five friday confessions

• I hate when people call me Des. My name is Desiree, not Des. I don't do well with nicknames. Two of my uncles and two of my cousins used to mercilessly taunt me with a nickname which is probably where the hatred stemmed from. 
• I think I'm experiencing the winter blues. I never felt this way before. This year it's taking me quite a bit longer to get excited about the holidays. When the sun sets, I just get so...sad.
• I might be going extremely a little bit overboard with gifts for Quinn this Christmas. Technically it isn't his first Christmas, but it feels like it to me. Last year we only got him pjs and one of those recordable books from Hallmark. This year it's game on!
• If there is more than one roll of toilet paper in the stall, I feel obligated to use the roll that already has less on it.
• I'm taking next Friday off to go Christmas shopping and I'm so excited! It's not necessarily because of the shopping but because of the alone time. A whole day to myself! {well at least 8 hours}

because shopping with this maniac results in cart surfing

oh christmas tree, oh christmas tree

If you know me at all, then you know I love Christmas, especially decorating for it. If you know the hubs at all, then you know he is obsessed with Christmas. Not even kidding a little, he blows my love for all things merry and bright out of the water.

This year we have four trees. That's right, four seven and a half foot, full blown, fully decorated trees. It all started with a Clemson themed tree. Then we added a traditional tree. Then came my Coca-Cola tree. Now we have added a tree on our front porch.

With the baby this year, I'm having to decorate in stages. Tuesday night we decorated the Coca-Cola themed tree. I just love this how it looks. It fits so perfectly in my Coca-Cola themed breakfast room.

The next tree we decorated last night was the traditional tree. This tree needs some help. I feel like it's seriously lacking something. We definitely don't have as many ornaments for this tree. The ones that are currently up there are things we've picked up on trips or received as gifts or brought home from ornament exchange parties. I do have some "fillers" in there but I think I need more.

The next tree would normally be the Clemson tree but we are currently waiting on replacement lights to come in the mail. We bought a brand new pre-lite tree this year and of course the very top section was a dud. Maybe I'll decorate the tree on our porch next. I'll be sure to post more pictures because Lord knows we are far from done adding to the holly jolly!

football season is over!

Booohooo! Just kidding. I'm not one of those girls. I like going to the games. I like tailgating. I like dressing up in my team colors. I don't die when it's over though. We had lots of fun this season. I went to every home game this year except NC State {it was the Saturday before Quinn's party and I needed the time to set up}. We even took Quinn to two of the games.

We're already planning for next year and hope to really get into a good tailgating groove. I love the thought of Quinn growing up going to the Clemson games. I pray he ends up loving our school as much as the hubs and I do. There aren't enough words to explain where the Blue Ridge yawns its greatness. If you're a Clemson alum, you understand.

Quinn loved watching Tiger Band parade down the hill to the stadium!

Sitting with daddy, watching pregame and the most exciting 25 seconds in college football

For military appreciate day, Tiger Band and the VA Tech band marched together

Tailgating before the homecoming game against Maryland

This year was the 30th anniversary of Alumni Band. Nearly 400 alumni marched during halftime and the hubs and I were part of it. Of course I made my Tiger Guard besties march with me!

Quinn with Shannon before we headed to 90 Minutes Before Kickoff

What is this thing daddy??

Enjoying some Tiger Rag!

Our one night game was against South Carolina. While we didn't win, it was still a really good game.

still here...

I've dropped off the blogging radar it seems. Lately I just haven't been into it. I still want to write Quinn's 11 month and 12 month posts so I can have them for his baby book, but I'm not certain I'll be blogging about the holidays. We've been go-go-going with football games, birthday parties, house unpacking/cleaning, and now Thanksgiving is two days away. It's all swirling and whirling past me and I want to make sure I'm soaking in the moments and not worrying about typing it out in a blog post.

One thing I will quickly mention is the unexpected sadness I'm experiencing after Quinn's first birthday. I can't help but feel so weepy that I'm missing it. Missing the moments somehow as they all go zooming past me. I'm just having such a hard time coping with the fact that I now have a one-year-old. Post-birthday blues? I guess. I hope it passes soon.

Quinn is one year old

Happy Birthday Quinn!

Today you are my precious one-year-old. How in the world did that happen? I can promise you I will say that with every birthday, so go ahead and get used to it ha. Of course the day started out with the happy birthday song. You should probably get used to that too. I plan on singing it to you every single year. 

Oh where to begin? Eating, sleeping, and clothing size have all stayed the same as last month. We are very proud that you have good habits already. You are starting to show signs of getting pickier with food, but often tiredness plays a part in not wanting to eat certain things. Now that you are one, you are going to start drinking whole milk. It's a big transition {especially for mama} but I'm sure you'll do great.

At your one-year check up with the doctor we got your official measurements. You weight 18 lbs 13 oz (5th percentile), are 29.5" long (40th percentile), and have a head circumference of 19" (90th percentile). You have always been our skinny little baby. I can't imagine where you get that from, hehe{hint: not mama}.

So last month was your first word of uh-oh. This month, your second word? Dada! I have to laugh because I certainly thought you would say mama before dada. You say it with such pride too! We try to get you to say mama but the only time it comes out is when you are upset and want me to pick you up. In between the tears I'll hear "ma-ma-ma-ma-ma" so I know you can say it ha!

Your other big accomplishment? Three days before your birthday you pulled up! We now have a stander. It is so fun to see you pull up on the coffee table. You get so excited and want to clap and then boom, down you fall. The extra padding from your cloth diapers is coming in handy though!

I can now feel a second tooth looming right under the surface. Soon you'll have your bottom two teeth. That sweet little grin of yours will be filled with teeth before I know it.

Your first Halloween was more for mama and daddy than you this year. We dressed you in the sweetest tiger costume and took only about a hundred pictures. No trick-or-treating this time, but I'm sure you'll be excited to go next year!

You are such a quick learner Quinn. I got you some snack holders to amuse you in the stands during the football game. In about 5 minutes you had figured out how to push your hand through the flaps and dig out a fist full of cheerios. You love when I fill the container with mini nilla wafers. They keep you happy for at least a grocery store run.

Your happiness brings me such joy. I know if I've had a lousy day, some time spent crawling around on the floor with my baby boy will always make my heart happy again. To watch you come barreling towards me with the biggest grin on your face is just unbelievable.

Your silliness is so contagious. Your laughter and smiles are certainly my top favorite things. After splashing in the tub I can't help but blow raspberries on your tummy to hear your funny little giggle. You push me away and then look at me, waiting for another round.

You love to mimic mama and daddy. If we make a sound, you try to make it right back. You are turning into a little parrot and it just tickles me to hear you from the back seat of the car. You are definitely a boy with your noises. You blow raspberries and make sounds that only a little boy seems to know how to perfect.

Even though you have your boy moments, your are still so cuddly and sweet. When you get tired, you grab your passy and lovie and curl up in mama's arms. I love the way you nuzzle into my chest and let out a huge sign. It has to be the best feeling in the world. One day you'll decide you're too big to cuddle with me. I have to soak in all the snuggles and cuddles I can get.

So many wonderful things have happened during your first year. I know your daddy and I are in charge of teaching you things, but I truly think you are the one that keeps teaching us. We love you to the moon and back.

Love,
Mama