LOTS of stuff!

This past week has been our first full week home with Cecilia and things are going really well. We are all getting some sleep which is good and settling into life as a family of four!

I didn't blog about last weekend because it was all I could do to get the post up about Cecilia's arrival, but one thing I did want to mention is that we moved little Jimmy's room upstairs. You are probably thinking we are crazy to have moved him just as we brought him a new little sister but there is never a good time so we went ahead and did it and it has worked out great! Jimmy spent the day and night at his Sissy and Papa's house last Saturday so that gave us (well, Jimmy) time to get everything together. Here is a pic of his new room and I wanted to point out the pictures above the bed because Jimmy drew them just for little Jimmy's room. So special! Little Jimmy loves his new room and hasn't missed a beat. Jimmy's parents got us a video monitor so we can keep an eye on him and it has been so funny to see what he does after we leave the room!



We also had a few more visitors! We love it when friends and family come to visit. Courtney and Amanda, two of my co-workers and friends came by to meet Cecilia.



This week Cecilia got her first "bath." It was just a little sponge bath since he umbilical cord hasn't fallen off yet, but still required the first bath photos. She actually didn't scream her head off as much as I thought she would. I think I learned my lesson with little Jimmy (the benefit of being #2) and put a warm towel in the seat/bath so that helped I think.



Georgia had a bye week this Saturday so we were able to get out of the house and head to the Fall Festival at the Bamboo Gardens. It was quite the outing and probably would have been more fun if it didn't start raining but it was nice to get out of the house for a little bit. Here are few pics of Jimmy and Cecilia dressed up in their Halloween best before heading out.

Jimmy is going to be a monster for Halloween and here he is practicing:


Our first family outing:


In the gown and hat my Aunt Gin Gin gave me:

Jimmy meets his little sister!

As you can tell from one of my previous entries little Jimmy pretty much slept through Cecilia's arrival in the waiting room. Though he looked pretty cute in his big brother t-shirt. We decided to wait until after school on Tuesday for him to come to the hospital and meet his little sister and it worked out great! When he came in the room he had his t-shirt on and came straight to my bed and gave me a big hug and lots of "I love you." He was so excited to meet and hold his little sister and he would hug and kiss her and tell her that he loved her. It was such a wonderful moment! The hospital brought us a little birthday cake for Cecilia's arrival and Jimmy was very excited to have some birthday cake and Cecilia also gave him a present. She gave him a big box of dinosaurs and Jimmy was very excited and started to play with them right away.

Now that we are home Jimmy continues to be a very loving big brother. The first time she cried pretty loudly he was a little bit startled but he hasn't asked us if she is staying or when we are going to take her back so I guess we are all settling in!

Here are a few pics of Jimmy meeting his little sister for the first time:

More Pics

Here are a few more pictures of friends and family that came to visit!

Jimmy and Josh


Ashley


Eliza (with Mary Margaret) and Catherine


Maria with the beautiful blanket that she monogrammed for Cecilia

It's a Girl!

I have to say that I was completely surprised when the doctor told us that we had a GIRL! Not that I didn't want a girl, I just felt that it was a boy the whole time. My pregnancy felt the same as last time and for some reason I just felt it was a boy. In our group of friends here in Savannah the girls far outweigh the boys so I thought it was time for another boy! But, I was wrong! We were just so thrilled and excited that we have a both a son and a daughter!

So it all started on Sunday night. I woke up around 2am and started feeling what I thought were contractions. From 2am until around 430am they were pretty mild and irregular. I feel back asleep around 5 and then didn't wake up until 7 or so when little Jimmy woke up. So I figured maybe they were just Braxton Hicks. Since it was Monday (although it was Columbus Day, it wasn't a holiday for us) Jimmy took little Jimmy to my parents as normal. Around 8am or so I felt my water break! I called Jimmy who had just gotten to my parents house and he turned around and came home. I called my doctors office and they said to go on to the hospital.

We got to the hospital around 9am and I was feeling pretty comfortable and wasn't having many contractions. I went ahead and asked for my epidural early (I waited too long the last time!) which was a good thing because the first one did not take on my left side so they had to take it out and do it again. Thank GOD!

We just hung out in the room most of the day as the doctor had several C-sections and urgent deliveries so they didn't want to give me Potocin until he was ready. Around 6pm they gave me some Potocin and then at 6:47pm Cecilia Louise Kelley arrived!!




Jimmy was able to go to the waiting room to tell our family that it was a girl! Little Jimmy was there but he had fallen asleep on the way to the hospital and was a bit cranky so we decided to wait until the next day to introduce him to his new little sister.

Jimmy asleep in the hospital waiting room:


We got to our room around 10pm and the first night went well. Cecilia is healthy and that is what we are most thankful for. She spent some time in the nursery so that we could get some rest after a long day! We had several visitors on Tuesday and it was so nice to celebrate with friends.

Uncle Marty


Aunt Gin Gin, Mimi and Sissy


Papa


Papa Joe

Cecilia Louise Kelley

It's a GIRL!! Cecilia was born on October 12, 2009 at 6:47 p.m. She weighed 7 lbs and 10 oz. I will post more later but here is a picture of our new blessing!

Spices Etc. and Mo Hotta Mo Betta

NOTE: I prepared this post last week before Cecilia arrived so just in case anyone was wondering how I had the time to blog, I don't, I just planned ahead!

I have been a pretty loyal blogger in Kelly's Show Us Your Life Friday series and this Friday was one that I did not want to miss. This week is a great week to show everyone what my husband does every day-run two family businesses: Spices Etc. and Mo Hotta Mo Betta. I am not going to link it to Kelly's blog since we don't make and/or sell all the items but thought this was a great time to showcase our small businesses.





Spices Etc.

Spices Etc. is the reason that Jimmy and I are together! Jimmy's family bought the business in 1998 and it was located in Charlottesville. He moved to Charlottesville from Savannah to run the business. He moved into a basement apartment in Charlottesville and it ended up that his next door neighbors were the Matthews-as in Dave Matthew's parents! That is a fun story for another post. I worked at a bank the summer between my 3rd and 4th year and Jimmy would come in daily to make his business deposits so that is how we met! Jimmy and his family moved the business to Savannah in the spring of 2000 and I moved to Savannah after graduation.

Spices Etc. is any novice or gourmet cooks dream. They carry the best quality herbs, spices and spice blends and have huge selection of the best gourmet flavorings. Cooks Illustrated featured their vanilla flavoring as one of the best several years back. They carry your everyday spices to the more unusual and hard to find. They recently added dried vegetables to their growing list of great products and they have quickly become very popular. I am sure that everyone will be thinking of cooking as the holidays approach so be sure to check out Spices Etc. for your cooking needs! It also makes a great gift for the cooks in your life!

Vanilla Extract-you always need vanilla! Comes in regular and two-fold.


I think this is a great gift, especially for a new homeowner or for friends and family that need the basic spices: Beginners Spice Set.




Mo Hotta Mo Betta

In the summer of 2000, Jimmy and his family added another business to complement Spices Etc. Mo Hotta Mo Betta is the "original hot and spicy food company." They have their own brand of hot sauces, BBQ sauces and condiment sauces and carry many other favorites. They have some great gift baskets for special occasions, especially Christmas for those hard to buy for husbands, dads, brothers, etc.

Here is a great sampler of the Mo Hotta Mo Betta Hot Sauces: The Mo Hotta Mo Betta Four-Pack


This is one of my favorite gift baskets: BBQ Joints Across America


They offer lots more so be sure to check out their websites! I am so proud of Jimmy for running two successful small businesses!

I also did want to give a little shout out to some of my friends and acquaintances that have their own businesses. They are very talented and creative women!

Bowtangles
My friend Angie makes the best custom hair bows. They range from $6-$12. You can email her at bowtangles@gmail.com.


Molly Rosedale
Custom jewelry available through Etsy.

Backyard Baby
Adorable kids personalized t-shirts and accessories

100th POST!

Wow! I have done 100 posts! I started this blog about year and a half ago but have only been blogging consistently for the past year or less. It is kind of hard to get started, writing about yourself and the things that you do, but once you get started it is a lot of fun. I have really enjoyed looking at past blog entries and think that my family and friends have enjoyed it too.

Nothing too exciting for the 100th post, was hoping that I could post about a new baby, but that will have to be for another day (hopefully this week!).

I'll just do my normal weekend recap!

Saturday: It was a sad day in the Kelley house! The Dawgs lost big time to Tennessee and Jimmy wasn't too happy (and lots of other Dawg fans I am sure!) with the performance of his team. But he handled the loss pretty well! We went over to the Justice's to watch some of the Alabama/Ole Miss game. Laura took this pic of Jimmy and Izzy. It was so cute because Laura was taking a picture of Izzy and he just sidled right up and held her hand. So cute! Izzy will be 2 in November. As you can see the little Tinker Bell loves dress up! It's a little blurry but you get the picture.


We got the tires fixed on one of our bikes so we are back in business. Little Jimmy loves bike rides and with the weather getting cooler it is a nice thing to do to get outside. Though it hasn't been very cool the past couple of days..high 80's and humid!

Today: We took a cut from church today. We were a little lazy waking up and honestly, I just didn't feel up to it. Jim and little Jim took a morning bike ride. Jimmy went to the grocery store for me while little Jimmy and I just hung out at home. Jimmy and little Jim went up to the nursery in Sandfly and picked out a pumpkin and some pretty yellow mums for the front porch. Then Sissy and Papa came by for a visit and brought us a new video monitor to use for the new baby! Then we took a short golf cart ride but had to cut it short because the cart was running out of juice! We had to take the shortcut home and we barely made it! I did snap a couple pictures on Bluff Drive. Right down the street from us...and I drool over the houses, views and breeze! Maybe one day...

Show us your Life-Teams and Tailgating!

The Show us your life theme this Friday at Kelly's Korner is all about your favorite teams, traditions and tailgating. As for my favorite teams I would have to say the Virginia Cavaliers (my alma mater) and the Georgia Bulldogs. Since my hubby is a HUGE 'dawg fan and we have season tickets to the games, the Dawgs may inch out the 'Hoos as to who is my favorite team. Sadly, I don't keep up with Virginia sports and rely on my hoo friends and their Facebook status updates to find out how they are doing and right now they aren't doing very well at all!




I did go to the Peach Bowl back in '98 or '99 when Virginia played Georgia and Virginia lost after we missed a last minute field goal. We were winning the whole game! Funny thing is that Jimmy was at that game too! Who knew our paths would cross in Charlottesville.

As for tailgating, most of the tailgating I have done has been at Georgia. I am certainly not a pro and leave most of the organizing to those that are seasoned Georgia fans. I am just along for the fun! The nice thing about Georgia is that you can really tailgate anywhere you can find a spot. Certainly it is nice to have a parking space, but you can also find a nice spot of grass and set up your tailgate. As for the perfect tailgate some of our good friends in Savannah were featured in Paula Deen's cookbook "Paula Deen and friends-Living it Up, Southern Style." Both Georgia fans and grads they had a chapter devoted to them and their famous "Georgia Bulldog Parking Lot Tailgate" Here is the menu and a link to some of the recipes:

chicken fingers (usually Chick-fil-a or Zaxby's)
turkey wraps
pimiento cheese
cheese spread
salsa
symphony brownies
cold beer
bloody marys





Here is a pic of me and Jimmy tailgating at the Georgia/GA Tech game a couple of years ago in Atlanta. I think we were essentially tailgating on a bridge over I75 or I85.



This is my brother-in-law who went to Tech (around these parts that refers to Georgia Tech, not Virginia Tech) and my sister-in-law who went to Georgia.

Last Day...until Dec.

Today is my last day at work before I go on maternity leave. It's kind of quiet in the office today. A couple of co-workers are out of town, but I am sure I will see them over the next few months. I am a little relieved that Baby Kelley did not arrive before today because I was able to get my haircut today! I was looking pretty ratty and while I know I won't look fabulous in those first arrival photos, at least my hair will look somewhat decent.

I can tell it is time to stop working because my brain is gone. Twice today people have asked me when I was due and I thought they said "what do you do" and I went off both times about where I worked and what I did...blah, blah.

If you want to get in touch with me while I am on leave be sure to use my personal hotmail account or send me a message via Facebook. If you need/want my email address just let me know.

I will definitely keep blogging so be sure to check back often to see what the Kelley family is up to!

Still counting!

So not much happened at my doctors appointment today. Actually, nothing happened besides the fact that I got a flu shot. I am trying to be patient and did not beg my doctor to induce me (yet!). I really would prefer to let it happen naturally so I have an appointment for next Tuesday (my due date) and we will go from there.

Jimmy had a good day at school. Apparently, he loves the sandbox on the playground. The past few times that I have picked him up he takes his shoes off in the car and he pours out LOTS of sand. His teacher, Mrs. Hibberts, put him the car today and said that he just loves the sandbox so much and doesn't care if it gets in his shoes or in his hair. As long as he is having fun that is all that matters!

We went over to Aunt Gin Gin and Amelia's house while Gin Gin had to run an errand. Jimmy and Amelia played-well Jimmy pushed around the shopping cart (which he loves!) with all of the fruit while Amelia toddled around after him. He doesn't like her to play with the cart while he is there and actually tried to hide the fruit under Gin Gin's bed so she couldn't get it. I made him climb back under there and get it all out since it wasn't his and Amelia was sharing her toys with him! He tried to pick her up a couple of times and was just a little too rough...is this a clue of the days ahead???

I went to Wal-Mart this morning after my appointment and while Jimmy was still in school. I got Jimmy some turtlenecks for the fall. I ended up going back this evening to return them for a bigger size because they aren't the best quality and am sure they will shrink a little bit. I have a few really nice ones from the Robin's Nest that my mom got but I wanted a couple more that could be more for play or just to have around. We also found some Toy Story pajamas that little Jimmy loved. Big Jimmy recently got him the video (it is actually "in the vault" with Disney so he was able to find it online or ebay) and little Jimmy loves it! He was so excited about his new pajamas we just had to put them on when we got home. No time for washing. I know, please don't cringe!

One week and counting...

As of tomorrow I will be a week from my due date! I have a dr. appt tomorrow and I imagine she will schedule an induction for sometime next week unless I have the baby before. I feel like things are moving along so hopefully it won't be too much longer before we meet him/her. My office has a little pool (no money involved, just for fun!) as to the arrival date and gender. Can't wait to post about the arrival of our little one!

4th Row Seats for...

...I wish I could say U2 since it seems like all of my VA and NC friends went to see them this past week...but the next best thing is Playhouse Disney LIVE! Little Jimmy is a huge fan of the Playhouse Disney cartoons-Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, Little Einsteins and My Friends Tigger and Pooh. They brought their live show to the Johnny Mercer Theatre this weekend. I think the last show I saw in the Johnny Mercer was Widespread Panic a couple of years ago so it was quite the contrast!

Little Jimmy had quite the entourage-us and both sets of grandparents came too! When we first walked into the Civic Center he loved all the Disney stuff and we got him a fun drink to take into the show. When we got to our seats he sat for a minute, but then got a little impatient and kept saying he wanted to go home, but by the time the show started he perked up at the sight of some of his favorite characters. Then they had an intermission which I think is so silly because the show isn't very long, but I am sure they have it so they can sell more swag during the show. Of course we bought some swag. We had to because he kept saying he wanted to go home after intermission not realizing that the show would come back so we got him one of Leo's batons that light up and I am ashamed to say how much we paid for it...$20!!! But it kept him occupied until the show started again. He also got a Handy Manny hat which of course came with cotton candy (I don't recall the cost for that one!) but he did try cotton candy for the first time!




It was a great show and made us want to go to Disney World in January or February!

Show us Your Life-Baby Gear

It's Friday at Kelly's Korner! What an appropriate subject for me!! With less than two weeks to go, baby gear is definitely on my mind and with this being #2 I definitely have some favorites and wouldn't do agains.

Car Seat/Stroller
I have the Chicco Travel System. I like it and will use it again this time since I already have it but if I had to do it all over again I would get the Snap and Go, an umbrella stroller and a jog stroller. After the first few months you hardly ever use the bulky and heavy stroller. I like an umbrella stroller that reclines a little bit and is a little taller than the super inexpensive ones. I went with the Chicco Capri. Maybe if I didn't have the travel system I might have spent a little more $$ and gotten the Maclaren. I used the jog stroller just for walks so went the Baby Trend. If you are a jogger, then you probably would want to get something a little better, like the BOB. We did go with the Britax Marathon car seats for both of our cars (of course Jimmy got this one for his car) and I would certainly do that again. I am thinking about getting a double stroller but I may see if I can borrow one from a friend who may not need it anymore. Jimmy doesn't love riding in a stroller so I don't want to spend a lot of money on one if he isn't going to sit in it.





Boppy's are essential as they serve all kinds of different purposes. I've recently seen them at TJ Maxx for a lot less than Babies R Us.




Feeding
I have a high chair, but don't think I will use it this time. If you have a big kitchen with a lot of space and like to wheel it around then it would be something to consider, but I think this time I will use the Bumbo for early feeding and then the Booster seat for later. The booster seat is so much more compact and serves the same purpose as a high chair. I already have the Bumbo and can purchase the tray for $10.





The Miracle Blanket saved our lives! Jimmy loved to be swaddled and we used it until he started busting out of it! I already have both of my blankets washed and ready to go. I am even taking one to the hospital with me. I could never swaddle as good as the nurses with the receiving blanket so I am BYOB-bring your own blanket!



This is what I am most excited about trying for Baby #2, The Moby Wrap:



I used the Baby Bjorn some with Jimmy, but it doesn't work as well with little babies. This will be great for newborns to older babies and having to chase around an almost 3 year old and have a newborn I thought this would great and save my back and allow me to be a little more active. I made a post to my Facebook status as to what sling was the best and this one got the best ratings and it can be used in so many different ways than just a sling.