LOOK, Nana - we're BAKING!

Mommy and I decided to make ANOTHER big mess in the kitchen, so we're making cookies, 'cause I just can't rest until I make them! And, by the way, it's about 9:30am. I went to bed thinking about cookies, and I woke up thinking about them! Mommy told me I had to eat a bowl of cereal first, so I wouldn't get sick on so much sugar. What does she know.

Isn't it pretty!? It came with a heart cutout, and I made my own DESIGNER cookie! I liked it soooo much, Mommy had to take the picture with my hands on it. I just couldn't help it!

There's the first bite...

PRETTY GOOD! {...and, that's my "my mouth's full, but okay, I'll smile" pose.}

I just LOOOOVE my new easy bake oven I got from Nana!!

This one, however, is Mommy's cookie.... maybe she'll let me have a taste!

Ahhh. . . Mommy's HOME! Thanks, Nana, for the Easy Bake Oven!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

May this Christmas bring you everything your heart desires.

Merry Christmas from my family to YOURS!

And, thanks for the presents, dear family! I soooooo loved each and every one of them!

Love y'all!

Tags. . . you're IT!!

I'm in love. I'm truly giddy and salivating over the tags I made to go on the gifts this year.

WHO SAID WORKING MOTHERS CAN'T CRAFT ON OCCASION!?

Now, I must tell you. . . I am truly jealous over all you SAHM's out there who can homeschool your children, post (with picture) your latest culinary delight from the kitchen, organize your guest closet (because all the others are already organized), and still have enough time to scrapbook a page a day during the holidays. Yep, jealous. Truly I am. It's a love-hate thing. I only hate you because I wish I could do all the things you do, but I absolutely LOVE the posts you do.

And, I tried to find it, but SOMEONE OUT THERE posted the cutest presents wrapped in the CUTEST way with the CUTEST tags and the CUTEST fabric ribbon, coordinated under their beautiful tree.

Well, I'm in LOVE with those cute little tags on the presents! It reminds me of how I think tags should be on gifts. Personalized. Not the sticker kind, but something more. Something that says, "Even though I waited until the last minute and wrestled another shopper to the ground to get your gift, I cared enough to make you a personalized tag. . . because darn it, YOU'RE special."

Nothin' says LUVIN' like a homemade tag. And, by the way, the tags were bought predone at Wal-Mart, and I used colored markers and sharpies. I even pulled out the ever-impressive WHITE sharpie. {insert gasp here.}

And, man, aren't those tags CUTE!?

Geesh - I totally need to get a life.

CHRISTMAS, a week away!

So, is it really a week away? If you're like me, we're ALL a bit frazzled. Brendan came to me last night, and confessed he saw a bag in my room. Now, he knows not to even go into our room, or he'll ruin his Christmas. So, I am in panic mode, trying to figure out WHICH bag he saw!! Actually, we ended up going into Mommy and Daddy's room, and it was a bag of gift bags, so, we're in the clear. I'm so afraid he'll see something, I think I'll just wrap stuff tonight.

But wait, I CAN'T. We have Little Dribblers tonight! Yep, it's that time of year to PILE ON STUFF IN THE MIDDLE OF STUFF, SO WE CAN STRESS ABOUT THE STUFF NOT HAVING TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS STUFF!!!! (panting like Miss Piggy)

Ya know, I am starting to think that the people who think they have all the answers about "how NOT to be stressed over the holidays" is just a smoke-and-mirrors effect about perspective. Yes, I'm stressed. Yes, I need a day to myself, so I can get my Christmas Cards in the mail, presents wrapped, laundry washed for tonight's Little Dribbler Performance, dishes washed, ornaments wrapped for choir, and still have enough time to figure out just how many gifts I have left to purchase.....

But then, I realize the person who does NOT have these things. . .

Also doesn't have the two beautiful children I have.

And the understanding hubby that I have.

And the FAMILY I have.

They have enough time to sit down and write articles about "how not to be stressed."

So, with that in mind. . .

GO OUT AND GET STRESSED!! It's really okay if you haven't started Christmas shopping. It's what Christmas is all about!! It's really okay to be so far behind, you feel really out of it!!

It's really OKAY!

'Tis the SEASON!!

GIVEAWAY TIME! POST THAT COMMENT!!

It's time for my first EVER giveaway!

Have you visited any blogs lately that are paying it forward? I'm paying it forward after Amy payed it forward to me! Here's how this works.

The first three people to leave a comment on this post will receive a surprise from me!

If you are one of the first three posters, you then agree to pay it forward on YOUR blog. Yep, you need a blog to participate. The things you give away can be anything--supplies, stamps, hand made items, whatever you like. It can even be a suprise.

This is such a great time to do this as we are in a season of giving!

I will contact the three winners via email and send you some COOL STUFF! Okay, some surprises. Heck, I don't know what it is yet, but it'll be good! Trust me!!

'Tis the season of GIVING!

They Told Me My Life Would Change...

But they DIDN'T tell me I would change.

And that I'd never, ever be the same.

Seven years ago yesterday, my life changed in ways I never would have imagined.

Going into labor three weeks early, my body not ready,
but the doctors telling me I was in danger,
Praying you were okay, that my body hadn't put stress on you,
52 hours of labor, and then,
During the Mickey Mouse Christmas Carol, when that Ducky Scrooge
Walks down the village road,
My water breaks.
And, you were born, not making a sound.
Scary.
But then, a little squeal. Then a cry. A beautiful, BEAUTIFUL cry.
Your Daddy looked at me and said, "I LOVE YOU SO MUCH" in a way
I'd never heard before.
And, there, in that very hospital room, my life as a woman, as a wife,
Suddenly became a MOTHER.

Taking you home, protecting you, caring for you.
Worrying that you were sleeping too long.
Sleeping too little.
Eating enough.
Staying at home for weeks- you were so tiny, I was SCARED to take you out.
Living life on tidbits of sleep.

But all of this pales in comparison to the changes in me...

Loving at a level deeper than I ever knew possible.
Seeing the world in a whole new way.
Feeling more compassion.
Feeling greater depths of sorrow. . . with every tragic news story I'd see.
Knowing that no matter what was happening with the news, some Mom's "baby" was
involved - - someone who loved her child in exactly the same way I love mine.
Understanding why it mattered when I stayed out late in High School.
Knowing the depth of my Mother's love for me.
Believing that miracles REALLY DO HAPPEN.

My baby boy is seven years old.

SEVEN.

Happy Birthday, Brendan.

Thank you for making me a Mom.

Thank you for changing my life.

Thank you for changing ME.

Love you, kiddo.

Paying it Forward: COMING SOON!

So, I happened to be the THIRD winner on Amy's Blog, a blog I check daily and absolutely SALIVATE over! She's got a great eye for scrapbooking, card making, and anything family-related, and she seems so down to earth! I feel like I know her!

I'm posting this to tell you, part of my "reward" means that I'll be hosting my FIRST "Giveaway" very soon, so stay posted! The giveaway will be very soon!!!

Oh the anticipation. . .!!!

STAY TUNED!

Just because I am the QUEEN of multi-tasking...

This is a reminder to myself:

Dearest and most nobelest Amy:

Don't forget to TiVo "Deserving Design" on HGTV. It is an AWESOME show, and you know you loved it the MINUTE you saw it! Don't watch it now, because you have a final next week, and that little holiday coming up to prepare for and get ready.

Vern Yip. What a decorator!! He can turn this:


Into THIS:


Incredible. I can just SIT in this living room. So simple. So elegant. And I WANT that chandelier. Very classic!!

Just wanted to post a non-holiday-related post, and so I wouldn't forget to remain extremely busy after the holidays... LOL!!