Creative Mosaic of Me

I got this idea from Alisa. This is one of my attempts to be creative, which I don't really consider myself to be.

Here is how to create your own mosaic:

Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr or Google Image search. Using only the first page, choose an image. Copy and paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker over at FD's image maker.

The questions:

What is your first name?
What is your favorite food? (chocolate)
What high school did you attend? (Brighton)
What is your favorite color? (blue)
Who is your celebrity crush? (Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy)
Favorite drink? (Chocolate milk)
Dream vacation? (Champery, Switzerland)
Favorite dessert? (Chocolate raspberry ganache--boy, you'd think I like chocolate or something)
What do you want to be when you grow up? (a content mother)
What do you love most in life? (spending time with my husband)
One word to describe you? (simple)
Your nickname? (Bee)

Baldy

A few days ago we gave the Buddy his 2nd haircut. We just took the clippers and cut it all off! We realized too late that we cut it too short! I'm getting used to it, but I break out into laughter every once in a while when I look at him!



His new do has aged him another year, I think.

A Birthday Bash

Opening presents

The Buddy turned one this past week! To celebrate, we had a nice dinner at our home with all four of his grandparents and then a small (well, that's a relative term) party with his Stout aunts and uncles. Jared loved opening his presents, but he didn't get excited at all about his cake! I think he was a little overwhelmed by the whole affair.

This is pretty much the best picture of Jared all evening.
He would not pose for the camera!



This is a long video of Jared NOT eating his little cake.
Please don't watch the whole thing.

Jared received a giant teddy bear as one of his gifts. I think the highlight of the evening was seeing his face light up when he first noticed it, and then watching him spend the next ten minutes loving, hugging, and cuddling with the bear.

Giving the bear a kiss


This is a video of Jared loving his new bear

What a Year It Has Been!

Since I started my blog well after Jared was born, I didn't get the chance to post any pictures of the beginnings of his life. I thought I would post some of my favorites from the past year here.

A Tale of a Pregnancy

No, this post is not an announcement, just something amusing. Yesterday I found out that one of my friends is pregnant with her 2nd child. The funny part: she was 5 1/2 months along (months, not weeks) when she found out, and she had to hear the news from a doctor! I can just imagine what the doctor said in my mind: "Well, I know what's wrong with you. You are pregnant, and you are having a boy!" This friend of mine apparently doesn't have most of the common symptoms of pregnancy. (Lucky!) She had put on a couple of pounds, but she just thought that was from eating too many sweets. My friend's comment: "This will be the shortest pregnancy ever!"

I sure wish that my pregnancies went that smoothly.

My Little Man

So, I took this video of Jared about a month ago. I have been trying to figure out how to post a video for a while now. Hopefully this works.

Sorry for the shakiness. But isn't he ADORABLE?

Top Ten Books

I am always on the lookout for good books to read. I have joined an online book club called Goodreads, where I can see what people I know are reading and view their recommendations.

Anyway, in conjunction with my Top Ten Movie list and my Top Ten Everything list, here are my top ten favorite novels:

1. Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte (the new Masterpiece Theater movie of this is great, too!)
2. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
3. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
4. Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
5. The Harry Potter Series, by J. K. Rowling, especially books 3, 6, and 7
6. Anne of Green Gables, by L. M. Montgomery (most of the whole series is pretty good)
7. The Story Girl and The Golden Road, by L. M. Montgomery
8. The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
9. The Scarlet Pimpernel and El Dorado, by Baroness Emmuska Orczy
10. The Twilight series, by Stephenie Meyer

I'm somewhat embarrassed that this list doesn't include more intellectual classic novels. But, at least in my opinion, that was what required reading in school was for (c'mon, I'm not going to truthfully say that Crime and Punishment or Of Mice and Men are on my list of favorites!) I like to read for pleasure. What are your favorite books?