Yummy and Delicious!

The Menu:
Turkey
Dressing
Broccoli Casserole
Aunt Wilma's Casserole (my favorite)
Creamed Corn
Green Beans
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Gravy
Cranberry Sauce
Ambrosia
Carrot Cake (my 2nd favorite)
Pecan Pie
Apple Pie
Rolls
Corn Muffins

Just add some Sweet Tea, Wine and Family and you have our wonderful Thanksgiving! Although we missed the Caldwells, Great Aunt MeeGee's crew, and Matt Johnson, we really enjoyed Connor's first Thanksgiving. It was at least 70 degrees today and beautiful!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I don't even eat turkey! I love a holiday where you only bring yourself and a dish -- or in my case just yourself and the baby. Since we don't get "home" to Alabama that often, it is especially nice when we do - to see so much family. Here is our annual Thanksgiving Family photo. We had 12 this year for dinner (Connor sat at the head of the table). I have also included a photo of the table - my mom did a great job.

Happy Thanksgiving!

love, Connor

Never Did I Ever ...

"10 years ago, I never thought I would be in Alabama, at a Bass Pro Shop with a baby". This was Colin's statement this morning as we strolled up to the new Bass Pro Shop in Leeds, Alabama. We don't hunt, or fish or wear camo. We did however venture out to Leeds this morning to see the newest store in town. It was more like a small city.
It is right off the interstate but the road to get there is single-lane and long and winding. It was like a state park complete with a nature trail and fishing pond. When we finally arrived at the store itself we were stunned. The parking lot was PACKED! There must have been over 500 cars. I thought about turning around and leaving right then but we decided that we would at least go in the store to see if the line was ridiculous. The line for what? SANTA of course. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday (more on that tomorrow) . . . but we couldn't pass up Santa and his "deer". Connor loved Santa and we loved the fact that we were in and out of the store in less than 15 minutes with a picture of Santa (oh and to top it all off - the pictures were free!).

99 Days Old . . .

On his 99th day in this world (Saturday), our Connor decided it was time to sit up and see everything from a new angle. Now, he can't sit up and stay up for an extended period of time on his own, but he can sit up from a reclined position and look around. Even when he is sitting in a chair, he tries to sit up even straighter! He certainly has better posture than either of us. I'll try to get a video up of him soon - but as ya'll all know, I am new to this so it may take awhile.

Connor is also talking up a storm. He is practicing spelling his name (well, that is what I think). He is stuck on the "O" but has definitely mastered that letter.

It isn't really that cold here but it has been a little windy. We picked up this hat and sweater for Connor to survive the cold weather. We hear it is very cold at home.

Stroller Shopping

So for 3 months we have been keeping Connor in his car seat and just snapping it into his stroller for our walks. Yesterday my mom decided to see if Connor was big enough to ride in the stroller without the car seat. He is still in a reclined position but really enjoyed the extra space to kick his legs and move his arms while we went shopping. I thought it would be chilly yesterday since everyone here is wearing vests or coats - but it was really just a beautiful fall day and super sunny. I hear it is freezing and snowing back home - ugggh. We are happy to be here where it is fairly warm for another whole week! We are still working on the sleeping, but I am hopeful that patience will yield long term results. We are making progress, little by little.

Click on the image to see a close up of Connor in his stroller.

Since I learned how to upload the photos with the ability to "Click to Enlarge", I went back through the blog and reloaded many of the photos so you can now enlarge many of the old photos if you want to see any of them closer up.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Connor is really enjoying his time in Alabama. It isn't as warm as we would like, but it is definitely warmer than Maryland. Connor is really trying to sit up on his own this week. He has found his hands (actually a few weeks ago) and loves to sit up and hold his hands together. So sweet.

I have gotten to see my girls from high school and visit with old friends. So far, it has been a very relaxing trip -- although we miss Colin and Auntie Cait very much.

Connor hung out in the laundry basket today. He is too long to fit in the basket!! . . .

We think Connor may have found his lovie blanket. Look how happy he is sitting up like a big boy and cuddling with his green blanket.

Sweet Home

Connor was 3 months old on Friday and to celebrate, Connor and I flew out bright and early to Alabama so he could meet more of his family. Although I was super stressed about the flight for several weeks, I calmed down just in time for the big day. Connor was an angel on the flight and didn't cry at all! We have been visiting with relatives (namely all of Connor's great aunts) and his great grandmother as well as watching a LOT of football. Both of our teams lost this weekend but we are still having a great time. Colin misses us (so he says). . .

Since we didn't find out whether Connor was a boy or a girl before delivery day and since babies first notice the colors black and white (according to all the literature), we decorated Connor's nursery in black and white with splashes of color. Here is what his room looks like at home.

Connor has 2 beautiful handmade quilts from great friends. You may notice that he has hand and footprint frames - the handprint is missing from the picture. We tried at least 10 times to get that handprint down without Connor crushing the paper or clinching his fist. Colin and I finally got it last week - but it didn't make the picture. I was determined to get the footprint and handprint before 3 months because I was afraid that if we waited much longer the prints wouldn't fit in the frames. He is growing fast!

Connor loves his black and white. He will talk for an hour in his crib while oohing over the patterns.

Miss you Colin!

Test to Upload Photos

This is a test run to see if I can figure out how to upload a photo and then allow you to "Click to enlarge". After visiting Blogger for Dummies - lets see if it works.

Protect this House!

Colin and I have been season ticket holders for the Ravens since the 2003 season. I suppose our first real date was the Ravens-Broncos Monday night game in 2002. We had such a great time that we just had to be PSL owners (we actually own the seats). (Our seats for the Broncos game were memorable to say the least - There was a glitch in the construction of the stairs and one stair was much smaller than all the others. This resulted in many, many falls up the stairs throughout the evening by unknowing fans. We saw nachos tossed across aisles and beers met the concrete.) I must admit that before moving to Baltimore I loathed Pro Football. College is so much better. The ACC just doesn't really cut it for me (I know, I am a SEC snob) so getting to watch the Ravens has actually been my football outlet in Baltimore - even during losing seasons. Our seats, although not in the section with the misshapen stair, are just across the aisle from The Kirbys! Colin and I took Caitlin to her first Ravens game, where she met Greg - they got married and we have all been tailgating together ever since. I haven't been to a game this year - Connor and I hang out at home and watch the games. The Ravens were away at Houston last weekend so I had both my boys at home with me. Look how cute!

Congratulations and Surprises!

It has been 5 years since Colin and I found out we passed the Bar Exam. Wow, we are old. For those of you who don't know, you take the Bar the last week of July but have to wait (for what seems like an eternity) for the results. Alabama posted the results a few weeks ago. Yesterday a batch of new Maryland lawyers got their results. Congrats to Tommy, Millie etc., on passing the Bar!

So, today Connor and I got up early and started getting ready for our outing to Downs Park for Mom Mom's Birthday. I set Connor up on our bed and after making sure he was happy, I turned around to brush my hair. When I turned back around seconds later, this is what I found!

Connor is starting to sleep more - little by little - but this was a surprise. To fall asleep sitting up! He slowly drifted down and landed comfortably on the bed where he snoozed for an hour until Grandma Cathy came to visit.

This afternoon we picked up Mom Mom and Uncle Neal and drove to Downs Park. We had a great lunch together and then walked the trails in the park. Connor got his first taste of Boy Scout camping at the Camporee. Speaking of taste, the Boy Scouts were cooking up meals - (none of which smelled edible (at all) to me).

I Voted

Well we all got out early to vote Tuesday. It took about an hour to vote but Connor was a trooper. When we finally got up to the registration table, the volunteer informed me that my name was not listed as a voter. Of course, the name curse/ identity crisis continues. She said she would have to get a judge to assist. I suggested that she look under my maiden and married names (together). I ended up getting to vote. I am listed with 2 last names. Perfect - just what I wanted to avoid.

Wednesday Connor and I finally returned to our daily walk. The weather is mild still and Connor enjoys the fresh air. Connor is now wearing 3-6 month clothes and most of them are barely long enough! Here is a cute shot I caught today.

Daylight Savings Time

I woke up today to the news - tonight we will turn back all the clocks and get an extra hour of sleep according to the media. Colin and I suspect that we may actually get an hour less sleep and a confused baby. We are optimistic that Connor will adapt quickly but are not holding our breath. We went to the post office this morning to get Connor a baby passport. Not that we have somewhere to go . . . but I really wanted Connor to have one. Baby passports are the cutest! His picture was a little rushed so of course not as perfect as I would have liked, but considering we had to wait 1 1/2 hours to get it, he did really well. I would have gone earlier to get the passport but we have been waiting on his birth certificate to arrive. The State of Maryland has serious issues which continue to haunt me the longer I live here. When I got married, I completed the application to change my name online, printed it, and carried it along with my marriage certificate, new social security card (with married name) and title and registration to the MVA. I just wanted to change my name on my license. The State of Maryland refused to let me drop my middle name and keep my maiden name as my middle name! Clearly, this just reinforces my position that this place is filled with Yankees. I made several arguments to support my position that my middle name (Brooke) should be dropped and replaced with my madien name (like all good Southern women). The best argument was that the Social Security Administration let me do this - and here was my new card to prove it - Federal trumps State - the woman at the MVA just smiled and said "Mam, Maryland is a full name state". What does that mean?? Well, come to find out it means that "If it fits, it sticks". So, if my full name all written out First, Middle, Maiden and Married names fit on the license then they will print on the license. Turns out that Moorhouse is pretty long so all 4 names didn't fit. But, in order to keep my maiden name as part of my name, I still have "B" as an initial. So I have 4 names! Ridiculous. I am considering filing paperwork with the State to change my name officially but haven't done so yet because I am still (obviously) upset about the fact that I have been put in this position to begin with.

So, if this wasn't enough to be irate with the State . . . After Connor was born I recevied a Birth Registration Notice addressed to Courtney George Moorhouse. Unbelievable! I read the notice and it said to call if any of the information was incorrect. Well, yes, my middle name is not George. Since Colin and Connor have the same middle name I suspect that the person that entered the information in the computer made a mistake. I suggested the same to the woman at the Department of Vital Records. She informed me that I must have made the error when I completed the application at the hospital. Unlikely, since I have had the same name for 30 years . . . I then proceeded to obtain my birth certificate, a notarized statement that my middle name is not George and submitted the paperwork. The woman actually asked me if my middle name before I was married was George! Really? Anyway, we finally received his Birth Certificates last week so we were able to go get the passport today. Even if we don't go on any fancy European vacations, Connor will be able to travel in style to Alabama.

Enough ranting, here is a sweet picture of me and my boy from this weekend. . .

Happy Halloween

Connor dressed up as Curious "Connor" George (for those of you who don't know - George is his middle name). He had so much fun trick or treating on our street. Our neighborhood has plenty of kids but we had 4 - count them - 4 trick or treaters so we handed out candy on our walk. All the excitement had Connor all tired out by the end of the night. Of course, he didn't want to sleep in his bed - but he was a good little monkey all day - so I can't complain.

Colin was supposed to be the Man in the Yellow Hat - but as you can see he just wore his Halloween orange. He was very taken with Curious George - check out this picture (ha ha). Imagine how cute it would have been to be in a yellow hat.

Here is our tired monkey . . .

Hanging out at home

Since we had so much family in town, we hung out at home quite a bit. Here are a few shots of Connor having fun with his Uncle Mike and Uncle Ben.



Connor was all tired out - but still cute in his outfit from Auntie Cait and Uncle Greg . . .



Connor playing with his new friend/ frog from Uncle Ben - He loves him, thanks, Ben.

Weekend Update

Connor had a great week ya'll. Last weekend Connor had family come to visit for his Baptism. He wore a white gown with a white jumper underneath and adorable white booties. We spared him the bonnet - but took pictures later in the full outfit.

So, I knew that I wanted to get a Smith Island Cake for Connor's "after-party" and when we went to order it, the bakery said that one 10 inch cake fed 14 to 20 people. We expected about 30-35 at the Baptism so they suggested I buy 2 10 inch cakes. Like I said, I really wanted this cake, so instead of just getting one (1) 12 inch cake, I listened to the bakery and purchased 2 cakes. One with a cross and one with his initials (you must know I love initials).

We almost forgot to pick up the cakes on Saturday which would have been a huge disaster for Colin - since it would have been his fault. Honestly, he gets blamed for most things but this truly would have been his fault. Luckily I remembered 30 minutes before the bakery closed and we were in time to get the cakes. First of all, the cakes each weighed more than Connor. Second, we ended up with the 2nd cake in our freezer. We know it feeds about 30 people so we plan to break it out for Christmas and enjoy it then. The cake really is so delicious. I have included a picture - because I love this cake sooo much.