Getting ready for Winter

6 month pic

I made Halloween cupcakes- Spice Cake with a Butter Cream Cheese Icing

Your choice of grave yard or ghost sprinkles

Oh- and I love my cupcake carrier- ha..lame I know, but people at work were happy

About to take off............

This has happened practically over night. All I know is this weekend he could not do this and look at him! I'm excited yet scared! He is about to be into everything..... I am going to miss my little man, as he takes this first step...I mean, crawl of independence. Sad.....

He isn't crawling yet, but he will push up and rock back and forth- He can hold himself up for a long time, then he just plops back down on the floor. "In order to succeed, try try again" And that- he does.

Gabe watching cartoons

I was doing my own thing while Gabe was getting some tummy time in- Next thing I know he has rolled on his side and is looking up at the television laughing.  I have tried so many things to see what makes him giggle- and it seems Disney's cartoon Phineas and Ferb is the key.

Password: Sheep

6 months- laughing from Alison Holmes on Vimeo.

Gabe Photo Session

Germs, Germs, and Other Things.......

Since having Gabe I have become somewhat of a germ-o-phobe.  My hands are so dry and itchy since I am constantly washing and sanitzing.  I remember hearing a commercial on the radio that said you need to wash  your hands for about 20 seconds or the time it takes to sing, "Happy Birthday" to kill the germs.  So you can gladly find me singing or humming this tune at any nearby sink.  I also carry around a mini container of lysol in my purse.  It absolutly grosses me out to put my hands on the buggy at a grocery store. ughhhh. I get the heebie jeebies just thinking about it.  So- people may think I am weird, but I spray down the handle....wait 20 seconds, then I'm good to go.  Touching the mail has been bothering me lately too.
Despite these antics, Gabe has gotten sick.  It started with a fever last Friday.  It went on for a few days, and I just attributed it to teething.  Monday night, he was on fire, with a 102 temperature.  I called the doctor the next morning, and they advised me to bring him in.  Turns out the little guy has an ear infection and a virus.  He was so pitiful.  You could tell he didn't feel good at all.  He would just lay his head on my chest and moan.  He's on antibiotics, eardrops, and motrin/tylenol.  My dad came to Birmingham to be my manny for the week.  He was a great help.  I hated that I couldn't stay home with Gabe, but I had so much to do at work, and I really didn't need to use any of my sick time.  (I'm pretty sure Dad enjoyed getting to spend so much time with Gabe).  Gabe is better.....still has a cough, and I think his ear is still bothering him as he hasn't been eating very well.  He was out of daycare for a week.  It will be a bit of a transition when he goes back.  My dad definitly spoiled him by holding him so much and giving him a lot of attention.  Now that he has left, Gabe will not let me put him down.  Not wanting to complain, but I'm like Gabe- please just 5 seconds....I have to have a bite of something for dinner.  Hopefully once he is back in daycare, he will return to the happy Gabe I once knew.

Random Thoughts-

* The next Bachelor has been announced.......I can't wait.  Will Jake find true love?????

Where did Fall go?  It was so cold outside today?!?  I hate how Alabama jumps from being scorching hot to cold in the matter of a week- then it flips back to hot again.  Can we please have at least 1 month of perfect sunny 70 degree weather with orange and red colored leaves everywhere?

Thought this was funny:  My friend Ashley and her husband are planning on dressing up as Jim Bob and Michelle Dugger from 18 kids and counting for Halloween.... Here is a pic-  I think this is the most hilarious idea ever...I really hope they go through with it.

Maybe Gabe and I could be some of their kids..................................


Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Weekend Notes

1.  I am all for world peace.  I hope to be very proactive in making that happen.

     Can I have my Nobel Peace Prize now? (I mean, I know I haven't done anything yet in that regard, but I plan on it, so I should get one too, right?)


Even though the Auburn game was a bit of an embarrassment....Gabe was still cheering them them on!

War Eagle

Waldorf Salad

mmmm.... This has been my latest obsession.  I love California Pizza Kitchen's Waldorf Salad.  So yummy!  But, in attempt to save money, but still delight my taste buds, I have started making them myself.

Just wanted to share the recipe and/or remind as a great lunch/dinner idea.

Spring Lettuce
Granny Smith Apples- diced
Seedless Grapes (the purple kind)
Celery- (I leave out)
Gorgonzola Cheese- crumbled
Candied Walnuts- BEST PART
Grilled Chicken Strips (I buy the pre-cooked microwavable kind, but of course home cooked would be better)
Honey Dijon Vinaigrette/ Some people use Bleu Cheese, but Bleu Cheese taste like feet to me

Candied Walnuts- I make these myself-                        
















Bake raw walnuts in the oven on 350 for about 5 min- Be careful not to burn! Cook sugar until it turns a nice caramel color, drop in walnuts, coating well- Now, It's time to work fast- Drop onto wax paper and begin seperating (so you don't get one big clump)- sprinkle a bit of salt- and Your done- These are great just to snack on :)




Combine all ingredients and Enjoy!  I just don't see how you could be dissapointed. 

Kicked out of Church

I started going back to church about 2 months ago. I am very impressed with the organization of the child care.  I arrive, put my number id into a touch screen computer which checks Gabe into the system.  It then prints two stickers, one to put on Gabe, and one for me to keep.  This contains his name, class number, and a code.  I have a sticker with the same information.  I have to present this in order to be able to pick him up.  The code comes in handy if your child is acting up or something is wrong, they will flash it on the jumbo trons during the service.

Today Gabe and I went to the early service.  We arrived about 5 minutes late.  I guess they have different volunteers for each service to work the rooms.  When I walked in, there were two men holding babies in rocking chairs.  I have to admit it caught me off guard.  I know that is a bit sexist, but I am so used to seeing woman.  Anywho- I got Gabe situated and dashed into the service.

After a few songs of worship, David Platt (the pastor), stood up and explained that he wanted to spend some time in the nursery this morning.  He said he wanted to make sure the volunteers and staff felt apprectiated and wanted to dedicate some time just to them.  I was thinking- hey now, Gabe might get held by the pastor!  (It's just such a large church- this idea actaully makes me feel excited).  He leaves, and another song begins.  And up on the screen flashes 7JZ.  My friend leans in and says, "Hey look, Someone's child is being bad, ha"  I said, "Hey now, don't say that it could be mine!"  I was almost hesistant to look down at my sticker, and sure enough in bold print on my sticker was 7JZ. 

I gathered my things and went to see what was going on.  Turns out, Gabe was running a slight fever.  His eyes were sad and red........  I don't think he's sick, so maybe it was from teething, or maybe he just didn't want to be at church today. ha.  We got home and he was fine, no fever, laughing, smiling. 

However, I am thankful that Brook Hills has such an organized system.  I even had a text message from them. 

Hopefully next time I won't have to test it out again.

Here are some recent pics.....

Is his hair turning red??????? It doesn't look it in person, but on camera it does....hmmm

New Job- Week 3

Here's what's going on:

This week was busy for me.  I am helping coordinate details of a training session for Relationship Mangers in Mid-October.  10 people will be flying in from all over our footprint.  I have booked hotels, organized breakfast and lunch for each of the days, put together gift bags, organized two dinners, booked meeting rooms and materials, scheduled speakers, etc, etc. 

Here is a pic of my view from my desk....  (I realize this may be strange to post, but I worked in a building with no windows before, so I am really excited)

And below is a pic of my boss and me- This is going to be on the BBVA Compass internal home page.  I think they are interviewing me next week for an article- not really sure why yet- but hey, I will take the publicity!  It's all about getting your name/face out there.

I love going out to eat.  One of the nice things about working downtown is all the restarurants that are within walking distance.  I am trying to limit eating out as I am on a budget- but the weather is so nice as of late, it just feels wrong to sit inside and eat a plain peanut butter and jelly sandwhich.  This past week one of my coworkers and I went to The Culinard School location downtown.  I had a fancy roast beef wrap and of course I had to get something sweet. 

Check out the mini strawberry cake- mmmmmm

Hear Ye, Hear Ye Read All About It

So- you all remember my post about the "Standing Broom"? Well it seems I started something-  My grandmother, Betty, tried it, and she told someone who told someone- and next thing you know it is in the paper- that's right, the famous "Troy Messenger" (Troy, Al local newspaper). haha- I have copied and pasted the article below- In the article it says she saw something on tv about the broom- but I guess the story was changed around after traveling through so many people, but it should have said from "Alison's blog".  Perhaps my 10 sec of fame is elsewhere.

Here is the article:  (I think in the paper, there was a picture)


The broom stands alone for Harrison

By Jaine Treadwell
Troy Messenger



Published Friday, October 2, 2009

Dot Harrison is not one bit superstitious like her mother was.

However, she has an overactive curiosity and that’s what prompted her to test the belief that during the fall equinox a broom will stand alone.

So, there she was on Sept. 22 with her kitchen broom standing slap-dab in the middle of the floor -- unattended.

And, Thursday night it was still there – unattended.

“We had company over the weekend and we walked all around it,” Harrison said. “If it got knocked over, it just stood right back up.”

Of course, the broom didn’t right itself from the floor. Someone had to stand it back up but then it stayed up on its own.

“It has something to do with the fall equinox,” Harrison said. “Something about the sun and the moon. I read up on it and what I learned was that two times a year – on Sept. 22 and March 21 -- the center of the sun crosses the celestial equator and day and night are of equal length. Now, how that happening will make it possible for a broom to stand alone, I don’t understand. But it does.”

Harrison also doesn’t know why the broom keeps standing or how long it will stand.

“At one time, I had two brooms standing,” she said. One gave up.”

Harrison first heard about the broom and its trickery from her sister-in-law.

“Loyd’s sister, Betty, had seen something about it on television and called and said her broom was standing up on the floor all by itself,” Harrison said. “I didn’t too much believe it but we tried it and up stood the broom.”

Those who have visited the Harrison home in Brundidge have been “flabbergasted.”

“They don’t believe it but there’s no trick to it,” Harrison said. “It just stands there. I wish I could get it to sweep.”

During the fall equinox an egg is also supposed to stand alone but Harrison said she couldn’t get an egg to cooperate.

“It just wouldn’t work,” she said.

Harrison said testing the broom theory had nothing to do with her being superstitious.

“Some people might think I am though,” she said. “My mama knew every superstition in the world and she believed them. An owl hooting at a certain time was a bad sign, probably meant a death was coming. And, we could sweep the floor at night but we couldn’t sweep it out the door. If we did something bad was going to happen, probably a death. And anything we started on Friday we had to finish or something really bad was going to happen. I guess that might have been death, too. Mama knew all the superstitions. But I didn’t believe in all that. If I had, Loyd and I wouldn’t have gotten married on Friday the 13th.

And the broom?

“I was just curious,” Harrison said, laughing.


 © 2009 The Troy Messenger All rights reserved.

Cute pics from the week