were vanities so low before????

New pedastal tub, shelves and chandelier. I know the black radio looks hideous--a white Bose radio will be purchased at some point in the near future.

Of course I've managed to squeeze in a little fun! My dear friends, Casey and Diana, threw a sprinkle for Bodie and me at Brick Street Cafe here in Greenville. What a fabulous afternoon--great friends (my friend, Dana, flew in from Memphis!), delicious food, and lots of cute baby boy items.

Casey, me and Diana. Casey and Diana are also pregnant, due this spring. Our two year olds are the best of friends and I know our new babies will be as well.

Happy New Year!

Ben and I are not really into huge New Years' celebrations, so we decided to have a low-key evening at home with dear friends and our children. What a great way to ring in 2012! Tara, Nando and McKenna Calvo as well as Stuart, Christy, Caleb and Sloan Everett all came up from Atlanta. We were also joined by Casey, Reggie and Davis Bell from right here in Greenville. The kids all got along really well and we had so much fun hanging out, catching up and watching football.

Caleb and Emery getting wild in the laundry room

The daddies smoked cigars while the kiddos played on the porch. Everyone STUNK!

Getting ready to toast at midnight--Stuart, Tara, Christy and Reggie.

Poor Ben. His birthday is January 2nd and he rarely gets much fanfare as everyone is too wiped out from the holidays. Casey and Reggie surprised him with this delicious Bailey's Liquer cake from Strossner's bakery as an early celebration. Best cake I've ever had. Thanks, Bells!

One of my most favorite pictures ever. I am so in love with my new camera. This picture cracks me up for several reasons. First, Emery is shirtless. She started shedding clothes around 10:30. I really don't know why she prefers to be in the buff, but she can only handle clothes for so long before she feels the urge to strip. Secondly, Emery and Ben are both having so much fun at this exact moment. Look at those smiles! Third, Emery has an enormous head. I just had to return her new bike helmet (Santa assumed a size 3+ would fit her, but not even close) and I have to stretch out all of the necks on her shirts before I can get them over her huge melon. I've been wondering where this enormous head came from and then I noticed that Ben had a huge red mark on his forehead after wearing the yellow hat last night. Nobody else who wore the hats ended up with this mark. Mystery solved. But here's the new mystery....what the heck is in that big ol' head of his????