Writer's Workshop

It is time, once again for MamaKat's writer's workshop! Today's prompts are:
The Prompts:

1.) Describe a New Year's where you would have been better off just staying home.
2.) What do you do that drives your mother crazy?

3.) Share your favorite gluten free recipe (hey, so what if I rig the topics to suit my life...)

4.) Close out 2008 with your own TOP 10 list!

Stop by her site for all the rules!!!

Top 10 Things I Learned in 08
(these do not relate to Parker/birth/pregnancy)

10. I make one heck of a turkey!
9. I learned that I should not attempt to open a bottle of wine! (Then again, maybe it was because it was the first time I had!)
8. I am stronger than I give myself credit for.
7. I can shop on a budget!
6. Aldi's was made for me!
5. I am addicted to made for tv movies (Hallmark and Lifetime anyone!?)
4. I am in love with blogger! I should have started a blog like this forever ago. Blogger rocks...no more xanga for me (well except to read those who still have it!)
3. I am addicted to blogging, reading other blogs, and doing things like writer workshop
2. Never put your milk in the back of the fridge (it freezes - or at least it did for me!)

And the number 1 thing I learned in 08, not related to Parker is.........
God is and will always be good!

Top 10 Things I Learned in 08
(these ARE related to Parker/birth/pregnancy)

10. I still hate hospitals!
9. Even if you have needles stuck in you every three to four hours for 5 days....NEEDLES STILL SUCK and hurt and I still want to gag when I see them.
8. Sure, that porcelain throne in the restroom looks all shiny and fun, but it is, in fact, not fun to have to stare into the bowl of it over and over and over!
7. God gave us doctors for a reason...and they care about me and my son...that's cool.
6. I am not alone in having a preemie and I am so fortunate to have made many friends who understand this battle!
5. More comes out then what goes in...seriously....how does one kid eat SO much and still have 4 times that amount come out. Of course, that could also be related to his reflux...well no, cuz it doesn't come out the bottom end like that :/
4. I love pregnancy clothes, seriously, they are stinking comfy!
3. Babies should REALLY come with manuals. (especially when you start solids...)
2. Parker has the best daddy in the world.

And the number 1 thing I learned in 08 related to Parker

I am SO blessed. I have an amazing son who means everything to me and I can't believe the amount and kind of love I feel for him.

Now it's your turn, go on over to MamaKat's site and get started. You can pick all or one of the prompts! Enjoy!

Oh and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! 09 is looking fine!

What A Christmas

Hello Friends!

I hope that all of you had a very Merry Christmas (or Hanukah, Kwanzaa...ect)! Ours has been very interesting. I have a ton of photos, but they are in need of being dumped off the camera! So those I will work on posting later (mostly on my facebook with a few of my favs on here!)

My favorite in-laws (well my only ones!) made it on Tuesday afternoon. We were able to just relax that night and they got some great time with Parker. Wed, mom (well Drew's mom) and I went out grocery shopping to get all we needed for dinner on Christmas. We spent about 2 hours at the grocery. I think the funniest part was when we were purchasing wine for the turkey! Well anyways, neither of us drink (I only like wine in food!) so we are standing there like uhhhhh....well I knew I needed white wine and I knew my friend used white Zin, so we found one and bought it. But it was funny, take the two most unlikely people and put us in the middle of the wines...and we are lost! We got home and spent the rest of the afternoon watching Hallmark movies! That evening we went to Vista's Christmas Eve Candlelight Service! It was amazing! On the way home, me, mom and Parker were in my car and Drew and dad were in his. Well, wouldn't you know, Drew's car decides to stop working....30 minutes later AAA was there to help them and I was on my way to pick them up. It wasn't how we had planned things, but thankfully his parents are here and willing to help out in any way necessary.

Christmas morning we woke up and opened Parker's presents. He loved the paper...and actually got into tearing it off...it was so cute! He got some great gifts, books, toys, rattles, a couple of things for when he starts walking. Mommy needs to organize it all! I got some fun things too, I love the gift that Drew got me, a bunch of bath things and some warm fuzzy socks! I also really liked the shirts I got too! It was fun and Parker watch us all unwrap our gifts. I made our meal, turkey - I have never cleaned or prepped a turkey before so I wanted to take it on! Ok, how GROSS is it that you have to reach inside them and pull out the giblet packs? I felt like I was invading it's personal space and I know now that I could never be an OB/GYN!!! EWWW, but my turkey came out awesome...really tender, fall off the bone tender....mmmmmmm! We also made sweet potato pies, sugar cookies, stuffing, ect. It was a great meal. We also spent most of the day watching Hallmark movies. Can I just say I am horribly addicted to the movies!! Drew and I went out on a date to see Marley and Me....GREAT movie - the ending is so sad and I would agree with the people on good morning america that said if you have kids, take them out of the movie for the last 30 minutes! I basically cried that entire time, plus most of the way home.

Today is to be relaxed. I refuse to go out today as I am not in the mood for the busyness of the day after Christmas. Tonight is game night and tomorrow we plan to go out and do some shopping...spending some of our money and meeting Drew for lunch!

All in all, it's been a great Christmas! Hope yours was good too!