{the venemas} first thanksgiving

If you are my friend on facebook, you know that Lainey and I tried to count all the things we are thankful for, but quickly ran out of little fingers and toes to count! 

This year our family has a lot to be thankful for, that's for sure!  At the top of that list is a healthy daughter!  I can't even explain how excited I was to have Lainey around for the festivities.  Seriously - I can't - I tried.  I have sat here typing, deleting, and retyping sentences trying to spit it out and it's just not happening.  But rest assured, even she doesn't remember her first Thanksgiving, I will!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving - filled with love, laughter, and deliciousness! We hope ya'll did too!! Here's some photos from dinner at NeeNee's. 

xoxo,
Linda

Family photo sneak peak

A couple of weeks ago, we had the pleasure of working with Rebecca Ward of Rebecca Ward Photography to finally get some official family photos! Philip and I prefer to be on the other side of the camera, you know, the side where you aren't seen! But as much as I like taking photos and being Lainey's personal paparazzi, I can't get good pictures of our trio by myself!! Rebecca was also our wedding photographer - we have seen her business transform and couldn't be more proud to be one of her "first clients." 

Here is a sneak peak of our session:

That frame is sure getting some use in Lainey's photos.  It's my favorite piece from my collection of antique frames.

Speaking of Rebecca Ward Photography, Rebecca is a contest sponsored by Hipstamatic to be Miranda Lambert's next tour photographer! If you have a second, literally a second or two, go here and vote for her! Last time I checked, she was in second place and trailing by 100 votes! It would be a totally bad ass opportunity for her to win!!

xoxo,
Linda

Dear Santa,

I haven't been around long enough to be naughty, so I am sure that I am on your nice list. This is my very first Christmas, but you already know that, don't you?  Mommy keeps telling me how much fun Christmas is going to be with all of my family here to love on me! I just thought I would share with you my Christmas list... in case you needed some ideas.

A new comfy chair to sit in while I watch Sports Center with my Daddy:

Source: potterybarnkids.com via Linda on Pinterest

Something to chew on:

Source: babble.com via Linda on Pinterest

For when I am in the car:

Source: coolmomtech.com via Linda on Pinterest

My iPod needs a case:

Source: fisher-price.com via Linda on Pinterest

I don't like shoes, but my mommy says I need some:

Source: shoes.com via Linda on Pinterest

Some new books to read at bed time:

Source: anthropologie.com via Linda on Pinterest

I probably need my very first ornament too:

Source: landofnod.com via Linda on Pinterest

And if you are feeling practical, I am going to need size 2 diapers here shortly!

Thanks! I can't wait to meet you!

Love,
Lainey

Getting ready for Christmas

Middle of November?? Already?! Where is the year going? Baby girl will be 5 months in just 2 short days!!

This time last year, I was anxiously awaiting the "5 days earlier" grace period where the pregnancy test is supposed to work! And actually, I already knew.  I was just waiting for the test to confirm it for my own sanity's sake. 

This year though, it's a totally new anxious feeling filling the air in the nuthouse! It's baby's first Christmas! It's hard to believe that with temperatures in the mid 70's, it's time to start prepping for Santa! Santa?! Oh my gosh - that's right! From here on out, we get to have Santa in our house! Well at least for the next 10 years, dammit! I get to take bites out of cookies and leave just a little bit of milk in the bottom of glass resting on the mantle! And stockings are going to be taken to a whole new level this year! Thank goodness I was the weirdo who bought extra stockings a few years ago, "just in case" because I loved them so much!

So many memories are in the making and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! 

And since Lainey won't know what's going on, at least me and her daddy will remember this first Christmas forever.

On a side note...

We are getting oh so close to that 10-pound party!! I've been telling Lainey every day if she hits 10 pounds, then we are having a party!  We have finally moved on to 3 month sized clothes! haha

This picture is from over this past weekend at a birthday party for Lainey's friend, Logan.  He turned the big 7 this year!!!

xoxo,

Santa...oh, I mean... Linda

When do traditions start?

I will admit, there are very few traditions that I actually remember from childhood.

I remember my dad reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas every Christmas Eve after my parents' divorce.

I remember my mom always made sure I got separate gifts on 2/14 - birthday gifts and a Valentine's Day gift.

I remember my grandmother making me wear sponge rollers and sitting under an old hair dryer and tying my pigtails up with this super wide yarn/ribbon.

I remember someone used to give me porcelain figurines for each of my birthdays. They were pastel-colored dolls with gold numbers on them for my age.

I remember a lot of Halloweens where my cousin and I had matching costumes.

And to this day... we all still go see Drifty the Snowman at the Swift Creek Mill Playhouse every year before Christmas.

But one thing I don't know is...

when did those traditions start? 

And when do our family traditions begin?

How do you decide what becomes a tradition?  Is it something you can even really decide upon or do they just evolve on their own? I know Lainey will not remember this first Christmas, but how much do I do and how far do you take these traditions?

I have a slight obsession with books, as some of you may know from earlier posts.  I especially love old books - ones that smell like old leather or musty paper!  And, as you can imagine, Lainey does not need toys. Really. I mean we buy things all the time.  (I joke and call this my "you get a prize" parenting method.  Yes, I know, that is not parenting. But I also know that when you're crying at the doctor's office because you just 3 shots.... you will definitely get a prize!) 

All of that being said, I have decided to start a tradition of my own.  

Penguin Classics has been releasing some of the most gorgeous cloth-bound books in the last couple of years. So I am thinking it would be nice for every milestone - gift-worthy event, I will give Lainey a book. Hopefully it will be a cloth-bound Penguin/Puffin Classic book.  It started with her first copy of The Little Prince. I came across a gorgeous vintage copy of it that has the perfectly aged cloth binding.  Now, as silly as it may sound, I plan on stocking up on these classic novels and hoarding them away for the perfect days.

Traditions start whenever and wherever you want them to...

so let the traditions begin.

xoxo,
Linda

Happy Halloween, ya'll!

Shew! What a busy day it was yesterday. This whole being a career-driven lady/wife/awesome mom/super hero job is a little exhausting some days. But no, I wouldn't trade for the world.  Yes, there are some days when I wish I could be a stay at home mommy, of course there! And there are DEFINITELY days when I am jealous of my mommy friends who get that opportunity, but this is my life and I love it. 

I get to be a provider, a boo boo kisser, a problem solver, a gift giver, and a bedtime story reader.  And some times, if I am lucky, I even get to be the dinner cooker and a art creator.

Yesterday was a typical day in the life of me.  Packed full of meetings, projects, and a quick lunch date - then 4:30 hit the clock and I hit the ground running. Most days, I don't mind getting caught at the elevator or staying a few minutes late, "just to get this wrapped up."  But today was different! It was a big day - I needed to get home!  It was baby's first Halloween!  I had stuff to do - a baby to dress - candy to get ready - kids to see!!

I got home and Daddy was lucky enough to have a lazy day with baby girl. (so jealous!!)  I quickly went to the closet, grabbed a "fancy pumpkin outfit" and got baby girl all dressed up.  Found out our "fancy pumpkin topper" was still just a bit too big, so I decided to tie the back of it in a knot to tighten it up - besides, no one will see that any way, right?  If it's not in the pictures - it didn't happen! Since Lainey is still too little to go out trick or treating, so this was more for me any way. I wanted to have the satisfaction of knowing she was something for her first Halloween... something other than asleep!

After being forced into a million pictures, Lainey decided the fun time was over, and that it was time to put some jammies on!  Duh - of course we have Halloween jammies! 

Everyone at the Nut House hopes all of ya'll had a great Halloween and that all the kiddos who went Trick-or-Treating got an awesome haul of candy!!

xoxo,
Linda