SWEETNESS

Seriously, how amazing is this little one. Words cannot express what that sweet smile does to me!

I'M FAMOUS!!!

Most of you may think that because of what Mark does that I get to do interviews and q&a sessions all the time. Well, not actually. You see, most folks want to know about Mark and what he does. Sometimes I can feel left out (begin the tiny violin playing now!!!). Well, thanks to this lovely lady NOT ANYMORE. I am blog famous. You want my autograph???

Kat has an amazing blog with amazing readers. She decided awhile back to ask Mark and ME!!! (YAY ME) some questions about parenting etc. In actuality she only asked me 1 question but whose counting?? Please head over to her blog and read the interview. I think my part will be up tomorrow (unless it landed on the editing room floor)

OH SISTER!!

Oh to have a big sister. I am in line at Moe's today ordering for Abbie and me. The baby is fussy and Abbie (being the exceptionally good big sister she is!!) told me she would give sister the bottle. I think GREAT. This way I can order, pay and all that jazz (why did I go to an order and take your food to table place w/ a newborn and 4 year old- by myself? I am still trying to figure that one out). Anyway, when I lean down to carry the carseat to the table this is what I find. Isn't she pretty, love the bottle hanging out of her mouth. Thanks all to big sister!!!

SOUTHERN LOVE

The other day I was having lunch with my new California friend Heather. We ate at this great little restaurant "The Fickle Pickle", ironically the pickles that came with our sandwich were um shall we say, not one that a fickle person would like!! Anyway, as we were there talking and splitting our sandwiches, yes splitting. I was so happy that Heather wanted to try mine and me hers so we decided to split them. This is the making for a beautiful friendship.

Back to the story, as we ate she began talking about wanting to see South. Me, See South?? what does that mean. She said, ya know the stuff y'all (well she didn't say y'all as remember, she is from Cali. She probably said you all) the stuff that the South has that they don't see in Cali. I was intrigued. I needed some examples. I thought this would be funny. Oh, it was.... one of the things she mentioned was the "John John". (Again, she didn't know the proper term for it, but being the good Southern lady I am I quickly corrected her description - the one piece gingham outfit with a mongram type thing in the center that boys wear) yes, the John John. (Named after the outfit John F. Kennedy, Jr. wore in the famous photo of him saluting his father's coffin). I know me some trivia about a John John. Aren't you impressed. Well, I have my own opinion about this type of outfit and Heather shares the same opinion. Not wanting to offend any of our readers we are keeping it to ourselves.

So, I am driving and thinking, wow they don't have those in Cali. That really probably was a little something that probably intrigued her. So as we continue our conversation we begin talking about the North Georgia State Fair. You see, this is something I LOVE. I mean I will go and hang at the fair a few times when it is here.(I know it's redneck but hey...) I mean you can't beat winning a huge toy just by placing a quarter on a color and praying that the little mouse runs into that colored hole (you know what I'm talking about!!!) So, we decide that we are going to load up the Whittaker clan and the Lee clan and fair it up one night. (We would really love to meet the Hixson clan there if they can b/c I know the same obsession that that family has for the fair as well). As we made our final plans via email that night this is the reply I get. DIRECT QUOTE!!

Fair... We are good for the (date removed- we don't want you stalking us :) ), I am actually very excited to see me some south!

She really did, she is ready to see some south!!! I love that she calls it South. We call it other things, but to her it is seeing our culture as it is, very different from hers. But buddy, rest assured she will see some MAJOR SOUTH @ the fair.

FREE MUSIC PARTY!!

If you want to have a good time you need to head over to 33miles website right NOW!!!
My buddy Jason is the singer for this band. He has to have the most unbelievable voice I have ever heard. They are releasing a new album on Tuesday the 16th. The new album is great. They have really worked hard and poured themselves into this release. They have worked with some award winning producers and writers. They are really making a major splash on the CCM scene.

So if you don't go over because it is pretty cool you get to listen free, go because Jason and his wife Jennifer are some of our best friends from when we lived in Nashville and they have two of the sweetest kids on the planet and we love them to death and because well.... just do it!!!

If you comment about the music I just might know somebody that I can get a free autographed copy of to send to a lucky member of my viewing audience. Now that has GOT to be incentive to go take a look.

For more info about 33Miles you can follow Jason on twitter- jasonbarton33 is his handle.

PRETTY NEW BLOG

I have a pretty new blog. Thanks to my friend Jennifer, I am now in girly land. I visited her blog and it was so cute, I just had to do it myself. Go on now, make your blog cute. It's super easy. It took me like 5 minutes.

FAMILY TREE

It has now been 5 weeks since we became a family of 4. It is still weird to think about sometimes. Now instead of talking just about Abbie, I talk about "the girls". That statement has been said by both Mark and I and every time we say it, you see a little grin come to both our faces.

The big girl has been the most amazing big sister EVER. She is loving, gentle, patient and helpful. If the baby is crying we have watched Abbie go and tell her "it's ok big sister is here". SWEETNESS. Mark has noticed that if Katherine is big time crying Abbie will act as if she is Katherine and say things (in a high pitched sweet voice). "i'm hungry, bring me some food", as if she is speaking for her sister. PRECIOUS.

Katherine is a really good baby. Sometimes too good. I find myself forgetting she is in the room because she is asleep and so quiet. That is not a good thing, but I chalk it up to the lack of sleep. She eats well and generally sleeps well. I will be honest it is not the kind of sleep I am used to but the middle of the night TV programming has been quite good as of late.

All told we are fairing well as we transition this family unit. It takes longer to get out of the house. I don't get to sleep as much. I have WAY more laundry. I have to wash bottles. These are the things I have had to re-adjust to after 4 1/2 years. It is pretty much like riding a bike, it just comes back. To say it has been super easy would be a lie, to say we are managing quite well is the truth. What makes it all worth it is to see the joy in Abbie's face as we draw pictures, paint, etc and she has me do a "family portrait".

4 is an even number- it just works and we love it.

THE COMPETITION IS HEATED!!

Ok all, as you know from my previous post. We have a little contest going on here. Looks like we got us some competition. Candace here has thrown the gauntlet. Get those photos and send them to me:
thirddaywife@me.com

(she might even get BONUS points for having 2 other band members too!!!) I get to make the rules it's my contest!!!

Oh yeah, did I mention that after about 2 of these signs and total confusion I told Mark what was going on. Hey, if he read my blog he might know RIGHT!!!!