Boo!

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I LOVE having an excuse to put on a costume and eat candy. Since my birthday is October 30th, my Mom managed to have my parties on Halloween a lot when I was a child. My friends wore costumes, and the entire group went trick-or-treating together. It was so much fun! This holiday has taken on a whole new meaning now.

Mollie has two Halloween onesies, two costumes, and two bibs. It just happened that way! She started out as Baby Bear (we were Mama and Papa bear), but she got hot quite quickly.

Today, we ditched the bear costumes for Redcoat paraphenalia. David and I wore UGA/Redcoat shirts, and Mollie wore her amazing Redcoat uniform that my cousin Rebecca made. I must say how talented Rebecca is. I think she could make anything out of cloth. Anything! She made the bustle for my wedding dress that seemed to have an AWOL bustle when we bought it. She can make amazing costumes. I'm just in awe of her ability. Thanks, Rebecca!

I will always remember sharing my favorite holiday with Mollie for the first time. I have enjoyed watching her study the orange lights, smile at David in a witch's hat with a green wig, and not seemed phased at all by the scary monster heads with light-up eyes.

Laughter and Smiles

I always thought it was precious to see a baby smile. Everyone wants to be the one to get a big toothless grin shot their way or hear a silly giggle erupt from a tiny body. We have been anxiously awaiting those occasions. Mollie started smiling a few weeks ago, and we receive each smile like it is a prize.

When Mollie first laughed last Sunday, October 25th, it was almost unbelievable. It just happened. Now, each laugh is like a giant seal of approval. When Mollie laughs, we know we have made it. We know we are actually doing something right for her. Parenthood is such a struggle. That sweet little chuckle is enough to make the worst sleepless night a dream come true. Now, if only we could stop embarrassing ourselves by acting ridiculous so that we can get more laughs from her! (I.E. making raspberries with our lips as I did in this video.)

Becky Mae Poppy Fields Necklace and Earring Set GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

This site has some beautiful things and giveaways!

Becky Mae Poppy Fields Necklace and Earring Set GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Vote for Mollie!!!

Mollie entered the Gap Casting Call contest. Here is the link to our favorite photo. There is a fan favorite competition that you can help us win! Please vote and send the link to your friends!

http://family.go.com/gapcastingcall/entries/rosborne81/824437428/

Shabby Apple Dare to Design Limoncello Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Shabby Apple Dare to Design Limoncello Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Pumpkin Patch, October 20th, 2009

We took Mollie to the Milledge Avenue Baptist Church Annual Pumpkin Patch to pick out a pumpkin and to take a family photo. My Mom has gotten quite good at using my Nikon D-200 SLR camera. Last year, she took a great photo of us on Thanksgiving. Notice how Mollie is looking at the camera!

Mollie had a great time being photographed! I took photos of her to enter in the Gap Kids baby photo contest. I made sure to dress her in one of their outfits! She was quite content sitting in her Bumbo seat and looking at the cars zipping down Milledge Avenue.

I must admit that I am trilled that I was able to take some photos of my baby actually looking at the camera. I know it is very hard to photograph children, and it is even more difficult to get photos of them looking at the camera and not at the ground. She was more interested in looking the opposite direction, where people were picking out pumpkins. I can't believe how big she has gotten!

Grandma Carow came did such a great job taking our family photo, that she needed a photo with Mollie too. Two Mollies in one photograph! I love the look on our little Mollie's face.

Of course, there must be at least one melt down. I don't know who looked more upset:
Daddy or Mollie.

Mommy loves her baby girl!

What a sweet baby! She has grown so much in 10 weeks! Here she is just 9.5 weeks old.

Hopefully, Mollie will love October and Halloween as much as her Mommy does.

Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

These are gorgeous costumes!

The Best Thing We Have Bought for Mollie!

It has been terribly hard not to spoil my child. There seem to be a million things that babies "must have" out there. Luckily for now, Mollie does not know that she is spoiled! You can imagine my dilemma as I ended up in Kohl's last week with my mother and I saw all of the Fisher-Price toys 50% off. I immediately tried to find an excuse to spoil my child again. I found one item for Mollie's Christmas present, and then I noticed the Rain Forest Soother.

The Rain Forest Soother was on our Baby Registry, and we didn't get it. No problem. I really didn't think that we needed it, and I definitely thought that Mollie was doing just fine without it. She has a mobile in her crib. That should be good enough, right? Well, this thing ended up being $20 from $45 after the 50% off and a coupon my Mom had. So, I bought it. I was going to keep it for a Christmas present also, but then I showed Mollie when we got home. That thing got her attention better than a college football game on T.V. (On a side note... No, I am not allowing my child to watch television. That football game was a simple act of exhausted desperation on my part.)
Well, why waste the soother for two months in the closet waiting for Christmas? I showed David when he got home from work. It sat on the coffee table until the evening. Evening in our house = fussy baby central. Mollie had a major melt-down: the kind where sticking one of mommy's "mute buttons" in her mouth is the only way to quiet her down. She had just eaten an hour before. So, I picked up the soother, turned it on, and showed Mollie.
As soon as Mollie opened up her crying eyes, she stopped screaming. David said, "That's trippy." The little red frog swung back-and-forth, the blue water fall lit up and twisted, the fish swayed in the bubbling water, and music played. She was zoned out and zoned in at the same time. PERFECT.
This thing has saved us on several occasions now. Who knew? On behalf of myself and my husband, I would like to thank you, Fisher-Price. Thank you for saving our sanity and our ear drums from who knows how many past and future Mollie melt-downs.

Why should anyone go hungry?

As I sit breastfeeding my 2 month-old baby on our sofa, warm under a blanket, I am struck with a thought. Why should anyone go hungry? This child, nuzzled to my chest, is getting all that she really needs to survive. She doesn't have to pay for it. She shouldn't have to. I think of children across the world with bloated bellies, starving because they can't get a simple meal. Starving. The grace of God placed this baby in my arms. His grace has given her food.

When a basic human need is food, how did we end-up in a position where people must PAY for it? Shouldn't we all get food? Yes, produce must be farmed in order for it to grow, but what about those who struggle and farm where nothing can grow? Think about your dinner tonight. I don't mean to sound like your mother, but think about the children starving in the world when you eat your Super-Sized Value Meal. How did we get so lucky? How did they get so unfortunate?

Happy 2 Month Birthday, Mollie!

I can't believe that it has already been 2 whole months since I had Mollie at Athens Regional. The past 8.5 weeks have been a blur of diapers, feedings, tantrums, cuddles, and smiles. We have loved every minute of it!

Today, Mollie went to see Dr. Glassman for her 2 month check-up. She weighed 10 pounds, 5 ounces, and she was 22.5 inches long. That puts her weight and height in the 50th percentile, and her smart little head in the 75th percentile.

She got an oral vaccine and three shots today. That was the single most terrible thing I have ever experienced. From the look on her face to the cry- words cannot describe it. I cried too. Poor thing! She did not stop screaming until I was able to feed her in the car after her appointment. Then she passed out for 4 hours!

Prior to her shots, she was quite the happy girl, chatting away. She loves to talk. Knowing her father, why wouldn't she? She is already able to match our inflection when she talks to us. I know she'll be a great little singer! She loves music, especially spirituals and songs sung by Sweet Honey in the Rock. 80's music is also one of her favorites. Don't try to sneak her any new pop music. She knows it's just not as good!

Please Help Us Find a Home for Ruby!

Ruby is a sweet, loyal, and playful 1 year-old female Schnauzer/Lab Mix who is looking for the perfect home for her. She loves to nuzzle your neck and play in the yard. She is not aggressive in the least bit; she just wants to play and be loved. She weighs around 50-55 pounds. Ruby is spayed, up-to-date on her shots and heartworm medication, and crate trained. We adore Ruby, but after bringing home a new baby, we sadly can’t give her the time and energy she needs to be happy. If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing Ruby for $25, please email David or Rachel at osborned@gmail.com

Two Cents

Throughout my pregnancy, I got A LOT of advice. Mostly, people told me that my lack of sleep was preparing me for the lack of sleep that came with a new baby. Sorry folks, not quite! At least when I am in my bed to sleep now, I am ACTUALLY sleeping. In the last few weeks of my pregnancy, I rarely slept. I spent more time rolling into a sitting position and waddling to the bathroom in the middle of the night than I did sleeping.

During our birth class, we were cautioned about lots of unsolicited advice. I was very afraid of this after the foreshadowing of my pregnancy. Surprisingly, I haven't been swamped with advice like I was afraid of. In our class, Pat just said, "Say thanks, I'll try that!" Who knows what you try anyway? People mean well, but unless I am doing something that will burn the house down, let me see what I can do! If you don't let anyone try something for themselves, how will they learn? Sometimes the best two cents one could give is full-fledged support. If that helps, who knows how much those two cents could turn into?

Maybe fifty cents?

I think that Mollie already understand that fifty cents are better than two. She already would prefer the big shiny quarters in front of her! This photo was her Daddy's idea. :)

Boppy's, Bumbo's, Bouncers, and More!

Everyone has said that babies don't need much. I have honestly tried to believe them. Yes, they don't need anything but food, warmth, and diapers, but I have found that babies certainly LIKE to have more. I know we live in a materialistic society; I don't want my daughter to HAVE to have lots of stuff. However, I have foundthat certain things put a great big grin on her face. Look at the sense of accomplishment on her face in her Bumbo seat as she sits up like a big girl for the first time. I am not thrilled that I didn't find a used one for her, saving a few dollars, but I am so glad that we got her one. She LOVES it. The dog loved it too.

We are now not only home to a new baby, but we are also home to two Boppy's. My mother even has a Boppy at her house. What is a Boppy? A magical pillow to prop a mother's weakened arms from toting a growing baby for countless hours. It makes me wish that I had a boppy for my belly while pregnant. Wait. I did. I had a Boppy pregnancy wedge and a boppy sleeping pillow- both for nighttime. Why doesn't Boppy have a pillow for bellies during the daytime? Mollie also has a Boppy newborn lounger that has been wonderful. It is like a giant fluffy beanbag (only a pillow) that she can snuggle into.

Speaking of Boppy's... Did I mention that we also have a boppy bouncer seat? Yes, they make bouncer seats. Who is this Ms. Boppy? She must be loaded. Anyway, WE LOVE our Boppy bouncer. Many a-night has come that Mollie has not been fussy nor has she wanted to sleep. So, her patient doting daddy has sat-up with her in the kitchen: she in her boppy seat and he beside her watching old episodes of Family Guy via hulu on the computer. As a music teacher, the songs it plays are enough to make me ill, but my baby loves it, so I can't complain. I dare say that I am starting to find them catchy. That's another story...

Lastly, I must mention the ever-faithful techno-color swing. At first, Mollie wasn't that into it. She just didn't like it. David made a few attempts at getting her to fall asleep in it when she was just a couple weeks old due to Harvey Karp's promise of the Happiest Baby on the Block. That did not make our child the Happiest Baby on the Block! Finally, a few weeks ago, she started to show interest in the Rainforest mobile on the top. Then, I made the brilliant discovery that Mollie enjoys the swing when it goes side-to-side. Coupled with the "sleepy" music instead of the "happy awake" music, it gets her doped up, and before we know it, she's out! This has been a blessing. Everyday, around lunchtime, I set her in the swing with the magical combination of settings, and she passes out. I get to eat my lunch! It's wonderful. I don't know who enjoys it more, Mollie or me!

So, who needs all this stuff? It is true... when Mollie NEEDS something, she needs our arms, a blanket, food, or a clean diaper. She doesn't NEED anything else. We always needs to remember that. I have to remind myself not to get caught-up in the weekly Babies 'R Us flier that shows up in our mailbox. We have to balance the what only comes at the store with what only comes from us. Mommy and Daddy have all that Mollie needs. I want her to always know and trust that. Wal-Mart and Target don't sell love!

Mollie may only be a few weeks old, but she has already figured that out.

All good things must come to an end...