She has a name!

So the first three months of pregnancy were hard for both Tommy and myself as we aren't secret keeping kind of people. When we first found out we were having a girl we started talking names but one has consistently been the top choice. We wanted to sit on it for a bit to make sure we were certain so after our 20 week appointment last week we were ready to make it official! 

Our sweet baby girl will be named....

Emma Claire Robinson 

How we got the name: Claire is my younger sister's name and my older sister's middle name so it's always been a favorite of mine. My sisters are my best friends so we thought it was only appropriate to name her after the two of them. Emma is a name we both have always liked. It's not a family name. We just liked it! 

We can't wait to meet her in just 19 weeks! Emma you are so loved already. Mom and dad can't wait to have you home with us! 

(We might have a thumb sucker on our hands- just like her momma)

Christmas 2015

This week of Christmas was a hectic one filled with friends and family so it was WONDERFUL! Starting with the weekend before Christmas until now I will do a recap!

On December 19th we had the annual Mitchler Christmas party which is always a good time. "Festive" attire is suggested so everyone takes it as they please. With a bump I went tacky and Tommy went with cousin Eddie. There were a variety of sweaters and cocktail dresses at the party. 

Sunday the 20th was James and Claire's 21st birthday! We went over to my parents for the afternoon to open presents before heading to Tommy's parents for our big Christmas meal. We had quite the spread at the Robinsons. We did the big dinner that night because we were doing Christmas Eve with my family and Beth was leaving Christmas morning. 

Monday night the 21st we met my whole family at Yebo for the twins birthday dinner. It's a South African restaurant at Phipps and it was fantastic! I forgot to take any pictures. Oops! I can't believe James and Claire are 21 now. Makes me feel old! I know my mom is relieved to be past that hump. 

On the 22nd I went to dinner with my high school buddies (Ansley, Christy and Elizabeth). Every Christmas we go out to dinner rather than getting each other gifts. It's always a great time with those three! 

On the 23rd we had secret Santa with all my college girlfriends at Colleen's. It was so great because the majority of the girls from out of town were here and we had a long night of eating, drinking and chatting. It's not very often we get everyone from the West coast to the East coast in the same room without it being a wedding. This was a great night to just catch up! 

Christmas Eve was a busy one! We went to church with Bonnie, Brett and Collier at noon at our church. After church we ran home and scooped up Cooper, food and presents and headed to the Robinsons. We did presents with his family for a few hours. That night we headed to the lawries clubhouse for dinner with our South African "family" we have been doing Christmas Eve with since before I was born. We had 28 total at the table. There were four generations in the room because my Nana was there. It was a great night with people I love dearly but don't get to see often. It gets rowdy with lots of laughter. We left there around 11 to get home for some rest for Christmas Day! 

On Christmas morning we woke up and loaded the car with more food and more presents before driving to my parents house to spend the morning with my family. We had a delicious breakfast, stockings and gifts with the Williams crew. We are all spoiled by each other. It was nice to get some quality time with my immediate family before the Willi's flew up to Ohio to see Brett's family. It was great fun having Collier there this year. It's gonna be a busy house next year with two babies! 

After spending the morning with my family we went to Tommys parents to hang out. We went over to Aunt Marsha's for fish tacos and hangin out. We spent most of the afternoon with the Robinsons before driving back over to my parents. My Aubt, Uncle, and cousin Alastair were over for dinner. We enjoyed a few hours of games and catching up with the Swans. 

To say our Christmas week was busy is an understatement. We enjoyed the hustle because it meant spending time with those we love. This past weekend we spent time with friends from near and far as well. My cup is overflowing with being able to see so many friends and family members. 

We are leaving Wednesday morning for Cape San Blas with a group of 10 friends for the weekend and celebrating the new year. I am looking forward to some relaxation and rest. We went last year with this same group and decided it should be a yearly thing. Sweatpants, bonfires, beach, pups and friends. It doesn't get much better than that!!! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope 2016 brings much joy and blessings to you. 

Show and Tell Tuesday

Well I didn't look ahead to see what the next Show and Tell Tuesday would be so...I blogged about it on Sunday and I've linked up with Andrea to share. Here is the link to my blog post on Christmas (and a little more) around our house! 

One thing to add. Here is our Christmas Card this year! 

Merry Christmas! 

Christmas Time!

Christmas time is my favorite part of the year! I look forward to decorating every year and this year was no exception. We got back from the beach Sunday and I started decorating immediately. We bought our tree from Costco (I know not glamorous. Last year as just us so we made it simple. Next year I will insist on pictures of picking out and all the fun things tree shopping can bring) 

Here are some pictures from around the house. 

(I made this last year with a sign from hobby lobby and glues ribbons for Christmas cards. I love checking the mail each day to see what cards have arrived!)

I needed to decorate early because Ansley and I had our annual Christmas gathering with our friends on Friday at my house this year. We made it a favorite things party rather than a cookie exchange this year and it was a huge hit! Everyone brought three of the same gift that cost less than $10. You go home with three gifts. Everyone writes their name on three sheets of paper and you present your gift then pick three names of people to go home with it. I took ZERO pictures that night. I'm the worst! 

I ended up these three gifts! 

Christy took a video of all the gifts. 

Then Saturday I did a bunch of Christmas shopping, wrapped the presents, and then we spent an hour or so hanging out with Collier and Brett. My sister was away for the weekend and Brett wanted to get out so he boys came and watched the first half of the SEC championship with us (and he helped Tommy move the couch out of baby's room so we can finally start the nursery!) 

At halftime, we headed to the Stellings house for the game and their annual Friendzmas party. Everyone brings a gift under $20 and we do a white elephant exchange. This was the first year I could actually make it. I'm not the most silly gift giver so I bought Copper Mugs. There were some hilarious gifts (chambong, banana flask, braves onesie pajamas, wine glass that holds a whole bottle of wine, and so much more). Tommy landed up with Twister and a bottle of Tequila. I got a tequila kit but at the end I got to steal and since mostly everything was alcohol related I stole my mugs. Oops!! 

We had a great time! I'm starting my Sunday with blueberry muffins baking in the oven and drinking my coffee by the Christmas tree before getting ready for church. 

Merry Christmas to all! There's so much more wonderful events coming in the coming weeks. I love December! 

Updates on us lately

Well last night we bought a car! Yay! It was time to move on from the Jeep and we bought ourselves a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. I am obsessed. We had been searching for probably over a month now and went to test drive a few weeks ago and knew this was what we wanted we just needed to find the right one at the right price. Yesterday during work Tommy was searching and found one that fit what we were looking for (3 rows, leather seats, low mileage) and he called the dealership about it. We headed up to the Mall of Georgia at 7 last night to check it out. We were able to get a decent trade in price and get them down on the price of the car to where we were wanting to be for a monthly payment and boom new car for the Robinsons! As Tommy says "you're just going to be mommy-ing around town in this car now". Anywho this car will be able to serve what our family needs for many years to come. 

It's just so pretty isn't it! 

I am 17 weeks pregnant today. I went to the doctor yesterday and all was good. We go back in three weeks for the big ultra sound to check out all her anatomy. I'm excited/nervous about every appointment but I'm feeling great. I am through the nauseous and over-exhausted part and into the starting to show part. It's amazing how much changes each week. 

We are back at school and going in full force for the next three weeks. I'm busy with my usual items as well as I've taken on being one of the three ladies that organizes the adopt-a-family program we have for students during the holidays. We have received so much support from the Sandy Springs Red Dot group from church this year. There are many families that have asked to sponsor a child with presents for the holidays. This came to be on my plate because we hired a new bookkeeper and our old bookkeeper always did more than what was in her job title so this was something that needed to be delegated to someone new. I'm happy to do it! 

This week we have Christmas going up in our house, taking dinner to a friend who just had a baby a few weeks ago tonight, dinner with my college girlfriends tomorrow, school math event on Thursday, and then mine and Ansley's annual Christmas party is Friday at my house. When I have a spare moment I'll be cleaning/decorating/baking/cooking for Friday! 

Oh how I love the month of December and the time surrounding the Holidays! 

Christmas Decorations to come once we get the ornaments on the tree tonight. 

Thanksgiving Break

We had a wonderful week of beach, relaxation, family and friends. I look forward to Thanksgiving week every year since we started going to Litchfield six years ago. It's the quality time I treasure with my people. With James and Claire off at college we don't get as much family time as we used to so this week every year fills me up so much. I am so thankful for my big, loud, and obnoxious family. Not only do I get to spend it with my family but with family friends that I don't get to see very often. This year was the best weather we have had in probably 5 years at the beach. Sunny and in the 70s in the end of November. You can't beat it! We also were splitting time with Tommy's family this year and with his sister living in Charleston now it was a great addition to this week. 

We left Atlanta on Friday and drove to Charleston for the night to stay with Beth. We didn't get in until late that night because we didn't leave until after work (rush hour traffic on a holiday week=miserable). We got up and took the dogs to the beach in the morning then went to my favorite brunch spot in Charleston with Beth before heading out to Litchfield. We went to Page's Okra Grill. It is a treat because the food is so rich but man they know how to make brunch! 

We got to Litchfield around 1:30 just before my parents and Nana. We got settled in and unpacked the car. Bonnie, Brett, and Collier arrived about an hour later and the twins about an hour later than that. It was just our house that had arrived on the Saturday so we watched some football, walked on the beach, and Nana cooked us dinner at the house that night. We played some loud catch phrase to end the night. 

Sunday we enjoyed some more inside time because it was a cloudy/rainy day but that was it for the week so we couldn't really complain about it. Walks on the beach could still happen! The Balfours, Carmen, Harry, and Lorna all arrived on Sunday and we had everyone over for dinner where I cooked roasted garlic red potatoes, dad grilled pork tenderloin, and we sauteed broccoli. It was delish! 

Monday, I went for some shopping at Target with Bonnie and Claire and we popped in Home Depot to visit Brett on his day working in the store. We spent the afternoon on the beach with everyone enjoying the sun and bocce ball. We just ordered pizza in at our house for dinner that night with just my family. It was our last night before heading to Charleston to meet up with TOmmy's family. 

On Tuesday, we got up and ate breakfast before driving to Charleston (Mt. Pleasant is where Beth lives and its about an hour and ten minute drive between Litchfield and Mt. Pleasant). We met up with Beth, Courtney and Tom at Red's on Shem Creek for some brown seafood. It was really yummy and the weather was nice so we sat on the patio. We then headed back to Beth's house for the afternoon with the pups. Cooper stayed at Beth's while we were in Litchfield which was so great of her and so helpful for us. That way he didn't have to be kenneled in Atlanta for 9 days! That night we cooked dinner in at the house (lasagna) and watched an episode of Anthony Bourdain's about restaurants in/near Charleston. We decided to make reservations for Husk for the next day for lunch. 

Wednesday, was Danny's birthday and we made some breakfast and Tommy, Beth, and Danny took the dogs to the dog park to wear them out before we headed out for the day. We drove into town to go to Husk for lunch. It's in a historic house in downtown and serves southern food. The menu changes daily and each southern traditional entree has a twist. The shrimp and grits was to die for! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and so glad that Tom wanted to try it. After lunch we drove down by the battery and around downtown before heading back to Beth's house. We just rested and hung around the house the rest of day. Danny and Beth grilled dinner for us and we enjoyed eating out on her back screened porch. 

Thursday was Thanksgiving! We got up and headed to Isle of Palms to walk the dogs of leash before the 10am cut off. Once back home I cooked us up a big breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon and biscuits. We just hung out at the house getting ready for the next few hours before meeting up with Tom's brother, Steve, and family at Tom's sister-in-law's sister's house on the other side of Charleston. We had about 40 people we think at Thanksgiving dinner. It was such a beautiful day spent with family and we definitely ate well that's for sure. I was exhausted by the time 7pm rolled around. It was a long day but it was great! I missed my family that day but it was nice to spend the holiday with Tommy's family as well. There were two kinds of turkeys, smoked pork butts, all the traditional casseroles, and quite the array of desserts. It was great seeing Tommy's uncle, aunt, and two girl cousins that we hadn't seen since our wedding. They all live in Florida, Minnesota, and North Carolina so it's not often we get everyone together. A good time was had by all! 

Friday we headed back to North Litchfield for the weekend. Tommy golfed on Friday afternoon wtih all the boys while BOnnie and I did some black friday shopping at the Hammock shops then went to the Outlets to Carter's and Osh Kosh. The weather was so nice but the deal they were having with 60% off and Bonnie with her Carter's discount of an additional 25% off we couldn't resist. We did well I'll just say that. Baby girl is going to be well dressed next Fall/Winter. We ended the afternoon sitting on the beach watching the sunset. It was a great end to the day. We whipped up some leftovers for dinner before the whole he haw gang headed to Murell's inlet to see the final Hunger Games movie. It was really good! We have gone every year the past four years to a Hunger Games movie so it was only necessary to finish that tradition! 

Saturday was filled with lots of football, beach sitting, sun, and dinner out with all the "kiddos." Ben, Emily, Tommy, Claire, James, Carolyn, Bonnie and Brett all went out to Drunken Jack's for a dinner out with yummy seafood before ending our wonderful week away. We all left for home on Sunday. It was quite a shock getting home and realizing I had to work the next day. Time really does go by quickly when you're having fun with the people that you love. 

On the way home, unfortunately Bonnie, Brett, and Collier got into an accident on I-26 in bumper to bumper traffic but fortunately they are all fine and the majority of the blow was on the two cars behind them. It was a scary moment for them and I hate that they had to go through that but they are all safe and fine. 

As a side, I am so thankful for my family, my growing family, friends, job, Tommy's job, the health of my family, and so much more. We are so blessed! 

Now it's time for CHRISTMAS! Pictures of decorations to come. December is bringing many fun and exciting things our way!