Sunshine and Holly

Rhea Lana’s Children’s Consignment Sales

By sunshineandholly on June 24, 2013

I LOVE shopping for clothes for Graham. Like I mentioned in this post, we were blessed with so many hand-me-downs from friends that I really haven’t had much of an opportunity to buy clothes that I’ve picked out myself. And on the rare occasions that I do buy something, I’m always shocked at how those seemingly affordable baby clothes add up. Especially when I think about how fast Graham grows out of his clothes.

This past spring, I heard about Rhea Lana’s Children Consignment sales and decided to check one out. I got the CUTEST outfits for Graham – and I save mega bucks shopping consignment. The clothes there look brand new and they have the brands that I like to buy.

The fall sale is scheduled for July 21st – 25th and I can’t wait! Not only do they have great clothes at Rhea Lana, but they also have TONS of toys and other baby items at a steal. The hubby and I love to take Graham to Toys-R-Us and pick out all the things we’d like to buy him. But we always leave empty handed because I know I can get the toys much cheaper at a consignment sale.

Rhea Lana has sales all over the country. Check them out!

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Afternoon Storms

By sunshineandholly on June 20, 2013

Here in Georgia, it’s common for us to get a quick thunderstorm in the afternoon during the summer. They’re always a welcomed relief from the sticky-hot weather.

First the sun will disappear behind a cloud and the sky quickly gets dark. A light breeze comes through, smelling of sweet magnolia and cool rain. You can hear the rain falling before you see it. Sometimes it comes in so fast-like a sheet being pulled over the sky. It cools the air and your skin. Watching the gray rain coming down against the green of the trees and grass is so calming to the soul. Then it’s gone, as quickly as it came. The rain stops. The soaked trees drip slower and slower. The sound of thunder fades away. The sun bursts out from behind a cloud and heats up the ground so fast, you’ll see the steam rising up from it.

I’ve always loved these storms. When I worked summers outside at Stone Mountain’s Historic Square, I would pray for an afternoon storm. (And a break from the constant flow of people.) I often got caught in the rain in different spots around the attraction. I’d duck under a porch, watch the rain and wait it out.

I really missed seeing the storm roll in during the years I worked in a corporate setting. But even though I was inside, I still felt different during an afternoon storm. The windows would grow dark and it seemed like everyone in the office would slow down just a bit.

Now that I’m home with Graham, I get to watch the afternoon storms again. Graham naps and I sit by the big front window and sip on a cup of coffee. We’ve got tall, green magnolia trees with big white blooms and bright blue hydrangeas in the yard-it’s such a gorgeous sight to watch them sway as the storm comes in and drip as the storm blows out.

Love those rainy Georgia afternoons.

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babies | baby | dogs | family | Uncategorized

Graham is 8 months!

By sunshineandholly on June 10, 2013

Baby Graham,

Here we are at 8 months! You are an absolute doll. You get cuter and cuter every day!

We’ve had a bit of a set back in the sleeping department, but in all you are still a very easy baby. I think our sleeping issues have to do with teething and separation anxiety. You’ve been working on your top two teeth this month and they really must be bothering you. Poor guy. I didn’t even know you were teething with your first two teeth, but the top ones must hurt more. You’ve been waking up 2-6 times a night crying. Luckily, all we have to do is go in your room and stick the pacifier in your mouth and you go back to sleep right away. Bedtime and naps are a different story. You WILL NOT NAP nowadays. I have to lay down with you in the bed and 30 minutes later you’ll FINALLY fall asleep. Usually I end up taking a nap too since I’m laying there so long. Daddy rocks you to sleep at night and it takes just as long. We miss the days when we just laid you down, kissed you goodnight and you put yourself to sleep. But I do love all the snuggling so I won’t complain too much.

Your biggest accomplishment this month – scooting! You can scoot backwards and around in a circle, but not forwards…and not towards whatever it is your trying to reach. Which can make for a very frustrated, fussy baby some days. We need to start baby-proofing the house because you’re never in the same spot if I set you down for a while and come back.

You also said a few more words this month – “shhh” and “tickle.” Tickle sounds more like “ter-ker” but it’s close enough! One time, you were holding your sock monkey toy and saying “Ter-ker, ter-ker, ter-ker.” You were tickling him! So cute.

You’ve been taking baths in the tub like a big boy. You love playing and splashing!

You’re still loving Lacey and Jack. You laugh and giggle at them all day. Lacey even lets you pet her and poke at her eyes. She loves you! You’ve also been barking a lot. (It sounds like a loud, high pitched quick scream.) Wonder who taught you how to do that?

You went to your first Braves game this month! (And they won!) You were pretty good for most of the game. We kept you out past your bedtime though and you let us know that that wasn’t a good idea…

Peepaw took you on his 4-wheeler for the first time. I’m sure you’ll give me a heart attack riding on this one day!

Graham, you are such a joy to me. I can’t wait to see what the next month brings!

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babies | baby | family | summer | Uncategorized

Water Baby

By sunshineandholly on June 2, 2013

Graham and I have been taking a mommy and baby water aerobics class once a week called H2Oh Baby! It’s through Oh Baby Fitness. Graham has been loving the water and I’m loving the exercise and the chance to get out of the house and talk to other young moms in my area.

My happy baby after class.

We also took Graham to my parent’s pool over Memorial Day weekend. It was pretty cold, so Graham didn’t enjoy it as much as he enjoys the water aerobics in the indoor heated pool.

Grandpa’s behind us walking away with a dirty diaper. That’s what Grandpas are for, right?

Looking cute in his hat and bathing suit!

Splashin!

Nap time by the pool! It’s a hard life.

Look at that face!

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Pigeon Forge – A Family Friendly Destination

By sunshineandholly on May 20, 2013

A couple of weekends ago we went up to Pigeon Forge for a little family getaway. We’ve been up there a few times, but this was the first time with Graham. He was awesome the entire trip!

Pigeon Forge – A Family Friendly Destination

We headed up Thursday evening after Josh got off work. Our first stop – Cracker Barrel! I had the grilled chicken tenderloins with mac and cheese and carrots. Graham had some applesauce.

Graham had to try on these cowboy boots we found in the store. He’s a country boy!

We usually stay at the Hampton Inn in Pigeon Forge. We checked in super late. Graham had fallen asleep in the car but luckily went back to bed pretty easily.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not

Friday we woke up to rain. After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we headed into Gatlinburg to see what we could find to do that was inside since it was still pouring rain. We decided to check out the Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum. It was actually really interesting!

Graham got his picture with the creepy two-headed cow.

Then we took a pic with Robert Wadlow – the tallest recorded man that ever lived. (Crazy coincidence – I checked out “The Girl Who Chased the Moon” from the library the week before we went to Pigeon Forge. It had a character that was based on Robert Wadlow. The author even dedicated the book to him! It was a pretty good book and it was so weird that I’d never heard of Robert Wadlow before this.)

Fun Around Gatlinburg

We ducked into a Dunkin’ Donuts to feed Graham, and when I finished the rain had slowed down. By this time we were starving so we grabbed some lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Tasty! After that, the rain had stopped completely! We walked around Gatlinburg for a while and ended up at the Ole Smoky Moonshine brewery.

Huge barrel of moonshine a’ brewin’.

There was a bar area where you could try all of the different flavors. (There were 12 in all!) I felt a little wrong having my baby in a bar. I felt even MORE wrong having my baby in a bar while my husband and I did shots of moonshine! Lol! Graham was actually taking a nap in the stroller while we were doing the tasting. A few random guys saw him passed out and started chuckling. Josh said to them, “Yeah, he already did the tasting – he couldn’t handle it.” Ha!

All of the flavors were super yummy! Blackberry, grape, lemon drop, blueberry, pink lemonade, strawberry. Mmmm! We ended up buying a jar of peach and apple pie. Those were the best! I skipped out on tasting the “original” and the “white lightin” flavors – those were the two most…potent. I figure one of us needed to be able to drive!

Dixie Stampede

After that, we went back to the hotel and rested for a bit. Then it was off to the Dixie Stampede! I’ve been before and I LOVE it. Since I know I can’t do it justice by explaining what it is, click here to Wikipedia it. (Scroll down to the “show” section.) I know it sounds a little cheesy, but it’s so much fun!

Dollywood

The next morning was the highlight of the trip and the main reason we go to Pigeon Forge – Dollywood!!! Dollywood really is one of the most fun theme parks. They’ve got award-winning roller coasters and shows, delicious food, and tons of stuff for families to enjoy. Still skeptical? Dollywood won the Applause Award in 2010 – the most prestigious award in the theme park industry. You should go!

Graham loved it!

Looking so cool in his shades!

Family pic time!

I’m such a sucker for these photo ops.

Indiana Graham. 🙂

Playing on the playground!

Riding the carousel.

Right before we rode the train. Such cute boys!

Goats on the Roof

On Sunday, we headed home. On the way, to top off our country-fied vacation, we decided to stop at a little place called “Goats on the Roof.” Which is a store and restaurant with…you guessed it! Goats on the roof!

“Ok mom, I’m over these goats on the roof.”

Our trip was so much fun! I can’t wait for Graham to get a little older so we can take him again. Our next trip is coming up in July – Tybee Island with both sets of Graham’s grandparents. (So they can babysit while Josh and I have some fun in Savannah.) Can’t wait!

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Pigeon Forge – A Family Friendly Destination

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