The First Video Game

I know that our children's generation is going to grow up with computers and video games as a way of life. It's just inevitable. However, I was trying to keep Anna from, at least the video game part, as long as I could. (She already asks to watch Elmo and Skype with Mimi and Pawpaw on the "puter").

Well, I missed Will and Anna the other night and this is where I found them...

Anna's first exposure to Mario Kart. Will was helping her drive "Baby Peach" and she was loving it. So much for my valiant efforts:).

It's OK, Mommy

The other afternoon, the back door onto the deck was open so that Miller could go through his doggy door. All of a sudden, I hear the screen door open (since Anna is now tall enough and wise enough to open doors). I fly to the door before she can escape outside and ask her, "What is the rule about going outside?" She looked at me with her why-did-you-have-to-find-me look, and said, "Have to ask Mommy and Daddy first." Then, she immediately said, "Go outside, please!" I laughed, but sat down on the floor beside her. I explained to her that if she doesn't ask first, then I won't know where she is and I will get worried. She looked at me, concerned, and asked, "Mommy, you would cry?" So sweet!! I told her that I would cry if I couldn't find her. She started patting me on the leg and said, "It's OK, Mommy. Anna is right here." Bless her heart, how did she get so sweet!?!

Lazy, Rainy Sunday

Will had it made today--watching football with his two kids!:)

Christmas in January

Since Anna and I were deathly ill the week before Christmas, we missed the annual Carolina Girls Christmas Get-Together. However, after seeing two of the girls last night, we came home with gifts for Anna from Michelle and Melissa. As soon as Anna woke up this morning, we let her open them. She loved her princess accessories!! She couldn't get her shoes on with her PJ's, so she had to take them off. She does love those shoes ("with heels like Mommy"). Notice that the heart jewel on the crown even lights up! Thank you, Michelle!

Lawson gave Anna a cute set of butterflies for the bathtub and a bug net to catch them. She couldn't wait to get in the bathtub tonight! Here she is with butterfly net and princess crown. Thank you, Lawson (and Melissa)!

Great Girlfriends...and Hubbies

My mom has always harped on the importance of good girlfriends. The older I get, the more I think I understand what she means. There are three girlfriends that I went to Carolina with that mean the world to me and the four of us have stayed in touch through the years really well. I'm really proud of us! We have been in Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, and London and still managed to all keep in touch and get together whenever we were close.

My friend, Carrie, turns 31 on Thursday. This time a year ago, she was pregnant with her daughter, Emory, and was miserable because her body and pregnancy don't get along so well. She was sick the entire time and was admitted multiple times to the hospital for dehydration and failing kidneys. On top of that, she had a two year old running around! Needless to say, there was no big 30th birthday party. So, her sweet husband decided that this year was going to be a make-up year. He arranged for three of us to meet Carrie at a spa in Greensboro as a surprise for Carrie and then all of us went out to dinner. We had so much fun catching up and comparing kid stories. I love those girls to pieces!

The cake made by a friend of Carrie's.

Carrie and her sweet hubby, Corey

Me, Melissa, Carrie, and Jamie

(we missed you, Michelle!)

I only hope that we can remain close and that years from now we are doing family vacations together. How fun!

My Shopping Partner

The other day, Anna and I went to the mall to run some errands. I forgot to check if the stroller was in the back of the car...and it wasn't. So, when we got out of the car, I told Anna she was going to have to walk with Mommy in the mall like a big girl. No problem--she strutted around like she owned the place. We went to Gymboree to use the Gym Bucks I had earned. I was pulling stuff off the sale racks to look and then putting them back and looked down to see Anna doing the same thing. Except she wasn't as graceful about the "putting it back" part. How do you explain to a 2-year-old that you can pull whatever off the rack, but she shouldn't touch anything? I don't know. Life's just so unfair.

It didn't help that there were 3 kids in there going BANANAS! I mean screaming, running into the back where only the employees are supposed to go and slamming doors, pulling clothes off racks left and right, and running around like maniacs. Meanwhile, their mom was calmly shopping like nothing was going on. I can't believe the nerve of parents sometimes!

Anyway, the funny part of the story is that while Anna and I were shopping, she ran over to this lavender shirt and pulled it off the rack and said, "Oh Mommy, this is so cute! We need to take this to Anna's house!" I about couldn't compose myself. She has never responded like that while out shopping before. So, of course, I found her size in the lavender shirt...and in the leggings that matched. Call me a sucker...:)

Anna's First UNC Basketball Game

On Saturday, we took Anna to her very first Carolina basketball game. We have had a hard time finding a good game to take her to since most of them are at night, but Saturday at 2pm was perfect, even if it was in the middle of nap time. The Tar Heels were playing Georgia Tech so Will, Anna, Will's parents, and I loaded up and headed to Chapel Hill.

Now, I have to admit, that I have a personal issue with cheerleaders. I want to apologize in advance to all of you who were cheerleaders, many of whom are my friends. I guess it's because I played softball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball growing up. I did take dance for a short period when I was younger, but I liked playing the sports that the cheerleaders cheered for. Plus, the little I was exposed to the cliques and psycho-cheerleader-Mom types, I got a bad taste in my mouth. However, since having a little girl of my own, I have given in (slightly) and got Anna a Carolina cheerleading outfit. It is SO cute! And yes, I even had her picture taken with the UNC cheerleaders. Consider me (almost) cured.

We got to Chapel Hill early enough to eat lunch on Franklin Street. As we were walking around, we tried to explain to Anna that this is where Mommy and Daddy went to school. Will loved her response: "I LOVE this school!" After lunch, we rode down to the Dean Dome and Will dropped us off so that his dad wouldn't have to walk so far with his "new" knee.

Anna was completely overwhelmed when we got to our seats and just sat and took in all the action. Her eyes were a little glazed-over for a while since it was supposed to be nap time, but she soon got her second wind and perked up. She knew where Rameses was every second!

The first half of the game left much to be desired. I never thought we would catch up in the second half. Anna climbed over us into Nannie's lap about the time we caught up to the Yellow Jackets and fell fast asleep. Good thing, too, because we were all on our feet screaming! I was too busy cheering on the Heels to remember to take any more pictures ;(.

Anna slept through multiple transfers and most of the walk back to the car. When she finally woke up, she asked, "The game is over?". Good thing she didn't have to witness the Heels throw that game out the window after a 20 point come-back. But then again, who can be down by 20 points and expect to win?

Oh, well. It was still fun to take our little cheerleader to Chapel Hill for the game.