hodge podge.

If I had a dollar for every time I said that "time flies" I'd be a very rich little lady!

Would you believe me if I told you that at 8:11am this morning, my angel baby turned TWENTY-ONE MONTHS OLD. What I want to know is... where did the time go? Who stole my newborn? And, how can I pause, rewind, or press sllllllloooooooow? The time is flying by in fast forward and I just.want.it.to.creep.by.a.little.slower.please... and thank you!

Carson is a talking machine.

I'll do my best to recap everything he can say now... but daily, the list is growing!

I miss you, pool, robbies (froggies), buggies, bug, eeew!, nina's (banana), pizza, nose, eyes, baby, ess (yes), no, rain, uh-oh, daddy, mommy, JiJi, Pop Pop, Olly (Aunt "Holly"/Megan), puppy, Bevo, ball, Meemo (Nemo), Dewey (Dori), cookie, moo moo (milk/cow), weesie (horsey), gucky (yucky/ducky), ribbit, shoes, arm, cake, chip, cheese, juice, do do (TV??), team-o (teamwork), ouchies, night night, play, wice (rice), apple, Gary (Scarlett) and MORE!

He LOOKS like a boy. He doesn't look like a baby. He's a walking, talking, digging, running, playing, laughing... wild toddler boy! Some days, I can hardly believe my eyes.

This is what brought me to this post... I cannot believe that I am back in this place...

I am starting to plan Carson's SECOND BIRTHDAY. I swear we just threw the most fabulousfirst birthday party for our monkey. Wasn't it last weekend? I am picking out outfits for our annual family photo session. I start collecting ideas months in advance, can you tell? I am even starting to think about the holidays... what should C-man be for Halloween? I think I know... and even more ambitious, I think I am going to try to make it! It's just crazy to me that I am here again... planning his birthday, another family photo sesh, another holiday season... only this time, not with a newborn or a chubby one year old... but a full fledged, walking, talking toddler!

In other news, far less important.

Thank you for your comments and votes on our play room color scheme. It's really helping me! I'll let you know when I finally choose. It looks like it will either be navy or turquoise. Both great choices... I think I'll do some pre-shopping to see what comes easier!

I am sure my fellow shoppers out there already know this... but it's that time of year again,Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale is in full swing! Love it. My faaaaaabulous hubby bought me the most adorable jacket that I am so excited about. It sold out in just a few hours online. I spent the car ride home from Granbury calling Nordstrom's all over the country, until the BEST customer service gal in the Denver t.b.d. department called me AN HOUR after she was supposed to get off for the day to tell me she'd successfully tracked down the ONE they had left (in my size). She was so sweet, and honestly, I couldn't tell which one of us was more excited! Here it is... too cute, huh? Thanks babe. You're the best.

A few random pics leftover from our week in Granbury...

This was at a shower for one of my lifelong friends, Katie Grzybowski... she's marrying her highschool sweetheart in just three months. Below is a photo of Me, Katie, and Allison (and Alli's mom). The three of us grew up on the same street and were the best of friends. Still love these girls so much and had such a great time at the shower, laughing hysterically down memory lane!

The lovely ladies from Sprinkles of Scarlett are coming over this evening to watch the WOMEN TELL ALL of The Bachelorette.

I am obsessed with etsy. I have a list a mile long of things I want to buy. Just thought I'd throw that tidbit in here at the end.

And, last but not least... I've added an email address to the right hand column of my blog. Many of you leave comments from time to time wanting to know something specific. If you have done this and haven't gotten a response from me, EMAIL ME. If you are curious about a product, something mommy related, toddler boy related, or whatever... drop me a line: thetichenorfamily {at} gmail {dot} com

I am SO much better at email than any other form of communication! And, I never remember to go back and comment on the comments that people inquire about! So, I hope this helps.

WAIT! One more thing... I know that some of you out there bought the Martha Stewart pink pom pom's from Walmart or various craft stores. I NEED THEM! At least 5 or 6. Can I buy them from you if you're no longer using them. I can't find them anywhere and I HAVE to have them for something I'm working on. Let me know... you ROCK my world!

the end.

orange you going to vote?

Look to your right. There's a nifty poll for you to take part in.

As I mentioned, our playroom will be painted Benjamin Moore's Rumba Orange... the bottom half of the room will be white beadboard. I am trrrrrying to come up with a color scheme. There will be orange... there will be white... there will be bits of chocolate brown... but there needs to be one more accent color, otherwise it will look like Halloween.

Here's the shade of orange we're workin' with folks... well, the best I can do via computer screen!

I thought Navy would be great when I saw this @ PBK...

Yet, my original inspiration was sky blue, because of this... that dresser in the image is painted Rumba Orange, FYI.

But, I just love turquoise with almost anything, so it could most definitely do the trick...

And, then there's lime green. It's just fun. That's all.

Finally, who can go wrong with lots of bright happy colors mixed together in a children's play room?

So, lets here it... what color should I use as the accent?

thanks loves.

granbury, take two.

By request, see photos below of the leopard cross I mentioned... and the super cute soap dish I bought for Carson's restroom at our new house.

it's as tall as the back of the couch, love, love, love it.

how cute is this?!

Tonight's our last night here in Gran-pa-bury as I have so affectionately named it... we're meeting our good friends Brad & Kristen (+ or - 4 of their kiddos)... for dinner tonight!

after at least an hour long protest against a nap, this is how I found carson after I decided to ignore him and go about my business if he was determined NOT to sleep... angel!

daddy wrestling Carson to the car after dinner the other night...

Mr. Handsome enjoying a "Nina"...

Hope you are all having a wonderful Thursday. Looking forward to our weekend AT HOME!

greetings from granbury.

We made the spontaneous decision Sunday morning to pack up and head to Granbury, Texas with Kevin for the week. He's here on business... so we jumped on the opportunity to drive along with him for some much needed family time. I think I was a little misinformed about where we were headed... I didn't realize it was quite as small of a town as it actually is. But, truth be told, it hasn't been half bad.

We're staying at the Hilton, right on Lake Granbury, it's actually quite nice. We've (I've) scoped out the best places to eat, and have actually enjoyed several of our meals... you just can't beat Small Town Sweet Tea! They have a cute town square with bakeries, gift shops, and more... I bought an ADORABLE 2 foot tall cross with leopard print (I'll take a picture), a precious soap dish for Carson's bathroom, and some yummy dip mixes yesterday.

Carson has absolutely loved every single extra second he's had with his daddy this week. He cannot wait for lunch time, when Kevin meets us for a quick meal... and then is so excited when 5:30-ish rolls around, more time with his partner in crime. They really are two peas in a pod.

Not realizing that Granbury is a far cry from Dallas, I had high hopes of getting to play with my sweet friend Abby. She lives outside of Dallas, but the opposite direction of FW, so we're quite far from each other. I sort of have a mom-crush on her. She's too cute for words, her little guy Colt is a butterball of precious love, and she's super stylish, put-together, and beautiful. I swear she missed her calling as a hair model. It's perfect! Maybe one of these days, CT and I will pack up and head to Dallas JUST for playdates!

Enjoy some pictures from Granbury and the past week!

The Tichenor Family Casa has been framed!

If you're curious... this is the house we're building: Go HERE, it's the model/sales office for the Riverstone neighborhood. We're building it in Sienna. See the box on the left, Virtual Tours, our home is the 947 model. We're adding a study downstairs and an extra full bath upstairs.

Meltdown at Target last week... made me laugh!

...and some photos on the way to Granbury... watching Nemo on my laptop in the rental car! So sweet.

This my be my favorite picture of all time. We stopped to change a dirty diaper at Dairy Queen (in the car, NOT in the public restroom... just saying!) And decided to share a family dipped cone. To say that it was a HIT would be the biggest understatement E-VER! These cones are SUCH a childhood memory of mine, oh my!

Checking out the Lake!

The love of my life!

Just got the news that KT may be working IN DALLAS next week... Abby, start clearing your schedule, because I am soooo bound and determined to hang out!

love.

meet em tanner.

I debated whether this post belonged on my family's blog, or my "shopping" blog... I have decided it lands here, where most of my mommy friends regularly stop by and where my kid (+ any and all future kids) will undoubtedly be sporting these designs...

I have fallen in love with em tanner designs. I don't just like her things, I love, love, love them. I am not exaggerating when I say that I want to order one of every single thing that they have for Carson... for my imaginary kids... for ME!... for gifts.... they are just too cute to pass up, and the best part is they are all personalized items, that you can actually customize! She prides herself on being the creator of "the original" sibling tees. One day, I will soooooo be ordering these!

There are SO MANY fabulous things to be found on em tanner's website...

look at these precious plates...

I've read that everyone who has one of these, LOVES them! Definitely need one of these on our refrigerator once we finish having all of our kiddos!

I am absolutely, positively thinking that this is the cutest lunchbox EVER created.

How adorable are these hair clippies? Such a cute addition to a gift!

This is a newer em tanner offering... personalized growth charts! Too cute for words.

I am assuming it's okay to post these photos, they are on Em Tanner's Facebook fan page (which, by the way, you should become a FAN), submitted by happy customers... I just think they all look so precious!

...don't be surprised if Handsome C is looking dapper in an em tanner tee on his 2nd Birthday.

And, if you're ever in doubt about a gift for a Tichenor kiddo, anything em tanner will always be received with A HUGE SMILE!

giveaway x 5!

Thanks to Kelly's Korner, I stumbled upon The Design Girl's blog the other day... just in time for a fabulous giveaway extravaganza. I am swooning over her blog designs, stationery, monogrammed decals, and camera straps!! Oh to win just once!!

Head on over to view her fabulous website and enter to win something special! Here's what you have to look forward to ...

Giveaway #1 - Vinyl monogram

Giveaway #2 - Camera wrist strap

Giveaway #3 - Stationery prints {3}

Giveaway #4 - Pre-made blogger templates {2}

Giveaway #5 - Standard blog makeover

***

we are out of town all week, just outside of fort worth. hubs is here for business, so we decided to tag along. back to blogging by the weekend.

love.

sprinkles.

Sunday afternoon, we went over to my parents to swim, hang out, and do what we do best... EAT! My dad made amazing whole smoked & grilled chickens, my mom made her famous mashed potatoes, and as usual, we had more food than we could possibly eat. Carson was particularly fond of "dessert." A cup full of colorful candy sprinkles from JiJi.

She'd given him the cup, allowing him to roam free... a short time later, he came back in the kitchen to hand her the empty cup. It was then that she and I went looking for the missing sprinkles. We found them all dumped onto the coffee table... JiJi proceeded to teach Carson how to lick them up off the table, with no hands! He was very proud of the sprinkles stuck to his tongue... and his JiJi was a very good sport, eating mouthful after mouthful of candy sprinkles, much to her grandson's delight.

***

Sweet cuddles in the middle of wrestling with Daddy...

Dim Sum at Kim Son after church on Sunday

(there's a HUGE aquarium in the restaurant, so Carson kept showing us what fishies say!)

Playing at Memorial City Mall....

Riding his new Zebra at JiJi & Pop Pop's!

Eating JiJi's amazing mashed potatoes off of MY PLATE from when I was a little girl!

So precious!!

Me, my lovebug, and a gallon of Bluebell! :)

Look at my super cute new UT sandals! Visit Princess & Frogs for a pair... she also does them in brown, or black... with crowns, peace signs, crosses and more! I got brown with crowns as well! Loving them... flip flops are so comfy and practical for these HOT summer days! Mandy (the owner) has tons of cute stuff for kids too... go check her out!

Happy Tuesday.