cayenne pepper.

I am on a blogging roll today! Two posts down and, I feel like, a million to go. Maybe I need to stop taking so many pictures that I feel obligated to share for Brooks' adult self's sake. I can't help it, though! Big things are happening over here! 

For one, I put together the new babe's rocker for the nursery while John was at work one afternoon last week. To be honest, I was tired of seeing boxes galore cluttering my dining room so I took matters into my own hands. It went from looking like this...

...to this...

Big brother gives it a seal of approval (just don't tell John I could only get 8 screws drilled in halfway. Or maybe I should? Decisions).

We had to take one of our precious kitties, Goose, to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society last Tuesday. Since we moved into Lancaster, he started having major behavioral issues that we weren't able to shake. We searched high and low for a home for him, with no such luck. I am absolutely heartbroken, but thankful that he made it through to the adoption process. So, if you know of anyone needing a sweet kitty to love on, please spread the word.

On Sunday, we took Brooks to the Galleria for his first carousel ride. He loved and hated it all at the same time.

The glorious weather has forced us outside and Brooks to wear his first ever t-shirt. 

Oh my, big boy. He needs to stop growing and being so darn cute. 

I am also 21 weeks preggo today. We had our "big" ultrasound yesterday and the baby is perfectly healthy and growing, weighing 13 ounces and looking like a string bean all stretched out...and still breech. I learned that I have a anterior placenta this go around, so that explains why I haven't felt much movement yet. The kicks and jabs are definitely becoming stronger, though, and I love it! I also learned that there is not one baby, but TWO in there. 

No, not really. April Fools. 

Lastly, my wild man dumped an entire bottle of cayenne pepper out on the floor this morning. 

Life. I love it. 

Therefore, we spent all morning and afternoon outside getting out all of our sillies, which is why I am able to play catch up right now. 

He kills me. HAPPY Tuesday, y'all!

big kitty cat.

Saturday was one of those days that I had several of those wondrous I LOVE MY LIFE! moments. It was perfection from sunrise to sunset. 

On a whim, John and I took Brooks to zoo after his afternoon nap. He hadn't been since he was a bitty babe (of which he slept the entire time), so we decided to give it another go. I mean, he chases our cats around all day, so he has great love for animals, right? Right. 

Little buddy was a bit unsure at first. I think the amount of people overwhelmed him and the big kitty cats were quite different than Coco and Goose. The majority of the time he just stared in awe at all of the animals and creatures...taking it all in (what he does best). 

 

But there were a lot of smiles too, despite the heat! Brooks was a trooper and lasted almost two whole hours.  

After the zoo we drove into Homewood for a late afternoon snack and beverage at Little Donkey, which turned into a delicious dinner. 

...a baby in a visor. It doesn't get much better than that. Thankful for this day!

you've got a friend in me.

...for now.

cool cats.

Brooks is clearly ready for the beach next weekend...

TGIF!

go ahead.

Oh, hey Coco and Goose. Just go ahead and make yourselves comfortable...

Happy Friday.

before thirty.

Week 29 is almost up, so I wanted to do a bumpdate before I hit the big 3-0. Week of pregnancy, that is...not age (phew).

Size of Baby Bryant:

A tad over 15 inches long.

What is Baby Bryant up to this week? 

Muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and our little one’s head is growing bigger and bigger to make room for that developing brain (let’s just pray he doesn’t have his daddy’s noggin). His nutritional demands are increasing and his bones are soaking up lots of calcium.

Movement:

I think he gets more active by the day! I feel his kicks, jabs, and rolls all day long. Also, his little feetsies are positioned under my right rib cage so it prevents me from bending over. It’s quite uncomfortable. A special moment this week was feeling (and seeing) baby boy hiccup for the first time! 

Cravings and aversions:

Orange juice, sweets…nothing new.

Symptoms:

SORE FEET. Ouch. My heels feel bruised, the tops of my toes look bruised. I also developed a minor red rash on my heels. My lower back has been hurting and my hips are aching. Still have indigestion and acne. I've had a few bouts of mild cramping. And lastly, every time I change positions while sleeping I get a painful Charley Horse. 

Mood: 

I go back and forth--I'm happy one day and quite overwhelmed and emotional the next. The smallest things make me happy (like John buying me a new washer and dryer) or make me upset. Overall, I feel very blessed. 

What I am looking forward to?

My baby shower this weekend! I can't wait to see all of my sweet friends and celebrate our bitty boy!

And here is our precious Coco kitty snuggling with Baby Bryant:

        Well, I'd like to think that she was snuggling with the babe. Based on this picture, I actually think that she thinks the bump is somewhat of an inconvenience...

        Happy Hump Day!

when the cat's away.

The ole saying, "when the cat's away, the mice will play" holds true in our household at the moment. I figured that with Goose being gone at the vet for a few days, Coco would be moping around the condo, missing her little bro. Yeah, not so much. Coco is a very laid back kitty. She spends most of her days sleeping—either on the bed, the chair in the living room, or on any blanket that she can find. An exciting day in the life of Coco is sitting on the window sill when the window is cracked open. Hopping from the bed to the sill is usually the most action she gets. She doesn't like "laser-time" or any other heart-pumping game. She tends to sit perched up somewhere and watch. If Coco could speak, she would be saying, "Oh, Goose. You silly child. Do you not know that the red dot is only a light that you will never tangibly catch?! This is why I do not bother. But, I must say...it is quite fun watching you run around in circles until you fall over. Psh."

With Goose gone, Coco is a new woman. She is prancing around the condo, waving her tail from side to side, swirving in between our legs. Yesterday she walked into the living room with a TOY in her mouth. Yes, a toy. Due to her abnormal behavior, I had to catch it on video. This is too funny and far and few between not to share:

And lastly, a picture to share of her strange behavior...

Hiding, Cokie? 

Gotta love her.

I am off tomorrow afternoon to spend a night in Greenville (Alabama, that is) with my girlies. Can't wait! I hope that everyone has a great weekend! Be careful—the weather is looking a little iffy around these parts.

Wow, that sounded red.

XOXO.

declaw.

Poor Goose. I thought that it would be easy to drop him off at the vet this morning for a declaw seeing that I have been begging John to agree with me to do it since the 4th of July TWO (almost 3) YEARS AGO, as well as the fact that he has destroyed our drapes, couch, chairs, bedskirt, duvet, screens, throws, and wood furniture shall I go on?!, but BOY oh boy was I wrong.

Per doctor's orders, we had to keep Goose off of food from 6:00 last night on. This is when he first began to pull my sympathy chord. Feeding Goose human food at dinner has become a bad habit for John. I truly believe that this, along with "laser time," is the highlight of our little white kitty's day. Last night was no exception—as we sat down for dinner and American Idol, Goose laid upside down between John's feet and looked at each of us with those pitiful green eyes. Then the meows began. The nudging. The rubbing. THE HUNGER. I almost contemplated going to bed after dinner to avoid the temptation. What can I say? I'm a pushover. But, I stood my ground and Goose went to bed hungry and woke up hungry.

This morning I woke up early to spend some extra time with Goosie man (a.k.a. attempt to justify for what I was about to put him through). I loved on him, turned the tub faucet on for some water play time, loved on him some more, let him chase around the laser, loved on him some more, let him sniff around the pet carrier, gave him a big whopping kiss, then shoved him on in.

Laser play time.

"You smell familiar."

"VERY familiar."

"But, I'm pretty sure you were a lot bigger when we were first introduced."

"Wait a minute...THE PAW! The last time that I entered this thing, I came back missing a digit on this paw! Oh the horror...and the pain!"

"Mom, I'm not sure what you're planning on doing, but please don't make me go back in there!"

 It wasn't as easy as it sounds.

Goose put up a fight.

I won.

I fell off my high horse as soon as I looked in the carrier at those heart-rending eyes of his.

"I refuse to look at you. You horrible human."

"Must. Use. Head. Strength. Get me out of here!"

To top it off? He didn't make one peep. This is highly unusual for Goosie, as he can't go more than a minute (except for when he is sleeping) without belting out a MEEEow. And he continued to not make a peep from the minute I picked up the carrier to the minute the vet came into the lobby to take him back for surgery prep. How sad is that? I would like to think he was just taking it all in, too amazed to speak, but I think that he was traumatized. Scared.out.of.his.mind. Poor buddy. The last time we took him to the vet, he came back with a cast on his paw, sans digit (not sure what happened. I do know that we ended up with a hospital visit and whopping bill as a result). Oh yeah, he also came back sans man parts. This time? Sans claws. It's no wonder...

"Turn the car around...please, Mom!"

When I got back in my car after leaving the vet, I started bawling. I know he is just a cat, but I feel awful! I will be first in line Sunday to pick him up...and he can expect unlimited treats when he gets home.

Bye bye, front claws.

At least my furniture will be thanking me.

blah.

I have neglected the blog. Oh me. And it's not that I don't have much to say—well, really, I don't have much to say—it's just that life has been a little bit out of control lately. In a good and bad way. Bad for the good. Or maybe not bad at all. Am I confusing you? Let's just say that the path we're on right now isn't that interesting. It's been kinda blah around the Bryant household. Settled, as in the norm, but unsettled. Here we go again, confusion. I'll just leave you with a few pics of my little four-legged bibbies living the life of blah.

Silouette? I shall learn to paint.

Hopefully life will pick up a bit and I'll give you something worth your while to read. As for now, I'm fresh out. TGIF tomorrow!

cat nap.

I love Sundays. Not only is it the day of the week that we get to worship our King, but it is also a day of Sabbath. John and I tend to take full advantage of this day of rest. After our jam-packed Friday and Saturday, today was no exception. Over the weekend the husband and I sorted out our banking, went on a date to celebrate our first three months of marriage, drove around and took pictures of some beautiful homes in Mountain Brook for Francis A. Bryant & Sons' website, grabbed lunch at Gilchrist, went to Best Buy to purchase some new electronics (Christmas came early for the both of us. I welcomed the Nikon SB-900 to my photography family. YAY!), went to the in-laws, ventured to the Summit to buy a couple of  wedding gifts, drove out to Columbiana to celebrate the recent marriage of our friends Aaron and Angela Fant, stopped by Academy for some feed, and dined at DoDiYo's with my best friend Ashley and her husband Conner. Oh yeah, I also went to a Bridal Tea in honor of our friend Taylor's bride-elect, Katie. And I cleaned...but, that is a given.

Right now, the winds are picking up and the sky is getting dark. I think we're in for a bit of a blow. {Insert nap}.

While we are on the subject of naps, I wanted to share a few photos of my children, Coco (a.k.a "Miss Mo," "Mokie," "Cokio") and Goose (a.k.a "Goosie Man," "Mr. Goose," "Blanco Kitty"). I am almost positive that they sleep 95% of the day. Here are a few things that they like to do the other 5%...

Goose loves to lounge on the cool hardwoods. Hence, why I vacuum twice a day. 

Goose also loves bath time. He actually follows me into the bathroom, hops up onto the edge of the tub and cries (meows) until I turn the water on. 

Coco wants in on the action. 

Coco's turn. 

Goose couldn't stand sitting on the sidelines so joined back in. It's rare to see these two share. This was an "aww" moment for me. Usually they are chasing each other around the condo and hairballs are flying.  

I didn't know cats liked eggs. Goose will eat pretty much anything. Maybe it's the curiousity of the cat? I hope it doesn't kill him. Curiousity, that is. Well, eggs too for that matter. 

Coco loves the windowsill. Unfortunately, she doesn't like to share it so Goose has to resort to using other means. 

Ah, yes. She likes this spot because she can watch the birds walk around outside. 

Gotta hate temptation.  

Goose is our feisty kitty and loves play time with daddy. 

He is also a black belt in karate. 

Wait for it...

Another melt-my-heart moment. It's rare to see these two get cozy.   

Those that lay together, stay together.

I hope that everyone had a great weekend and was able to find time at some point to get a little cat nap in. If you didn't, Coco and Goose did for you...