Just feeling the need to take advantage of naptime...

Not a whole lot to report on the Sam-front. His two little teeth are growing more everyday...It's weird to think that my child has teeth. For such a long time he just looked like a little old man without dentures. He has also discovered how to click his tongue on the roof of his mouth, and he's quite pleased with himself. He loves it when you click back. Eventually, I'm going to catch all of this action on film, but for right now I'm just posting a quick pic. (Read--I'm satisfying the grandparents.)





Sam loves to be up high. He also loves our cat and dog; maybe he will be a mountain-climbing veterinarian. Is there a need for such an occupation?

For those of you who don't like people who jump to Christmas rather than enjoy Thanksgiving, be warned. I'm about to get festive with my blog, and it's not going to be with turkeys. I am a self-professed Christmas junkie. I never fill out these little questionnaires, but it's about Christmas, so I'm indulging. Sue me.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags are infinitely easier, but I love to wrap. If I wrap as I buy, it's usually not a problem. I not only wrap all of our gifts at my household, but I also "get to wrap" all of my father's gifts for my mother. He likes to act as if it's some privilege, but we all know it's because he can't/won't do it himself. Oh, the joys of being the only girl in the family.

2. Real tree or artificial? REAL! Anthony and buy it the day we get back from Thanksgiving holidays. I love to have all of my other decorations up a few days before Thanksgiving, and I save the tree for last. I can't wait to see how Sam likes the lights.

3. When do you put up the tree? See above.

4. When do you take the tree down? Hmmm...there's no set day. A couple of days after Christmas?

5. Do you like eggnog? I had honestly never had it until a few years ago, but Anthony's mom makes homemade eggnog, and it's really good. I think her mother used to do it, so Mary Pryor continues the tradition.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Long story--brace yourself. When I was in the 2nd grade, I wanted a trampoline. In all the excitement Christmas morning, I completely forgot that it was one of my biggest requests. My parents pointed out that Santa had left me a note on the front door. The note had a little poem on it, and the poem directed me and my little brother to follow the yarn that was attached to the note. The yarn looped all around the front of the house and then led to the backyard. Of course, it was attached to the trampoline. I was beyond thrilled. Years later, I found out that my parents had to keep the trampoline at our neighbors' house down the road, and my oldest brother, Brent, and my dad had to walk it down Christmas Eve after Blake and I had gone to bed. I'm sure Brent was thrilled. What high school junior wouldn't be?

I think the neatest part of the trampoline experience was that Santa had taken the time to write me a personal note.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Anthony. He never really wants or needs anything, and I just never feel that I can find the "right" gift. If I could actually deliver his fantasy gift, it would be a national championship for the Bulldogs before we're too old to care. That's one tall order.

A boy can dream.

8. Easiest person to buy for? My mom...She never buys for herself, so it's easy to find stuff that she would never buy on her own. (Her unselfishness wasn't passed to me; I have no problem buying for myself.)

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, we have two. One of them is a very nice one that we put out on a sofa table. The other is a child's nativity set. Funny story about that one--Mary Pryor gave it to us last year when I was pregnant. She then admitted that she had bought it before we were even married.

10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift? I don't think I've gotten one...

12. Favorite Christmas movie? Charlie Brown's Christmas. I have the soundtrack, and it's my favorite. Also, my dog's name is Linus, and my cat's name is Lucy...Understand?

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I'll buy a few things before Dec., but I love to powershop in the middle of the chaos. My mom and I used to go to Memphis on Christmas Eve to finish up shopping. You wouldn't believe the deals you can get.

14. Have you ever recycled a present? I don't think so. Is that considered "green"?

15. Lights on the tree? Oh, yes! We do white lights, but when I was little, we had those super-cool, old-school colored ones. You know, the ones with the big bulbs.

16. Favorite Christmas songs?
Religious--"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "O Holy Night," and "O Come All Ye Faithful."
Secular--It's a tie--Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" and Judy Garland's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Ooooo, and John Lennon's "So This is Christmas."

17. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes, but I'll spare you.

18. Travel or stay home? We are all over the state of Mississippi. I think we'll be home most of the time this year, though.

19. Angel or star on the treetop? Star. I don't think I've ever had an angel on top.

20. Open presents on Christmas Eve or Day? Both. We open one Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas Day.

21. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Fudge and trash. It's great for the diet.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Having to run around so much that you don't get to really enjoy the time with your family and friends.

23. Favorite ornament or theme? No theme. I love our honeymoon car ornament, and I just bought Sam's first Christmas ornament.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? We always do Christmas lunch, so dinner is all the yummy leftovers.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I'm still working on that. I should probably hurry, though.