Check-In on Shelby

Shelby is 18-months as of today.

It's amazing just how much she has grown.

This time last year she was just 6-months old and not even crawling.

Now girlfriend is all about trying to walk up the stairs by herself, walk the dog by herself and imitate everything that we do.

She's also getting better at talking.

 

It's super cute but at times challenging because if she doesn't get her way on things she falls flat on the ground(wherever she is) and throws a tantrum.

 It's nothing major, it's basically fall to the ground and lay there.

It's just not great when it's in the middle of the street.

LOL!

 

I've mentioned several times on here in the last few months about the challenges we are having with Shelby's hitting and biting.

Well, I'm happy to say it's curtailed quite a bit.

I'm not saying she doesn't still do it, because she does.

It's just NOT as frequent.

We're getting fewer and fewer incident reports when we pick her up from school.

Funny to say, more of the incident reports we have been receiving have been about HER getting bite!

 

You have to laugh.

I guess?

 

As for the hitting, she still has her moments but it's definitely not as bad as it was a few weeks ago.

I was starting to get really frustrated.

So, what do I think has helped?

I'm not sure but I know one thing, Brad and I both being on the same page and consistent with our reprimands has to be helping.

Basically time-outs.

As I've said before, we're just trying to do the right thing and raise little Shelbs to be a sweet, loving, gentle soul.

Here's to hoping we're doing it all right!

Last of the Holiday Pictures and Happenings

In between Christmas and New Year's we still kept the holiday spirit going.

December 29th we were invited to a friend's annual 'Holiday Halftime Party'.

It fell on a Sunday evening and Brad had to work the next day.

I had a sitter booked and everything but he just wasn't into going and making a night of it.

So, I went alone.

It's a lot of media people and city leaders so I really enjoy it.

It reconnects me with all the people from my days in news.

Lynn is a long time friend of mine from my days at Fox Charlotte.

She use to be the Mayor Pro Tem here in Charlotte and we use to have her on the air all the time.

This year she had electrical issues the day before the party and her tree lights wouldn't work.

No electrician was available to help out intime.

Still pretty if you ask me.

Everything was gorgeous as usual.

She had a local restaurant cater it and I was in heaven with all the yummy food.

Even soft pretzels!

The craziest story out of the party?

Lynn said at the end a woman, who is pretty high up politically here in town, actually helped herself to the leftovers and had the staff box them up for her so she could take them home for her party the next day.

Who does that???????

I was floored.

Tacky.Rude.All of the Above.

When I worked at Fox Charlotte, American Idol was still in its baby stage.

We had a contest on my show(I was the producer NOT the host), the EDGE where we sent a viewer to Hollywood to be on the red carpet.

Well, low and behold, this was the winner some 9-years ago.

It had been a long time since I had seen her.

Charlotte Observer peeps Mark Washburn and Tonya Jameson with Lynn.

Me and Mark.

He's the media columnist.

And, the current Mayor of Charlotte.

He flew in from the Panthers game in Atlanta, where we beat the Falcons, and came straight to the party.

I chatted with him about how exciting sports are in Charlotte right now.

The Bobcats will soon be the Hornets again, the Panthers are in the playoffs and the Knights will soon be playing Uptown!!!
He is stoked to say the least.

The next day I was still off work and decided to bring Shelby Uptown to see the Bearstein Bears Orchestra before they packed up for the season.
(plus Brad was working so it gave us a chance to lunch with him and her to meet all my co-workers)

These bears are always a huge hit here in Charlotte.

We tried getting up here earlier in the holiday season but it never worked out.

Can you believe we saw the last show before they went on hiatus until next December?

Great timing.

She wasn't as interested as I would have thought.

She was more interested in walking and running around the display than anything.

Check out the video.

I plan on tearing down Christmas tomorrow.

Wish me luck! 

Brad might blow a gasket with everything we have to store in the attic this year!! 

Just Smile

As we enter this Thanksgiving holiday weekend it's nice to reflect back and think of all the things each and every one of us is thankful for.

 

Mine is my faith, health and perfect little family.

 

Shelby is the best thing to ever happen to us.

We are complete.

Even when others may try and break us down with hurtful words, it's this little girl that keeps us looking forward.

 

Just look at the evolution of her smile.

 Can it get any cuter?

Here's to a safe and happy holiday to all of you!

Shelby Lately

Shelby will be 11-months next week and boy is she becoming a toddler more and more everyday!!

She's truly a hoot!

One of the new things she's learned to do?

Take off her clothes!

OH NO!

My Mom stayed with her one day in the past week and caught her doing it on camera.

She has a video that I need to get saved to YouTube, but for now just the pictures.

She started by pulling one arm out then the rest over her head!

Umm.. She'll be in onesies going to school for a while!

Look how proud?

She looks just like Brad here.

That's so his smile!

She's not quite walking yet but getting close.

Here's a video we caught over the weekend.

Yes, I call Buddy, the 'pooch'.

It was over the weekend that she started getting sick too.

She was actually sick coming back from Baton Rouge(she lost her voice), my Mom stayed home with her a day but then we thought she was fine.

Well, guess not.

She threw up on me Saturday night, had a fever on Sunday and just overall wanted to sleep all weekend.

Other than that she was is great spirits as you can see above.

On Monday the school called me mid-day to say that even though she didn't have fever it appeared she had come down with the Hand, Mouth and Foot virus.

UGH!!

Sure enough.

Tiny blisters on her hands and feet and I think a couple of her tongue but it's hard to tell.

So, she's been home since Monday.

I took half of Monday off and went and got her, Brad stayed home yesterday and today I decided to keep her home just one more day to let her rest and try and kick it for good.

She's been pretty good today except still wanting to sleep non-stop.

9:50am to 12:15pm this morning and she's been snoozing since 3pm. 

I'm assuming she'll sleep until 4:30pm.

Before all of that, this morning we went out for a stroll to enjoy the sunshine.

Today was also our maid cleaning day, so when she woke up I got her dressed and we ran a few errands and visited Toys and Company in Cotswold for the first time.

She was in love with this grocery cart!

Too bad it's $60!

I'm on a mission to find a used one!

Her first stop was the dolls!

I plan to get her a baby for her 1st birthday(more on that tomorrow), but I'm not sure which one yet.

Some of these are super expensive!

She was quite the shopper.

 But, we left empty-handed because I figure we're so close to her birthday and Christmas that we have to save a few things for both big events.

So, Shelby is progressing pretty well.

But, she is already testing us on some things and Brad and I are luckily on the same page about that!!

Trick or Treating on LSU Sorority Row

Since it is Halloween Eve I decided to post about LSU Homecoming and my sorority reunion later this week and move straight to one of the highlights of the weekend in Baton Rouge.

Trick or Treating on LSU Sorority Row.

It was Sunday after Homecoming and the fraternities and sororities at LSU always deck out for the game so I guess it makes sense to host a trick or treat event.

It was 3pm to 5pm, but beforehand my best friend's sister Rachel hosted a group of friends and their kids at her Bleaux Blow Dry Bar near campus.

Food and wine for the moms and treats for the kiddos.

 Crafts too.

They have a playroom at the salon/dry bar.

Shelby spent 2 days in a row there and loved being with all the other kids.

Check this out!

 Tons of fun stuff for the kids!

 I waited to change Shelby into her costume until right before we left.

 Then it was ON!!!

Sorority Row at Louisiana State University at its FINEST!

Every sorority 'pomps' decorations for the Homecoming Contest.

 It was light rain but it didn't seem to bother anyone.

Especially not us! 

My Mom and brother joined in on the fun!

I'm sooo glad they did! 

I think they had as much as me and Shelbs did!

A little girl only 3-weeks older than Shelby.

Incredible.

She was pushing this cart everywhere!

 A spaghetti and meatballs.

 Then Shelby the crawfish!

This was in front of my sorority house.

Delta Gamma.

They even had a jump house for all the kids!

 The decorations all along the row were pretty amazing!

 

Shelby's first time trick or treating.

So fun and special!!!

I really wish Brad had been there.

He would have loved it!

 My best friend and her girls and a friend and her girls in front of the DG house.

 I ran into so many people from college it wasn't even funny.

My best friend said I would.

This is Christine, a sorority sister I haven't seen since we were in a wedding 10-years ago together.

 Ironically, Claire was in that same wedding!

 And, then we saw a few other crawfish costumes.

I don't know these people at all but thought it was funny.

Her son is 6-days older than Shelby.

BTW.. Shelby had her first Tootsie Roll Pop and literally went BONKERS!!

 It started raining more and we decided to head back to the DG House to take cover.

My brother was running with the stroller and Shelby was literally hanging out waving to people!

SUGAR HIGH!!!

 Back at the DG House we checked out some old composites.

 Then got changed.

She was a TOTAL riot!!

All the members in there were laughing their butts off!

Such fun and I really believe I'm going to make Homecoming an annual trip for me!!!

Especially if the trick or treating is involved!

After trick or treating I went to dinner with my best friend, her sister and their girls.

They continued to be enamored with Shelbs and even won her a stuffed animal in the arcade.

Best trip in a LONG time!

I seriously can't wait to go back!!!

Happy Halloween!!!