My Photo

Who I Am

  • Hi! I'm Ainsley, and I'm the mother of two adventurous little boys named Wyatt and Dylan. I'm here to blog about the joys of parenting and all the resources out there to help us. But most of all, I hope you'll come back here for a community of friends.

Recent Comments

Hoochee Moms

Currently Reading

Mr. Linky


« October 2008 | Main | December 2008 »

November 2008

The Thanksgiving Table

Need some inspiration for a creative Turkey Day table?Table Check out these very simple ways of setting the table from Apartment Therapy. They collected photos from their favorite websites and Flickr photos, which shows you don't have to be Martha Stewart to create a classy but cozy setting. I love the the simplicity of having a scattering of mini pumpkins, and tying the napkins with twine and bittersweet. Too bad I'm not hosting a dinner this year. =)

November 26, 2008 at 09:40 AM in Holidays | | Comments (4)

Hoochee Book Coming Monday

Book

Thanks for the overwhelming response to the Hoochee Book Club. There are about 20 proud members so far! I'll announce the first book on Monday, December 1, and I'll also give you a badge if you'd like to post one on your blog. Feel free to make your book suggestions until Friday.

On the 4th Wednesday of every month, I'll create a post that will allow you to link your own blog post for everyone to read. If you don't have a blog, you can simply leave a comment. Sound good?

November 26, 2008 at 07:35 AM in Hoochee Book Club | | Comments (2)

Sweeeeeet!

Sweet_tea This morning, I dropped Wyatt off at school and was on my way to run some errands when I realized I forgot to eat breakfast. I was STARVING, so I pulled into Chick-fil-a for some chicken minis. After I paid my $2.25, someone else came to the window and handed me a free gallon of Sweet Tea and said, "Happy Thanksgiving!" I'm so glad I forgot to eat breakfast, because that totally made my day!

November 25, 2008 at 12:34 PM in Food and Drink | | Comments (7)

What Happens When No One's Around

The other morning, I came downstairs and found all of our dining chairs lined up in a row. Wyatt was grinning ear to ear and said, "How do you like our choo-choo train?" I guess it could've been worse. =)

Chairs

November 25, 2008 at 08:50 AM in Chillin Like Dylan, Wyattisms | | Comments (3)

The Hoochee Book Club

Bookclub

Okay, so that doesn't have to be the name... but it's catchy, no? I was thinking - actually it was Sara Beth's suggestion - about starting an on-line book club. Basically, we could read one book a month, and then we could report back on a certain day. Anyone who blogs can write a snippet about what they thought of the book. And if you don't blog, then you can give your two cents in the comments section.

Anyone game? Let me know by Friday, along with your suggestion for a book to read.

November 24, 2008 at 12:17 PM in Hoochee Book Club | | Comments (32)

Twilight, Interrupted

Saturday night, I was able to arrange 2 babysitters to watch our boys, so Ben and I could go on a date to see Twilight and then go to dinner. We got to the theater early and bought about $16 worth of movie theater food to tide us over until afterward. About 20 minutes into the movie, Ben's cell phone buzzed. It was the babysitter and when I picked up she said, "Oh thank goodness!"

She frantically proceeded to tell me that Dylan's face was gushing blood, and when she didn't get me on my cell, she called 911 and the paramedics were on the way to our house. I got Ben and we drove home. The paramedics were waiting for us, and Dylan was fine. His chin had some abrasions and there's a pretty bad gash inside his lip, but he only cried when I forced his mouth open. Wyatt insisted on getting a tour of the fire truck before they left, and then we paid the sitters and called it a night. 

I admit, I was disappointed with what I saw of Twilight, but I was pretty bummed to end our night short (and still have to shell out $70). After getting over it, Ben and I just crashed on the sofa and watched a Christmas movie together. Dylan is still talking about his "hurt wips," and how the "firetruck came for me." It was definitely a memorable evening for all of us.

Dylan

November 24, 2008 at 09:50 AM in Chillin Like Dylan, Personal stories | | Comments (10)

Santa's New Home

This conversation took place at Barnes & Noble last Friday....

Wyatt: Mommy, can I pleeeeaaassse get this Clifford backpack? I really really love it.

Me: We can't buy that today, but if it's something that you really want you can ask Santa.

Wyatt: But Santa isn't here.

Me: Where do you think he is?

Wyatt: On the moon.

Me: You think Santa is on the moon? I thought he lived at the North Pole.

Wyatt: No, he doesn't. He used to, but he got tired of the North Pole. The cold made him tired.

Me: Oh, well where are all his reindeer?

Wyatt: (Exasperated) On the moon! (Pause) They got tired of the cold, too.

Me: I see.

Wyatt: Got it? (I nodded) Okay, can you please buy me this Clifford backpack now?


November 24, 2008 at 07:35 AM in Wyattisms | | Comments (2)

Holiday Confusion

I get so confused this time of year. I've always been under the conviction that we should celebrate one holiday at a time. You know... wait for Halloween to be over before breaking out the cornucopias... and wait until after Thanksgiving before breaking out the Christmas decor.

Vote 002 But I've noticed several homes with Christmas lights, even Christmas trees, around our neighborhood... and now I'm wondering if decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving occurs more often than I thought. I've started to wonder if I'm wrong to still have pumpkins on my front porch (granted, the painted ones need go.=) So let me ask...

Have you started decorating for Christmas yet?

November 21, 2008 at 09:36 AM in Holidays | | Comments (16)

Countdown to Twilight

Twilight_posterOkay, so the Twilight movie comes out in approximately 9 hours 45 minutes and 26 seconds. But who's counting? =) Actually, I don't think I'll be seeing it this weekend, but I'm still working on getting a babysitter so Ben and I can go.

However, I did re-read the books this week. It started with just wanting to refresh my memory of Twilight in preparation for the movie, but I just kept going. Despite my best efforts, I'm quickly turning into a crazy 30-year-old Twi-hard.  (By the way, I'm not actually keeping track of the time, so that's probably not at all accurate.)

Is anyone going to see the movie?

November 20, 2008 at 03:09 PM in Books, Film | | Comments (9)

Co-Sleeping Sibling Style

Wyatt and Dylan have been sharing a bedroom for the past 5 months or so. I thought that it might cause some problems... like Wyatt wanting his own room again, missing his queen-size bed, or Dylan waking Wyatt up at odd hours of the night. But I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised how smoothly it went.

Not only do they love sharing a room, they now insist on sleeping together... in the same bed. It's caused a few issues, and sometimes I have to go in and threaten to separate them if they don't hush and go to sleep. They don't seem to mind being all squished up next to each other, especially Dylan who practically uses Wyatt as a pillow. Sometimes Wyatt will hold Dylan until he falls asleep... and then I'll hear him sneak back to his own bed for the night. Other nights it gets a little crazy in there and I'm tempted to pull the plug on their arrangement. But I just can't resist the sight of them sleeping side by side.

Bed_share2

November 20, 2008 at 11:50 AM in Family | | Comments (5)

Thankful Thursday

Morning_coffee  

Thankful today for:

  1. My morning coffee.
  2. Looking forward to neighborhood Bunco tonight.
  3. Reading books in the afternoons.
  4. Frost in the shape of snowflakes on my car windows this morning.
  5. Wyatt's love for learning new things.
  6. The smell of wood burning in a neighbor's fireplace last night
  7. Gingerbread loaf.
  8. Dylan repeating "unnacceptable" after he's been in time out.
  9. Leaf piles in our front yard.
  10. Snuggling in bed on cold mornings.

November 20, 2008 at 10:31 AM in Thankful Thursday | | Comments (3)

Why We Should Always Wear Helmets

Every morning, when Dylan is ready to get up he calls for me to come and get him, and then I carry him downstairs to snuggle with Wyatt. However, this morning I awoke to Wyatt tapping me on my forehead. I forced open my eyes and saw Dylan standing next to him wearing a helmet. They were both grinning ear to ear. I smiled and Wyatt said, "Look Mom. Dylan's up."

I told them they could go downstairs and that I'd be down in a minute. But Dylan, too comfortable with our morning routine, cried for me to carry him down. So Wyatt reassured him by telling him that he'd help him... and then said, "It's okay if you fall, Dylan, because you're wearing a helmet." To which Dylan replied, "Oh, okay Wyatt!"

November 19, 2008 at 08:38 AM in Chillin Like Dylan, Wyattisms | | Comments (3)

Today's Dirt

This morning, I was upstairs in the office doing some filing, while Dirty_hand Dylan played downstairs with his trains. He came up and told me there was a mess and then showed me his hands... they were completely covered in something black. Apparently, he decided to grab a handful of soot from the fireplace and put it on our ottoman. Thankfully, it was easy to clean off the leather, but some of it fell on the floor and is now mashed in the carpet. That isn't coming up quite so easily!

Anyway, while I'm scrubbing the carpet, you can catch me over at Deep South Moms talking about southern manners... feel free to chime in with your own two cents. =)

November 18, 2008 at 12:34 PM in Parenting | | Comments (2)

Posh Mom & Tot Party Events

Posh_moms2

I stumbled upon this company the other day... Posh Mom Events provides full service event planning for everything from baby showers to spa parties. They handle every detail from the invitations to the the catering... all you have to do is show up (and shovel out the dough =).

Or check out Posh Tot Events. Among others, there's the Enchanted Garden Fairy Party, where 3 different levels of poshness are available. I've yet to spend more than $50 on a birthday party for my boys, but I guess there are moms out there who are willing to pay for this! It would definitely be a day to remember...

The best part is they're right here in the ATL. So if any of you locals ever want to put together a Pamper Me Posh Party with some girlfriends, I'm in. =)

November 18, 2008 at 08:51 AM in Activities | | Comments (1)

What It's Like Shopping With A Monkey

I usually do my grocery shopping at Whole Foods with Dylan while Wyatt is in school. It's a little easier to shop with just one, but only a little. Dylan is our monkey, who gets around by climbing and jumping... all the while touching everything in sight.

I catch myself sounding like an announcer at an amusement park as we pass through narrow aisles and other shoppers... "Please keep your hands and feet inside the car at all times. And do not for any reason jump out of the car while it's moving." But, I've realized that monkeys generally don't like abiding by such restricting guidelines.

Shopping3Shopping5ShoppingShopping4_4 Shopping2_4Shopping6_4

November 17, 2008 at 01:56 PM in Chillin Like Dylan, Shopping | | Comments (3)

"Sexual Abuse Of A Liar"

Occasionally over at Deep South Moms, there will be a featured post from a sister site. This one caught my attention, and I felt the need to point you to Jill's story, a contributor to the New Jersey Moms Blog. This is way more common than anyone thinks.

It will never happen to my child! That is one of those lines that I hate hearing from a mother - a line that is filled with ignorance, denial and just plain stupidity. Sexual abuse can happen to any child anywhere, anytime by anyone.

How do I know?  I am one of those children, not only was I abused but when I confronted my family as an adult about it - I was called a liar.

Continue Reading

November 17, 2008 at 07:47 AM in Parenting | | Comments (0)

Crazy Day

Today, I had planned to have a peaceful morning at the house and then going to Wyatt's school for a puppet show. But for some reason, the boys are completely out of sorts (fighting, whining, crying) and I haven't even been able to get in the shower. Needless to say, it's been a frustrating morning.

Anyway, I wordled my blog the other day just for fun, and since I'm too frazzled to post anything else, I'll share it with you. Apparently I write "baby" a lot. =) Get yours.

Wordle

November 14, 2008 at 11:14 AM in ChattahoocheeMama.com | | Comments (3)

Pregnant Man, Take 2

I'm sure y'all heard about the "pregnant man," Pregnant_man Thomas Beatie, who gave birth this past June. It's totally confusing... but basically Beatie is a transgender, so he was born a woman and took male hormones to become a man... but technically his parts are female.

No doctor would help Beatie and his wife get pregnant, so they did it themselves at home. He delivered a baby girl, not via cesarean, after 40 hours of labor. Well, he's pregnant again, and Barbara Walters will be interviewing the couple tonight at 10 PM on ABC. You can see portions of the interview [here].

November 14, 2008 at 08:59 AM in Media | | Comments (4)

The "Not" Wedding

I won't be able to go to this, but there's a "Not" wedding happening in Atlanta this weekend. It's a fake wedding that's designed to showcase vendors. It's held at the fabulous "Opera" club in Atlanta, and tix are only $10 to get in. Looks like a lot of fun for girls getting married, and curious people like me. =)

Not

November 13, 2008 at 11:44 AM in Events | | Comments (1)

Thankful Thursday

Big_leaf_5

A few things that make me happy today:

  1. Big leaves on our front porch
  2. Getting up earlier and having more snuggle time with my boys
  3. A crisp walk on a fall day
  4. Laughing with a good friend
  5. Finding cute shoes for Wyatt that only cost $20
  6. Warm oatmeal raisin cookies
  7. My new Beth Moore book/journal on John
  8. All of our family members scattered across the country
  9. Dylan saying, "Wasome Wyatt! High five!" when Wyatt drew the letter B correctly
  10. Wyatt's sweet smile

November 13, 2008 at 09:40 AM in Thankful Thursday | | Comments (2)

Next »

I'm a Blogher

Categories

Hoochee Reads

Archives

More...