Jingle Bell Betty

I'm not brave enough to battle Black Friday shopping. I did it once, then vowed never again. My deals would either be bought 3 months early, on cyber monday, or none at all. We spent Black Friday in a much better, relaxing way: putting the Christmas tree up at my dad's. Indie even hung her first  candy cane ornament by herself!!  

Me and Indie were both sick this day. You can definitely tell baby girl isn't feeling it. 

I hardly have any pics of my brother because he doesn't like taking pictures. I'm glad he was into it this day. 

The taking of a family selfie. 

Being sick, Indie was extremely not okay with be putting her down for any amount of seconds. I ended up wearing her a lot, which is A-okay with me. Momma loves snuggles :) 

Putting up dad's tree wasn't enough for us, so we came home and put up our baby tree too. I didn't have a big tree this year, so we just did the little one. 

Indie loved pulling at the branches and looking at the blinking lights. She likes to pull the ornaments off too. 

Indie's christmas list to Santa doesn't have your typical toys on it. She likes water bottles, plastic bowls, tissues, crunchy paper/packages, remote controls, cardboard...basically anything not on the toy aisle. 

Bowls make really funny hats too. This was funny. I would put it on my head and laugh, then I would put it on her head and laugh. She finally started laughing just to copy me. 

The  next day, we got Indie dressed in her Christmas cutest to go see Santa. We were wanting to go to the Mistletoe Fair the previous weekend, but it fell on the same weekend of my sisters sweet 16, so we had to go see the mall Santa. 

She looks so adorable in her Olaf outfit. Doc's sister gave us this outfit. I love it! 

Santa looked a little grungy. lol I had to use a filter because his beard was gray and his white on his suit was yellow. He was a dirty Santa. Indie looks more Santa than Santa. Look at those rosie cheeks. hahaha

  

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Cute first picture of Indie with Santa though. We didn't stay long at the mall. I was scared. lol It actually felt like a market that day. The vendor carts in the middle of the aisle were yelling, "Samples, samples!" while holding the products like a tambourine, vigorously shaking the products they were trying to sell. The vendors would bombard us and were very pushy, so we skid-addled out of there. That's okay though, because daddy bought Indie some bubbles to play with when we got home.   

She always looks confused when I blow the bubbles. 

She tries to touch them and hold them, but they of course pop. She couldn't figure it out just yet. haha 

We got Indie's daycare pictures back and they turned out SO GOOD. We gave them as Christmas gifts to the grandparents.

Indie is quite photogenetic! 

Hanging out with mommy and playing in the floor. 

"What's this?" 

I made Indie a sensory water bottle with sequins, glitter, pom-poms, and beads, and she loved it.  She loved to crunch it and chew on it mainly. 

I will miss these baby cuddles one day. If you notice Momma is also trying to catch up on some reading while rocking the baby. haha Neither one of us were feeling good that day, but snuggles make it better.

She is beautiful. 

I wish I had money to buy everyone I love the gifts they deserve, but I don't. Some people get cookies. haha 

Marina, my friend, is the best! She knew just what to get me...an art book ( similar to my Wreck this Journal that I love so much) and a Pokeball mug. 

Indie is so cute during bath time. She loves it! I love bonding with her during that time. 

She loves playing with rubber ducks. 

She was watching the trickling, waterfall when she would pull the washrag out of the tub. It was so cute! 

Little baby seal fresh out of the water. 

My friend, Briana, gave me these goodies the next day at work. Barb also gave me a $50 gift card to target. I'm spoiled ya'll. haha 

I made some more goodies to give away to friends. I only stole a couple for myself. ;) 

Picking up my pretty girl from daycare. 

She is always in such a good mood when she sees us. 

All the other babies are usually crying or upset in daycare, but Indie is always smiling. 

She has the funniest little personality. 

She had a new comedy routine she figured out this night. 

We both thought it was funny when she mashed her face against the mesh netting. I think she kept doing it because she was showing out. She was liking when I laughed at her silliness. 

I put my hat on Indie just for fun. She reminded me of Toadstool from Mario. 

Or maybe Erykah Badu

haha little rhasta baby 

We did our Christmas with Tammy and Jeff a week early. I know it's hard for them to give up their favorite holiday to a day this isn't really Christmas, but it helps us out a lot because we don't have to visit several different houses in just two days. 

So, we got Indie dressed in her finest. 

She got so many presents! 

A ball pit! 

First round of ripping into some presents. 

She got a bath time bubble machine shaped like an octopus! Itplays music and has piano buttons too. 

I still had some wrapping to do, but here is a pic of our tree with most of the gifts under it. 

Some candid photos of the Morrow Christmas. 

Tammy planned many fun games for us to play, in which the winner got to choose from the prize table. There were some really good killer prizes!  

Jeff and Reno 

Megan, Dustin, and Indie 

Tailor 

Jesse candy cane fishing. This is harder than it looks. 

Anther game: Relay style- roll the dice. If you roll a 6 you get a chance to use the oven mits and try and open the present. When the next person in the circle rolls a 6. you have to give up the mits and let them try. 

Alex got it! 

Indie's trump comb over. haha 

Indie loves puppies! I wish Winnie would let her pet her, but she's mean. At least Indie gets to pet puppies when we visit other people's houses. haha 

The next day, Papa Scott, Uncle Brad, Uncle Sean, and Cheyenne came to put together Indie's swing set. Santa came early. 

She loved it! Although, she got really sleepy after swinging because she stayed up waiting to play. 

Look how loved Indie is! 

Everyone working hard to make Indie happy. 

A pink swing for our princess! 

Indie's "I'm sleepy, but you better not put me down for a nap" face. 

 Usually, I'm in the "I'm not going to participate in conspicuous consumption and support these corporate assholes" mindset. Okay, let's face it. That's just my tough gal front. The truth is, most of the time I'm broke. haha This year, I had saved a little, and I caught the shopping bug. BAD. My co-worker and friend, Briana, told me about a store...H&M. I had never shopped there before, but I found some cute clearance items for Indie online. I call this the "Princess Start-up Kit". The unicorn slippers were a little too big, but she can grow into them. 

On Christmas Eve, we were heading to my dad's. Indie wasn't feeling the Santa hat. She doesn't like anything on her head, and she can take it off on her own now. 

She wore it long enough to snap a quick pic. SO CUTE! 

She liked opening presents! It was so fun to watch her do it. Christmas is much better when little ones are around. 

My brother 

The cousins and bro

Papa Scott and Indie 

Working on sign language 

I got quite the christmas present myself from my dad...the camera I have been wanting FOREVER! I was so happy to receive it. I can't wait to take more photos and video of Indie!! Once i figure out all the details on using it... haha  

It looks weird seeing pics of our family Christmas with a little baby on the floor...but it's a good kind of weird. :) 

Uncle Keith, Granny, and Grandad 

Sean and Brad 

My cousin Brian got to come home this year for Christmas! We were all excited to see him. 

My hunny 

Went outside for "fresh air", and we were playing with dad's Christmas projection lights. Brad said it looks like I had a sexually Tronsmitted disease. (Nerd joke...Tron...get it?? haha) 

Me and Brian 

Opening Christmas present with Momma and Daddy 

She loves to unravel ribbons haha 

More toys for Indie! She loves the Pop-and-Play we got her. She doesn't like when they are all popped up though, so she immediately puts them back down. 

A very hungry caterpillar toy 

Sitting pretty on Christmas Day and Grams

I know Hello Kitty isn't very "Christmasy" but she got this outfit for Christmas. I'm trying to put her in all her outfits before she outgrows them, which is happening faster than I expected. 

Even MORE presents for Indie! 

Already trying to play with it in the box. 

We had to be really quick getting the presents out of the packing for Indie. She was ready to play immediately. 

She got her own cell phone since she always wants Mommy and Daddy's. 

She loves to wave at everyone now. 

Gram and Gramps opening presents 

Aunt Holly 

Gram opening the calendar of Indie we made for her. 

Indie got a Peppa the Pig toy

Indie also loves puppies, so Ginger was letting her love on her. 

"What is this thing??"

Playing with the ornaments 

Home at last to have christmas present playtime! 

She loves that walker. She uses it all the time and it is helping her learn to walk, which she is pretty eager to do. 

Playing with her princess ball 

Indie likes playing with her baby food. If we drop some, she wants to rub it all over. 

This was a good bath time. We played with her Bubbles the Musical Octopus toy she got from Aunt Megan and Uncle Dustin. It's basically a musical bubble making machine. It's pretty cool. She also got this giraffe towel from TMaw. 

Holy Guacamole, Batman! Indie is 8 months old now. She can crawl, pull-up and stand, and is already trying to walk. She has her two bottom teeth poking through, and can say "Hi" and wave, says "Da-da", "Ma-Ma," "Ba-ba", and we're not sure who "Edna" is, but that's what she says when she is really hungry. Lol 

She dislikes breathing treatments, the booger sucker (still), when a toy won't do what she wants it to do, and changing outfits. She likes rubbing her hands across the page of a book to hear it squeak, when we beat box, smashing our faces against the playpen netting, ripping magazines or tissues to shreds, swinging, clapping, singing and dancing.

Indie loves to explore and is fascinated with new things. She was having a ball tearing up tissues. 

Phew, that was a lot of pictures! And my New year's Resolution is to take MORE pics with my new camera??? I need more storage space. :D 

Bygone Betty

Sometimes I get anxious about what I write on my blog. Why should I have to edit my thoughts?  It’s MY blog. The blog really isn't for anyone but me.  Besides, I’m pretty sure the only eyes scanning these posts are mine and Gabby’s. hahah

I suppose it’s the fact I have scars from writing what I wanted  in the past.  Remember when myspace was cool and you could post notes or thoughts on your myspace wall? I guess it was like a mini version of a blog. Well, I’ve always been one to treat writing like it’s my friend. It’s always there when I need it most. Writing will let you pour your soul out all over the table, no matter how messy. Writing hangs out with you even when you’re not the most fun person to be around. Writing patiently waits on you to pull it together.  It laughs when I laugh, cries when I cry. It let me vent, is a good listener, keeps your secrets, and is non-judgmental. Writing should let me be honest with myself. Writing comforts me and is therapeutic. No relationship is perfect though, even my relationship to writing. Sometimes writing is a cruel bitch who betrays you.

 One time, I looked to myspace for venting and comfort. I thought the post was private. I mean it’s better writing something mean about someone than penning  up all that anger and doing something drastic down the road., right? I still vouche for the legitimacy of the content in the post. I was ranting some drama about how me and Jes were the only mates working towards moving our band in any direction. Yes, I probably should have just confronted the other band mates about it, but I really didn’t think they would print out my personal thoughts and pass it around like Sunday communion. After that, I had other instances in college where my writing was overly criticized, and then I just lost faith in myself. I actually stopped writing. Now, blogging has come to mean that I am just archiving pictures of Indie with cute little captions under the photo, which I love doing, but sometimes I want and need to dig a little deeper.  

There’s an episode of “Everybody loves Raymond” that I think about in this instance. Deborah finally reaches her wits end with her monster, I mean, mother-in-law, Marie. Deborah decides to write Marie a note laying everything out on the table: how she is a nosy, manipulative, guilt machine.  Raymond says something along the lines of, “Whhhyy would you do that?? No, no, no, if you want to tell somebody something, you say it; don’t write it. Writing is permanent. With verbal speech you can say, ‘No, I didn’t mean that. That’s not what I said.” In the end of the episode the loose ends are tied for the most part; however, Marie saves the letter from Deborah in her drawer with a lock and key and says to Frank, “You don’t throw something like this away. Ever.” Deborah should have listened to Ray. I mean he is a writer for a living. I should have listened to Ray, so lesson learned, TV sitcom. (Who said TV couldn’t be educational? Actually, I’m pretty sure I said that during my free-love, hippie, no tv, no internet, phase of my life.) Anyway, if you don’t want something to be permanent, and passed around like and STD, then don’t write it. Some people don’t let go of the past; they hold grudges, or bookmark hateful, trolling internet comments, so when they start to like you, they can re-read that chapter in their life just to remember why they hate you. I, myself, have a problem with this, but maybe through writing, I can begin healing. In other words, I gotta get my groove my back. I need to return to writing. I’m losing pieces of myself. Those pieces are gone.  I think the only way I can get it back is through creativity. Create new pieces.  

So, will every blog post/ status update be deep and heartfelt? Hell no. I don't have time. I'm a mom now, but that doesn't mean I have to lose my writing capabilities. I will write what I want. If that bothers anyone, let me direct you to the tiny red 'X' at the upper right hand corner of this window.