Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Confession Number 61: I Love My TV

As a lot of American families, our TV is a central part of our home.  We even made a special place for it when we built our house, specficially made to hold the biggest TV possible. 
You would think there would be a discussion between Dustin and I about our television taking such a prominent place in our home, but there wasn't.  I agreed to it.  Completely!  We love watching TV.  In the summer our TV watching time goes down dramatically, but you give us football (lots of football, any football) mixed with the new season of shows and in the fall our DVR fills up quickly.  I mean, there is way to much Grey's and Private Practice.....The Good Wife and Big Bang Theory......Two and a Half Men (that's Dustin's guilty pleasure) and 19 Kids and Counting (that is mine) to not have something to watch each night.

Now, we aren't in front of the TV all stinking day.  We especially try to limit the amount it is on during the day.  Mostly because this is Kennedy when it is on....

She loves her some Playhouse Disney, and I have to admit Dustin and I like our fair share of shows on there.  I still sing the dang Chuggington song on a daily basis!  During the week, KJ's TV time is really limited to about 30 minutes or so a day, but on the weekends, it is a different story.  If there is nowhere for us to be up and off to on a Saturday morning, Dustin or I may lay on the couch, cuddled up with our little girl, for a couple of hours. 

After an hour or so of said snuggling this past weekend, I came to the conclusion that right now, we are loving our TV.  And I'm not ashamed to admit it.  There will be a day, probably much sooner than we realize, where she won't want to lay down and cuddle with mom or dad while watching Saturday morning cartoons anymore.  When we won't even see her on a Saturday morning because she will be sleeping until noon.  So, for right now, I'm loving my TV and all the cuddles and special times that come with it. 

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Confession Number 59: Favorites, Fun Blogs

So, it is been awhile, but I promise, I'm here!  In the past ten days I've finally gotten over the I'm so exhausted I can't think straight phase of pregnancy (I hope), survived a surge of HootieMomma orders, went on a mini-vaca, and I'm finally back to semi-normal living for awhile.  My house is a disaster, the blog has been lonely, and I'm yearning to plant mums in my pots on the front porch. 

For now, as I wait for the dryer to buzz at me, I'm taking some time to pound out the next installment of "I Play Favorites".  I wrote about my favorite money saving blogs here, so this time around I wanted to introduce you to a couple of my "friends" (yes, they really are true friends, not just internet friends) that I visit on the blogosphere when I need some laughs or mommy insight or just for fun. 

First is my good friend Shannon over at Shannon Gurney Photography.  Shannon has been taking our family pictures for the last three years and we LOVE her.  There is no other way to put it.  I love checking out her blog on a regular basis, even looking at her shots of people I don't know.  I'm not some crazy stalker person, I just love her work.  She makes the sessions fun and easy, her work is stinkin' amazing, and she is affordable.  I love the fact that Shannon sells you a CD of your photos, along with a copyright release so you can order your pictures from wherever you want, whenever you want.  Sometimes I've gone back a year later and had more pics printed for one reason or another. 
I've been a little obsessed with Shannon and her blog here recently.  A couple of weeks ago she took my nephew Joe's senior pictures (could someone please help me with the sudden chest pains I get when I realize that my oldest nephew is a SENIOR?!?!), then a few days after that she had a session with the Wyatt Family.  They are great friends of ours that we left behind in OKC when we moved.  Our girls are only 3 days apart and we are both expecting baby number two and they should only be a month or so apart.  Then, at the beginning of this week, we had our yearly family session with her.  I can not send Shannon enough love.  She is spectacular and is becoming spectacularly busy with her business.  If you are within driving distance of OKC, I highly recommend you get a few clicks of the camera in with Shannon and check out her blog a couple of times a week.  You won't regret it!

Next is a long time friend of mine, Megan, from SortaCrunchy fame.  I've known Megan since college.  She was a Chi Omega advisor of mine, my dorm director and my long time college roommate's big sister.  To say she played an important role in how my college years played out is an understatement.  I always have viewed Megan as a classy, intelligent woman.  Those thoughts continue to be spot-on as you read her blog, SortaCrunchy.  Megan writes about a whole host of things including natural living, parenting practices, and religious views.  She never fails to entertain and educate, no matter what her topic.  She has opened my eyes to new things such as washing my face with oil (verdict still out) and a greener way of life.  Her articles on religious views challenge me to seek God in a new way and I love her call to advocacy.  Agree with her, don't agree with her, as long as you are respectful, she loves to hear your comments.  Megan helps me to strive to be a better mother, a better child of God, and a better member of this big 'ol community we call Earth. 

Since I don't have enough to do, I want to know, what blogs do you think I should add to my reading list?