PHEW.

Well that was dramatic.

I feel like I just broke up with my boyfriend, talked about my best friend behind her back, cheated on my math test AND didn't get asked to homecoming all in one little click of the "private" button in my blog settings.  But honestly?  I feel SO GOOD about this decision.  I have thought about it for awhile (hello, my whole last name is in the title) and have been feeling more and more led to do so, but I kept telling myself that I would be too sad to see my number of followers go.

Followers Katie?  FOLLOWERS?  Is that REALLY worth the safety and privacy of your child/future children?

No.  Absolutely not.

For me this is absolutely the right decision.  PLUS I can be more candid now (like I wasn't before) because I actually KNOW who you people are that are reading (BTW, I was FLATTERED to find out so many people that I actually know read my blog, that's always a fun thing for a blogger to find out, especially when none of you ... ahem ... comment ... ahem.  Mister, you're included in this calling out.  I'm kidding of course.  Kind of ...) and can therefore know my audience a little better.

So that's where I stand for now.  Hopefully this will inspire me to post a little more since I will feel like I'm talking to my friends (which I am) instead of my friends plus a few hundred randoms of which I don't know if they're other moms like me or dirty 40 year old men in their underwear eating fried chicken.

Gross.

Hopefully y'all enjoy the blog just as much as you did before if not more.  Here's to Life in the PRIVATE Fulmer Lane!

Fulmer Christmas Card ...

Since I OBVIOUSLY can't get it together to do an actual post (as evidenced by the fact that I haven't posted since last TUESDAY) I'm just going to post our Christmas card this year, since they've all officially gone out and have been delivered to their final destinations.

Seriously I have one child.  And I stay at home.  What am I going to do whenever we decide to add another little Fulmer to the bunch?  {Did I mention he now crawls up on things, pulls off the ends of door stops and eats them and tries to put his fingers in every socket imaginable?}

Get it together Kate ...

Okay, no more rambling.  Here's our AMAZING card done by my AMAZING Silly (SIL) @  Pink Door Design.  I'm not sure if she can still do designs before Christmas, but I've been telling y'all to use her greatness for any of your party, announcement, invitation needs.  I promise she WON'T disappoint!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from our family to yours!!!

A Gift Guide for Guys ...

I just HAD to share this post with you loverlies. One, because I thought that any girls needing help in the "getting their certain someone that certain something" area would appreciate it but also, because a few of the Mister's fraternity brothers and good friends are some of the guys highlighted in the post.

Oh AND also because it's done by my friend and fabulous blog designer as well. Duh.

Enjoy!

One Year Photoshoot!

Well, I showed you the sneak peek.  And the rest were just as amazing as the peeks.  I won't blubber on about how amazing Becky Z is or her knack with kiddos, I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.  There is one that I won't share until later, only because we're using it on our Christmas card.  So here you go, my little 1-year-old's 1 year photoshoot!

The last two he's doing his "excited face".  He does this every time he's excited about something or sees something new.  It's stinkin' precious.

Thanks to the AMAZING Becky Z for such a precious memory!!!



Thanksgiving (AND A Giveaway Winner!) ...

I have funny stories to tell and 1 year pictures to post but have a runny-nosed, clingy sweet little guy that wants to be on the computer as SOON as he sees momma on it so I have to be quick.  I'll catch y'all up on Tgiving.

We did the usual gauntlet run of my tons of family locations starting at my aunt Kathy's (dad's side of the family).  This is generally where I heap as much as I possibly can on my plate eat the most because it's the first stop of the day and I'm generally hungry (of course skipping breakfast in preparation for our all-day-long feast). 

{SIDENOTE:  This post was started on Friday of last week, however (obviously) it didn't get finished.  My runny-nosed guy is much better, we had a fun weekend and he's napping now so I can actually finish this post AND update y'all on who won the feather necklace, so keep reading to see if it's you!}

{This kid LOVES his Pops!}

 {My cousin Austin home from the Navy!  C is uninterested ...}

{Never stops moving.  Apparently that happens when you're a toddler.}

We then headed to my Mamaw's house (mom's side of the fam) and stuffed our faces all over again.  I bought a turkey and a Santa hat for C at one of the holiday bazaars I went to and TOTALLY forgot to put it on him for the first family's get together.  LUCKILY my Silly reminded me and he wore it at the second ...

{Such a little ham that little turkey!}

Then, after we unbuttoned our pants finished our second feast we loaded everyone in the car and headed to join my dad at Coon Creek for the rest of the holiday.  My brother and Silly drove in the next day and we had a really REALLY fun weekend.

{First night there.  Baby asleep, fire in the fireplace, little cocktail in hand, handsome Mister to snuggle with on the couch = holiday bliss.}

{The boys ready to go out, brave the cold and HUNT!}

{C wearin' his camo and eating a snack while daddy's in the blind.}

{Cheers to Sillies, Coon Creek and fun glasses!}

And that was our Tgiving.  Did I mention how much I have to be thankful for?  Because I do.  So much.  The Lord has truely blessed us.

NOW, onto the WINNER of my giveaway!  The lovely feather necklace goes TOOOOOOO ...

Miss Sarah of Moske Monkey Business!  Comment here and I'll email you back to get your email address to send to Shabby Apple!  Congrats Sarah, I hope you enjoy your DARLING necklace!!!

Happy Monday loves!!!  I'm off to finish decorating my tree while the little man sleeps ...

Giveaway Time!

Okay friends, I know I promised a giveaway yesterday but C has a cold.  And I may have locked him in the car at Target yesterday while he was screaming.  Thank the Lord for OnStar.  But that's another story for another time (tomorrow).  That's all to say that yesterday I was a little sidesmacked.

But anyramble ...

On to the FREE stuff!  So the lovely ladies at Shabby Apple asked if I'd be interested in giving away one of their adorable little pieces and of COURSE I obliged!  I showed y'all the little beaute on Wednesday but I'll show you again ...

This adorable feather necklace!  Idn't she purdy?  So what do you have to do to enter?  Well, I'll tell you.  First, you must be a follower of my blog.  Then, head on over to Shabby Apple's facebook page and like them.  That's a mandatory entry.  For extra entry points you can follow their blog and follow them on Twitter (which I would put a link to but it won't let me find them since I don't tweet, I'm assuming all of you that are tweeters know how to find people?)  Last, leave a seperate comment letting me know you've done all these things and I'll pick a winner via random.org on Sunday night!  Good LUCK girls!  Is it wrong that I want to start an anonymous blog so I can enter and give it to myself?  Yes?  Okay fine, fine.  Be the voice of reason why don't you.

I have 1 year picture posts, the day from cold H-E-double hockey sticks and a weekend post coming up.  For now?  I'm going to go sleep while my little boogie nose sleeps.  Happy Tuesday all!!!

Feeling Thankful.

For this little 24 lb turkey.



And so many other things.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

We Have a Floater!

So the night before last I was giving C a tubby (which is what we call a bath in our house).  I knew, with having a little boy, this was eventually bound to happen.  He was splish splashin' away as usual, throwing his toys in and out of his little blow up bathtub when all of a sudden, his face turned bright red.  I looked at him, said, "Are you about to do what I think you're about to do?" followed by a, "Surely not." to which he replied with what I thought he was about to do.  As the redness from his face disappeared an extra object, one which is definately NOT a toy and one that usually only joins us in closed, contained diapers appeared.  That's right.  We had a floater.  And then a second and third floater followed shortly thereafter.  As soon as I saw the first I scooped C up out of his tub and yelled to the Mister "SUGARRRRRR, WE HAVE POOP!"  He yelled back with a, "What?" and I SCREAMED back with a, "He pooped in the tub, HE POOPED IN THE TUB!!!"  I'm not sure how the Mister attained light-speed so quickly but he was in that bathroom before I finished the word "tub".  We both stood there, looking at each other, while I held C under the arms dangling over the tub with a "WHAT THE HECK DO WE DO!?!?" look on our face.  The Mister quickly went and grabbed a diaper and some wipes and stood there looking at me, again with a "NOW WHAT?" look on his face, while I continued to hang C over his tub.  The Mister then decided he should just start wiping.  And that's the point where we realized C wasn't ... done.  So what did we do?  Hang him over his tub so he could ... finish taking care of business.  All the while the poor guy is looking at us like "Mom, if this is what happens whenever the diaper goes away I'm not sure I EVER want to be potty-trained.  Is this what y'all do?  Cause this is GROSS!"  It was at this point between the gagging and the dangling of the baby that we started to giggle.  Because the sheer chaos and hilarity of it all were too much to resist.  Once we regained control of ourselves we wiped the offender (or the hiney as most would call it), got C in a diaper and the Mister, once again, got dad o' the year award and proceeded to ... clean up the bathroom.  There was a lot of Lysol, Tilex and throwing away of the tub (and every toy in it) involved.  I couldn't help but be reminded of the scene in "Life As We Know It"  with Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl where Sophie has the same bathtime incident.  So, needless to say we are going to Walmart today to buy C a new tub.  And possibly some bathtime diapers.  Do they make those?  Because they should ...

And on a completely different note, SOMEONE is going to be having a GIVEAWAY soon!  I hope you know that I mean me by someone.  What will I be giving away?

Well the lovely people at Shabby Apple contacted me with their interest in hosting a giveaway on my little ole' blog and I HAPPILY accepted.  And this little beauty is what they're offering my fantastic readers ...

This FABULOUS gold feather necklace!  I mean I really want it for myself.  But the Mister said that making myself a winner wasn't fair.  Dadgummit. 

I'll give you more info and tell you how to win and all that jazz on Monday.  For now?  Y'all go get your holidays started with your families, enjoy this time of eating too much, cozying up by fireplaces and watching football and the holiday movie marathons that are sure to come on TBS, TNT and every other cable channel. See y'all next Monday!

Happiest Thanksgiving everyone!!!

Preview ...

Just a little preview of C's one year photo shoot with the AMAZING Becky Z Photography.  And by preview I mean these are the only couple I've seen as well.  Can't WAIT to see them all!

Also, the Mister was dad o' the year last night and watched little man so I could go see Breaking Dawn!  Has anyone else seen it yet?!?  Because I thought it was amazing.  And I definately plan on seeing it another good 10 5 times or so.  Worst part?  We have to wait until NOVEMBER 2012 TO SEE THE NEXT PART!  I'm not the most patient of people.  So this doesn't sit well with me.  Oh well, I guess I'll just have to see the first one an extra 20 10 times to hold me over.

And now I'm done acting like that's actually a big deal (but let's be honest, it kinda is for us Twi-nerds, right?) and we'll move onto something more humorous.

Since we're on the subject of Breaking Dawn AND because I just love all things Ellen, I had to share this video ...

I hope that made your day like it did mine.  If not, you're probably not as much as a Twi-nerd as I am.



Another Letter to My Blog ...

Dear Blog,

I'm sorry that I haven't been around lately. And for treating you like you stole my boyfriend, called me fat and spread a rumor that I still like Milli Vanilli around the entire school. But I've been busy blog. With what you ask?

Well there's the obvious. My one year old whose new found mastering of walking, making him an ACTUAL toddler (I assume, since he toddles all over the place. Would one be correct in assuming this is what gains toddlerhood status, or is there a certain age?), has caused his mommy to be on constant guard for near head injuries at any given stumble. Luckily he usually falls on his padded, diapered behind but we have had some unfortunate incidents with a glider ottoman (fortunately covered in minky fabric) and a toy chest (unfortunately covered in wood) but he's a tough little guy. Pops right back up and toddles on. Oh and I know you know this but he had not one but TWO first birfday celebrations. Which about did. momma. in.

Besides him? Well we had family pictures last Thursday which required getting myself the Mister and the baby dressed in coordinating, but trying to look like we didn't try to coordinate, outfits (the Mister officially hates this word, it makes him feel girly). We should get those back this coming week and I can't WAIT. The ones of C not screaming because we took away his "sticks" (pieces of grass so dead and stiff that I'm pretty sure they were possibly dangerous and could be used as a weapon) and made him change locations (which was twice) should be SUPER cute. And I'm just praying we get one good one for our Christmas card. By the way Santa? If you're reading this, that's what I want for Christmas. Just one decent Christmas card picture (C may or may not have been in full back arched, head back, fit throwing stance since we'd taken away one of his "sticks") ...

Thanksgiving is next week and as I mentioned in regards to C's party, I have some deep Texas relatives which leads to breeding like rabbits a lot of aunts, uncles and 1st, 2nd and 8th cousins twice removed attending our (several locations of) feasts. Which means? I need to bring something to each location. And by BRING I mean go to the store and buy something pre-made.

Oh and not that this is stressful AT ALL but I've been busy craft fairing. You see, my absolute favorite thing to do with my mom starting October is to go to holiday bazaars. The biggest, bestest, most awesomest one in Dallas that my mom and I have gone to EVERY year since I was a junior in high school, fell on the day I had C last year. I asked the nurses if I could go if my mom pushed me in the hospital bed but the dang party poopers said no. Something about IV's getting caught on things, blah, blah, blah. Plus I WAS taking a little trip to Crazy Town at that point (also known as Post Partum, USA) so it wouldn't have been a good situation anyways. But this year? This year I was READY! And boy did we get some fun stuff! Cannot WAIT til next year!

And there's a few other things busy-ing up my life, sweet blog, but you're way too cool for me and know too many peeps out there in the WWW so I'm going to keep them to myself. Cause they're a little personal. But busy-causing nonetheless.

So please don't put me on your "she's not my friend anymore, I'm never having her over to spend the night or playing barbies with her or braiding her hair anymore" list. I promise I'll be back. And when I am I'll buy you a new episode of Teen Bop magazine, a 104 oz. Slurpee and the newest and coolest color of Wet N' Wild nail polish. K?

X's & O's,
Your BFF KT

PS-There will most likely be more of these letters.

PPS-There DEFINITELY will be when Fulmer babe #2 comes into play.

PPPS-For all your curious friends, that won't be until C is AT LEAST closer to two.

C is for Caleb!

Here we go.  Round 2!  C's second birfday celebration.  So I already showed you the theme portrayed in the invite here, which also highlights my amazing Silly who is the designer of the invite as well as the graphics behind the signs and labels at the party.  She also sent me the idea, via Pinterest, of buying paper plates to back the letters she made for the fireplace banner I was up until midnight the night before making made.  My sweet friend Amanda made C's shirt (and I would plug her here but she's closing up shop to spend more time with her family and prepare for baby # THREE!) and my bestest friend in the world made the Happy Birthday sign that hung on the front door and welcomed everyone to the party.  Don't I have some awesome friends?  I sure think I do.

Anyways, you should get the jest of the party after seeing the pictures SO, without further adieu, I'll let them speak for themselves ...

 

 

 

 

 And those are just a FEW of the 65 ones I took.  To be honest there are a lot more however, the Mister (and I'm now a strong advocate as well) is not a fan of having a lot of pictures of the inside of our home on here.  It's probably overkill safety-wise but still, this IS the WORLD WIDE web.  You know what I mean?  But I think you got a pretty good feel for the party from the ones I did post.  And the fact that there must have been some mix up in the delivery room since there is no WAY my child wouldn't like cake.  And the fact that apparently turning one = squirm and squiggle and whine while being held, trying to take a picture or do anything other than get down and explore.  Did I mention he's walking?  No?  He is.  Took his first steps a few weeks ago.  HOW DID I NOT BLOG THAT?!?  That's another post entirely ...

Well, I hope you enjoyed the little glimpse I did show you.  I hope you understand not wanting to go all "MTV Cribs" style with pictures of the inside of our house.

Thanks to everyone who wished my little man a happy 1st birthday!  We are into full-on toddlerhood now and this momma's lovin' every minute of it (and maybe looking on amazon at where to buy helmets for a 1 year old)!!!