Just another night at the Hamilton's

Hello all!!!

Update on Raymond's ankle- he went back to the Dr for a followup on his MRI and the Dr said that there were some tears in his ligaments but none so severe that he thought surgery was necessary at this point. He is going to try physical therapy for a while and see how that goes. I don't care what course of action we take as long as Raymond finds some relief from all the pain (i.e. which translates fewer foot rubs given by his loving wife!)

On a lighter note, I thought I would share this picture that I posted at the top with you. To get the full effect, I will have to lay out the scenario for you all. The other night, I was trying to be proactive in cleaning out Georgia's nursery. We are trying to do a little bit each night so it's not sooo consuming. It's not working out too well! So, I told Raymond while I was fixing dinner, why didn't he go try and clean out some of the stuff. Well he gets sidetracked very easily, and before I knew it he had his Nascar headphones on listening to the radio and he was in the guest bedroom- NOT the nursery- rearranging his poker chips.....he had no idea that I was taking the picture which makes it that much better. This is why I love this man! He makes me laugh so hard and he is just so innocent....sometimes. I thought that if you know Raymond, you would really appreciate this! I hope our children have his lighthearted outlook on life!

Tonight I am going to see He's Just Not That Into You with Aunt Liz and I am really excited. I think everyone in the world has seen it but the two of us so we are having a girl's night! Plus I am really excited about gorging on movie popcorn. It's the only time that I ever eat popcorn so I make up for it. The hubs is going to play golf and let out some steam!

Last night we went to Ash Wednesday service and it was very nice. The message that I took away from church was a very insightful one brought to our attention by a fellow member. He said that he was so very grateful for the Lenton Season because it taught him more about himself than he ever knew. Mainly it taught him humility, how to suffer, compassion, and most importantly gratefulness in his walk with Christ. I thought that this was a very empowering message that he sent to us. The entire faith of Christianity is built around this time of year and I think too often because there are not lavish parties and gifts tied to it, that we forget the sanctity of the season. This year I am more so grateful than I have ever been. This time of year is so holy and pure and I guess now with impending parenthood, I am more aware of my surroundings and those things that I have been blessed with. One thing that I know I am giving up for Lent is selfishness and wastefulness. I hope to take away from these next 40 days a clearer perspective on what it is like to be truly giving and selfless all year long.


"You can have it all. You just can't have it all at once."
-Oprah

Love, The Happy Hamiltons

Pureed Gourmet

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!!! Ours was uneventful/yet eventful all at the same time, if that's possible!
Friday we were low key and grilled out steaks at home- they were so good! I was so beat from the week that by about 8:00, I was ready to go to bed. Exciting times out here in Lexington!!!
It was good that I got my rest because Saturday Swoozie and I hit the ground running!! We started off the day at the mall looking at the new summer dresses. Saw a few, but nothing that wowed me over. So, I pacified myself at Williams-Sonoma where I bought a Beaba BabyCooker. GREATEST THING EVER!!!! It is a steamer/purifier/masher/etc all rolled into one! A friend of mine said that she made all of her own baby food and I thought she was crazy! But when she explained how to use the machine, I was like, even I can do that!!! I know that it will be a a while before Baby G will be able to utilize this, but once she does, I know she will love all of her pureed gourmet!! Once you make all of the food, you can store and freeze it in these little trays and they are each individual servings so you just pop out a serving then pop it in the babycooker and voile!! Supper!! Plus, I vow to broaden my child's taste buds....I love veggies and I want my kids to as well. Raymond was a picky eater growing up (you wouldn't know it now!!!) but hopefully we will be able to expose them to some yummy tasting goodness from an early age on!!
After W-S we hit Babies R Us. I have only actually been in this store once before, and MAN I was in heaven!!!! All of the clothing was on sale so I went ahead and bought Georgia some adorable outfits for her to wear this time next year. I just couldn't resist some of the adorable sets! I finished my registry and I was completely flat out whipped after that! Who knew that just simply registering for things could be so difficult!!!!
We then hit up TJ Maxx for some more goodies- I really went kind of crazy but I just couldn't resist all of the adorable stuff out there! I came home only to realize that I had absolutely no room to put any of this stuff up! Georgia's nursery is still a junk room! Yesterday I attempted to tackle it, but I just get frustrated. It just makes me realize what pack rats Raymond and I both are! I am working on it! Really- this is making me see that I have to change my ways or we will all be consumed by junk!! My goal is by the end of this week to have everything cleaned out of there! Even if it transposes from the nursery to the garage, so be it! That way, we can get in there and start cleaning and begin the paint sampling process.
Got a call from my friend Erin today and she passed her boards!!! She is now a licensed PTA!!! We are so proud of her and cannot wait to see what the future holds for her!
To fill you in quickly, Raymond has been troubled for a while with his right ankle. It has always given him some grief, but has gotten especially worse in the past few months. He doesn't like for it to stand in his way of playing his weekly golf, racquetball, basketball, but lately it has. So, he went to the Moore Clinic last week and they ordered an MRI for him. He goes back tomorrow to have the results read so we will know what course of action needs to be taken at that point. The Dr. believes that there is some cartilage floating around in there, but the MRI should tell all. Please keep us in your prayers tomorrow and we will fill you all in as soon as we know something!

Until next time!

Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.
-Charles Swindoll


Love, Charlotte

p.s- Georgia has been putting her own input the whole time I have been typing! She is kicking up a storm today!! She must be getting excited at all the loot she knows she has waiting on her!!

God is Good!!

Thought I would end the week on an UPbeat note.....

Just wanted to take a moment to tell you the power of prayer really does work!! There are a lot of things that have been going on and they have been weighing heavily on me but God has his plans and he makes them clear just when you are beginning to doubt!!!! He is good and merciful and sometimes my perception of that gets a little cloudy!

Also, I have a friend who's husband is leaving next week for a vacation while serving our country- please keep them in your prayers as this will be a less than easy transitional period for them! I know she will be fine- especially with all of the prayers behind them.

And lastly, for the boys (especially my brother) who are all down at The Citadel....please keep them in your prayers as they are bringing this year to an end. They have been through a lot this year so far.

Raymond and I are so very thankful to be so blessed right now- we have wonderful family and friends and feel that things are incredibly wonderful right now for us!

Love to you all!

Sibling Rivalry

First, I wanted to just share that I bought my first item for the baby. So far, I have been so good and I CANNOT believe that I have not purchased a single thing. 23 weeks I think is a pretty impressive record for holding out. Especially since I can barely go 23 minutes without looking at all of the adorable stuff online. But, I broke down and initiated the beginning of the end......Elizabeth (my nearest and dearest friend in the whole world, who at this point, is more kin than friend) informed me that there were Dr. Brown's starter kits at TJ Maxx, and although I have been on the fence to commit to a bottle before Georgia has the chance to express her opinion, I decided to seize the opportunity to get these outrageous bottles for a STEAL!!! So I went and bought a pack, then _______ (insert appropriate term for my mom) went and bought another one, and I have already called the other TJ Maxx's in the area and they have the rest on hold for me. So I think that we will be good on bottles!!! Everyone was telling me I was insane for buying all of these things, just to register for them- but I just couldn't pass up on this great deal!!
Georgia is starting to rack up!!! Liz has really turned me onto TJ Maxx, I am VERY anti-digging when it comes to buying things. I want it laid out for me all nice and neat. I don't care what kind of deal you can manage to find. BUT Last night she got a present from her favorite Aunt Liz- I wish I had a working camera (whole 'nother misphit) to take a picture...It is the MOST adorable Ralph Lauren pink dress with matching bloomers....it is the sweetest thing. She also got a little knit layette for Valentine's Day from ______ (insert appropriate term for Peggy here) my wonderful second mother- so cute- she is stylin and profilin from the womb!!! But we really couldn't expect anything less could we? Look at all the beautiful women she has around her!!!!
Please pardon the blanks....I think we are still working out the kinks about what everyone wants to be called- I am so excited for Georgia to have such wonderful GRANDparents, regaurdless of what they end up being called. This is going to be one lucky (and very loved) baby girl!!!!

As for the Sibling Rivalry title, my heart is breaking for our fur baby Tellie. This morning I woke up to her chewing on Georgia's binky....my initial reaction was to yell at her and then I started crying because I felt bad for yelling at her. In her mind, she wasn't doing anything wrong. The only stuffed animals that have ever been in the house, are hers- certainly not her mama or daddy's. I don't know how to convey to her the difference between Georgia's animals and hers- I never knew pet psychology would be so difficult. Ceasar I need you!!!!!! Being pregnant has made my love for Tellie grow that much stronger. And it has made me realize how much of her own personality that she has- she truly, I think will have a hard time adjusting to someone else getting all of the attention. But once all of that settles down, I know she will be so sweet and loving towards the baby. I just can't imagine what is going on inside her head right now as she is trying to wrap her brain around everything.

I am trying desperately to spiff up my blog but it's not working. And I am becoming very self conscious about it. I keep searching the blog world for different ways to change it, and despite how closely I follow the directions, the error sign pops up. I wanted to throw my keyboard out the window. Much to my dismay, I think my blog will have to stay like this for a while.

Lots going on with Formosa- for those of you that don't know, Liz and I own a clothing business. I am really excited because I think this Spring we have a lot of potential. We both love what we do and love helping other women. This is something that we are both passionate about and I hope and pray that all of our hard work will continue to pay off for us. We have a bunch of things in the works so please keep the good thoughts coming our way!!!! Liz is getting our website up and running so we are entering the 21st century!!

I think that that's enough information overload for now!!! Off to save the benefits world.......

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend- we sure will!!!!

Lots of love, The Hamilton Brood

One more for the road

So, as I was catching up on my daily blog reading (I do work, I promise....) and I came across this adorable tray. Miss Monogram is giving one of these away in honor of her 100th blog!! Just simply go to her page, and leave a comment and it will enter you in the contest!!!

I have really been sucked into the whole blogging world!!! It becomes fastly addicting once you start reading all of the wonderfully interesting people out there!!! Check it out!!!

P.S.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL MAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This next year I hope will be just as "grand" (I'm skirting the issue) as the last!!!!!!!

Love, Charlotte, Raymond, Georgia and Tellie

Future Rockette

Hello all!

Well last night while sitting at church Georgia started to make her appearance known. She has really started to move around. She wants to make sure we know what's going on in there! Before, her movements just felt like my equilibrium was shaken a bit or it was a quick wave of nausea. But, I can really feel her stretching out now. I think that we have a potential NYC Rockette on our hands!! That would sure make me one proud mama!!! Raymond would probably be more statisfied if she were a kicker for the ACC- but I don't think that there are currently any teams that have pink uniforms. I feel her most when I am laying on my stomach, I guess mainly because she is pressed up to me. Last night I could even feel a thumping which I could only assume to be her heart beat down below my belly button. So strange!

Raymond and I cooked dinner the other night and made these delicious burgers so I thought I would share the recipe with all of you!

Chicken and Feta Burgers
16 oz ground chicken
4 oz crumbled Feta cheese
handful of chopped roasted red peppers (to your liking)
1 tbs of minced garlic
1/2 tbs of fresh thyme
salt and pepper to taste

We grilled them for like 5-7 minutes on each side and then I took the high road and added Dukes to my hamburger bun which I am sure added NO fat!!!

The recipe also said you could add a slice of provolone for some added flavor but we thought that these were just divine. They were even BETTER the next day!!!!

This weekend will be low-key for us which I am looking forward to. I am going to start going around and looking at some baby stuff in person and finalize my registry. I seriously had no idea there were so many different types of bottles, paci's, clothing, etc out there!!! It should be interesting!! Luckily I have will have my mom to the rescue! Raymond will be sitting this one out I am afraid as our registering for our wedding items went a little something like this:
C: Raymond, stop pointing that laser at my eye.
R: Charlotte, your eye won't scan. I don't know what's wrong with it.
C: Raymond, I'm warning you.
R: (still pointing the laser at me)
C: Raymond, go sit in the corner until I am done.
R: I have to go sit in Time Out again???

SO- as much fun as that was for me (!), I am doing this solo. I am also ordering the bedding this weekend so I am really excited about that! Raymond's duties will come when all of the stuff comes in and he is left to put it all together!!!! Plus, he is Head Daddy In Charge for the job of painting the nursery. So for all of you feeling sorry for him that he is getting left out, don't fret....he still has plenty left on his baby-do list.

Hope all of you are doing well and are as ready for the warm weather as we are!!!! Warm weather signifies Georgia's arrival!!! Get ready!!!

Love and kisses, The Happy Hamiltons

It's a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry I have been MIA!!!! My computer at home crashed with a virus and then here at work I have been unable to "login" to my blogger account. It's so weird. It doesn't block me, it just doesn't do anything. SO- this one will probably be a long one just to catch everyone up on what has been going on in our lives!

Jump ropes, swings and teddy bears,
Pretty ribbons for her hair.
Giggles, hugs and love to share
Oh the joy a baby girl bears!

Our baby is a girl!! We are so excited! Not only did we find out what we were having, but we also were given an hour long ultrasound on every single organ in the baby's body and everything looks great! We feel so blessed and lucky to have had no issues thus far. The doctor says that he is so pleased at the progression of the baby and that we have been doing a good job! They were suprised to find that I had lost yet another five pounds when they weighed me, but she is looking like she is growing just fine so there's no need to worry! I guess I have just been eating a lot better and drinking more water than I give myself credit for!

Our baby girls name will be Georgia Cauthen Hamilton.
Georgia is from my side and Cauthen is from Raymond's side. We can't wait to meet our precious little peach!

I got very emotional last week when hearing on the news about all of the devastation in NY with the plane crash, the continuous layoffs, the tumultous housing market, and the cutbacks everyone is having to make. Raymond and I feel so blessed right now to have those that we love happy and healthy, and our little one so comfy and cozy inside my belly.

I have now been at my job for a little over a week and I am loving it! Everyone here is so nice and helpful and the system that is in place here has made my transition so smooth. I have taken on more responsiblity so the time is going by a little faster! I am adjusting to sitting behind a desk all day much better than I thought I would! I am really loving the stability and the comrodery that being in an office environment brings. I have noticed that I have been much happier and I am feeling much better, so I know that all of my heartache before was truly a direct result of the stress of my previous job. On with the new!

We had a lovely Valentine's Day up at the lodge with some of our friends. It was a weekend full of fellowship and good times. I took a very slow ride on the fourwheeler (I never went above 5mph) and we ate plenty of good food and sweets! Georgia was well satisfied when we came home on Sunday!

This week Raymond and I are beginning to put some touches on the nursery like picking out paint and what not. I am really excited to begin the process and I know that it will help make everything seem a little more concrete once I start transforming her new royal quarters!

Thank you all for your continued love and support throughout this time! I will continue to praise the Lord for his ever vigilant watch over us and for his constant guidance over you all!

Love, Charlotte, Raymond, Georgia and Tellie