Dancing Bear Lodge

My sweet husband suprised me with a little getaway last weekend.  For just the 2 of us! 

We went to Dancing Bear Lodge in Townsend, TN and it was perfect.  We stayed in the Lodge and ate at the restaurant there which is known for the amazing food.  The Chef, Jeff Carter, previously worked at Blackberry Farm and is known for cooking comfortable but upscale cuisine.

Here are a couple pictures from our relaxing weekend!  We definitely plan to go back :)

What I'm loving Wednesday!

I never thought I would jump on this 'What I'm loving Wednesday' train, but today I am :)

I'm loving my sweet husband suprise me with a getaway to the Dancing Bear Lodge over the weekend. More on that later!

Loving that I found a Zumba class offered Monday - Saturday (even night classes that I can make after Hadley goes to bed) literally a mile from my house!

Loving the fact that Starbucks came out with their new Blonde Roast which is lighter than the others.  I'm so excited about this as the other roasts were too strong for my tastes!

Loving my new Hamilton Beach crockpot that Santa brought me. It's large, programmable with lots of settings, and the price is right!  I've used this at least once a week since I got it and everything has turned out perfect!

Loving the fact I will be spending Saturday with some of my besties from college! 

 

16 months!

Our little lovebug turned 16 months over the weekend.  Here are some quick stats:

• 24-25 lbs
• Running....it's crazy!
• She has learned the word "no" and everytime I asks her if she wants milk, she says "no!"  It is the sweetest little "no" I've ever heard and I giggle everytime she says it!
• Wearing 12-18 months clothes and size 4 diapers
• Sleeping from 7:30p to 7:00a
• Not a great napper - she's on one nap a day and the length of her nap varies greatly from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours. Usually at daycare it is around 1-1.5 hours.
• Great little eater still.  The only thing she doesn't really care for is green beans and asparagus.  She loves fruit, especially blueberries.  If she has mixed fruit, she always eat the blueberries first.  We give her everything we eat, besides steak or really spicy food.
• Smiles and giggles alot!
• Getting more adventurous these days - likes to climb on things, open and close drawers, move things around (storage bins, laundry basket, etc)
• Great in the car, as long as she has her "pappy" (pacifier).  She wants the pappy as soon as she gets in her carset.  Gotta get rid of this thing soon.
• Shopping is somewhat difficult with her now. She only wants to stay in the cart for 15 minutes and then she wants to explore.
• Great self player, but still won't watch TV.  I've been trying to find activities to do with a 16 month old online.  I'm excited for Spring so we can play outside and go for walks.
• Is a ham, if you couldn't tell from the pictures above!
• Getting so fun!  She understands a lot of what we say and can "help" us.  I asked her to bring me my phone tonight and she did.  She is a smart cookie!  

29!

Today I turn 29 years young!  Happy Birthday to me!  Oh so close to 30...I'm going to savor my last year in the 20's!  My sweet momma is making me a gluten-free lasagna tonight for dinner...my birthday request this year :)

I went to a walk-in clinic last night because I have caught whatever Hadley has. I was diagnosed with bronchitis and was sent home with a Z pack and oral steriod.  I think I'll be on the up and up soon!  Hopefully I'll be feeling better by the weekend because Brandon has planned a little getaway for us this weekend to celebrate my birthday.  Just the two of us.  I'm so excited to spend some quality time with my husband!  Not that I won't miss my Hadley, but I can't wait to have some time to relax and not chase my little energizer bunny around all weekend.

My first adventure in my 29th year of life will be my new job!  I've accepted a position at Regal Entertainment Group, my old client from my public accounting days at KPMG.  I will be the Director of Finance and will be working with a fabulous group of people.  I will miss everyone at TVA, but I'm excited about this awesome opportunity.  I start on January 30th! 

Friday randomness

• I'm slacking on posting pictures of Hadley.  I promise to take some soon!

• Took Hadley to the ER and pediatrician this week.  She can't seem to shake this terrible cold she's got.  It's causing her to wheeze pretty badly, cough her head off, and her nose just pours.  Hopefully the next antibiotics will work that she got yesterday.  I stayed home with her Friday loved having a girls day, even if she was sick.

• I ordered a couple Jillian Michaels DVSs - Extreme Shred and Ripped in 30.  I did Ripped in 30 during Hadley's nap yesterday and it did not disappoint!  I also found a Zumba class literally a mile from my house.  I went today - probably 50+ ladies.  It was fabulous!

• I've been craving this yummy strawberry pretzel jello salad a friend made for a Christmas party.  So I thought, why not drag my sick child to Kroger in the 25 degree weather to get the ingredients?  It was yummy!

• Looking forward to celebrating a dear friend's birthday tonight night.  My mom is going to watch Hadley since she is a little under the weather.  But she'll missing getting to see all her little buds - Aiden, Sophie, and Reese!

Hadley's favorite things

Santa brought Hadley an adorable pink kitchen for Christmas.  Complete with pots and pans and Melissa and Doug food.

People keep asking if she loves her kitchen, and she does like the kitchen, but her favorite 'toys' right now include:

• A $0.99 box of plastic forks we had in a drawer in the kitchen.  I'm not exaggerating when I say the kid has played with these for hours!  

• Beads I bought to make a sensory toy with (put beads and other items in a clear plastic bottle and fill with water - saw this on Pinterest).  I put some of the extra beads in a ice cube tray and she loves moving them around, dumping them on the ground, and putting them back in the ice cube tray.  

• An empty wipes container that I put scraps of fabric in (saw the idea on Pinterest).  

Sneak Peak : Kandi McPhoto

I wanted to share a few photos our (professional photographer) friend took over the weekend.  Kandi is a dear friend and is so very talented in photography.  She has finally decided to turn her passion for photography into a real business.  Why not get paid to do what you love?!

I hope you will check out her website HERE! 

If you are searching for a photographer in the Knoxville area, I hope you will give Kandi a call!  She is the sweetest and will definitely make you and your family feel comfortable during your session which is something I always hope for in a photographer.

Hello 2012!

We've had a great year and I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for us in 2012!

Quick recap of our 2011...

• Marked our first full year of being parents to our little sweetheart
• Celebrated four years of marriage
• I spent the first 3 months of the year on maternity leave, started a new job and worked the remainder of the year
• Marked one full year of blogging
• Vacationed at the beach with family and in Vegas with great friends
• Celebrated Hadley's first year of life at her first birthday party
• Celebrated the birth of so many babies - so many of our close friends had babies in 2011
• Worked out regularly (haven't done that since college)
• Started to really enjoy cooking
• Made memories with old friends and new friends.

We rang in the new year with the McMahans and the Plummers and all our sweet babies!

Reese :)

 Hadley playing some tunes

Gabe and Reese playing

Brandon reading to Hadley

Happy New Year!  Hadley did not like the hat!

Toy Tornado!

Chef Brandon's creation - prime rib and all the fixins'

Sparkler fun!