Let Him Eat Cake!!!

On the 27th we celebrated the 1st birthday of our most precious gift from God. While his little celebration was definitely a low key affair with Grandma and Grandaddy and his Daddy and me, it was no less special. We are having a larger celebration in a week, so that more family and friends can join us...I guess one big caveat of having a Christmas birthday is that everybody is still so spread out traveling for the holidays. When Britton is school age, I'm sure we will host his party a week or so before the holidays so that all his little friends will be able to join us. Nevertheless, our boy had a blast digging into his first cupcake. He ate the entire thing which definitely brought on a sugar rush to end all sugar rushes. He was literally bouncing up and down like a Mexican jumping bean and growling like a wild tiger!!! I've never let him have sugary treats before, so this was a first. He obviously LOVED every morsel of it.

It is hard to believe how fast this year has passed, and that I am now a mother of a one year old!!! Of course, I spent half the day teary eyed, flipping between the excitement of all the new milestones and adventures yet to come and mourning the bygone days of my snuggly newborn baby. I am just so grateful to be the mother of this beautiful, smart, charming little boy and look forward to watching him grow into the handsome, strong, capable, and kind man that I know he will become.

Then

Now

Christmas Wrap-up

Christmas was a whirl wind of activity and numerous family celebrations. The big day snuck-up on me and passed too quickly. We traveled to North Georgia a few days before Christmas to celebrate with my in-laws. We visited with family, watched movies, ate tons of good food, and opened presents.

Britton loved the little rocking horse, "Bullseye", that Nana and Papa John gave him. He also enjoyed spending time with his teenage first cousins, Layton and Zachary, and while he is super particular about who he lets hold him, he was perfectly content in his Uncle Johnny's arms...it could be the fact that although there is a 12 year age gap between the two brothers, they bare a striking resemblance, and I'm sure this fact in not lost on Britton. 

We headed to my parent's house for the remainder of the Christmas celebration. Christmas Eve brought our traditional family dinner and present opening where we were joined by my sister, niece, and new brother-in-law. 

Two of my favorite presents were the beautiful cameo-like necklace with my monogram that my sister gave me and the Waterford Crystal champagne flute that my mother gave me. I had mentioned reading about the special holiday edition flute that Waterford was going to start selling this year and continue producing a different collectible flute each year for the next decade. I had completely forgot mentioning this to my mother and was surprised and excited to start my new collection. I've always loved having something to collect...when I was little, it was VIB Bears, and then Swarorski Crystal figurines, and then I must admit that I, too, was sucked into the Beanie Baby craze. Of course, these gorgeous flutes are for "lookin' at" only. Seriously, I would hardly trust my butter fingers with a $90 crystal fute after a couple of glasses of bubbly!!!

Christmas morning the babies woke up and had their "Santa." We decided to let each child have their own tree surrounded by presents to prevent the replay of Easter where my niece thought everything was hers and had a meltdown when we informed her that some of the presents were baby Britton's.

Luckily, our plan worked out perfectly and after Miss Emily enjoyed opening her presents she sweetly came to see what Britton had gotten from Santa and understood that those were the "baby toys".

She is becoming such a big girl, and she and Britton already have such a special relationship. They are definitely going to be best friends for life.

We were joined at noon by my uncle, aunt, and favorite cousin, Matthew, who drove over from Montgomery for our traditional Christmas day lunch. We had a fabulous spread of way too much food.

The babies then got to open even more presents after lunch. Sissy, Jesse, and Em headed out to celebrate Chrismas with his family.

By the time the afternoon was over, I was dead tired and ended up in my pajamas by 4:00 pm. Bubba, Britton and I headed to bed super early to cuddle up in our warm flannel sheets to watch the Lion King and have a slumber party. I loved every minute of Britton's first Christmas and the flutter of activity, but the sweetest part of the day was when I got to enjoy spending quiet time with my precious little family.

10 on Tuesday: The Diva's Rambling List of Randomosity

1.) Our Christmas decorating is FINALLY complete. Yep, it's only December 20th.

2.) White Christmas trees scream tacky to me, so I was a little apprehensive about this one. However, our white Christmas tree turned out very pretty...all twinkling white lights, silver garland and beads, and gold, silver, and clear balls all topped with a huge silver bow.

3.) We made our first visit to Santa yesterday and miracle of all miracles Britton did NOT have a meltdown:) He did not crack a single smile, but he didn't scream like a banshee either so I was happy.

4.) I'm a stickler for clever advertising and have been seeing tons of ads for Smirnoff's Fluffed Marshmallow and Whipped Cream flavored vodka for weeks. I bought a bottle of the Marshmallow flavor over the weekend, and my verdict is a big thumbs-up:) I love creating culinary cocktails and came up with a fun dessert cocktail....the "Holiday Hot Chocolatini": Marshmallow vodka, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, and a splash of fat-free half and half. After a few good shakes in a martini shaker with ice, serve in a chilled martini glass garnished with a dollop of whipped cream and chocolate shavings. DECADENT!!!

5.) Bubba says he is "making" my Christmas present this year. Ummm, I guess he did NOT get my Christmas wish list memo. I do not think he has the capabilities to whip up a new iPhone in his workshop!!!

6.) I love the show One Born Every Minute on TLC. I'm a push-over for any show about birthing babies, and this one is hilarious, terrifying and endearing all at the same time. I cry every time I watch this show. Britton's own birth story was NOT picture perfect, and it was definitely a deviation from my original birthing plan...a botched epidural and 12 hours of natural, drug-free labor was NOT fun!!! However, the end result was nothing short of perfection!!!

7.) I have some HUGE news to announce soon, but I don't want to jinx myself, so I'm keeping mum for now. After throwing that out I will clarify that I AM NOT PREGNANT!!!! (see #4 for proof of that)

8.) I have officially suspended my diet until January 1st. Who am I kidding?!? My "diet" has been a complete failure from the start, but come January I'm hitting the gym hard core. I use to LOVE the gym. Previous to getting pregnant with Britton I worked out at the gym 4-5 days a week. I have ZERO excuses not to get in shape and lose this "baby weight" that I have been holding onto for an entire year!!! Confession: My hubby is a personal trainer, so I can get one of the best workouts in the city for FREE.

9.) Britton can now undress himself. It's a cute party trick and makes me chuckle everytime I turn around and discover a pantsless baby, but I sort of hate having to redress him because he's a total wiggle worm these days.

10.) I will leave you with yet another picture of Britton in a pair of his Christmas pjs (he has like over a dozen pairs).....and his very BIG sock monkey pal, Max.

Sweet Honey Pig

On Thursday morning, Bubba said that he wanted to go somewhere different, exotic and unusual for dinner. After much debate we settled on Korean BBQ, and I knew just the spot, Honey Pig. It's well worth the 20 minute drive up the interstate to the suburb of Duluth. Knowing the sheer amount of food we would be consuming that evening, I fasted the whole day. For the uninitiated, Korean BBQ is a unique, hands-on dining experience and always delicious. After sitting down at a table with a built-in cooking service, it is time to choose your choice of meat to be grilled at the table. We picked pork belly and bulgogi (marinated beef). The waiter then brings a smorgasbord of sauces, pickled condiments, a seaweed salad, bean sprouts, a trio of "wraps" (lettuce leaves, rice paper rolls, and radish slices) and the ubiquitous kimchee. Kimchee, a fermented cabbage concoction, is to Korean cuisine what ketchup is to America cuisine. It's a condiment that is eaten with EVERYTHING.

 

The meal starts with a cold, cabbage soup that is sweet and sour and serves as a palette cleanser between bites. Once the grill (at Honey Pig it is a domed cast iron skillet) is heated to a smoky hot temperature, the waiter bring out the cuts of meat and begins the cooking process. At most Korean BBQ spots you can cook your own meat, but here they do it for you. I definitely like that better because I can give my full attention to the main event...eating. After the meat is cooked, you make your own "rolls" by placing a piece of the grilled meat in the wrap of your choice and add condiments to taste...a little kimchee, a few threads of crispy bean spouts and a dip through the sesame oil. DELICIOUS!!! All this is washed down with the requisite Shoju, a clear potent alcohol, that goes down smooth, but can jump up and bite you like a mad dog if you're not careful. Learning this lesson from previous visits, I timidly sipped at my thimble sized cup.

 

The best part of the meal comes at the end when the waiter concocts the Korean version of fried rice by mixing the remaining bits of meat, kimchee, and sprouts that were left on the grill and tosses in a large bowl of seasoned rice. He flips and dices this mixture until it's well combined and then spreads it out thin like a pancake to cook on the grill. Anyone familiar with Korean BBQ knows NOT to dig in immediately but to let the rice toast and burn a little on the bottom...those crispy bits of rice are the piece de resistance of the entire meal.

 

All this great food and fun and the bill was only around $46.00. Honey Pig is such a fun place for a date night, but even better when enjoyed with a big group of friends. And seriously, I think Honey Pig is the best name for a restaurant EVER!!!!

After heading back to Atlanta, I begged Bubba to drive me by the most over-the-top decorated house in the city to see what new blow-up displays and lights they have added this year. Many people hear blow-up yard art and think tacky, but you would be so wrong. This house is located in a very exclusive area of Buckhead (right off Peachtree-Dunwoody Road for those in the area) and is surrounded by million dollar homes.

 

When we arrived I was in awe to say the least. I have passed by this house a zillion times, but never took the time to park the car and take a closer look. I sure am glad I did, and I was not the only one with this idea. There were tons of families, kids and teenagers piled in the road to gawk at this incredible display. Seriously, this is so amazing and certainly would bring a smile to even the most miserly scrooge. I just know the December electricity bill for this jolly house must be exorbitant, but the people of Atlanta thank you:)

 

 

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Trying to take Britton's picture these days is like trying to capture wildlife footage....it's unpredictable and you've got to move QUICK!!! If you step out of arm's reach for just one moment that pretty much guarantees Britton an opportunity to a divebomb off the couch. Luckily, my little daredevil has a quick mama, and I've been able to thwart any "Evel Knievel" moves thus far. If this is any indication of what is to come in the near future, I'm going to have my hands very full with a wild, rambunctious toddler. He balls up his little fist and pounds his chest like King Kong, he karate chops and kicks like Kung Fu Panda, he bounces on mommy's tummy like a trampoline, and he growls....he's ALL BOY!!!

A Day Away...Weekend Recap

Friday evening Britton had his first "slumber party" at Grandma and Granddaddy's house. Bubba and I took full advantage of our free evening and headed to Decatur for one of our first date nights in a very long time. The whole evening was so lovely. Although, I would NEVER change the wonderful life I have now, it was fun to relive a bit of our footloose and fancy free days before baby. We strolled hand in hand, we sat way too close to each other at the restaurant, and we kissed several times under the twinkling lights of the square...yes, we were THAT couple who were so swept up in each other that we were oblivious to the world around us and PDA abounded. I usually hate that couple. I'm sure I roll my eyes and whisper under my breath "Take it home", but please forgive us for forgetting for one night that we are an "old" married couple. We've been together for twelve years and the last year has certainly brought about huge changes in the dynamic of our marriage as having a child always does.

 We had an early supper at No. 246, a newish Italian Trattoria right off the square. I must give props to the mixologist/bartender for creating some amazingly delicious and creative seasonal cocktails that started our meal off with a bang.

We decided to share a little bit of everything: a trio of toast with assorted spreads (pork rillett, ricotta with preserved lemon, and cannellini beans with chilies), one of their famous meatballs in San Marzano tomato sauce, frito misto with baby octopus and fried green tomatoes, spaghetti with Georgia shrimp, garlic, and crispy breadcrumbs, and the butternut squash agnolotti. Everything was so delicious!!!

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Just when I thought I could not stomach one more bite, our waitress conned us into trying one of their homemade ice creams in a warm waffle cone...ummm, yes, please:) The pumpkin pie ice cream with pumpkin seed brittle was a decadently perfect ending to a wonderful meal.
 Luckily, Decatur is one of the most pedestrian friendly cities around because Bubba and I definitely needed a post-dinner stroll to walk off a few of the billion calories we had just consumed. Decatur is such a fun, lively city and was bathed in holiday lights and decorations. Because it is the holiday season, many of the cute boutiques flanking the square are staying open later so I got to run into a few of my favorite shops and pick up a few odds and ends. Of course, I could not go home without picking up a little something for my sweet boy. We made a beeline over to The Little Shop of Stories, an adorable independent children's bookstore, to see if it was still open.

The store was still jumping with kiddos and their weary parents at eight o'clock, so I was able to pick up Britton a few precious books for his birthday. I went ahead and got them wrapped so I would not be tempted to give them to him early. We were still not quite ready to head home, so we walked down the street to one of our favorite haunts, Leon's Full Service, that we had not visited since before my pregnancy. It was really chilly outside, but we were bundled up like Eskimos and decided to forgo the loud, busy interior and opted to sit outside in the patio area with our nightcaps. The patio fronts the sidewalk and is a prime people watching spot. Although, it was so nice having "adult" time together, it is funny how all conversations led back to our little missing link. I mean what else are parents suppose to talk about???
Me: Do you miss Britton?
Bubba: Yeah
Me: I miss him, too, but I'm having a lot of fun just being here with you.
Bubba: Me, too.
Me: Well, now I feel guilty. Does it make me a horrible mother that I only miss him a little?
Bubba: Uh, no, you've only been away from him for like 4 hours.
Me: Do you think he misses me? Let's call Mom and see what he is doing.....
Well, obviously you get my point. Being that this was going to be our first full baby-free night together , we headed home early to enjoy some cuddle time on the couch while we watched a few movies. The best part was that we both got to sleep in soooo late before heading back to our little guy. After one evening away, we were both missing Britton like crazy, but Grandma said he did a-okay without us for the night. I'm thinking 2012 will bring quite a few more "slumber parties" at his grandparent's house since Britton did so well:)
I almost did not know what to do with myself on Saturday considering this was the first football-free weekend in months. Luckily, we had plenty of decorating to do to fill the void in our schedule formerly occupied by hours of football watching . While I was way ahead of the game on present shopping this year and had almost everything bought by Thanksgiving, I have been super behind on finishing up the decorating. We already had the colorful "kid's" tree up in the den, Bubba's Georgia Bulldog Tree in the hall, but we had yet to start on the fancy tree for the living room. The remainder of Saturday flew by, and I still had not finished decorating, so I obviously would have to spend Sunday afternoon finishing up all my projects and watching some NFL football....the NCAA may be finished with their regular season, but luckily there are weeks of NFL football left:)

Wordless Wednesday

Breaking in his 1st pair of Christmas Jammies