A great offer!

Ok, I really am going to get caught up on Christmas posts soon!!!! Til then, I just have to share this great offer the photographer we use is doing this month. A lot of you asked about our Christmas cards this year. Well, Amy Johnson Photography is who we use, and she is great! If you are in the Jackson area, check this out!

We got burglarized. . .

not robbed!!!!! Thanks Mike for the clarification. Russ is gone this week working, so Pepper and I have been at my parents for the weekend getting ready for Christmas there with the Fewell's. Pepper was supposed to have speech therapy on Tuesday afternoon (I say supposed to, because apparently I am pregnant and crazy and got the days mixed up), so Gran T headed up to Jackson with us. We were also getting my Fewell Christmas gifts and some more clothes.

As I was packing up, I noticed my drawer with my unmentionables was much more messy than usual but didn't think much of it. Thought maybe Pepper had been playing in the drawers or something. I went to get some jewelry out of my jewelry box on my dresser, which I keep old stuff in. I moved the things that were piled on top of the jewelry box, opened it and just stopped!!!!! It was completely empty!!!!!! I just stood there for a minute, then thought about the underwear drawer and it hit me, WE HAVE BEEN BURGLARIZED!!!!!!!!! I quickly mumbled something to mom and immediately checked the back door, UNLOCKED! We NEVER leave our doors unlocked. I ran across the street to my wonderful neighbors, Bridgette called the Sheriff's department for me and John calmly walked back to the house with me. So, I of course start looking around to try to see what else he took. That jewelry box on my dresser is where I keep old jewelry I really do not wear. I keep the stuff I wear a lot somewhere else, and he didn't see all that stuff. This was a relief because he didn't get the things that mean the most to me! Then I remembered, Russ had taken off his wedding band, set it on the dresser next to the bed and asked me to take it to the jeweler to have the diamonds tightened. It was gone!!!!!! This has completely crushed us both!!!!!!!!! I had that band made for Russ when we got married. The diamonds were from the ring he gave me when he got deployed right after we met. Of course, it is not replaceable, so we have to just let it go.

So, long story short, he got some jewelry and a gun, came in the unlocked back door (which I guess we left unlocked for the first time EVER) and was extremely careful not to make a mess. The Sheriff's deputy said they caught the guy that morning jumping fences in the neighborhood, and he didn't have any jewelry on him. They brought the dogs out and were searching the woods behind our house thinking maybe they could find where he stashed the stuff to come back later. We are holding out hope! He probably hit some other houses too, the people are just out of town for the holidays or haven't realized they were hit yet, as he was so careful. I mean, he even put the stuff that was piled on top of my jewelry box back on it!!!!! I probably wouldn't have noticed unless I was packing up some clothes!

We are so thankful Pepper and I are safe, the house was not wrecked and they caught the guy! You gotta wonder if he needed money to buy his kids Christmas gifts or was just using the fact that people are out of town for the holidays to do what he does more. I like to think the former but who knows!!!!! We fo sho will not leave our doors unlocked again and will be getting a small safe to keep some stuff in. Russ, of course, wants to get an alarm system, ha!

HaPpY hOlIdAyS

Happy 2nd Birthday Pepper!!!!!

We love you so much!!!!! You have been our little angel fairy for 2 years now. Man, it has flown by!

Anyone that is around Pepper for any length of time knows what a joyful child she is. Pepper has more of her father's facial features (those Newman cheeks) but most definitely gets her facial expressions from moi. She will let you know very quickly if she disagrees or is confused by giving you the "stank eye" (see below picture of being sung Happy Birthday to). She will eat basically anything put in front of her, hardly ever turns food away, and drinks her milk like a champ. Everyone knows she wears a bow every day and seriously realizes when she does not have one on her head and asks for one most days. She is not potty trained but will go on the potty whenever put there. Pepper loves to play with her baby dolls, musical instruments and puzzles. She is beginning to also play with her teddy bear like a baby doll and loves to read books. Most people know we have been in speech therapy for almost a year now, and it is really helping a lot. She actually calls us Mama and Daddy now (she also calls Gran T Mama most of the time too) and mimics a lot of words too. Her favorite things to watch are Backyardigans, The Little Mermaid, Lady and the Tramp, Finding Nemo and Tinkerbell. She sleeps like a champ at night and pretty much always has. Up until about a month or so ago, she slept great during the day too. Now, she is up after 45 minutes at naptime sometimes, which I DO NOT think is a long enough nap. Pepper LOVES to be in the country at Gran T and Papa's house and usually can be found either riding around on the golf cart or taking a "nature hike." She sings a lot lately too! Russ and I both swear should could end up being a wonderful musician and will get her some kind of musical instrument lessons as soon as she is old enough. Though, I am still holding out hope she will be a ballerina!!!!! Surely, she can do both. We think she is going to be a great big sister and cannot wait til she sees the baby that is in Mama's belly. She tells people that Mama ate the baby, such innocent ideas!

I realize this post is kinda all over the place but just randomly thinking of things Pepper likes and dislikes, although there is not much she does not like. She is just such an easy going child.

she still looks exactly like this when she screams, ha


1st birthday


2nd birthday


"stank eye"

Pepper's 2nd Birthday party!!!!

Pepper had a fairy birthday party this weekend. We got up and she opened her presents and then had some family and friends over for cupcakes later that morning. We sang Happy Birthday (for the first time ever!), and she looked at us like we were crazy. Thank you to all that made it to her party. Also, thanks to all that brought toys for Toys For Tots. We told everyone that if they wanted, instead of gifts for Pepper, they could bring a toy to donate. We plan to take them tomorrow to let Pepper donate the whole box of toys we got at the party. It is awesome! What a great lesson to teach your children at such a young age, of charity and giving, at a time of the year when we have so much!!!!

Pepper got lots of books for her birthday and a Tinkerbell Christmas ornament


She also got a cradle for her baby doll


not wanting to take a picture in her birthday dress


being sung Happy Birthday to for the first time!!!


"Why are all these people singing to me?!"


Daddy trying to show her how to blow out her candles


YUM



Zoe came to the party! They always have so much fun playing together


My best friend, Lisa, made this tutu for Pepper!!!!! I guess she is turning into Martha Stewart

The best $10 ever spent!

Gran T and Papa got Pepper this play house at the Osh Kosh outlet for $10. I think that is a steal!!!! She can color on it, take her baby dolls in it, put mail through the mail slot. How cool is this?!

The End of SnOw DaY

These were taken about 4:30 on our wonderfully fun snow day. It stopped snowing about noon but none of it melted. When Daddy got home, we went back out again for a while. Pepper really enjoyed walking around in it and making footprints. She also liked the way it sounded. The last picture is of Pepper just relaxing on the sofa watching movies. That is what we did most of the day!

our house at the end of the day


having some fun


watching her feet disappear

Snow at 10 am!!!!!

This is what we have just an hour later!!!! And it doesn't seem to be letting up any time soon. I will keep posting more pics as the snow accumulates

Yes, I still have the pumpkins out, ha


our little snowman


our house at 10 am






the woods behind our house again

Snow as of 9 am

Here is what we have as of 9 am!!!!!! It is supposed to continue to snow until lunch. So, I will post more pictures after that. Pepper and I have been out playing in it a few times. We keep coming in to warm up and out we go again. I am hoping we will get enough on the ground to make a little snowman and snow angels. We shall see!!!!! So FuN!!!!!!

not too sure about the snow


our house, right after started snowing


ok, maybe this isn't too bad


look at that snow!


our house at about 8:30 or 9


playing at the neighbors house


the woods behind our house

Baby update

We went to the doctor Monday and got the official good news. I am 6 weeks pregnant! We heard the heartbeat and everything seems good so far. Due date set at July 25 right now. Dr. Wiggs did say since I will have a scheduled c section, he will probably deliver a week early, woo hoo!!!!!

Also, many of you have asked how I am feeling. I feel really good, as long as I am eating all day, ha! I promised myself I would not gain as much weight as I did last time. I am going to the gym almost every day still and also still training to do the half marathon in February. I can eat as much as I want then, right?! Anyway, thanks for the concern everyone. We are so blessed to have such supportive family and friends!!!!!

Thanksgiving fun

Russ and I wanted to take Pepper to see the lights at Celebration in the Oaks over Thanksgiving weekend. The night we wanted to go it was raining pretty bad down there, so we decided to go over to Mobile and check out Bellingrath Gardens. It was very nice, even though it was sprinkling a bit. We did most of the walking tour of the gardens (all lit up!) and even took a tour of the Bellingrath House. It was a nice quick evening outing to Mobile. We ended the night with a visit to see Santa there at the Gardens. Pepper did soooo much better this year!!!!! She wanted to cry but held it together like a real trooper. Why do we torture our kids this way?

I was tagged!

I have seen this on other blogs but this is the first time I have been tagged. Ok, so here goes!

Thanks Heather for tagging me. You have to list 7 random facts about yourself and then tag 7 other people. If you are tagged, play along and pass it on.

1. I kinda have a photographic memory. When I need to recall something, I always think about the way it looked, even if it was a list of something on a piece of paper. I am visualizing the piece of paper in my head.
2. I am a HUGE Britney Spears fan, corny but I love her!
3. My middle name is Faith, after my Mom's best friend, Faithy, growing up.
4. I am a list maker and even better than making the list is marking something off the list once it is done.
5. I really enjoy filling out forms. It is something about filling in the empty places on a form, who knows?!
6. I do watch reality tv a lot and still watch the Bachelor series religiously!
7. I do not like seeing blood or gross things, and when I do my feet hurt.

Now I tag. . . Brittany, Jennifer, Stephanie, Shanna, Destiny, Carol, and Martha

BOOKAAAAHHH!!!!!

The following is a post from Russ, we LOVE to hear his point of view!



It is not simply what she says it is the way in which she says it. Like Book but high pitched and add an AHHH too it!!

My daughter is prob one of the funniest little girls I know! Well it is easy to say that because one, I only know a few little girls and two, she is MY daughter. Pepper is growing at an alarming rate! Every time I come home from work she is doing something new or saying something new but best of all she LOVES her DADDY!!!!

OK, I realize that I rarely update this blog but if you read it then you know me well enough to know that I procrastinate everything. I returned from Kosovo on the 4th of July. Since then I started flying S-76's for an off shore helicopter company called Petroleum Helicopters Inc. I absolutely LOVE my job!! I don't like being away from Anna and Pepper for a week at a time, but you cant beat the week off either. Plus I am getting paid a years worth of salary for only six months of work!! Anna and I recently found out we are expecting our 2nd child around July time frame and are super excited about it!!! We can't wait to have another addition to the family!!! I would like to thank all of you who called and wrote while I was over seas, it meant a lot and I appreciate it. Life has been good since I have returned and only getting better. Till next time,
Russ

Flashback Friday

Here is the first time I caught Pepper's smile in a picture. Yes, that is Pepper. Doesn't even look like the same child!!!!! She looked like a boy with some wild hair, poor thing. And we thought she was sooo cute, ha!!!!!

An Awesome Giveaway!!!!!!

My friend Destiny is extremely creative and talented and is doing another giveaway on her business blog, Little Lambs and Lilies. Go check it out!!!!!!! All you have to do is comment on the giveaway post about what you are looking forward to this Christmas. That canvas is soooo cute!!!!!! Check out her website too, she can match any bedding or even do a custom piece for you.

Just call us the Newman Four

Just in case you cannot read the following picture, Pepper is gonna be a big sister!!!!!!!!! It is still early, so I should be due some time in July. Russ and I are very pumped about having another baby and will keep you updated.

Russ didn't get home from work until after we left for San Antonio on Thursday, so I had Pepper surprise him with a picture, ha.

THE race

So, we are home from the Rock & Roll Half Marathon in San Antonio. We had such a good time!!!!! This pictures may not show our enthusiasm, but we did have a lot. I will try to get some more pictures from Lori. It ended up being sooo cold that morning, so we went and got tights to wear. They were definitely worth it, thanks Jeff for the good advice. We warmed up quickly and had so much fun! Lori, Rita and I ran together and felt really good about how we did. We like to call ourselves BADASS now!!!!!!! It wasn't until mile 10 that my knees really started giving my trouble, but we soldiered through it. I ended up finished in 2 hours and 55 minutes and averaged a 13 minute mile. When I trained on the treadmill, I was doing a 12 minute mile. I really expected to finish with like a 15 minute mile, but I guess we weren't going as slow as we thought we were. It was an amazing experience!!!!!!! Rita and I are already planning to do the half in New Orleans in February and anyone that wants can join us. Thank you to everyone that sent us positive thoughts that day. We really appreciate everyone that supported us!!!!!!

just after 5am, about to leave the hotel


trying to get a shot of the mass of runners waiting to get on the buses to go to start line


Lori, Jeff and Rita waiting in line for the bus, it was COLD


Rita after the race

San Antonio

Pepper and her cousin Landon are only 2 weeks apart in age, so we were anxious to get them together again. They played very sweet together. He is a real cutie, just getting more handsome by the day!!!!

she was waiting on Landon to wake up from nap!!!!


I really do not remember what they are doing here


Playing sweet

Just a big girl on a rainy day

Pepper has had this raincoat for over a year. It was finally rainy on a Mother's Morning Out day!!!! She looks so "big girl."

4th and 4th Game

I got this idea from a friend's blog. Thought it was cute! Go to your photos (Picasa, whatever), go to the 4th folder and the 4th picture in that folder, then give a little background on it.

This is while I was pregnant with Pepper, obviously! I was home for my Picayune baby shower, but my parents were still living in the RV from Katrina (kinda explains the horrendous background). I was getting dressed to go to the shower and my brother was home also. He had not seen me in a while and had definitely not seen me FAT!!!!!!! He was cracking up at my ass and belly and taking pics to embarrass me later. I was definitely "healthy!"

Wish us luck!!!!!!

On Friday, Pepper and I are headed to San Antonio with Gran T, Mawmaw (Pepper's great grandmother that she is named May after), RiRi (my aunt) and Blakey (my cousin) for our big race. I have a cousin, Lori, whose husband Jeff is stationed there in the Air Force. Their son Landon is just 2 weeks older than Pepper. Lori's mom, Cracker (Nancy), and my aunt Boo (Becky) with be there with us too. Yes, I have a HUGE family, Mawmaw has 9 children, so with all the grandkids and great grandkids there are a lot of us!!!!!! And, yes, we like to use nicknames, HA. Lori and Jeff are running the race with myself, Rita and Blake. We are doing the Rock and Roll half marathon!!!!!! All of us, except Jeff and Blake, are pretty nervous about how we are gonna do or even finish. I know I am kinda freaking out. So the point of this post is to let you guys know we will be out of blog world this weekend and PLEASE send positive thoughts our way on Sunday morning!!!!!!! I will post pictures as soon as I can. I am trying to convince Gran T to take Pepper to the finish line, so she can get pictures. I know they have people taking pics, but it is a racket!!!! lAtEr!!!!!

Lynn Meadows Discovery Center

Yesterday my parents and I took Pepper to the Lynn Meadows children's museum in Gulfport. That place is awesome!!!!! There was a ton to do, even for an almost 2 year old. There is a huge toddler room with books, puppets, playhouse and a ton more. They have a pretend grocery store, TV station with working cameras, airplane that you fly to "dress up" Mexico (with the volunteer senior that made us all dress up), a science room and so much more. We basically did the whole inside, went to eat Lil Ray's poboys and went back after lunch to play outside. They have 3 treehouses, a wooden train and a little stream that flows. Pepper just ran and ran and ran. It was a very nice day, and we were all pooped afterwards. This is something we will definitely do again when Daddy is home sometime.

playhouse in the toddler room


"gettin" Papa with the dinosaur


flying us to "Mexico"


YES, we all dressed up!!!!!


checking her flight plan when leaving "Mexico," she really LOVED this airplane, maybe she will take after Daddy and be a pilot



having "high tea" with Mama, just like Uncle Jon


Papa trying to get Pepper to kayak, there was a screen in front of her, showed her kayaking in the water, she wasn't too sure about that


playing in the wooden train outside


At one point, she decided that it was necessary to carry her bag herself, no matter how heavy it got


"I should have waited until after I ate to put on my yipstick!"