WW: Big Girl Bed is Going Great!

Productivity.

When are you most productive? For me, it's morning at work, and night at home.

I'm SO not a morning person. Luckily for me, no one else in my house is either. Delaney wakes up between 7 and 7:30, and she has a routine of getting her milk and snuggling through a show of her choice - usually Little Einsteins, Doc McStuffins, or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. After that, she is up and at 'em and ready to rock the day. By then, I am started to get going too.

I am always busy at work, so it's easy to be productive there. At home, we are usually busy in the mornings, and if we have free time we read a book or play for a few minutes before its time to leave. When I get home at tonight, after dinner, bath, and bedtime, I'm tired. Sometimes (like tonight), so tired I haven't even ventured upstairs to the bonus room. Luckily I have my bed, tv, and iPad downstairs, so I am pretty much set.

Often, around 10 or 11, I get a second wind. Actually, it's probably a third or fourth wind by that time. I get up from my lounging spot and pick up toys, clean the kitchen, and sometimes start a load of laundry. If I'm feeling really energetic, sometimes I'll work on a craft project. Does anyone else do this? I guess I just need some time after the "day" is over to unwind before I can get up and going again.

I kind of like turning into a night owl. My mom has always been one, so it always makes me smile when I am up watching tv late at night, knowing she is probably up doing the same. 

At some point, I'll have to start getting up much earlier to get Delaney to school on time. Elementary kids start SO early here! But for now, I will enjoy our morning snuggle time and my late night chore 
time in the quiet house. 

When do you get things done?

WW: Rad 80's Baby.

A fun night out.

A couple of weekends ago, we ventured downtown with my in-laws. Originally, the visit was to take a carriage ride that they'd gotten a Groupon for, but that didn't pan out - long story involving bedtimes and wierd carriage company reservation rules.

Anyway, that gave us free reign to go down for dinner and a little walk around. There was a World War II ship docked on the Riverfront, so we went down to check that out. We didn't take the tour because the line was so long, but it was still a pretty awesome sight to see. That ship had let soldiers out on the beaches at D-Day, so it was sombering and humbling to see how huge it was and think about that tragic day.

We also let Delaney run around a little on the grass near the Riverfront, then walked up to dinner at Puckett's Grocery. Andrew & I have both wanted to try this place and heard great things about it, but we didn't realize there was a downtown location, and we just don't get to Franklin very often.

It was delicious! We had a great appetizer, and everyone loved their meals. I had chicken & waffles - yum! Delaney had a grilled PB&J that she was pretty happy about. It was a great night and some great family time! Thanks Mama & Dad for a fun night out!

Another witty title about fall, or something like that.

The beginning of October marks that it really is fall now, at least according to how many Facebook posts I've seen about it being October. I love this month and this season, too. Summer used to be my favorite, but I think my husband's views are rubbing off on me and fall is becoming my favorite too - its always been his.

I am looking forward to all of the fun things coming our way this month. Although we've started the month a little roughly, with the croup, colds, and a half-done-now-soaked backyard project, it's all uphill from here. We're headed to an awesome pumpkin patch with some dear friends, celebrating my sis-in-law's birthday 80's style, and my nephew's first birthday fall style. We're going to Titans games and attending our annual Klahntoberfest at my in-laws house. We're dressing up, making costumes, trick-or-treating, and eating too much candy. They'll be chili, apple cider, Woodchuck Fall, and Sam Adams. And let's not forget s'mores!

Here are a few fun flashbacks from last fall. Look at that tiny baby! Can't wait to see what fun our big girl gets into this year. Happy Fall, ya'll!

Our first ever movie night!

Andrew & I had been talking about planning a family movie night for a few weeks. We are both big movie watchers (or at least we used to be, in our pre-kid/tiny baby days), so we are excited to be able to sit and watch movies with Delaney when she is old enough. We decided to give it a go last Friday night, with a movie we thought Delaney would like and something we sort of wanted to see too - since we weren't expecting her to last the entire length of the movie.

We chose the Lorax. I had no idea what it was about, only that it was new and a Dr. Suess adaptation.

From here

 We started out the night with a yummy taco dinner courtesy of our awesome in-house chef. We love tacos!

After the movie, we all put our jammies on, got Delaney her milk, and piled up on the couch together. It was bliss for this mommy. I could not be happier anywhere than on the couch snuggled up with my loves.

Delaney thoroughly enjoyed the movie for about 30 minutes, then she was ready to get up and moving. Since it was bedtime, we went ahead and paused the movie, put her to bed, then came back to finish it. Andrew said it was a pretty good movie. You'll have to take his word for it, as I fell asleep about 30 minutes after Delaney did. Guess all that cuddling did me in. Overall, movie night was a success, and we look forward to doing it again - just one of many fun family traditions that we are starting!

CFA Kids' Night.

Last week, Delaney & I had a little mommy daughter date night to Chick Fil A. We'd never been to the Kids' Night festivities before, but I saw a flyer about it at school that week and decided it might be fun. After I picked her up that night, we had to go to Wal-Mart for a few quick things. She was so well behaved, so afterwards I asked if she'd like to get some chicken nuggets and ice cream - you can imagine I got a good response! So off we went.

It was a huge success! Delaney loved watching all the kids (although she didn't go into the play area...I am just not fond of those things). There was plenty to do though. We ate, met the cow, and waited in line for a balloon animal from the highly celebrated "Anthony the Balloon Kid." Delaney decided (with literally no help from me) in line that she wanted a white tiger, and that's what she asked for and got. I was so proud that she used her manners, saying please and thank you, which was a lot more than you could say for a lot of the much older kids there!

Here are some pictures from our grand adventure. I love Mommy & Delaney nights!