What does a stay-at-home wife/mom get excited about?

Throughout the year I have kept a running list on my phone of things I'd like for Christmas. There is lots of good stuff on there. Purses? Nope. Funky nail polish? Nope. No, by "good stuff," I mean really cool things like a bread knife and a rolling pin, dishes, flatware, and a travel coffee mug (mine all leak). Yeah, I'm asking for good stuff this year.

Lately I've had several "conversations" on facebook that have made me question my own sanity. A few weeks ago, a friend's status lead to 12+ comments from myself and other ladies about the pro's and con's of hardwood, tile, and carpet. Today, a friend posted she'd gotten a new vacuum and loved it. I asked what kind it was. I've also shared and learned lots of stain-removing and cleaning tips through facebook conversations.

Last week I had lunch with a friend, and we spent at least 10 minutes discussing the cleaning of carpet and couches. Sunday I realized my husband had cleaned the ceiling fan in the living room. That was definitely a happy moment for me. And did I mention that I went to Target yesterday? For storage containers that were on sale?

a good place for a cowboy to bed down for the night

Last week we were able to pick up the last of Lincoln's bedding. Oh how in love with it we are! I can't thank Lori and Amy enough for the awesome work they do and the amazing talents they possess. We picked it up Saturday morning before my baby shower, and I could hardly wait to get it home and put in his crib. As soon as the gifts were unloaded from the car, the very excited daddy-to-be made a bee-line for the nursery, bedding in hand. As soon as it was finished we just stood there hugging each other and staring at it. (I might have even had a few tears in my eyes.) Then, of course, Daddy-to-Be insisted on taking some pictures.


This is the comforter.





And the full set...

Catching up - Pregnancy portraits

A few weeks ago Steven and I were able to meet up with fellow (and rather fabulous) photographer, Kendy for a fun pregnancy portrait session.

Here is some of her awesome work from that day.

35 Weeks

How far along? 35 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Not sure. I'll find out tomorrow morning and report back. :-)

Maternity clothes? Yes

Stretch marks? Not nearly as bad as they could be.

Sleep: Mostly good. Lots of crazy dreams though.

Best moment this week: Getting Lincoln's bedding and getting lots of hugs and kisses from my sweet nieces, Hanna & Kaeleigh while they were here visiting.

Movement: Lots

Food cravings: today it was apples

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: Braxton hicks are occurring more and more

Belly Button in or out? still in

What I miss: nothing at the moment

What I am looking forward to: our next ultrasound on Friday

Weekly Wisdom: Do not tell a pregnant woman she "needs to" or "really should" get an epidural and then state that yours didn't work.

Baby's Development:



"Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight." -babycenter.com

Bedding sneak peek!

Today we got the comforter! We love, love, love it.
I'm just a little excited about it. Can you tell?

The rope fabric was Steven's must-have request. I honestly wasn't really crazy about it when I saw the sample online, but once the actual fabric came in, I liked it. Now that I've seen it in use, I love it.





Want your little one to have custom bedding? Contact Lori at Institches. She's super talented.

34 Weeks

Ok, this pregnancy stuff is catching up with me and I'm getting super lazy with my blog posting. Sorry! I'm really trying not to neglect it. The above picture is not the only one from this week, but it's the only one I like. :-)

How far along? 34 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 25 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Well yes.

Stretch marks? Let's not go there.

Sleep: Well I go to sleep, and I don't wake up all night, but I'm still super tired the next day.

Best moment this week: Getting to see our pregnancy portraits and getting Lincoln's comforter. I love them!

Movement: Yep

Food cravings: sweet stuff (grrr...not good)

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button in or out? still in

What I miss: nothing at the moment

What I am looking forward to: pants without elastic!

Weekly Wisdom: No wisdom this week.

Baby's Development:

"Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies." -babycenter.com

33 Weeks

*Sorry, no picture this week. I put this together with plans to get a picture, and have yet to do it. I don't feel like to today. Oh well, so I'm just going to post it without a picture.


How far along? 33 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I don't know.

Maternity clothes? Well yes.

Stretch marks? Let's not go there.

Sleep: Well I go to sleep, and I don't wake up all night, but I'm still super tired the next day.

Best moment this week: Pregnancy pictures!

Movement: Yep

Food cravings: none

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button in or out? still in

What I miss: Jeans withOUT an elastic waistband

What I am looking forward to: seeing our pregnancy portraits

Weekly Wisdom: No wisdom this week.

Baby's Development:


"Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month. " -thebump.com



"This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood." -babycenter.com

32 Weeks!

How far along? 32 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I don't know and don't feel like finding out.

Maternity clothes? Well yes.

Stretch marks? No more new ones.

Sleep: Surprisingly good.

Best moment this week: Taking engagement pictures for my beautiful best friend and her fiance.

Movement: Yep

Food cravings: sweets

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button in or out? still in

What I miss: Jeans withOUT an elastic waistband

What I am looking forward to: Our pregnancy photo session tomorrow! Can't wait!

Weekly Wisdom: Nothing profound for you this week. Sorry.


Baby's Development:


"By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth." -babycenter.com

31 Weeks

How far along? 31 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 22 lbs. (Yes, I did actually just put that on the Internet for all the world to see.)

Maternity clothes? Well yes.

Stretch marks? No more new ones.

Sleep: Surprisingly good.

Best moment this week: Finally meeting and holding Steven's new baby cousin, Hayden last Friday.

Movement: Yep

Food cravings: Honey Nut Cheerios

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button in or out? still in

What I miss: My husband

What I am looking forward to: Our pregnancy photo session next week! And hopefully going to the fair this weekend.

Weekly Wisdom: Nothing profound for you this week. Sorry.

Other Milestones: Andrea, you'll be happy to know that the baseboards have been purchased! They haven't been installed though. haha

Baby's Development:


"This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy." - babycenter.com

30 Weeks

I'm getting lazy with my blogging lately. I put the post together, but then am too lazy to find my camera and upload the picture. Guess I need to work on that.

How far along? 30 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I don't even want to know.

Maternity clothes? No. Hahahahaha.

Stretch marks? I've discovered a few new ones, but thankfully they are VERY faint.

Sleep: Suprisingly good.

Best moment this week: Spending the day in childbirth class with the husband last weekend.

Movement: Yep

Food cravings: none

Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: more Braxton Hicks, but that's it

Belly Button in or out? still in

What I miss: I really can't think of anything at the moment.

What I am looking forward to: Shopping at the Twinkle Twinkle Sale!

Weekly Wisdom: Nothing profound for you this week. Sorry.

Other Milestones: I'm now going to be going to the doctor every two weeks.

Baby's Development:



"Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)" -babycenter.com

29 Weeks

*Apparently pregnancy brain kicked in during my blogging this week and I didn't hit "publish post." Oops. Anyway, here it is, finally.*

How far along? 29 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 18 lbs. (The scale is no longer my friend.)

Maternity clothes? Yep, and I got a few new things!

Stretch marks? no new ones

Sleep: Good, except for that early morning potty interruption.

Best moment this week: Spending the long weekend with my husband.

Movement: Lots, but only when HE wants to.

Food cravings: none

Gender: Boy! Definitely a boy.

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button in or out? still in

What I miss: I really can't think of anything at the moment.

What I am looking forward to: Our upcoming childbirth class at the hospital next weekend.

Weekly Wisdom: Do NOT get on the Wii Fit board while nearly 30 weeks pregnant. It doesn't recognize pregnancy. It will, however, tell you that you are obese.

Other Milestones: Exciting stuff this week? I can STILL paint my own toes and shave my legs. Heck yeah.

Baby's Development:


"Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs to the ribs tipped you off yet?) Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments. " -thebump.com


"Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day." -babycenter.com

Goin' on a treasure hunt!

This morning I finally worked up the courage to brave the bugs and heat in our storage building to look for my children's books. I pulled out three Rubbermaid tubs, and I think there is at least one more out there, that contain my sister's and my books from our childhood. I slid them onto our wagon and delivered the boxes to my kitchen to sort through them there. I'm nowhere near finished, but I thought I'd share a few of the great finds I have come across so far.

These were two of my favorites. I love Little Bear!


You can't see it in this picture, but most of these have a price of $.89 in the top right corner. The last one, Sleepy Bear, has a sticker on it that says $.82.


I can't wait to read these stories to Lincoln.



This next one is actually my sister's, and we still have the Teddy Ruxpin doll with the tape player in it...somewhere. It's in another box in storage.


This one is my sister's too. Remember these guys?

Our Stubborn Child

Some of you may remember this post about my stubborn son. He hasn't changed.

Yesterday was the day we had been wating for - the 3D/4D ultrasound! Our appointment was for 11, and we arrived at the clinic at about 10:50. Our appointment started right on time, but we had a small issue. Lincoln wasn't interested in participating. In fact, he was asleep with his head turned away from us. We spent a long time poking and prodding my belly, hoping to wake him up. I even had Steven get out my phone and play some music for him since he has been known to enjoy "dancing" to some music. No luck. He refused to cut his nap short for us. We even threatened, begged, and bribed. Nothing was working. (Not even the promise of a pony!) Then the tech went and got the buzzer used for the non-stress tests. It is supposed to make an annoying noise that causes the baby to jump. Still no luck. He'd move a bit, but just enough to get comfortable again. He refused to turn his face to us.

Finally, at about 11:45, the tech asked us if we wanted to take a break, grab something to eat (preferably something sweet for me), and return in an hour. She said maybe eating something sweet would wake him up. I was getting pretty hungry by this point, so we decided it couldn't hurt to try.

We made our way across town to Burger King for lunch and a milkshake and returned to the clinic in time to start our appointment back up at 12:45. For another half-hour we poked and prodded. We were all three getting discouraged at this point, and I was afraid the tech was going to give up. I'm glad she didn't though. Finally, at about 1:15, he decided to start waking up. He turned over, yawned a lot, and made faces for us! Finally!

A few more things we have learned about our little boy:

He weighs 2 lbs. 4 oz.

He's a sound sleeper. I think it's because he's used to me playing loud music in the house, the dogs barking all the time, and the cat stepping all over my stomach. Let's hope this trait continues.

Yesterday morning I was trying to wake up Steven. I commented that I hoped our son would wake up like him because it's cute. He's a bit pouty and makes funny faces and then suddenly he's jumping out of bed and on the go. Well what do ya know? Lincoln does the same thing! Too cute! Lincoln woke up the exact same way Steven does - he made some cute faces and took a bit to wake up, and just when we thought he wasn't going to actually wake up, he was suddenly wide awake and moving all over the place.

He also looks just like his daddy when he sleeps. Yesterday afternoon we were both exhausted and came home for a nap before I had to go to work. When I woke up, Steven had his head on my shoulder with his chin squished down and and a groggy pouty face going on. I cracked up because all I could see was Lincoln's little face from the first picture above staring back at me from Steven's face. What a blessing!

28 weeks

How far along? 28 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 16 lbs. (The scale is no longer my friend.)

Maternity clothes? Yep

Stretch marks? no new ones

Sleep: just dandy

Best moment this week: Getting to see my baby boy at our 3D/4D ultrasound yesterday!

Movement: Only when HE wants to.

Food cravings: none

Gender: Boy! Definitely a boy.

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button in or out? still in

What I miss: I really can't think of anything at the moment.

What I am looking forward to: The first ASU Redwolves football game of the year!

Weekly Wisdom: I'm all out of wisdom.

Baby's Development:

"By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world."

27 weeks - Goodbye 2nd trimester!

How far along? 27 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 14 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Yep

Stretch marks? no new ones

Sleep: just dandy

Best moment this week: Getting a surprise gift in the mail from my friend Heather!

Movement: Yes, and he's finally starting to be a little less shy around his daddy.

Food cravings: Salad

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button in or out? still in

What I miss: I really can't think of anything at the moment.

What I am looking forward to: Taking Steven to Almyra for the first time this weekend.

Weekly Wisdom: Do not wait until you are actually hungry to start cooking or making something for lunch. If you think you'll be hungry in 15-30 minutes, start something. By the time I actually had lunch ready today, I was starving. Not good. Apparently my kid goes from not hungry at all to starving to death in less than 5 minutes.


Baby's Development:

"This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle." - babycenter.com

"Got a sudden pain in your rear? That's just baby, settling into place for his upcoming debut. His head might be pressing on your sciatic nerve, which can cause pain and numbness down the backs of your legs. Don't worry -- it'll ease up soon after labor. For now, your aching back deserves a pat. You've reached trimester three!" - thebump.com

My favorite things

I was recently tagged by my friend Bev over @ Running along with my husband and dog to participate in this fun little blog game.

Here are the rules:

1. Mention and link back to the person who tagged you.

2. List 6 little things that make you happy.

3. Tag 6 other bloggers and let them know they're "it".

6 of My Favorite Things

1. My hottie of a husband, who also happens to know how to operate a vacuum and cook a mean egg sandwich (You're jealous, I know.)


2. Feeling flips, flops, and kicks from the little guy to whom these belong

3. My animals. I have to cheat and put all three of these as one.
Our adorable yet spoiled (and dare I say a bit deceiving?), cocker spaniel Emerald



Our lovable red heeler Minnie Pearl who has an odd habit of sitting like this and watching television. I think it's a bit sad/odd that she watches more tv than either of the people in this house.



My fat kitty, Roush and his crazy ways.
Notice the little stream of water in the bottom right corner of this pic. He pretty much refuses to drink water that isn't fresh, as in currently running. He also has no problems with being wet. Very strange cat...


4. Looking out my kitchen window to see this


5. Sno cones. I'm pretty fond of those red shoes too. :-)


6. Funyuns!
(And my adorable husband who brought back this full size bag when I requested some -expecting a snack size bag- at a gas station on a recent trip out of town.)


I'm tagging:

1. Courtney @Adventures in Travel Nursing

2. Jamie @The Life of Molly and Sarah

3. Andrea @Wright where we want to be!

4. Shaila @The Creekmore Four

5. Kim @Newlywoodwards

6. Becky @Our Sweet Peas

Works For Me Wednesday - Free Chocolate!

I love Snickers bars. They are definitely my favorite candy. I'm also a fan of M&M's. Snickers though, are my first love. They keep this pregnant girl sane after a crazy day. Strangely, I don't usually eat a lot of sweets though. However, sometimes I just need a Snickers. How about getting some of these (or other Mars chocolate candies) for free? Go to www.realchocolate.com every Friday through Sept. 25 and you can register to receive a coupon for FREE chocolate. Yes, it works. I've been participating for the last several weeks. I'm going to be very sad when this offer ends.

Free chocolate is what Works For Me. Do you have a tip that works for you? Join us at We Are That Family, and share your tip!

26 weeks

*Andrea - please note that the baseboards still haven't been put up. :-)

How far along? 26 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 12 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Yep

Stretch marks? no new ones

Sleep: just dandy

Best moment this week: When Steven left on Sunday. He rubbed my tummy and said, "I love you, Lincoln." Then when he walked out the door he turned and said, "I love y'all." Somehow I held it together, sitting there at the dining room table, but it sure makes me teary-eyed to think about it now.

Movement: Yes

Food cravings: Grapes

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button in or out? still in

What I miss: drinking lots and lots of Sonic sweet tea - stupid caffeine...

What I am looking forward to: Getting Lincoln's bedding! We ordered it this week.

Weekly Wisdom: Yard sales are a pregnant girl's friend.


Baby's Development:

"The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days." -babycenter.com

25 weeks

How far along? 25 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 11 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Yep

Stretch marks? no new ones

Sleep: just dandy

Best moment this week: Steven FINALLY getting to feel Lincoln's kicks!

Movement: Yes

Food cravings: None this week.

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button in or out? still in

What I miss: having more wardrobe options everyday

What I am looking forward to: Going to eat Cajun food tonight!

Weekly Wisdom: Don't take life too seriously. It's ok to laugh - even at yourself.


Baby's Development:

"Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes." -thebump.com

"Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture." -babycenter.com

Must be comfy!

This bouncy seat was given to us by a sweet lady at our church. (Thanks, Ms. Pam!) It has been sitting in the kitchen floor for about a week now, and none of the animals have seemed at all interested in it - until today.

At least we know it's comfy! I just hope Roush doesn't get too attached.

Warning! Being frugal can backfire!

It can lead to a spoiled husband asking you to spend lots more time in the kitchen! That's not good considering my stove and I really aren't bff's. In fact, I'm not sure I'm even on a first name basis with any appliance in my kitchen other than the fridge. While I really try to be a good housewife, sometimes I feel like I should be in one of those pictures in my apron with the big red "FAIL" written across it.

Anyhoo...

A while back I had frozen some strawberries that were on the verge of going bad but I didn't know what I wanted to do with them yet. I sure didn't want to throw them away though. One thing we go through quite a bit of at our house is jelly and jam. We're big pb&j fans, and we also eat biscuits with jelly or jam for breakfast fairly often. (And I tend to cringe every time I buy it. That stuff's not cheap.) While reading some blogs doing some research to better my home-making skills, I came across a recipe for freezer jam. I thought it seemed fairly easy (i.e. Emily-Proof). I bought some Sure Gel pectin and made strawberry freezer jam using the recipe in the box. I ended up with 6 half-pint jars of the concoction. I put one in the fridge and the rest in the freezer. (I even had enough crushed strawberries left over for a batch of strawberry pancakes, and boy were they good!)

Yesterday, my husband pulled the jar out of the fridge, dug in with a spoon and said, "You're not allowed to buy that other (mass produced) stuff ever again if you can make stuff like this. I could eat this whole jar by itself." Good thing I bought a whole case of jars. I think I need to invest in some nice, cushy mats for my kitchen floor. I'm sure my feet will thank me. I see lots of time being spent in the kitchen in the next few months.

And as if that didn't teach me my lesson, I spent the afternoon making wheat bread. Maybe he won't like it. Yeah right. However, he's such a sweetie that Mr. did offer to help me make several loaves of bread once a month so that I don't have to do it every week. Yes, I think I'll keep him.

24 weeks

Sorry for the cruddy picture. I'll get a better one put up when I get home - hopefully.

How far along? 24 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I have no access to a scale at the moment and no desire to step on one.

Maternity clothes? Yep

Stretch marks? no new ones

Sleep: Awful, thanks to the stupid bed I've been sleeping on this week. I took a nap on the couch this morning and wondered why I hadn't been sleeping on it all week.

Best moment this week: I don't know about "best," but feeling my first Braxton Hicks contraction was quite interesting.

Movement: Oh yes, there's movement, but only when his Daddy isn't trying to feel it - little monkey.

Food cravings: None this week.

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button in or out? still in

What I miss: my bed

What I am looking forward to: seeing my bestest friend, Lauren today!

Weekly Wisdom: I think I'm all out of wisdom.


Baby's Development:

"Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon." -babycenter.com

Not me Monday! Ooohh, Jingle bells! Jingle bells...

Well, MckMama hasn't posted a Not Me Monday lately, as her littlest one has been battling his heart problems again. He's a fighter though, and according to her most recent posts, he is currently doing much better! Yaaaay God! So, in honor of Stellen's great news, I'm posting a Not Me Monday.



Christmas has NOT been on my mind lately.

Maybe I went in Hobby Lobby several weeks ago and saw the Christmas merchandise already out? No, I didn't do that. I do not get extremely giddy every time I walk into Hobby Lobby and see all the wonderful Christmas decorations out. Please note, if you see a redheaded girl wondering around Hobby Lobby with glazed-over eyes, giggling, clapping, and quietly squealing with delight - that's NOT me. Might be my sister. Or maybe my friend Courtney? :-)

Then I went into Target last week to get some photos developed and overheard a lady mentioning they had toys on clearance and she was stocking up for Christmas. I did NOT think that was a brilliant idea.

Then over lunch on Sunday, my husband decided to poke fun at me for my love of all things Christmas - including music- because he came home on Friday and caught me listening to it. It must be inherited because my dad rolled his eyes and pointed a finger at my mother, declaring that he had recently gotten into her SUV to discover Christmas cd's in the cd player. Oh wait, none of that happened either.

This morning, when trying to decide which topic to blog about, my love of Christmas did NOT enter my mind. I was NOT getting ready to post about the awesome deals I got at Target last week. Then, I saw THIS post by my friend Kim, over at The Newlywoodwards.

Oh, and my iTunes did not just randomly pull a Christmas song out of the depths of my song list.

So, even if I were to think about Christmas in July and August, it would not be my fault. Everyone else is doing it. I don't have to worry abou that though. I love Christmas, but I can restrain from thinking about it, even when everyone else is thinking about and talking about Christmas.

So now I'm NOT dreaming about these little guys.

Nor am I excited to see how cute they look in my newly painted kitchen.

And this on my front door...

Or this in my living room.

No, I'm not obsessed with Christmas at all. Not looking forward to the cooler weather, the lights, the parades, or the thousands of times I'll hear Jingle Bell Rock.

But since we're on the subject of Christmas, I'd like to say that Christmas will be even more exciting with a little one around this year. Also, having a baby in November has it's perks. We get to put up Christmas decorations early! Usually my husband refuses to help with any kind of Christmas decor before Thanksgiving. Ok, who am I kidding? He doesn't help with them after Thanksgiving either, except for unloading them out of storage. If I want anything up before then, I have to dig it out of storage myself. This year, however, we have a baby due to arrive the week of Thanksgiving. That means, my tree will be going up at the beginning of November! Woohoo! And this pregnant chick WILL get outdoor Christmas lights this year. We already have them, but a pregnancy-induced hissy fit may be needed to actually get them put up. I hope not though.

Did you know there are 143 day until Christmas! But whose counting? I'm not!

23 weeks

How far along? 23 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +7 lbs

Maternity clothes? Yes, but no new ones this week

Stretch marks? no new ones

Sleep: Pretty good

Best moment this week: Sitting in the rocking chair in the nursery in the mornings

Movement: Oh yes, there's movement!

Food cravings: Sweet stuff. My cravings change on a weekly basis.

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button in or out? still in

What I miss: Running - never thought I'd hear myself say that.

What I am looking forward to: VBS tonight

Weekly Wisdom:



Baby's Development:


"Baby's little face is fully formed...minus the baby fat, of course. The next task at hand for baby: sprouting two teeny-tiny nipples!" - thebump.com


"Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb." - babycenter.com

They had no idea.

When my parents met my husband nearly 6 years ago, in the fall of 2003, they had no idea that he would one day be their son-in-law. I'm fairly certain they thought, 'It's just a phase.' They were probably sure that he wouldn't last any longer than any of my previous boyfriends. I'd say that's a normal reaction for parents whose honor roll child just introduced them to a guy obviously older than her with multiple piercings. C'mon, how long could that really last?

A few months later, when my dad discovered that his sweet little 16 year old baby girl would soon be dating a 20 year-old man, I'm not sure exactly what he was thinking, but the look on his face sure said a lot. By that point, he'd already decided he liked Steven, so there wasn't much he could say I guess. For the record, I never lied about his age. I said he was 19 - the truth. I simply left out the fact that he had a birthday coming up in a few months.

Then in December, he moved from Batesville to Jonesboro to be closer to me. Now if that didn't make a parent nervous, I don't know what would.

By February, I think they could see a hint of where our relationship was going. My dad, never one to miss an opportunity for a bit of humor, found this card for me for Valentine's Day 2004.





I found this card a few weeks ago while sorting through some boxes of old mementos.
It made me remember.
It made me smile.
It made me laugh.

They had no idea God had picked us for each other long ago.
They had no idea we would be married less than 4 years later.
They had no idea we had already been struck by that arrow.

John Deere Toy Giveaway

I don't enter a lot of blog giveaways, but I couldn't pass this one up!
I'm not sure who would love these more, Steven or Lincoln. :-)
So, go check out the blog of John Deere Mom and enter for your own chance to win!