A Simple Request

Here is what happens when you make a simple request to your husband, like "hey dress the baby in this super adorable outfit today."

He turns your little man into an Elvis impersonator.

Too Much Time on Our Hands

Jack,

If you end up to be somewhat normal with parents like us it will be a miracle.



I cut Francie's hair because she is going to the groomer Friday and I thought your dad would get a good laugh to find Mr. T's dog when he came in from the gym last night. He thought it was pretty funny but he didn't realize at first I had actually cut it. Poor Fran...


You will learn your dad LOVES to do impressions and is actually quite good at them...

Soccer Player or Cyclist?

Jack loves  his changing pad on the pack-n-play, he can feel his toes touch the end of it and he kicks like a wild man. His daddy says he's is pedaling.  You be the judge:

His daddy hates soccer so I think he may be a soccer player :)

Jack's Christmas Tree

When I was pregnant mom and I stumbled upon this tree at Lowe's, we thought it was so cute and would be something unique for Jack's Christmas tree. (Also, it put his ornaments up high so he can't grab them when he is a little older.) Also, Stuart and I went to South Carolina for our honeymoon and their symbol is the palmetto so I kinda thought it was a little sentimental too. So now that I am through trying to justify to my readers AND myself that this tree is NOT redneck I will continue with my story...

So, a few months ago dad bought the tree for Jack, he commented on how heavy it was to be just a palm tree with lights, as he was loading it into our car Friday night.

As we got home and unpacked it we discovered a small boom box that is supposed to be discretely hidden by this make shift rock at the bottom of the tree, also accompanying this was a remote control.... For the lights? Maybe it turns in circles? Nope!

It....

Plays......

CARIBBEAN PARTY MUSIC.... VERY LOUDLY.....

Oh and the lights flicker to the music, enjoy the spectacle below:

(turn the music off at the bottom to get the whole effect)

When Stuart turned the music on for the first time we could hardly control ourselves, to see this tree with Christmas ornaments all over it blasting Caribbean music was too much. I have never laughed so hard in my life.

Note: We will be renting Jack's Christmas tree out in the summer months for a small fee, if you would like this tree at your party please contact the Lamp family I know it will book quickly so hurry and get your name on the list, it is guaranteed to make anyone want to form a conga line. (Even in December)

Just For Laughs

I was going through my pictures on my phone and thought this was too funny not to share... While Stuart was gone I woke up with THE BEST bed head to date, and since no one was there to laugh with me I took a picture and sent it to Stuart...

Tasty Tuesday

I was blog surfing through Andrea Murphrees blog when I stumbled upon her friends The Willis Family blog and came upon the greatest recipe ever! So I want to thank the Willis Family who posted this recipe and got it from Andrea Murphree who got it from here. So if your not confused enough already I will just post the recipe:

Juicy Pot Roast Sandwiches

1 (2-lb) beef chuck roast (The Willis blog said 4lbs and I agree 4 lbs was the perfect amount for this recipe)

8 whole cloves garlic, peeled

Cracked black pepper

1 (14-oz) can beef broth

½ c. Allegro Original Marinade (I used hot and spicy and I think it added a lot of flavor)

4 (8-inch) loaves New Orleans-style French bread or 1 baguette, cut into 4 pieces

4 T. butter, softened,

divided1 yellow onion,

sliced1 green bell pepper,

sliced4-8 slices Swiss or Provolone cheese

White Horseradish Sauce

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place pot roast in a baking dish just big enough to hold the meat. Make 8 deep, little cuts throughout the roast and insert a whole clove of garlic into each one. Season roast generously with cracked black pepper. Pour beef broth and marinade over roast and cover tightly with a sheet of aluminum foil. (I let it marinate over night in the fridge.) Bake for 5 to 6 hours. When roast is done, it will be so tender, the meat should literally fall apart. Drain juices into a bowl or container to reserve for au jus dipping sauce. Melt 2 T. of butter in a cast iron skillet. Add onion and bell pepper and saute until soft and slightly browned on the edges. Roves from skillet and set aside. Slice French bread horizontally, about ¾ of the way through, leaving one edge intact. Spread remaining butter on inside surface of French bread and toast. Layer each toasted French load with shredded pot roast, sautéed onion and bell pepper and cheese. I added the horseradish sauce and then closed it up and put it back in the oven to make it gooey. Serve with a side of au jus for dipping

I scooped out the bottom of the bread so the roast would sit down in it and I could add more meat on the french bread.

I used swiss cheese

Almost never found this brand but I got it at Kroger on isle 7 and I prefer the hot and spicy (it would be good on steaks too!)

Saute onions and peppers

Yummy roast with A LOT of cracked pepper on top.

I took out the garlic cloves and chopped up the roast and loaded it on the french bread, the hot and spicy marinate makes the BEST au jus.

Even if you don't like the sandwich this recipe makes a wonderful roast.

I bought pre-made horseradish sauce but here is the recipe

White Horseradish Sauce:

2 c. sour cream

½ c. prepared horseradish

1 t. salt½ t. white pepper

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

2 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice

2-3 dashes LuLu’s Perfect Pepper Hot Sauce

1 t. freshly chopped rosemary, optional

Thanks again Andrea and Willis Family!!!

Toy Talk

Friday, we had a wonderful surprise. Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Joel sent Jack some toys. One he was particularly fascinated with, it is a dragon fly that makes tons of different noises when you pull its tail and the cheeks light up. Well he has one favorite noise  and every time that noise comes around he mocks it and laughs, it was too cute not to share.

Thanks Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Joel

In this video I could only get him to do it one good time so listen carefully around 48 seconds, and again you may want to pause the music player at the bottom.

Daddy's Away

While you were gone we had a big week, I started out at Grandmother and Papa's all weekend because mommy was very sick. Monday I went back home and spent time with mommy around the house... Tuesday I went to Target as I was a constituent in mommy's new obsession (COUPONS) she spent all week clipping coupons and she couldn't wait to see how much she could save... good news is we saved 31.24... bad news is our basement is full of extra toilet paper, paper towels, detergent basically we bought things we didn't exactly need at the moment but mom explained to me we better stock up since we had a coupon for it. Your bike rack makes a pretty good paper towel holder.

Wednesday- Friday I went to Aunt Sherry and Uncle Davids', I received a great report from them. I was really good not one tummy ache and no gripe water for me. Thank you Aunt Sherry and Uncle David for keeping me we love you!

We had a pretty good week but we miss you so much... Oh and I have discovered this brown furry thing that follows me around not sure what it is but it is very soft and I love to touch it and when it scratches its ears with his foot it makes me giggle and smile.

What a week, I can't wait to come pick you up at the airport Saturday.
Here is a few pictures to sum up our week without you



I watched Baby Einstein with Aunt Sophie....

I talked A LOT....

I laid on your pillow in my new dino pj's....

Spent a little time just sitting around....

I wore my Aunt Sherry out.....

I smiled for the camera...

I slept in my Uncle Davids' lap....

Spent some time perched on Aunt Sherrys' shoulder....

And made this funny face....

Who can resist those lips

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Jack's First Cousin is On It's Way!!!!

Congrats Uncle Joel and Aunt Bonnie... we can't wait to meet Jack's very first cousin!
I only had pictures of Uncle Joel, sorry Aunt Bonnie

Coo Coo Cachoo

We finally got you on video cooing at us. You were so talkative tonight despite the fact you had 101 temp.

(You might want to pause the music at the bottom of the page so you can hear him.)

Just in case there was any question

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Geneology - Family tree software

Who loves there bath???

JACK DOES.... you are soooo happy during and after a bath, you make faces and coo and kick your legs, I love to give you a bath.

Another Halloween Post

Your Grandmother made these pumpkins for your first halloween, we answered the door for all the little goblins and you slept through it all but when we were done you got to go spend the night with grandmother and papa. Mommy and Daddy slept GREAT!

This is your trick-or-treat bag Grandmother had made for you, it has your name on the back and since you aren't big enough to carry it we just put you in it for a photo opp.

For halloween you wore the little outfit with a pumpkin on your hiney, Aunt Sophie bought it for you before you were born. You looked so cute.

Ode to Bumbo

Your Bumbo chair lets you sit up on your own and boy do you LOVE to be sitting up, we still have to hold your head every now and then but your getting stronger everyday.

Like Father Like Son

Don't worry you'll grow into them:

Sick on Sunday

Sunday Nov 2, 2008 mommy and you were not feeling very well, so we went to target and stocked up on medicine and went home and just layed around with each other, in the meantime daddy was on a conference call in the back of the house. While we were being lazy we hit a milestone: Your first spitup on mommys' shirt. You can tell from the picture we weren't feeling our best that day.



Charlie and Francie stayed pretty close too, they could tell you didn't feel good.

The Tiniest Voter

Today was a very special day, it was election day! Mommy and Daddy got all dressed up in our red, white and blue for the occasion of course mommy had to coordinate your outfit too. We were expecting long lines but we hit it just right we went right in. Rumor has it you will be running in the year 2032, but that's just a rumor we think you'll do much greater things than just being the ole commander and chief.

The McNalley Sons and Jack

Last weekend your Aunt Andrea came home and brought us all a funny treat. She brought everyone mustaches big furry mustaches... Aunt Sophie, Aunt Andrea and mommy all picked one out and put one on you and we took our halloween picture. It was very funny and we all had a good laugh.

Your daddy was out of town so I sent him the picture to which he replied "wow, yall must be bored." We all had a really good time.

Sleepy Heads Still in Bed

Jack ready for the Dr. 2 month old




Monday morning you were 2 months old, I have really been dreading you becoming 2 months... 3 months, ok... 1 month, precious... 5 months, can't wait but 2 months not so excited. Why? well because with becoming 2 months old you also get shots painful icky shots.
So mommy didn't have to go into work this morning because your appointment was at 9:15, and dad and I got to sleep a little later. You woke up at about 7:30 and I went and got you (bc dad was tired from night duty.) I fed you and brought you into our bed to wake your daddy and as I was getting both my boys up, I let you lay beside him for just minutes and you were both back fast asleep.

You weighed 11lbs and were 23inches long. You were perfectly average on all of the height weight scales foe your age. During our Dr.'s visit you were so happy you just cooed at your mommy and daddy

Your daddy said "I know what your thinking Jack, your daddy knows.... you are thinking how you are going to take over the world someday aren't you?" to this you replied with the biggest grin followed by the sweetest giggle to ever come out of your mouth. It was perfect timing.

The nurse came in and you got two shot in one leg and one in the other and you did cry but not too bad, and once she gave you a sweet tasting oral vaccine you smacked your lips and then took your passy and you were asleep not 5 minutes later. Mommy and daddy held your little hands the whole time but you were so great.