Book Worm and Christmas Reflections

With our trip to Missouri this week to visit David's family, I have had a lot of time to catch up on some reading! The drive is about seven hours one way plus I had one day of alone time while David and his dad bonded over putting out corn for the deer! I have a bad habit of reading multiple books at once but my new resolution is not to start a book while I am currently involved in another. I digress. Over the trip I finished The Secret Life of Bees and the first Sookie Stackhouse book Dead until Dark. I absolutely adored both books. Bees was an emotional book for me since I am now a mother. Dead is a completely different type of read but I am itching to dive into the second novel. While in small town Missouri, I went to Wal Mart to purchase the next Sookie book but they did not have it. I ran across The Reader which has been made into a movie that is now in theatres starring Kate Winslet. It was a short book. I read the first half on the way home and just finised the second half today. It is hard to describe the book. It is one that leaves you with such a sad feeling at the end. There is a twist in the plot that, when it happens, seems so obvious but I didn't see it coming. Today, my book club book came in too. Since my little bubby is so tuckered out from our long trip, I might actually have time to begin reading it tonight too. (Rockin New Years, huh?!) I am so into reading right now. I would rather read than watch TV. I know this is greatly due to book club.
I should also add some details about Camden's first Christmas! It was so fantastic to have him here for Christmas. The night before Christmas Eve we had our Bestie party here at the house. Eight kids and five adults! Whew! All of the babies got a taggie blanket from Claire. The kids had an "age partner" (meaning the two children who were closest in age) to buy gifts for. Camden's partner is Wyatt since they are only about two weeks apart. Camden got a crinkle book and a toy from Wyatt. The besties just decided to play Dirty Santa which was very hard with 8 kids around! Picture frames were the gift of choice for the night. LOL! We had a great time but decided that next year we will have the kids exchange gifts then have their Daddies pick them up so we can have our friend time. Christmas Eve was very busy! That morning my mom's family came to our house for breakfast. MMMM...That is my favorite meal of the holiday season. We chatted and exchanged gifts and had a great time. That evening, David's mom, step-dad, sister, her fiance, his grandmother and her boyfriend came over to exchange gifts. Of course, Camden got lots of toys and a high chair! Christmas morning came and Santa was very good to Camden! He got a VSmile Baby, a Baby Einstein DVD, a Baby Einstein toy, a Laugh and Learn tool box, a football, and tons of clothes. Then we headed to my moms. David and I got a new video camera to film Camden's shenanigans that are sure to come very soon. Camden got a walker and tons of toys. The day after Christmas we headed north to David's dads house. Camden got money, toys, ornaments, and clothes. He has waaaay too much stuff but it will be a while until his birthday so he will have plenty to keep him busy until then. We are so grateful to have so many people who care for him. He is a very lucky boy! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas like we did.
Our New Years will be quiet. David is not feeling well and I'm clining to Camden until Monday since I start back to work, so I refuse to go anywhere he can't go, and I don't want to get him out in the cold since he has already been exposed to flu while in Missouri. I am going to miss 2008. It was, by far, the best year of my life. All of the positive experiences I have had this year have made me a better person. It was the year my child was born; the year that I established strong friendships and renewed old ones; the year that my husband and I continued to love each other unconditionally; and the year that my family was able to exhale and welcome a new member. I don't know how 2009 can top 2008, but I would love to see it try!

#38- Eat at Ketchup

I was browsing my list and I forgot that I ate at Ketchup this week! Lora and I went to Huntsville Tuesday to scope out some places and information on having our class reunion next year. We were checking out the banquet room at the Westin at Bridge Street so we decided to have lunch at Ketchup since neither of us had eaten there before. I suppose the best part was that we got lunch prices ;) Strangely enough, I did not get anything that required ketchup! I did have their grilled chicken nachos which was more of a Mexican dish, but that's how I roll. They were topped with yummy homemade guacamole. Yum-o! Lora had the sloppy joe which she said tasted just like the ones from a can. Strangely enough, she was pleased with that! She did have french fries and I had to sample one. They were sprinkled with Parmesan cheese which was different but very tasty. I did like the restaurant but if I'm at Bridge Street I would much rather eat at P.F. Changs or Cantina Laredo. So the guacamole at Cantina and Ketchup has me on this kick, and I purchased the ingredients to make my own guac! Shocker, I know. I tried it tonight and it was actually ok for a first timer. I think my avocados could have been a little more ripe. I've watched Rachael Ray cut avocados and remove the seed 1,000 times, but I couldn't pull it off quite like her. I managed to spoon out enough avocado to make the guac but not before stabbing my hand in the process. Maybe I will practice some more and I'll crave my own guacamole!

December Book Club

We had our December meeting last night and it, as usual, was super fun! We met at Shannon's mom's house and Shannon assigned us the book Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews. I loved the fact that we were reading a Christmas book and this one was too cute! Southern fiction is my absolute favorite. I am proud of being from the South and all the humor that goes along with it. I adore the fact that I always know someone who behaves the exact same way as each character in the book. I read this book in a total of about three hours. It was an easy, fun read. We also decided to play Dirty Santa and each person brought a book. I thought this was such a fun idea. The best part was each person's dramatic reading of the book blurb with Amelia's "smart" glasses. Too funny. I think we may play again soon even before next Christmas. I am glad we started this book club. I have been reading so much more, and I find myself searching Amazon.com relentlessly trying to find new books to order. Next month we are going to read The Quickie by James Patterson. I can't wait to start that one! I hope I can keep up with my reading now that I am going back to work and school in just a couple of weeks.

My Baby is 10 Weeks Old

Last Saturday Camden turned 10 weeks old. It is so hard to believe. I just wanted to share this pic that I took of him that day. I take a picture of him every Saturday when he turns another week older. I had reminded myself all day long to do it but I forgot until he got into the bed that night. I always take about 10 pictures at a time. He was almost asleep for the first one, but after I flashed the camera he woke up and began to smile for the others. He loves having his picture made!

Finally! Something to say :)

I have not blogged in about three weeks! Not that I haven't had the time, because, trust me, I have! I just have not had anything to blog about. My little boy was diagnosed with RSV on his two month birthday so we have been cooped up in the house since December 4th. I had honestly have only left the house to go to the doctor and to the store until I got to have a little outing last week with Jaime and Melanie. We had dinner last Tuesday at Longhorn. We followed that with a trip to the Hob where I had to do some Christmas shopping. Jaime and Melanie also made some purchases (shocker) including an "It's a Boy" ornament for the Emerson Christmas tree! (I'm so stoked about meeting Noah by the way) Then we went to Babies R Us to scope out some things for Noah. We had such a good time. I have missed those gals since I've been on leave. I cannot wait to get back to work! I admire SAHM's...I couldn't do it forever. I love my little man to the pit of my core, but I'm not made to stay at home. The evening was superb until I decided to call the hubby and check on him and the babe. No answer on the house or cell phone. I knew they had to be at home because Camden was sick and couldn't get out. I called about fifty-eleven times and still no answer! I was so scared. I knew in the back of my mind that they had fallen asleep and David just wasn't hearing the phone. But I thought, if he can't hear the phone, can he hear Camden if he is crying??!! UGH! Finally, I called my mom to get her to go over there. She decided to call first, and luckily, David answered the phone for her. I could have murdered him. That ruined my whole night!

Well, the holidays are officially here! I cannot wait to attend all the gatherings. I love giving gifts and I hope I got everyone something they will love. My first party will be this Friday night for Book Club. It's a Christmas extravaganza! We had to read a Christmas book titled "Blue Christmas." It was super funny and exceptionally easy to read. We are also going to play Dirty Santa and everyone is bringing a book. I hope amazon delivers mine in time!

The next couple of weeks are going to be so hectic. After all the Christmas hooplah we will be leaving to visit David's family in Missouri. When I come back, I'll have approximately six days before returning to work. It will definitely be bitter sweet. I'm lucky that my sister will be keeping Camden. I'm hoping that will make going back to work much easier. Well, I've blogged everyone's leg off so I'll stop for today and try not to wait three weeks before blogging again!

I Heart Used (but new to me!) Things

Still being a bad blogger but mostly because my life is kinda boring right now! I have had some interesting developments over the past couple of days. First of all, I have been dying for a Blackberry phone for as long as I can remember knowing about Blackberrys. I don't really care about all of the fancy things it does that you have to subscribe to. I just like the keypad for texting and I hate flip phones. Several factors have kept me from getting one but recently my husband found a great deal on ebay for one that was like new so he bought it for me! It came in today and I love it. You would never know it was used. Funny story about the delivery...the mail lady and her lazy tail placed the box in front of the garage door instead of on the front porch. I had no idea it was there so I backed out of the garage and ran over the box!! Luckily it was in a very large box, and I just pushed it instead of running over it completely. The phone was not harmed, but the postmaster will be getting a phone call about the incident! The second used-but-new-to-me item we bought last night was a tanning bed! I have wanted one for ages and we found a very inexpensive one on Craigslist. It is an older model but I'm still very excited about having it. I think this will save us lots of money on tanning visits in the future.

I have a lot of events happening in the next few days. First of all, tomorrow I have to go pick up Camden's proofs from his first professional photographer's visit. I am so excited! He was awake for almost all the pics. He did pitch royal fits when we changed his clothes and such but I think the photographer got some great shots. Secondly, the Twilight movie is coming out Friday! Lora, Shannon, Casey, and I have tickets to see the midnight show in Huntsville tomorrow night! I have never been to a midnight movie, and I am super excited. I'm so lucky that my hubby doesn't mind (even though he has to work the next day) to get up with Camden. (He is only getting up once a night now, so it's not a huge sacrifice!) I've been so excited about this movie! Lastly, we have Book Club Friday night. I so look forward to Book Club. This month we read "The Pact" by Jodi Picoult and I have tons to say about it. Lots of things about this book caught my attention. It was a really good book. I can't wait to see what Shannon pics out for our December meet.

New Recipe

Since I am playing Stay-at-Home-Mom for the time being, I have been attempting to cook most nights for me and my hubby. While I was homebound, my aunt made Chicken Fajita Soup for us and we both loved it. So last night I decided to try it out. It turned out great if I do say so myself! I did use another can of Rotel instead of the can of green chiles it calls for. David took the leftover to work and it was a hit! Here is the recipe just in case someone wants to try it out. It is super simple or else I couldn't have done it! (Two blogs in one day...I'm a bad mamma jamma!)

Chicken Fajita Soup

2 Chicken Breasts boiled and shredded
1 can of corn- drained
1 can pintos- drained
1 can chicken broth
1 can Rotel
1 can chopped green chiles
1 pound Velveeta

Mix together, add cheese, when cheese is melted it is ready to serve!