You smell like beef and cheese...

I'm getting the soap box out to complain, so if you don't want to hear me rant...you may want to go ahead and navigate away from this blog.

Tonight I had a fun holiday family trip planned for the McCarty family. Last year Ruth Ann was only a few weeks old at Christmas so going to see Santa was out of the question. I've been looking forward to making this holiday memory, but thanks to Columbiana Center in Columbia, SC it's now been ruined!!



We stood in line for an hour and half...quite an accomplishment if you know my husband...he gets major points for patiently waiting with me! Of course I had my camera in hand to capture all these moments...but waiting in line was boring...



While waiting I had plenty of time to take in everything around me and noticed a sign asking parents to limit their own personal photos to one photo per visit. However, while in line I witnessed family after family taking MULTIPLE pictures. At one point a mom stood and took no less than 10 pictures while "Santa's Helper" (term used very, very loosely) chatted it up with his friends. This led me to believe this sign really meant nothing and this guy was going to let parents take as many pictures as they would like. I thought "What a nice guy"...a true example of holiday spirit...oh I was wrong, very, very wrong!

When we finally approached Santa after our incredibly long hour and half wait I told Santa's Helper I wanted to take my own picture. I snapped one, then another (just like all the moms before me) only to be scolded by Santa's Helper and told I was only allowed one picture! What??!! I looked at him completely confused while thankfully my husband stood far enough away distracting Ruth Ann that he could not hear our exchange. I then thought, okay, if I can't take any more pictures and I want to document this memory, then get to work Helper...start taking pictures. So I asked him to take some pictures for me to pick from and I kid you not...he looked at me and said "I'm not going to take any pictures if you're not going to buy any." WHAT??!! Apparently digital camera memory cards are not manufactured at Santa's Workshop! He went behind his camera...not much different from mine own...and took 3 very crappy pictures...Ruth Ann was looking at the camera in one, but Santa was looking off into space and in the two others where neither was looking at the camera. I told him no thank you, grabbed Ruth Ann and left completely and totally disgusted!

I'll be making a phone call to Columbiana Center bright and early tomorrow morning to attempt to get both Santa and his Helper fired. Call me a Grinch, but I felt more like Buddy the Elf and what I really wanted to shout was "Santa, you stink!!"

Whatever you do this holiday season...if you live in the Columbia area DO NOT GO TO VISIT SANTA AT COLUMBIANA CENTER. Tell your friends, I'll be telling everyone who will listen between now and Christmas.

Here's the priceless photo I managed to get...along with the illegal photo I obtained!





I've already decided Ruth Ann and I will be visiting the Santa at Richland Fashion Mall on Thursday morning. I'll keep you posted on how this Santa compares!

1 year check up = SHOTS....yuck!

Get ready, I'm about to show you the one of the saddest pictures you may see all day long...



Of course tears were shed but those tears were drying up before we left the doctor's office. Her stats were as follows...

Length: 29.5 inches (60th percentile)
Weight: 22.8 lbs. (70th percentile)

Then we got home, ate a good lunch and now she's napping peacefully. So, all's well that ends well!

I almost forgot

With my mind clouded with the depression of my child turning one year of age I forgot to update everyone on what Ruth Ann is up to...I'm sure you've been on the edge of your seat wondering this very thing!

At one year of age (insert salt into open wound...) Ruth Ann is doing the following...

~opening cabinets and drawers...since her lazy parents have not baby proofed the house yet. I hate baby proofed cabinets, but simply telling her "NO" doesn't seem to be doing the trick.
~still enjoying traveling on all fours, but pulling up and cruising more and more every day. When we try to hold her up to get her to stand on her own she thinks you're playing with her and bounces up and down like she's dancing...obviously not interested in standing on her own 2 feet. That's fine with me because I believe as long as she's crawling she's still considered a baby and not he "T" word...toddler.
~talking, talking, talking. She's a lot more echolalic these days...this means she repeats what she hears. Although it's not coming out exactly...or very close...to what we say to her, she matches our pitch and intonation very well. I continue to believe that we have a serious talker on our hands...go figure!
~loves looking at books. I really want Ruth Ann to enjoy reading, so I'm very encouraged by her early interest in books. Her faves are books with big pictures of children or animals.
~continues to pack on the pounds. We go to the doctor in the morning so I'll post stats tomorrow, but I have a feeling we may hit the 90th percentile for weight this time...or my arms are getting to weak to hold her in my arms!
~in LOVE with her big brother. Last week Spencer was at our house and Arch noticed that every time he left the living room for his room or the bathroom she would follow him and sit outside the door and wait on him...so sweet!
~too cute for words! I know she's my baby so I'm slightly partial, but really, I think she is just too cute for words...which is good considering the defiant attitude she's developing. If she weren't so cute I might have been forced to find another nice family for her to live with...just kidding...we all think she's a keeper!

Happy Birthday to Ruth Ann

Rise and shine little girl...it's your birthday!!



Ruth Ann woke up bright and early around 7am and I started thinking about what I was doing at this exact time one year ago today. At 7am last year I was eagerly waiting for some drugs because in just 3 1/2 short hours Ruth Ann would be making her arrival! All day long I kept thinking about this day last year and wished I had stayed home from work to share this day with Ruth Ann...it was a big day for both of us and I can barely believe it's been a whole year. Most of you who follow my blog & know me personally are already aware of how much I have struggled with Ruth Ann turning one. It's not that I don't want Ruth Ann to grow up...I know good times are to come and I can't wait to have lots and lots of fun with her in the future. What makes me sad is how fast time is going by and I just want it to slow down!! I often find myself living for the weekends and by doing so I'm starting to realize I'm wishing my life away...where's the fun in that? This last year has flown by and I don't want to see the others go by the same way.

So today we slowed down and enjoyed Ruth Ann's day. I got her dressed and ready to go to Grandma & Grandaddy's house. She had just finished crying because I wouldn't let her put everything from the changing table in her mouth...hence the lack of smile.



Then she decided to check out what Griff was up to...he recently turned one himself.



Then she spent the day with her grandparents and I spent the day wishing I was holding her. So I went to pick her up a little bit early and went home to get ready for her birthday dinner. Growing up my family did not eat out often, but on your birthday we went out to eat at the place of your choosing. I almost always picked El Chico's (Tex-Mex deliciousness!). This is a tradition I plan on continuing with Ruth Ann but since she can't tell us where she wants to go...I had to decide for her. Ruth Ann L-O-V-E-S chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-a, so to Chick-fil-a we went...and as expected she ate all 4 of her nuggets. I also brought her favorite fruit...diced pears. And in typical McCarty fashion...she cleaned her plate.



She also has started drinking from a straw, so she washed her dinner down with a little apple juice.



Then we went home to open presents. I gave Ruth Ann a Widgeon coat a few weeks ago that was suppose to be a b-day gift, but she needed it while we were in Alabama. Her gift from us is also her birthday party this weekend. But Grammy joined us for dinner and then followed us home to shower this baby girl with gifts.

Here she is showing off her first wheels...



And this tiger is HILARIOUS. My mom is always adding to Ruth Ann's tiger collection, but this is my favorite by far. This tiger rolls around and laughs...it's hystarical! In this picture he's laughing and Ruth Ann is trying to hold him in her lap...



My mom also got her a Little People nativity set...it's so cute. Ruth Ann thought the baby Jesus looked yummy...





We've been borrowing my friend Brantley's Baby Signing Time videos, but Grammy bought Ruth Ann her own set with audio cd's. She also got her a really cute Melissa & Doug puzzle.

After we opened gifts we had a little birthday cupcake. There are some extras for her to practice her cake eating technique before the party this weekend...cute she did pretty good on her first try!

Toys, Toys, Toys

With all the talk to about shopping and "Black Friday" sales it puts me in the mood to talk about toys from my childhood. This year I didn't do any early morning (or late night Thursday) shopping. I'm amazed at the stamina some people have to put themselves through the torture of the late hours and long lines just to score a deal on a big ticket item. However, I know I'll be eating those words in the years to come. Right now Ruth Ann really doesn't care what she gets and there's not really any one thing that I feel like she has to have...however, I've been very close to purchasing this item for her several times in the last few weeks...



Before you say anything, I'm fully aware that Ruth Ann is years away from playing with Barbie dolls...but I can't wait. I think Mattel marketing is 100% effective when it comes to influencing my toy purchases for my child. Who wouldn't want to buy for their daughter what you always dreamed of having when you where a kid. I never had the Barbie Dream House...I had a Strawberry Shortcake mansion...but my best friend Mona Mixon had the Barbie Dream House complete with working elevator. Mona was my bff when we still lived in Sumter...we moved to Lexington when I was in the 1st grade...so I have very few memories of our time playing together. I also remember Mona's family having an enormous cage of hamsters in their kitchen...so not everything was great about her house. But the dream house was fantastic! All those childhood dreams came rushing back when I spotted this newest version of Barbie's humble abode at Target and I'm telling you it took all the will power I posses to not snatch it up and put it in my cart. Oh, but one day it will be all set up on Christmas morning for Ruth Ann to run into the living room and find waiting for her...along with My Little Pony, Care Bear and Strawberry Shortcake...all the other toys from childhood that I can't wait for her to enjoy as much as I did in my childhood...see I'm a marketing departments dream come true!

Ruth Ann's first birthday presents...

Last week at my bi-monthly sewing class my very good friend Jeannie brought Ruth Ann her first birthday presents. Unfortunately she and her girls can't make it to the party next weekend. I thought I would wait and let her open her gifts at the party...but I couldn't wait. I thought she needed to get a little practice in before the big day...



Can't you see the excitement all over her face!



She loved her book...That's Not My Kitty. We love books and we love anything with a kitty cat so this book was a big hit!



This is the neatest gift...it's a bowl that makes a variety of noises when you dip the spoon into bowl. We haven't put food in it yet...Ruth Ann is happy to walk around with the spoon in hand and playing with the bowl. Whatever keeps her happy!

Thanks Ms. Jeannie, Ava & Jenna! We'll miss you girlies next week!

A Christmas Wish...

I'm dreaming of a white day after Thanksgiving...





I'll be wearing my orange and blue tomorrow and holding out hope that Auburn will upset Alabama at Jordan-Hare!

WAR EAGLE!!

Fair warning...

If you live in the greater Columbia area consider this fair warning...

Turkey or Sides??

The Thanksgiving debate...are you for Turkey or Sides?? I'd have to say I'm for the sides...although our turkey was delicious this year!





Here was my plate...no room left to spare!



And here is Ruth Ann's...she tried a little bit of everything, but she may be a turkey fan since that was mostly what she ate this year!

Ada is 2!!

As much as I can't believe Ruth Ann will be one next week, I can't believe Ada is 2! It feels like yesterday that we were at the beach with Toni & Adam when we found out this baby would be a girl and Toni spent the entire week with morning (& afternoon & evening) sickness.

Last weekend Spencer, Ruth Ann and I drove to Walhalla to celebrate Ada's 2nd birthday. It was a "Bug" theme and all the decorations were super cute!








Ada got a kitchen for her birthday from her momma, so I bought some accessories for the kitchen...and I gave her the birthday outfit she's wearing if you haven't already figured that out!



Ruth Ann & I have been to several toddler birthday's this year and what I've learned has changed my belief of a well wrapped gift. I've said before that I would one day like to own a children's clothing store. One thing I would like for my store to excel in is gift wrap. I'm very particular about my gift wrap & would NEVER give a gift in a bag with tissue paper. I want crisp corners and beautiful bows. At Christmas time I'm known to have all my gifts match under the tree and I love a bow fit for Southern Living! However, after watching toddler's struggle to open well wrapped gifts while tearing into bags with tissue paper...I've changed my belief system for children's presents...use a bag, they love throwing the paper...these pictures are all the evidence you need...









Then it was time for cupcakes...all I can say about Ada and her technique for eating her cupcake is that she is a child after my own heart. I remember tearing the bottom off of cupcakes to only eat the icing...her method is very similar!



And then the party was over and Ada wanted to head to the playground. I think this picture clearly says "Peace out, thanks for coming to my party, I gotta go now, Love Ada!"

Breakfast in bed

I wish I could remember how carefree life was at this age. My mom thinks our brains are designed to forget these years because life is NEVER this carefree again!

Thankful

Here's how Webster's Dictionary defines the work "thankful":

thank-ful: (adjective) 1. conscious of benefit received 2. expressive of thanks 3. well pleased.

If you've known me for very long you know that I like to live my life by a plan. Once in college I went to spring break at Fort Walton Beach, Fl with two very good friends (Mel C. & my roommate Candi) and another girl which I'll leave nameless. My plan for time spent at the beach has always been and will always be to have myself on the beach, sun screen applied and in the sun by 10am...everyone knows that's when the best time to tan begins...duh! This "other girl" had other plans and wanted to spend our time at the beach in the exact opposite way...out late at night and up way too late in the day. Needless to say, we had it out that week because she objected to my plan and the "other girl" went home early and the rest of us stayed to enjoy our time in the sun! My point, I need a plan to follow, but if there's any one thing I can say that I've learned this year is that as much as I would like to, I'm not making the plans. I'm living by the plan God has already set for me...whether I like it or not.

Who thought parenthood would be easy...me! I'll be the first to say that I have passed judgement on parents I've seen who can't control their kids. And even though I have a very good child by other's standards, guess what...I still can't control her! When she gets defiant at her very young age it makes my blood boil! But I'm so thankful that after a year of trying to have a baby that I've been blessed enough to be Ruth Ann McCarty's mother. During the months & months of struggling to conceive my friend Amanda Newman told me that I needed to stop praying for a baby and pray for the right baby. Basic biology tells me that had I conceived any other month then I would not have gotten to be Ruth Ann's mother. Would I have noticed a difference...maybe not, but I can't imagine my life with any other baby and I'm thankful that God's plan was for me to wait on this baby girl...she was worth every failed pregnancy test! Even if her defiant attitude makes me want to pull my hair out...I love this little girl more than I could have ever imagined and am grateful & thankful for every minute I get to spend with her. Am I conscious of benefits received this year...yes I am!



One thing I felt very soon after Ruth Ann was born was not only how much I loved her, but also how much I am loved by my parents. Growing up I always felt loved by my parents, but once I felt the love a parent has a for their child first hand I suddenly became very aware of how much I am loved and how undeserving I am of this love. During Ruth Ann's first week of life she had done nothing to deserve my love for her and yet I would lay my life down for her...if I feel this way as a parent, I can't even begin to imagine how much our Heavenly Father loves us. We are sinful, rotten creatures and God had a plan to send his Son to die for us so that we could everlasting life...what did we do to deserve this...absolutely nothing! Do I think you need to be a parent to understand this...absolutely not...I think it was the hormones post delivery that made me break down in tears every time I thought about how much my parent's love me...but I'm very thankful for this precious realization because I'm grateful (and thankful) to have parents and a Heavenly Father who love me unconditionally!



I also want to express my thanks to my in-laws for loving my baby girl so very much. I'm very thankful for their willingness to keep Ruth Ann on the days that I am a working mother. Without their help I know going back to work would have been 100% harder for me. I can't tell you how easy it is to pass her off into their arms every morning knowing that they will be loving her all day long. She is making memories with them that will stay with her for the rest of her life and they will be memories she will surely treasure. Will I be as thankful when she would rather be in her Grand-daddy's arms than mine...maybe not, but I'll try to remember to look back at this post and be thankful for the love she has for her grandparents!



Am I "well pleased" by the way 2009 as turned out...honestly, I would have to say yes and no. Yes, I'm pleased to have a healthy baby girl, Arch and I are employed and don't appear to be in jeopardy of losing our jobs, Spencer is healthy and doing well in school, but my family is not ending 2009 the same way we started year. The death of a family member is never easy...young or old. When a grandparent passes away the sadness and loss you feel is no different than when you loss a family member at a young age. I think the difference comes in the shock you feel and the sudden end of plans you had made to spend with that young person. I say this because I could have never planned for my bothers passing in March. We had made plans to spend family vacations and holidays together and he was suppose to be there to help me when our parents turn old & crazy. Even though I know that no one has the promise of other day here on Earth, it's still continues to be the hardest lesson I've learned in my life to see my brother gone at such a young age and to know God had this planned for our lives. Do I understand this plan...not at all, but it's not for me to understand on this side of Heaven. However, over and over I see ways that God was preparing our family for His plan and I continue to be "well pleased" with the love and support I have received from my friends and family this year. Never before have I felt the power of prayer and seen what a difference it makes in someone life when they are at their lowest point. I can't thank everyone enough for all their prayers and kind words during the last 9 months. My family has felt and appreciated every prayer and we are forever thankful.

I hope everyone has had a great Thanksgiving and that you spent few minutes thinking about what they are thankful for this year.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

At-ti-tude!!

Lately my sweet little girl has developed quite the attitude. She has become what I can only describe as "defiant" (openly & boldly resistant). I'm curious where she developed this behavior at such a young age. I've discussed this with other friends who are also mothers and they immediately get a look on their faces that clearly says "Been there, done that!". Then I discussed this attitude problem with my mom and I'm reminded of years of stories my aunt use to share about me. She claims my mom use to drag me into stores kicking and screaming...all the while my mom never batted an eye. My mom doesn't remember any of these moments, which gives me hope that I too will forget how rotten my child is these days. She continues to be as cute as ever, however, this awful behavior is quickly helping me discover how to arrive at my wits end...and we're almost there!



As we rapidly approach Ruth Ann's 1st birthday I've been asked several times if Ruth Ann is close to walking...my answer, NOPE. She is a very efficient crawler and she doesn't seem ready to trade crawling on all fours for walking on her own two feet!

The end of a chapter

About a month ago we said goodbye to what had become a staple in our pantry...



I know you're technically suppose to wait until one year, but her iron has always been fine & I'm making sure to keep feeding her oatmeal fortified with iron. She had also begun a pretty serious formula strike, but gulps down 8oz of whole milk in no time...can't say that I blame her, formula looked and smelled awful!