I haven’t mentioned a few things that have been going on around here lately. For instance, have I mentioned that my sister is pregnant? And due any second now? And by due any second, I mean that her due date was yesterday?
I cannot tell you how much I wanted to take a picture of her at Thanksgiving lunch, post it on the blog, and announce that my sister had ruined our Thanksgiving by swallowing the turkey whole. But I refrained since women who are forty weeks pregnant tend to frown upon a good Thanksgiving turkey joke.
So instead I’ve spent the last week being incredibly supportive and calling her every day to ask, “Hey, what’s the deal? When are you going to have that baby? Why is it taking so long?”
Sometimes I dispense helpful advice like that I heard eating eggplant parmesan can cause you to go into labor. I’m not sure where I heard it or if I actually ever heard it anywhere as opposed to just making it up in my head, but it makes me feel like I’m doing my part in trying to get my nephew to show up.
Her doctor is out of town this week, but he scheduled her to be induced this Monday if the baby hasn’t left the building of his own free will by then. I tend to think he’s going to stay put because have you ever heard of a man who leaves early when he can relax all he wants and the food is free? Plus, thanks to my brother-in-law, I’m pretty sure he’s getting a steady feed of ESPN in utero.
In other news, about six weeks ago, AJ, our dear friend and official Big Mama family photographer (I just made up that title. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t have that on her official resume.) took family photos of us down at her ranch. As chief photo stylist for the shoot, I’d dressed us all in a variety of wintery attire even though it was blazing hot outside.
P walked outside in his sweater and announced, “You have me for three minutes”. We spent those precious three minutes trying to act candid and like it was perfectly natural for us to all walk through a field, throwing our heads back in laughter and dressed like we were in the Arctic Tundra instead of South Texas.
It was a tender moment.
Two days later, all of AJ’s camera equipment was stolen out of the back of her car. They got everything, including our Christmas card photos which were probably exactly what they were after. So if you receive a Christmas card that features a picture of a family walking through a field and looking very hot (I mean temperature hot, not looks hot. Just wanted to clarify. Although P was totally rockin’ his sweater.) there’s a good chance the people who sent you that card are thieves.
The good news is that insurance reimbursed AJ for everything that was stolen, except for my dream of mailing out my Christmas cards by December 2nd. It’s not like I’ve ever achieved that dream before, but THIS WAS GOING TO BE MY YEAR.
Anyway, she was in town last weekend and sweet enough to come by and take a few pictures of Caroline. I gave up on the family photo dream because, honestly, it was short notice and I didn’t feel like fixing my hair. Not to mention that P was on his way out the door to the ranch as evidenced by this picture that AJ snapped.
Oh, and did I mention that P was wearing his digital camo pants? Not that they don’t scream STYLE SAVVY because, OBVIOUSLY, they totally do.
Also, when did my daughter get to be six feet tall?
I’m pretty sure the following picture won’t make the Christmas card cut.
And I promise you this one won’t.
If you ever grow concerned that your prayer life isn’t what it should be, I totally recommend watching your child take pictures with someone else’s very expensive camera.
And after seeing this picture, I’m also praying for some type of miracle cure to even out my skin tone. My word, sun damage much?
By the way, if my sister is reading this, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE YOUR BABY?
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you and that sweet baby girl are precious!!!
Haven’t thought one thing about a Christmas card and that makes me freak out and cry out “ITS TOO LATE” and I can’t handle the pressure!
I’m sure I’ll throw together something that I’ll regret, but oh well. Time is ticking and I better get busy.
Merry Christmas!!
I read your blog every single day and laugh out loud 4 out of 5 days! (the 5th day isn’t your fault…I was probably in a bad mood) I never comment but since it looks like I happened to read today right after you posted, I thought I would. Your family is beautiful…..so sorry about the pictures. I would have been sick as well! Have a blessed Christmas!
The mere thought of getting all my men children (big and small) together for a picture sends me into a stupor. Brave woman you are Big Mama, Brave!
My younger brother was born 8 days late and we would always joke with him that he liked to get everywhere early because he was making up for lost time
I hope your sister lets you post some pictures when your nephew finally gets here!
Catching up on my blog reading. You are a hoot. Thanks for making me smile every day! Bummer about the Christmas card photos.
Praying all goes well with your sister’s delivery and congrats to your entire family.
So sorry about your pictures being stolen but the ones you share are cute:) Your little one sure is growing up fast.
Blessings today and always,
Kaye
Nothing screams “I’m overly competent” like a Christmas card the first week of December does. You don’t want all your friends to think that you are a slacker – not adequately loaded up with dizzying holiday tasks like baking 60 dozen cookies for the local cookie swap and wrapping presents for 80 family members, pets and neighbors, do you?
As my kid’s lunch lady would say, “Sit down. Relaaaxx.” And then you can forever talk about the picture that was, like a fisherman and his elusive catch.
Well Mexican food tends to kick labor into high gear but perhaps that isn’t true for you Texans.
I found the Christmas card extremely stressful this year….we had pictures taken but in the end I used a photo of my girls that I quickly shot on Thanksgiving. I do so much better with the off the cuff shots…the planned shoots always go awry.
The one of P and Caroline is too sweet. I think you should crop AJ out of the last one and make it your profile pic…it’s so professional looking.
I never get to do family pictures b/c T always ends up looking pained, which I suppose he is.
I wait until Dec. to get a studio picture of the girls done, and I try to make it pass for Christmas and two birthdays. I am VERY nervous about this year. Trying to get a 4 year old and a 23 month old in good enough moods to photograph after they’ve been playing with the Lego table for 20 minutes is not easy. :s
My Christmas cards this year are save the dates for our upcoming wedding.
I’ve totally had grand plans of getting them in the mail on Monday 11-30-09. It’s now Wednesday and they’re still on the coffee table waiting to be stamped and sealed.
Perhaps by Friday? Maybe?
Thank you Thank you Thank you……….for the laughs. Sorry about your pictures
Christmas card envy!
I stink when it comes to that little job!
It overwhelms me every year…..so I just give up!
There is truth in the Eggplant Parm- there is something in the eggplant that can stimulate uterine contractions…. I tried it… it did not work
But I know people who it did work for. I hope your sister has her little man soon- My daughter was born last year on December 14th- there is nothing sweeter than Christmas with a brand new baby to love on!
Sorry about your Christmas photos… hopefully the ones of Caroline with be spectatular and you will get them sent out by the new year!
Hi there,
This is my first comment, I just recently came across your blog. I have to tell you, the pregnant turkey comment was hilarious, you definitely had me cracking up!!!!!
Ashley
I can absolutely give you some advice on the sun damage – Obagi products- they are a little pricey, but soooooo worth the money- they’ll last you at least 6 months, and if you’re really good you can squeeze out a year (what I do). I have a serum right now Obagi C- RX clarifying serum – has worked WONDERS on hyperpigmentation- I’m telling you WONDERS. I bought it at the dermatologists office for $94, but you can get it online for about half that. (Of course) Now, if I could only find a serum that sucked fat out of my middle I’d be good!
Oh- and unlike my SATCO advice (again- sooooooo sorry- who knew I love fair-midland Mexican food?) the Obagi advice is golden.
nope…no Christmas cards for us here yet, either. and strangley enough, i am not freaking out about it this year!! yay me.
Your family is beautiful. And Christmas cards are way overrated. And prayers for Sis. And ding dang y’all, Meredith Baxter just announced to Matt Lauer and whoever else was watching that she is, well she’s gay. Who saw that one coming?
thanks for the reminder that it is NOT too early to get Christmas cards out. duh…that seemed a long way off. now it isn’t.
I got a good chuckle out of the commenter that said ‘there’s nothing like a new baby to love on at Christmas’ and I’ll 2nd that!! My two littles were born Nov 20th and December 5th and those first few Christmases were wonderful! Now that they are 5 & 3 I spend most of the holiday season stressing over how many toys I have to get rid of to make room for the new shipment that will arrive in the form of birthday and Christmas gifts from our large and generous family. Not to mention trying to make room in the living/play room for a tree that would make the Griswolds jealous!! Gotta love my ‘bigger is better’ husband!!
Your blog makes me happy.
Don’t feel bad, I’ve had my Christmas cards printed and in envelopes forever and STILL wont get them out by Dec 2nd (hello that’s today?!) because I’m too lazy to look up all the addresses and address them. Far too much work. Next year I’ll just post my card on my blog
haha
You’re awesome.
WOW – Congratulations to your sister! That is awesome.
Off topic: What bedding did Gulley decide on? You know – since this post was all about being off topic anyway.
Everyday I sit here at my desk and laugh while I read your posts. (Thankfully no one else seems to notice as they walk by.) But I’m telling you, if I lived in south Texas we would be real-life friends just so I could laugh all day long!
And seriously, sweaters in Texas? I wish we could have seen the pics! LOL!
I think all 3 of those pictures should be put on your Christmas card! It would make a great collage!
My husband was in an ATV accident a few weeks ago. When I saw his face and his swollen, bloody, disconnected nose, I decided to use an old picture. So ours is a photo of us drinking milkshakes.
To Abby who commented above me… Texas is a very large place with many, many people. Big Mama is only one person, she can’t be real-life friends with all of us! Although we’re proud to claim her!
A boy, huh? GET READY!!! It’s a whole new ballgame. Literally.
The Christmas card photo becomes more difficult when you add sports and divorce to the mix. The legal genius that determined 1st, 3rd, 5th weekends and alternating Thanksgivings did NOT take into consideration that Thanksgiving break is a week long and every other weekend around it is a 1st, 3rd, or 5th. It seems that I have only seen the boys on weekdays, and we have basketball, NOT to mention it gets dark shortly after noon.
So I’m trying to figure out just where to take an indoor shot that coordinates with the green sweaters I bought. And to complicate things, my kids look alot like Bon Jovi right now (and I mean his 80′s version) and I couldn’t get a hair appt scheduled until next Tuesday, right before basketball practice. So next Wednesday evening, we will find a place to take the shot, and I will holler out poses to them and also holler at them about picking on each other and “he has to be next to you for the photo.” I’m going to start praying now that I will get at least ONE good shot, so I don’t have to amend the greeting to “Happy New Year.” I mean, isn’t that what the spirit of Christmas and prayer is all about?
Oh, my heavens…big time LOL: “I tend to think he’s going to stay put because have you ever heard of a man who leaves early when he can relax all he wants and the food is free? Plus, thanks to my brother-in-law, I’m pretty sure he’s getting a steady feed of ESPN in utero”…that completely describes me and hubby at 39 weeks today. ESPN will be turned off until he comes!
Seriously, what kind of scrooge is that to go and steal your family Christmas pictures?????????
I have a friend who swears the Ultimate Feast from Red Lobster put her into labor. You make me laugh every day. Thanks!
I think the one of Caroline would be perfect to send out as your Christmas card.
She is so cute!!!
Christmas cards, I have never made a Christmas card with my sons, how awful is that?
Merry Christmas!
Love your pregnant turkey eating joke! Wish your sister would have let you take pictures. The picture of P and Caroline is just precious. I would have that one framed. And I hope that your sister has the baby soon and everyone is OK.
So funny…. all three of my boys stayed as long as possible in there! The first and last were both 9 days late! 9 DAYS! The middle one only came out early because I begged and begged my doctor to take the baby early. Sadly, I thought by the third he’d come out at least on time on his own. He didn’t!
You are hilarious! I can always count on you and your blog to give me a good laugh! So sorry to hear about your Christmas pictures!
I think the 3 pictures you posted probably describe your family perfectly. Love. Humor. Adorable.
Poor, poor Amy!
Can’t believe my sister beat her! Here we are with our sweet little boys and we’re just waiting for LC to arrive!
Melanie – I’m really trying to feel sorry for you being hot in Texas with sweaters on, but since I’ve been keeping our wood-burning furnace stoked all morning and it’s 39 outside, my sympathy is low.
Gotta love northern Illinois. However when you’re suffering in the heat this summer I’ll try not to gloat. You always make me laugh!!!
After an unsuccessful photo shoot at the Christmas tree farm, (Because asking strangers to take your picture is just like asking a professional!) we went to a scenic spot in town and took what turned out to be some great photos.
And I have discovered a wonderful solution for uneven skin: Photoshop! I bought some terrific actions and my skin in pictures looks just lovely! (If only it would work in real life, too!)
Oh, yes – it’s about that baby boy who (whom) is now overdue. We are carrying a phone of some sort with us at all times – awaiting the call that Big Mama’s little sister is on her way to the hospital. Come on little LC—we are so anxious to meet you in person!
You know,as much as I would have loved to know your sister was having a baby NINE MONTHS AGO,its probably good that you didn’t mention it earlier because I would have been asking about her in comments ALL NINE MONTHS. Be glad you unknowingly spared yourself of said comments.As great as it may be for that little guy in his moms tummy,he’ll never be able to see his aunt in all her sunglasses-atop-the-head-tongue-sticking-out glory if he stays in there.
Your bangs look great,by the way. Why did we not see a picture of them before??
I wish I could aid you in your search for the perfect skin tone,but it would be the blind leading the blind as I have yet to find/achieve it.But its the thought that counts right?!
My husband would be right there with P. “You want me to wear a sweater?” My husband doesn’t wear sweaters unless it is 30 below (which it is never here).
I feel for the picture stealing. Someone stole my camera ON MY WEDDING DAY! Right out of the bride’s room. No pictures of my shower or bridesmaids luncheon. I managed to get a few of me getting ready due to my sweet friends. You want to tell the thieves, “Fine, take the camera, but leave the film (or in your case, the memory stick).”
Well, just to get my 2 cents worth in on the labor discussion, supposedly anything with Cilantro works wonders. I had some Mexican Chicken Cilantro thingy when I was preggo and low and behold, the next day I was in the hospital popping that baby out! I am sure that you will have no trouble getting your hands on that down there in Texas.
BTW, my friend who is thinking about starting a support group for procrastinators (which she can’t quite seem to get around to doing) sends out Happy New Years Cards. She maintains that it is her plan all along, but we know the real truth
Something to think about…
fun read
good luck on the pictures. we are taking “entire” family photos Sunday. entire meaning, brother and wife, his three kids and spouses and kids and me and mine. We are doing our own with walmart as out printers.
There’s a restaurant called Scalini’s in Smyrna Ga with reports of woman going into labor after eating the Eggplant Parm.
When I was pregnant with my first I heard the eggplant parmesan thing too – my mother said it originated from a diner in Atlanta Georgia that promised if you ordered theirs you’d be in labor the next day or your money back. Of course I was in Texas at the time so my girlfriend made me some – and I did go into labor the next day so you never know!!
OK, Melanie, you totally didn’t make up the eggplant parm thing. But I think it works because of all the oregano and basil. Seriously, I went into labor WHILE eating basil pesto pizza, and had Baby Bear a few hours later.
I can’t believe they were stolen
official bummer. Perhaps a ‘bah-humbug’ is in order for just a moment.
Love the above pictures anyway though
So sorry about your stolen pictures!! The ones you posted are adorable though. And yes, the digi camo pants are totally cool.
My oldest 2 boys wear them to work everyday.
Oh and in my part of Texas it is COLD today and I mean really cold, not just “it’s 65 degrees and I need a jacket” cold.
Oh I wish you would have done the turkey joke! I still got a laugh out of the thought, but man that would have been a great post! I have never made it past 37 weeks of pregnancy, but I wouldn’t be offended if someone had done that to me. My son’s due date was yesterday, too! But my little guy came 6.5 weeks early, so I don’t have anyone asking me when I am getting the baby out.
As someone who has a birthday that ends up on Thanksgiving every few years, your sister has done her baby a service by keeping it in this long. The baby will miss Thanksgiving and definitley won’t have to worry about Christmas so the new little “present” should be good to go. LOL
I do hope things go well and I know Caroline must be excited with a new cousin on the way.
And, I don’t have my Christmas cards out yet. I’ll be lucky if they get mailed out before Christmas. LOL
My second comment of the day. Just got TWO Christmas cards in the mail, now just where is my address book? Why on earth am I friends with overachievers such as these two? Love AJ’s glasses too.
Isn’t there a full moon tonight? I wonder if that might help prod him along!!!
Thanks for the good laugh!
I am so sorry about your photos.
My sister in law is pregnant and due next year and I am pretty sure I will be asking the same thing as you…over and over…and over…
You make me laugh. I hope you know just how much of a blessing you are to your readers. I love to come here and know You are just being you….wonderful YOU.
that has to be the worst christmas card luck ever.
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