videos associated with Mary's wedding.

Here are two videos having to do with Mary and Clark's wedding that I wanted to share. My talented, sweet, generous husband Randy made both of them...

This is their "wedding video" depicting the two of them (and their families)... the video was played at the rehearsal dinner.

This video features myself and Mary's best friend (and other matron of honor) Allison Cox Cole "toasting" Mary and Clark. In addition, Hayden had a little something he wanted to say to his Aunt Mary and Uncle Clark. This video was also played at the rehearsal dinner (after the "wedding video").

st. ives apricot scrub... good stuff.

I have re-discovered a product that I adore that I wanted to “promote”… I used to use it a few years ago, and now I’m using it again and I LOVE it.

It’s ‘St. Ives Naturally Clear Blemish and Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub’…It also comes in three other “varieties”: Timeless Skin Renew and Firm Apricot Scrub, Fresh Skin Gentle Apricot Scrub, and Fresh Skin Invigorating Apricot Scrub (this is the one I used to use).

I like the one I’m using, but I may switch to the 'Fresh Skin Gentle Apricot Scrub'… I got the 'Blemish and Blackhead' one because I have been having some skin issues lately (which I have to say is rather embarrassing to admit), but once things get “under control” I might move on to the ‘Gentle’ one… we’ll see… Either way, these Apricot Scrubs rock!!!

congrats Mary and Clark

My sister is now a wife. Clark is now a husband. Congrats you two! I wish you all the best...

and it's here... Mary and Clark's wedding.

Today is the day. At 6 pm this evening, Mary and Clark will be tying the knot. Yay! It's pretty surreal... I actually picked this date (because of my thing with numbers she had asked me what a good date would be, and 6.27 was a winner...).

So hopefully everything will go well with the wedding... and of course for their marriage... so cheers! I hope your special day is everything you want it to be! (that's the sound of the glasses "clinking" as we toast).

As an aside... I got 2 hours of sleep last night. Yes, you read that correctly: 2 hours. I usually get AT LEAST eight.

I just could not sleep, and then when the sun came up and it got "bright" outside at 6 AM... I had to get up... there was no hope of sleep. Oh... I hope things go well today. It will be interesting. Wish me luck (and Mary and Clark as well... I mean, it is all about them)!

tomorrow is Mary's big day!

Tomorrow is Mary and Clark's big day! They will be married within the next 48 hours! My sister will be a wife. So weird. The oddest thing is that she will no longer be Mary Belden. She will now be Mary Carroll.

Now that is tough to get used to, but I suppose I need to. I mean, the wedding is tomorrow.

So, congrats to Mary (and of course Clark)! I hope tomorrow is everything you want it to be and more importantly, that your marriage is everything you want it to be.

Agenda for Today:

• Bridesmaid Brunch
• Spa Day with the Girls
• Wedding Rehearsal
• Wedding Reception

Oh, and here are some pictures I took Wednesday night of us "getting things ready" for the wedding:

potty training update #2

Are y’all wondering how Hayden is doing with the potty training?

Well, let me update you.

Hayden has been wearing (only) underwear for over 4 weeks now, and is doing exceptionally well. He hasn’t had an accident in 3 weeks! I am VERY impressed. He now tells us when he needs to go, and he goes. So easy… Go Hayden!

He has been doing well at night too. He was doing so well and "anti-diaper" that now he is wearing underwear at night too!

We waited until some waterproof pads came in so we could protect the bed, and then off we went. So since last Monday (the 15th), he has been wearing his underwear to bed and so far, no accidents!

So we are now pretty much potty trained during the day and night!!!

I am so proud of my little boy. Hayden, you are awesome!!!

sleepy alfie.

i think the title of the post says it all.

father's day.

This past Sunday was Father's Day. We were down in Jacksonville (for a wedding shower for my sister and Clark), and so we did our celebrating there.

My week is a little crazy so I don't have much time to elucidate on the happenings of the day. Suffice it to say though that we had a great time and I love my daddy and my hubby (who is also an amazing, fantastic, spectacular daddy). 

Here are some pictures from the day:

Hayden going on a golf outing with his daddy and Popi (my daddy) -

Brunch at Cafe 42 (at the Clinton Presidential Library) -

Playing outside in the sprinkler after arriving home -

a new obsession... slim fast's rich chocolate brownie bar.

I love bars and lately I have been obsessed with the following yummy bar:
It is so freaking good and "rich" with "chocolatey" goodness! I LOVE chocolate, which is another thing I have been craving lately (and NO... I am NOT pregnant. I just REALLY like/love chocolate).

Mmmmm.... this bar is a winner!

P.S. The bar is Slim Fast's Rich Chocolate Brownie... good times.

incident with alfie and the sucker.

The other day I came home to this:
Apparently, Alfie got a hold of one of Hayden’s suckers (that we use as rewards for the potty training – which is going fantastically well by the way).

Anywho, so Alfie had a sucker very much stuck to his paw. So sad. He was walking around with his sucker appendage, and it was all so pathetic.

So I located the scissors and removed the sucker.Life was good again. Hopefully he’s learned his lesson.

Although being that he is a dog and more than likely didn’t even realize he had gotten the sucker stuck to his paw, there may be a re-occurrence.

keratosis pilaris rubra faceii

Hayden has had this rash thing on his face for some time now (since December/January). The severity of the rash varies considerably... sometimes it's not even there (or at least you can't really see it). The rash has a texture to it... a rough feeling, and it occurs on his cheeks and chin.

Today we went to the dermatologist about it. She said he has 'keratosis pilaris', a chronic skin condition characterized by the appearance of small red bumps on the skin. Primarily it occurs on the back and outer sides of the upper arms, but it can also occur on thighs and "buttocks"... and apparently the face (which is the only place Hayden has it). It's generally worse in the winter and in low-humidity climates (dryness exacerbates the condition).

I am pretty certain that the specific type that Hayden has is 'keratosis pilaris rubra faceii' which is characterized by a reddish rash on the cheeks which feels rough. It seems that he will always have this, but it may get better as he gets older.

The dermatologist prescribed several lotions/creams/cleansers to try and help with the redness. Hopefully it will work.

Here are some images of the rash so you can see what I'm talking about (although you may very well have already noticed it in person or from previously posted pictures).

Obviously, some days it's worse than others.

waiting for macaroni.

The other day I made Hayden some Macaroni and Cheese (Easy Mac!... gotta love it). He wanted to watch it "cook" so I pulled up a chair for him and let him watch it "cook"... I thought it was all so amusing so I took pictures of the event. See below:

I later showed Randy the pictures and he was not impressed. He doesn't think Hayden should be so close to the microwave: that it's harmful. Really?... I just thought it was cute.