Times of change

Some Things....

2012-01-09T07:27:00.000-08:00

Some things I'm doing and or loving right now just to bring everyone a "non-baby" update...

1. The Keurig- After C'mas we bought a Keurig. It just made since b/c I drink coffee EVERY day so I figured it would be worth it have one. It is life changing!!! I love it so much it is ridiculous. My favorite coffee so far is the Caribou coffee. But I went ahead and bought the my k-cup thing so that I could put my own coffee in it too. This is so I don't have to work in a coffee budget to our finances! I'm flying through k-cups over here.

2. Running- I love when I'm done with my training run but hate my existence while I'm doing it. T and I just finished week 1 of 1/2 marathon training. Yay, only 13 more to go! Our long run was on Saturday and was supposed to be 4 miles. T and I ran through the downtown area whilst he pushed the jogging stroller leisurely and I quasi vomited on the side of the road. Just kidding, it never got that far but there was a lot of walking on my part that I'm not proud of. Downtown is hilly. During the run, I was thinking this is lasting FOREVER. When we got home we learned that we had actually run 4.7 miles instead of 4. T had not calculated correctly. Week before last was the first time I had run a mile in a year and a half. And during that time period I ate like crap, sat on the couch, grew a fetus inside of me and birthed a child. So, to say that my body was ready to handle a 4.7 mile run would be a lie. But it did...by some miracle and I have to thank my awesome husband for sticking with me the whole time!

3. Parenthood- We have been netflix streaming Parenthood. How have I missed this show??? I love it and every episode nearly brings me to tears at some point. So well written. I really like all the family dynamics going on. Does anyone have any other suggestions for good TV shows we can stream???

4 Kinect- We got an Xbox kinect for c'mas. It was random but we wanted some type of gaming system and the xbox lets us stream netflix right the TV so we just pulled the trigger. So this kinect lets "you be the controller" and when you move the avatar on the screen moves which is really cool. The first time we played it, Taylor was playing and jumping around and Ray promptly jumped onto the couch and launched himself onto Taylor. Best of all the Kinect has a camera that takes pictures while you play and yes, it caught this attack by Ray on camera.

5. Tervis Tumbler travel cup with lid- This is helping me drink more water so it is a good thing. I dislike water so after pregnancy and breastfeeding attempts were over, I stopped drinking it. Like period. It has been bad...really bad. It's not like I drink a bunch of soda in its place, I just don't drink anything. Yes and that has come with the price of dehydration headaches. Told you, bad. So, in an effort to be healthier and to properly hydrate my body for running, I have started drinking water again. Before, I didn't like pouring a glass of water because I don't drink it fast enough and the glass would always end up sweating and ice melting etc. Makes a mess so I just didn't want to deal with it. This tumbler really doesn't sweat and I swear the ice doesn't melt as fast.

Well those are some no-baby related subjects for you all to ponder on. Please let me know what tv series you guys stream or watch.

6 Months!

2012-01-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

How did time go by so fast!

Wow I can't believe our little bit is half a year old! The time just flies by.

Will is the sweetest baby I have ever met. Maybe I'm just bias but I think he is a good little man. He is still very content and calm.

And he is still an observer. He will size you up before smiling at you if he doesn't know you. But then, once he has given you the once over look he will smile and talk. He is a thinker.

He is chewing constantly now. His favorite teething toy is the giraffe and those "lots of link" rings. We have a chain of about 4 of them and he loves to sling them around like a whip. He is going to whack himself in the face with them one day and then learn to be more gentle I'm afraid.

He loves his brother Ray and will grab a hand full of fur if given the opportunity

Ray loves him too and gives him sniffs about a million times a day...yuck! Most sniffs are in the face but some are in the nether region...especially if Will is on his tummy, Ray takes advantage of that position. Why do dogs do that?! Ray also sniffs Will's toy stuffed animals' butts. The recent victim has been the newly acquired laugh and learn puppy from Adam and Ashley.

I digress...back to preciousness.

We went for Will's 6 month check up yesterday. He is still well above 95th percentile weighing in at a whooping 22 lbs 7 oz with a length of 30 inches! Wowzers. No wonder this mommy has lower back pain.

He is wearing 9 to 12 months with 12 months really fitting him best. We are flying through clothing over here so if any of you boy moms care to donate to the "cloth Will" cause...12 month footie pjs are in demand. Promise we will take care of them :) Other than footies, I can deal with Will's pant legs coming to his shin.

Some facts about Will at 6 months:

Sleeps from 8pm to 7 or 7:30pm
Naps 3 times a day. Naps are getting shorter so I feel like one nap will be dropped sooner than later. Naps are 1-2 hours just depending.
No sleeping in the stroller anymore when we are out. He is too busy looking around even when he is sleepy. So he naps in the car seat or in the crib. That's it.
He loves rolling front to back and then back to front. He figured out how to get off his tummy by rolling to his back the week before Christmas and he has been much happier since then. He now sleeps on his tummy some.

He can do 10 push ups. J/k this pic was a fluke but he is starting to lift himself off his belly just for a second. He moves his arms and legs like he is swimming when on belly. It won't be long until he figures out that he has to get his knees under him to move.
He is eating 2 meals a day consisting of 4 oz baby food at each meal. He eats lunch and dinner and I am about to add breakfast to that. He eats carrots, peas, green beans, apples, sweet potatoes, bananas and prunes.
We are going to now start practicing with a sippy cup and eating puffs to work on some basic "feeding yourself" skills. We tried the sippy cup last night with formula and he just played with it. But it is a start!
He is blowing bubbles, mimicing sounds and reaching for EVERYTHING! Watch your hair or earrings.
He is very busy on the changing table now...running his hands on the wall, trying to turn over etc.
He is back to liking his paci. He takes it out and puts it back in his mouth. For awhile there he just wanted his thumb but maybe the paci is just fun to play with now.
As you can see, not much hair. He has more on the sides than on the top but what he does have is still strawberry blonde. And he still has those crazy beautiful blue eyes like his dad.

We are so blessed to have this little boy in our lives. He makes our lives more complicated in a great way. The adjustment to having your first child is usually difficult to process because your life changes so dramatically. You can't ever just head out the door and run an errand or go to dinner. Everything revolves around this little person's schedule, feeding time, napping time etc. But the more you plan around them...the more routine it becomes. I like to think that T and I haven't really slowed down with Will. I still get out with him and do things. Yes, it is more complicated but it isn't impossible. Plus, I always have someone to talk to now when I'm out!

So things are good here. We are in a good place. I love this stage, 6 months. Not so needy and helpless but still needy enough. We are enjoying our days together and trying to soak up these days of babyhood. Before long we will be in toddlerhood and those will be good days too, they just won't be baby days.

Time goes by fast and as I look at these pictures I'm reminded of that. My puppy is 3 1/2 and looking old in the face. My baby who yesterday couldn't hold his head up or sleep through the night...is ripping said puppy's hair out and whacking him with grasping little hands. It goes by fast yall! The past is gone and the future isn't ours yet, all we have is today. I'm trying to make my "today" meaningful!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

New Brooks running shoes purchased....

Nashville half marathon registered for! I resolve to run my butt off in 2012...Yay!

Anyone want to join me? Happy New Year!!!!

Christmas Recap

2011-12-29T08:28:00.000-08:00

Christmas has come and gone. We took all the decorations down day before yesterday and got the house all cleaned up. Christmas was wonderful this year and we really soaked up the blessing we were given in 2011. Our little man, Will loved opening his gifts from both sides of the family. He really loved the paper...as do most 6 month olds.My parents and sister came to stay with us on the 22nd. We opened presents and did our Christmas dinner on the evening of the 23rd. More on that later. Will opened his gifts earlier in the day because we wanted to see how he reacted to the gifts and paper and such. In case you are wondering what to get a baby, paper. Will loved ripping the paper and putting it in his mouth. He was very meticulous about tearing it off the package...every move was determined guided by deep concentration. He could have sat there forever and ripped paper I think.And of course, he was the center of attention. We all just watched him play with his toys, open gifts..etc. It is nice to be the center of attention...right?Later that evening we had dinner and I actually used the fine china. I have never used the dinner plates! In 5 1/2 years of marriage not once have we eaten dinner off them. So, this year...we used them.We had ham, corn casserole, green beans, squash casserole and an array of dessert items. Very typical Christmas dinner but everything was yummy! After dinner we opened gifts and my mom thought Ray would look "pretty" with a red bow tied around his neck.And so she did put the red bow around his neck...and he disliked it greatly. So it came off rather quickly. He never wears a collar except on walks so this bow was not happening.The next day was Christmas Eve or December 24th, Allison's birthday. She had a tiny gift unwrapping helper this year.Will spent some time hanging out on the floor with his bald twin, Pappy...Lounging around...

And practicing sitting upChristmas Eve we went our church's Candlelight Service. It was packed and we stood in the back. Will was SO good! He never made a peep. He just watched the big screen tvs in the sanctuary...he loves TV! Oh dear! But at least it kept him occupied while all the other kids in the service were having meltdowns. Our token family Christmas pic in front of the tree.

Christmas Day, my parents went home and we headed over to Guntersville to do Christmas with T's side of the family. His mom had an unfortunate accident on Christmas Eve and ended up with a broken arm due to a fall down the stairs. So Taylor's dad and I cooked Christmas dinner which consisted of prime rib, twice baked potatoes, green bean casserole and rolls. It was delish! We had lots of fun hanging out with the cousins. Opening presents was a little chaotic with 3 little ones roaming around but it was exciting. Another thing that I did this year was make salt dough ornaments for the "kids". Thank you pinterest. I think they turned out pretty good. They were a little "fluffy". I'm SO glad that we did this though. I want to remember those little hands and feet forever! We got a couple of hand prints from Will and one of his footprints. Our hardest ornament was Ray's pawprint. When he wasn't freaking out that we were trying to put his paw on the dough, he was trying to eat it! So he would fight us and pull away from the dough, but when we finally got him close enough to get his paw in it, he would try to reach down and eat it. It took a few attempts to get his. So hopefully they will not break by next year. I didn't spray them or mod podge them. Anyone done this without coating them? Did they hold up. I wrapped them in bubble wrap and put them in the attic.

Some upcoming posts will include a 6 month post for baby Will (ped visit next Tuesday) and some news on the running front. Taylor and I are going to run the Nashville 1/2 marathon. I'm putting this on the blog for accountablilty because I kinda feel like I've lost my mind committing to this. Did I run a 1/2 marathon when I was in shape and running 4 days a week??...no. Am I going to run a 1/2 marathon while starting out in the worst shape of my life, post baby?....yes...what the heck! Oh well, here goes nothing I guess. I'm sure I will have a few running posts in the future. There may be a lot of complaining so that is just a fair warning to anyone who may still read this blog. Happy New Year!

2011-12-19T08:52:00.000-08:00

"God rest you merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay""Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day""To save us all from Satan's power when we had gone astray"
"O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy""O tidings of comfort and joy!"

We are getting ready for Christmas around here and have a busy week planned. We took a couple pics in front of the tree last night. Which is difficult when a baby is trying to grab ornaments off the tree. We have family coming into town this week and plans to do some cooking and hanging out so, if I do not blog before C'mas, we hope that you all have a blessed day with family and loved ones"

Easy Chicken Recipe

2011-12-16T12:32:00.000-08:00

We eat chicken ALOT. So I'm always looking for another way to prepare it that is easy. My mom shared with me this recipe that I tried this week. It was so yummy and easy that I had to share.

chicken breasts, 1 egg, frenches fried onions (the things you use for green bean casserole), and that's it!

crush up the fried onions in a ziplock, dip chicken in egg then throw in the bag of onions things so it is well coated. If you still have some bare spots after coating just place the onion flakes on the chicken once you have them laying on the baking sheet.
Bake at 350 for 45 mins on a baking sheet coated with a little pam. So easy and yummy!

I made too much of it and put the left overs in the fridge. I have been slicing it up this week and putting it on salad cold with a little light honey dijon dressing. Taste like a friend chicken salad.

Decembertime

2011-12-14T08:01:00.000-08:00

Thanks for everyone's sweet comments on my Ivey post. The vet said he was 99% sure it was some kind of congenital heart defect that she was born with or developed along the way. Another cause could have been a tumor or cancer however because she showed no symptoms of anything, the heart is probably the cause. We didn't want to do an autopsy so we won't ever know for sure. Bottom line, we couldn't have done anything about it and we gave her the best 6 years of any pet. Lots of attention, a warm place to sleep, food, water and love. But losing a pet is HARD! I have never lost a pet before really. My childhood dog died when I was in my 3rd year of college so I had not lived with her for 3 years. Ivey was with me everyday, she slept with me every night for 6 years. This weekend was really hard for me but this week has been better...and I know it will keep on getting easier and easier to live without her.

Since her passing, Ray has been spoiled rotten! He has been sleeping on the couch all day everyday. We can't bear to make him get down and I only put him outside when I leave or when he has to go to the bathroom. It s ridiculous but I just want to let him do whatever he wants. Life's too short. I'm sure I will get tired of him on our furniture soon but for now, he can do no wrong.

Moving on...
I think I bypassed a 5 month post for Will. Here he is in the exersaucer. We started him in this at about 4 1/2 months and he likes it OK. He definitely prefers his jumper still but he can sit in this about 15 mins.
His schedule is pretty much the same as it was at 4 months except we are feeding him solids now. He eats about 3 oz of food 2 times a day. Lunch and dinner. We just introduced green beans this past week and boy does he hate them. T and I make him eat them though. I really want him to eat and learn to like green veggies. T and I love veggies and we eat green beans all the time so it is super easy to fix them for Will when they are always in our freezer! Will is still taking 3 naps a day but he is not as regular with them now. Sometimes it takes him a while to go to sleep or he will wake up after only 1 hour. I think that at 5 1/2 months he maybe getting closer to dropping one soon. But the thing is, if I try to keep him up he is fussy. He is just in between stages I think.

Also, I have also been working on a fun project!Ta-da!
My first smocked longall! My friend Carrie helped me start this and piece it together but now that I've done it once, I can't wait to try it again with picture smocking. I started off with this geometric smock, which is easy. I will say that getting the pleated material together and preparing it to be smocked is a little tricky. The actual smocking is the easy part. Putting it together is not too hard though. Except for the piping. I've got to buy a special foot for my machine to do this on my own. I borrowed Carrie's for this project.
The smocking is addictive! I loved it!
I ended up smocking the insert last week and then Carrie came over Friday to help me put the front piece together. It was great timing b/c Ivey had just passed away and it gave me something to work on this weekend to keep my mind off things. This longall is blue corduroy with matching smocking thread. I think it turned out really well for my first smock. It is far from perfect, so don't look too close! I already have ideas for a couple of other outfits. Smocked outfits may have to be a one time a season kind of deal. They are a lot of work and are time consuming, but fun. I have an idea for another longall and a summer birthday outfit bubble. So hopefully I can get those done during the winter. It will be nice to have something to work on when we are cooped up inside during these cold months.

Hope you are having a wonderful December. I'm still trying to finish up C'mas shopping and making goodies to take to events. I'm really craving time alone with God though and focusing on what the season is all about. I love going to our church during the month of December. The first weekend of December the Christian group FFH came to our church to play. They were amazing, so talented! Being led in worship by such talented artists is always a plus. This weekend is the choir's Christmas program, also a great time of worship. Christmas time really makes me want to worship with music more than usual and it is such a blessing to be able to do that. Hope that you all focus on what the season is truly about, the birth of our Savior. The ultimate gift of everlasting life through the death and resurrection of the King of Kings!

Ivey My Girl

2011-12-09T02:12:00.001-08:00

How do I begin this post... Our little girl cat Ivey passed away tonight. I guess it is considered tonight, it's 4 am and I can't sleep. Tonight at about 1 am I woke up, Ivey was asleep on my legs as she is every night. She is such a cuddler. I moved my legs and instead of readjusting herself, she slide in between my legs. I knew something was wrong as I could tell she was dead weight. And that was it, no warning no odd behavior... my 6 year old otherwise healthy cat was gone from us. I think I'm still in shock over it just a mere 3 hours ago.

Ivey hasn't gotten a lot of blog time over the past couple years since our addition of Ray. But she has always been there doing her thing.

I guessI kinda took her from granted if you will. She is always in the room with me sitting on the bed or on the heat vent in each room. She sleeps with me every night, no matter how annoying she gets and how many times I push her off the bed...she always comes back to settle right between my legs.

Since being at home with Will, I have spent more time with her than before. She is always with me. The calm ever present Ivey. She loved looking out windows and getting behind the blind so she could sit on the window seal.
Shewas my first real responsiblity...I got her in grad school before T and I married. Taylor hadn't proposed and I wanted an animal to keep me company. T went with me to pick her out even though he told me "now you know you are going to have this thing for the next 15 years or so". Always logical...I didn't care. The choice was between an orange tabby (what I originally thought I wanted) and her or should I say "him". Ivey was tagged as a male. After a speech from the shelter lady about how black cats often get euthanized, I asked T which I should get. He said if it were up to him he would get the black one. So that is what I did. I got a black male cat and named him Ike...one week later at the vet visit I learned that I had to change his name to Ivey. And so the story began with Ivey.
She brought us many laughs and she was a good companion for me. My first "baby" if you will. She will be missed and I will think of her in every nook and cranny of our home. For instance the chair in this pic above was her favorite spot in the house. She could see out the front window from her perch. I would see her pop her head up as I pulled in the driveway. She always knew when we were coming home. It has a permanent indention on the back of the chair from her body. Something that annoyed me but now is a reminder of her. I put a blanket up there so that she didn't get hair all over it. Looking at that blanket kinda makes me sick at my stomach tonight. I might have to get rid of it.

We are going to take her body to the vet tomorrow to see what they say. Because this was so sudden with no warning we may do an autopsy it just depends on how expensive it is. I guess it doesn't really matter why this happened, the end is still the same. Our guess is that it is heart related. She just died in her sleep with no warning, she was running around today and eating. So sudden. She even was on the floor with Will. He loved her already. He would just look at her and try to touch her. I was just thinking tonight seeing them on the floor about how much fun he was going to have with her.

Well I really needed this outlet tonight. Please don't judge my grammar etc, I'm just processing and since it is 4 am there is no one else to process with. Already did that with T. We had 6 good years of life together and I'm thankful that God put her in our home and let us be the ones to love her and care for her. Will miss our Ivey girl.

Giving Thanks

2011-11-29T07:34:00.001-08:00

A big ol recap post covering Thanksgiving, Baby Food and Grandmothers

1. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. We are so blessed to be surrounded by family members that we love and that love us. The older I get the more I appreciate my parents and T's parents. They are both so giving of their time. My mother in law prepared an excellent feast for us on T'giving day...taking no telling how many hours and trips to the grocery store. And while we were in Montgomery, my mother literally stayed at home inside for 3 whole days watching our baby so that T and I could enjoy a number of outings sans William. We are soooo thankful for family!
We spent Thanksgiving day with T's family and then headed to Montgomery Friday night after Will's last bottle and at his bedtime, 8pm. Thanksgiving day we ate delicious food and hung out with the Owens family. Here are a few cute pictures of the boy cousins. They are adorable don't you think?

Will is 5 months old now and he feels every bit of the 97th percentile to this weak-armed mama. Jack is 10 months old and as you can see, there isn't too much of a difference in their weight and height. In fact I just ordered his convertible car seat last week because he is about to be too big for his carrier. Our carrier has a 22 lbs weight limit and 29 in length. He is currently 20 lbs and I'm sure he has met the length limit at this point because he was 28 inches at his 4 month appointment. This may be tricky for awhile at least until he can sit up without support. How will I grocery shop? He can't sit up in the cart yet and he weighs 20 lbs so I can't just carry him all over the store? Hum, we are thankful he is growing and is healthy though!

Back to T'giving, we went to Montgomery Friday night and we took Ray with us so our car looked like a hoarders vehicle. Stuff coming out of ever nook! We ended up staying in Montgomery until Tuesday because T had a work trip to Auburn Monday and Tuesday so it just worked out that we would be down south. I stayed with my parents while T went to Auburn during the day and came back at night. We had a great time down south and as I mentioned earlier, my mom stayed with Will most of the time so that we could get out of the house. We went shopping at Sikes and Kohn one day which was awesome! Now if you are from around Montgomery, you grew up up going to the country mall. They always had pretty good shoes but I was super impressed at their clothing selections and jewelry this time. It is like this trendy boutique in the middle of the country with great prices. We got some Christmas shopping done and picked up a few things for us too. T racked up in the shoe department. He never can find shoes that fit him being size 13 and all but they had a good selection so I think he is set for years now. My husband does not like to shop so this is a good thing!
While we were there, my sister and I also went to see the new Twilight movie. For what it is worth, I did not particularly love the book Breaking Dawn but the movie was awesome. They have come a long way producing these films. So i would recommend going to see it. All in all we had a great Thanksgiving and are now back to reality and laundry!

2. Baby Food! Will has been eating solids for about 2 weeks and LOVES food. Did I really expect anything other than loving food...look at my healthy big boy! We started out with sweet potatoes:

He liked them even at the beginning, he just made a mess from thrusting his tongue out after every spoonful. So then he got creative and starting sucking his thumb after each bite just to get the food down.

It didn't take him too long to figure out how to get the food down without using his thumb. My favorite thing about baby food is seeing him sitting in his highchair. He seems so little.

My least favorite thing about baby food is also one of the funniest. Will goes nuts when you put him in the chair. He screeches and yells...impatient! It gets on my nerves because he is actually mad that we are not faster with the food! He also makes this "ummm" noise every time he takes a bite, like he is savoring it and it's the best thing he has ever put in his mouth. Ha! So far he has tried sweet potatoes, green peas, avocado, apples, and banana. He has loved them all except avocado. I am also making all of his baby food which I LOVE doing. It really is easy and more economical for us. And because Will still takes 3 naps a day, I have plenty of time to do it.

3. My grandmothers. I didn't really mention this on the blog but both of my grandmothers passed away this past summer. My dad's mom, Mama Dot died 2 weeks after Will was born and my mom's mom, Nana died 5 weeks after his birth. So we had a lot going on this summer. I have meant to post something about them on here but just had not gotten around to it. While I was at home, I read this memory book that my Nana filled out and it really got me thinking about her and my Mama Dot and what an influence the generations before us had on us. Here are a couple of quotes from her book:

"Some things I hope my children learn from me are to be honest, faithful and patient, to have respect for older people, to enjoy and appreciate what people do for them, to love Jesus because there is never a day when they don't need him.
The most precious gift my children ever gave me was the gift of love and the feeling of being a whole person for the first time because they were part of me. That one thing God gave me and no human can ever take away."

Now maybe it is being a mother myself that made these quotes of hers resonate with me or maybe it was just being able to "hear" her speak again through written words but it got to me. I love that she hoped her children learned honesty, faithfulness and patience from her. They are such honorable traits and I did see her live those out for us all. The last 11 years of her life were spent in assisted livings and nursing homes. She was put there by a stroke that left her physically not capable of living on her own. But her mind was very sharp until the last year or so. What a hard life at the end, to mentally be there but physically not, but she endured with minimal complaining. She knew what was waiting for her after death and she wanted to get there. An eternal perspective if I ever saw one.
So I think I will remember her faithfulness and patience the most. She was kind to other people and all around a very classy lady. My Mama Dot wasn't as articulate as Nana but I will remember her hard work most of all. We would visit her during the summer down in the "country". It was a new adventure to roam through the woods, get dirty and jump creeks for this "city" girl. I remember so many mornings getting in her el camino (yes, she had a tan one) at sun rise to go check on her chicken houses. We would pile up asleep on the bench seat while she did what she needed to do in the houses at the crack of dawn. She always had something going on it seemed like. Taking care of her chickens, cooking for us and others in the community, tending to her garden, visiting friends. I think I'll remember her for her ability to "get dirty and get it done". While my Nana's hands were smooth and manicured, my Mama Dot's hands were rough, scraped up and knotted with arthritis, but they were both beautiful in their own ways. I am thankful to have had them both in my life and I hope I pass along these traits to my children as well.

And that was the longest post on record I think. I hope to post a little more often but with the Christmas holidays here we shall see.

Rolling Over

2011-11-09T06:12:00.001-08:00

This little buddy is rolling over...ALOT! Like we can't keep him on his back. The only problem is that he doesn't like being on his tummy so my day consist of flipping him back constantly. Luckily he is still being swaddled at night and that keeps him on his back. But it is only a matter of time before we retire the swaddle. And people, I'm kinda scared of that day coming.Another thing he is doing is.... bull ridingJust kidding. My good friend Milla who is a professional photographer in Pittsburgh took some pics of Will while she is here so I can't take credit for these. She got some fun moments on camera!

I think we mights start baby food this weekend..YAY Will!

4 Months

2011-10-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

October has come and almost gone. Will has had a big month and is developing right on track! He is just so interactive now and I love to watch him smile and laugh.

We have had a busy week. Tues-Friday two of my best friends came into town and stayed with us a few days. We got to meet Anabelle who is adorable and full of personality. (The outtakes of this picture were hilarious). Will was mesmerized by her. She was quite entertaining for all of us. During their visit, Will decided it was time to roll over from back to tummy. He has done it just a couple of times since then.

And then today is a big day for Will, not only is it his first Halloween...

But it was his 4 month check up with shots. He did better this go around than the 2 month shots. Not as much crying or at least he got over it quicker.

A run down of milestones this month:

28 inches (off the chart literally, well above 95th), 18 lbs 12oz (95th or above, can't remember), head circumference (90th). A giant yet proportional little baby. Who would think I could have birthed a child this long!
Sleeping 10-11 hours at night; 3 good naps a day (1.5-2hrs) then occasionally a catnap before bath time
Eating 5x a day 7oz each time, and fussing when the bottle is over just for a minute. We dropped his 10pm dream feed at about 14 weeks and it didn't effect his sleeping at all.
Holding head at 90 degree on tummy especially when trying to see the TV. LOVES the TV, gotta watch that!
Laughs, smiles and coos. Has mastered some sounds goos, oooos etc.
Grabs anything and puts it in his mouth, my hair included.
Just rolled from back to stomach this week! (4 months)
SOOOOO laid back and content. He is a good natured baby. The nurse and Dr both said he had a great temperament. They were poking and prodding him and he was just watching them calmly. An observer, he will watch anything going on in the room...quietly. "Still waters run deep" they say. He never is fussy unless he is hungry or beyond tired!
Enjoys his jumper and still likes the play mat although Dr. said we need to get this boy moving so that he doesn't get a flat head and he needs to spend more time on his tummy. He really is content to lay on his back on his play mat and so we let him. Not anymore. We may bust out the exersaucer soon.

Because I want to remember this; here is a quick schedule of our days as of 4 months old:

6:30-7am- wake-up/ bottle
8:30-10:30- nap. If we are home this can be a 2 hour nap or if we are out walking it may be just one hour.
10:30- bottle
12:00-2:00 nap
2:00 bottle and play time
3:30-5:30 nap
5:30 bottle
6:00 or 6:30 daddy gets home and plays
6:30-7pm (occasionally a power nap)
7:00 if he takes a nap we get him up and play with him until...
7:30 bath time
7:45-8:00 last bottle
8:00 bed time and he sleeps through the night until about 6:30 or 7.

One thing we are looking forward to in November is baby food! I can't wait to see how he does with it. This is probably a novice question but when exactly are you supposed to feed a baby solids. After the bottle, before the bottle, right after bottle, wait a little. These basic feeding questions I forgot to ask at the Dr. I am also wanting to make my own baby food. Any tips on that would be appreciated as well! Thanks! Happy Halloween!

Green Mountain Photos

2011-10-22T15:08:00.000-07:00

Friday we met the Turnbulls at the Nature Trail up on Green Mountain for some fall photos and to see the scenery. The trees were starting to turn but still have a little time left on them before they are really pretty.
It was a little cold I must say. Will did really well despite this chilly weather. It didn't seem to bother him too much but his cheeks were rosy by the end. If you are local, I would recommend the lake area up there. It is really pretty on a warmer day :)

Photo dump

2011-10-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

I feel like all I do on this blog is just dump photos of my baby. Sorry there isn't too much "other" content these days. I love that I have this blog to record Will's life because at the end of his first year, I hope to make a photo book or something. By blogging periodically, I have all these photos and posts about him that I can use to just plug into a memory book! Sorry if you find pictures of my kiddo boring but that is where I am at this point in life... blogging for myself..

On to my baby...

This weekend we tried out the johnny jump up for the first time. Mama was getting bored with the play mat and looking for something to entertain her! Good thing baby Will liked it too.

We had to have assistance from a towel. The little man can't quite hold himself up without slouching.He kept is serious face most of the time. I call it his game face. But finally gave us a few smiles and squeals in between spitting up. The upright leaning just makes him puke every time. Oh well... He enjoyed it!
Will is also all about some toys, or hands, or whatever he can find to put in his mouth....even when he can't figure out how to get it all in.The more the better! Double fisting it.Another subject that has been lacking on the blog is where is Ray?Brother Ray dog hasn't been mentioned much but he is still around. I would venture to say he is more spoiled than ever before. Since I'm staying at home, he gets to be inside a lot more than he used to be. And every milestone that baby Will makes, Ray is right there cheering him on.

Literally....

Tummy time....check
Who wants their ears sniffed while trying to hold their big ol head up.

First time in the johnny jump up....check
Can we say "attention seeking"

While Will stuffs his face with toys...that doesn't seem to interest Ray that much.So you see, Ray is not being left out. For those of you who felt sorry for him and said he would "take a back seat" you can be assured that he is still a vital part of the family. A hair producing part of the family that makes vacuuming a little more necessary these days.

October Goal

2011-10-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

October marks one of my favorite times of the year, Fall. I love it! The smells... the leaves.. the cooler temps. Long sleeves and wearing jeans without sweating. This fall we have our little man around the house and are enjoying being outside strolling and enjoying time together.
Here are some pictures of him in the longall I made.
He is getting pretty good at the bumbo now although he doesn't love it. I don't think it is entertaining enough for him to just sit there. But he is a good one and poses for the camera with a pleasant demeanor and even a smile for mama.Back to fall..and being outside. Like I said, we stroll almost everyday. Will takes his bottle at 7 compliments of daddy-o. Mama is not a morning person. I ususally wake at 7 or 7:30 and daddy leaves for work...then we play a few minutes and it is into the stroller for baby Will. I push him at a nice pace for about an hour. It is really beautiful at that time of the day and I enjoy being outside. Plus it is exercise and this post-pregnancy body needs that.
I'm going to be transparent for a bit, my expectations of post-pregnancy were not really the reality that the Lord had for me. I already mentioned the breastfeeding issue in previous post but my biggest expectation was that this weight would come off fast without me having to put forth much effort into it. Some people make it seem so easy and maybe they just aren't telling the truth or maybe it just is easy for them. That is neither here nor there. Bottom line- I am going to have to exercise and eat right to get back to where I need to be. Right now I have about 20 pounds left to lose. Over the past 9 weeks I have lost about 10 pounds from diet and exercising. Yeah it is coming off slow. It has been a lesson in humilty for sure. And it isn't just superficial.. that I am not happy with the way I look, but my body doesn't do what it used to do. It is not healthy. For example, I started doing Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 and got to week 2 workout and my knees started hurting. Like, I couldn't climb stairs or bend down. It made me feel like an old person that my body simply was so out of shape that it couldn't perform exercises that I have never had issue with before. It has been hard emotionally for me. As someone who always played sports and was fairly active, having your body hurt after activity is a little sad. Maybe the dvd was a little too much too soon for my body.

I promise this is not just me complaining, I have a point. I have a new goal. I'm going to start running again and I'm going to do it slow. I am going to follow the Couch to 5k plan and take my time to get back to where I need to be. So my goal is to get back to running 3 miles and then who knows from there.
I'm putting this out there in blog land for accountability. Not only is getting back into shape hard but for me running through the winter is going to be tough. I have never run when it is cold out. Taylor makes fun of me and says that if the temp in the house is one degree below 73 then I'm all of a sudden freezing. It is kinda true...I'm very cold natured. But I feel like if I put this out there, I will be more likely to stay with it! Wish me luck! I start today!

Hobby

2011-10-05T12:53:00.000-07:00

I have a new hobby. I have started sewing clothes! Thanks to my friend Carrie who graciously walked me through every step of putting together a longall. She helped me with the blue on the right and then I tackled the red one on my own. Success! (she also did the appliques) It isn't too hard to sew clothes as long as you can read a pattern. Which I could not until Carrie helped me. These longalls turned out pretty cute I think and are just as well made as you would buy in the store because they are lined.

Now I have to think of some new fabrics for later winter and I want to make a few in the short all version for next summer. For boys, this about it as far as "cute" clothing goes!

We just got back from the beach so I will do a post on that. I didn't take many pictures at all because Will stayed in the condo most of the time napping with the grandparents who were all too happy to stay in and watch him! This allowed for T and I to enjoy beach time and even a nice dinner date night out to Marina Cafe. More to come later.

3 Months

2011-09-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

Baby Will is 3 months (almost). Technically he still has one week until his 3 month birthday. I can't believe how big he is getting. He still has blondish/red hair and blue eyes like his daddy. Everyone says he looks like me. I think he does for now. We will see if that continues but he definitely has his dad in him. He is content and calm (he didn't get that from me). Rarely fussy except when hungry.
Some noteworthy stats for 3 months
-Will is sleeping through the night since about 10 weeks. Going from 10p-7a without waking
-Eating 6 times a day; 7am, 10, 1, 4, 7, dream feed at 10p - 6oz each time
-He still naps 4 times a day for about 1 1/2 hours each
-Weighs 17 pounds!
-26 inches long
-He is a thumb sucker now unfortunately. He will spit his paci out to stick that thumb in. But one good thing is that it pacifies him if he wakes up too early in the morning.I had to continually fight the thumb to take these pictures!Will does not love tummy time. He fusses after a few minutes and seems to really prefer being on his back and I wonder if he will continue to be a back sleeper when he starts rolling over. We still swaddle him for bed and some naps. Will is a great baby! And adds so much joy to our lives. He seems to be laid back and I can't wait to see how his personality develops.
In other news, I just officially quit my job and am a full time SAHM. Yikes, it was a big decision and with it came lots of emotions. Thankfully, the Lord is faithful and will equip me with what I need to raise this little man. I am feeling more confident these days and content with where God has me. Plus, I get to see this face everyday so that helps!!!

Auburn Trip

2011-09-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

This Monday T had a work trip down to Auburn so we made a nice visit out of if. Sunday we went to Montgomery and stayed with Mimi and Pappy. They were happy to love on the little man.
On Monday we headed over to Auburn for the day. We ate lunch at Jimmy Johns
Took Will's first (of many) pictures on Samford Lawn

And of course in front of the Auburn University signWe walked around campus and enjoyed seeing all the new construction but sad that it looks so different then when we went there.
My boys...I love them!!!

I kept telling Taylor we looked so old! Of course we were the ONLY people walking around campus pushing a baby stroller and not in college. One college student even asked if he could help us find something. Yep, we were those people who looked so out of place. Ha.
Later that night we ate dinner at the Henry's and Will got to meet his buddy A.G. I think it was about 9:30 when we took this picture and both kids were exhausted. Will was about to lose it but he did SO great Monday. He didn't fuss all day long until he had been awake too long.Will's first trip to the plains at 2 1/2 months! War Eagle!

Pop and the boys

2011-08-29T16:32:00.001-07:00

The two boy cousins

The girl grandchild was talking her 2 year old head off somewhere in the background. What ever will these boys do?? At least they have each other :)

2 Months Down

2011-08-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

We went for Will's 2 month check up this morning and our little man is doing great. He is growing like a weed! I'm pretty sure that the shots were more traumatic for me than him. We both cried. But he did pretty well and didn't take too long to calm down.

Some stats from Will's 2 months

Weight 14.2 oz (95%)
Height 24 2/3 inches (top of the 95%) We have ourselves a big boy.
Wearing 3-6 months

Cooing and smiling up a storm

Looking all over the room, sometimes I can't make him look me in the eyes because he is too busy checking everything out.
Sucking on his hands.
Loves the changing table. He kicks his legs and waves his arms and coos. What could be so fun about the changing table??
He seems to like Ray. When Ray comes over to him and sniffs him he smiles! He liked Ray rubbing his head with the nasty binky. Yep Ray still has his binky :)

This is what happens when a dog gets confused and thinks baby toys are doggie toys

Likes the bouncer and the play mat. Although this week he is now more interested in sitting in your lap looking out than laying on his back.
Eating 7 times a day. 7a, 10a, 1p, 4p, 7p, 10p then he will go until about 3am or 4am until he wakes for his middle of the night feeding. So going 5-6 hours at night. Thank you babywise. We started Will on an eating schedule at about 4 weeks. And now he eats like clockwork.

He naps after every feeding for about 2 hours. Usually he can stay up about an hour before he needs to nap again. Naps only in his crib or car seat. We started putting him in his crib for daytime naps at 4 weeks. Prior to that he slept in our arms or in the swing in the living room. But then he wouldn't want to go to sleep in the crib at night. Now he won't fall asleep unless he is in the crib or on the move in the car seat.
Crying it out- we never really had to do it after my last post. We would just go in and put the paci back in his mouth as soon as we heard him crying and that worked to get him back to sleep. Around 7 weeks I would let him cry 5 mins before going in and putting the paci back in. I found that 5 minutes seemed like an eternity but very rarely would he cry 5 mins total. Usually he just went back to sleep on his own. Maybe it was just him maturing or getting more use to sleeping in his crib.
Getting good head control. We do tummy time on his boppy, which as you can see turns to lazy time. I think he likes just resting on the pillow.

So we started him in the bumbo this week (with lots of support of course)

He didn't like it so much

So there is a quick run down of 2 months. Will is such a sweet baby and is a joy to be around especially now that he is responding to us. He changes so much each week! I am loving getting to know him!

On Motherhood

2011-08-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

We have had lots going on! Maybe I will catch up on the blog soon enough. Lots going on is all I have to say. I got mastitis, my grandmother passed away and that resulted in Will's first 3 hour road trip to Montgomery (which he did great), we got back in town on Tuesday, baby boy is smiling now and it is wonderful! So lots going on.

But today I wanted to post something a friend emailed me. It is such a refreshing biblical view of motherhood. As a new mom of only 6 weeks, I am in typical fashion trying to adjust to this calling and process the change of going from selfish girl to selfless mom with a child depending on me 24/7. It is a difficult adjustment but one that I feel honored to be going through. And thankful that the Lord chose to bless me in this way (even at 3am in the morning) :)

I hope that this devotional by Elisabeth Elliot speaks to any mom out there struggling with reconciling to herself what the world view expects motherhood to be like and what the bible says.

On Motherhood and Profanity- Elisabeth Elliot

"OK now, which one of you clowns put that bag of M 'n'
Ms in the grocery cart?" The mother looks harried.

Two boys, maybe five and seven, eye each other and
race away toward the gumball machine near the
supermarket door. There is an infant strapped to a
plastic board on top of the groceries, and a two year
old occupying the built-in child seat in the cart.
The mother picks up the M 'n' M candy bag and starts
toward the aisle to return it. The two year old
screams and she relents, throws the bag in with the
rest of her purchases, patiently waits her turn at the
check-out, fishes five ten-dollar bills from her
purse, receives her small change, and pushing the cart
with the babies in it, herds the two boys through the
rain to the station wagon in the parking lot.

I go with her in my mind's eye. Jump out in the rain.
Open the garage door. Drive in. Close door.
Babies, boys, bags into the house in how many trips?
Phone rings. Answer phone, change baby, wipe muddy
tracks from kitchen floor. Feed baby, put groceries
away, hide M 'n' Ms, start peeling vegetables, take
clothes out of dryer, stop fight between two older
children, feed two year old, answer phone again, fold
clothes, change baby, get boys to:
1) hang up coats,
2) stop teasing two year old,
3) set table.
Light oven, put baby to bed, stop fight, mop up two
year old, put chicken in oven, answer phone, put away
clothes, finish peeling vegetables, look peaceful and
radiant--husband will be home soon.

I see this implacable succession of exigencies in my
mind's eye. They come with being a mother. I also
see the dreams she dreams sometimes--write a novel,
agents call, reviews come in. TV interviews,
autograph parties, promotional traveling, a movie
contract--preposterous dreams. Try something a little
more realistic. Cool modern office, beautiful
clothes, make-up and hairdo that stay done all day. A
secretarial job perhaps, nothing spectacular, but it's
work that actually produces something that doesn't
have to be done over at once. It's work that ends at
five o'clock. It means something.

I know how it is. I have a mother. I am a mother.
I've produced a mother (my daughter, Valerie, has a
two year old and expects another child soon). I
watched my own mother cope valiantly and efficiently
with a brood of six. ("If one child takes all your
time," she used to say, "six can't take any more.") We
were--we still are--her life. I understand that. Of
all the gifts of my life surely those of being
somebody's wife and somebody's mother are among the
greatest.

But I watch my daughter and other mothers of her
generation and I see they have some strikes against
them that we didn't have. They have been told
insistently and quite persuasively that motherhood is
a drag, that tradition is nonsense, that what people
have always regarded as "women's work" is meaningless,
that "roles" (a word we never bothered much about
until a decade or so ago) are changing, that
femininity is a mere matter of social conditioning,
that it's time to innovate. If the first-grade
readers show a picture of a woman driving a
hook-and-ladder and a man doing a nurse's job, see
what happens to the conditioning. Abolish the
stereotypes and we can abolish the myths of
masculinity and femininity.

I hear this sort of claptrap, and young mothers often
come to me troubled because they can't answer the
arguments logically or theologically. They feel, deep
in their bones, that there is something terribly
twisted about the whole thing but they can't put their
finger on what it is.

I think I know what it is. Profanity. Not swearing.
I'm not talking about breaking the Third Commandment.
I'm talking about treating as meaningless that which
is freighted with meaning. Treating as common that
which is hallowed. Regarding as a mere triviality
what is really a divine design. Profanity is failure
to see the inner mystery.

When women--sometimes well-meaning, earnest, truth
seeking ones say "Get out of the house and do
something creative, find something meaningful,
something with more direct access to reality," it is a
dead giveaway that they have missed the deepest
definition of creation, of meaning, of reality. And
when you start seeing the world as opaque, that is, as
an end in itself instead of as transparent, when you
ignore the Other World where this one ultimately finds
its meaning, of course housekeeping (and any other
kind of work if you do it long enough) becomes tedious
and empty.

But what have buying groceries, changing diapers and
peeling vegetables got to do with creativity? Aren't
those the very things that keep us from it? Isn't it
that kind of drudgery that keeps us in bondage? It's
insipid and confining, it's what one conspicuous
feminist called "a life of idiotic ritual, full of
forebodings and failure." To her I would answer
ritual, yes. Idiotic, no, not to the Christian--for
although we do the same things anybody else does, and
we do them over and over in the same way, the ordinary
transactions of everyday life are the very means of
transfiguration. It is the common stuff of this world
which, because of the Word's having been "made flesh,"
is shot through with meaning, with charity, with the
glory of God.

But this is what we so easily forget. Men as well as
women have listened to those quasi-rational claims,
have failed to see the fatal fallacy, and have
capitulated. Words like personhood, liberation,
fulfillment and equality have had a convincing ring
and we have not questioned their popular definitions
or turned on them the searchlight of Scripture or even
of our common sense. We have meekly agreed that the
kitchen sink is an obstacle instead of an altar, and
we have obediently carried on our shoulders the chips
these reductionists have told us to carry.

This is what I mean by profanity. We have forgotten
the mystery, the dimension of glory. It was Mary
herself who showed it to us so plainly. By the
offering up of her physical body to become the
God-bearer, she transfigured for all mothers, for all
time, the meaning of motherhood. She cradled, fed and
bathed her baby--who was very God of very God--so that
when we cradle, feed and bathe ours we may see beyond
that simple task to the God who in love and humility
"dwelt among us and we beheld his glory."

Those who focus only on the drabness of the
supermarket, or on the onions or the diapers
themselves, haven't an inkling of the mystery that is
at stake here, the mystery revealed in the birth of
that Baby and consummated on the Cross: my life for
yours.

The routines of housework and of mothering may be seen
as a kind of death, and it is appropriate that they
should be, for they offer the chance, day after day,
to lay down one's life for others. Then they are no
longer routines. By being done with love and offered
up to God with praise, they are thereby hallowed as
the vessels of the tabernacle were hallowed--not
because they were different from other vessels in
quality or function, but because they were offered to
God. A mother's part in sustaining the life of her
children and making it pleasant and comfortable is no
triviality. It calls for self-sacrifice and humility,
but it is the route, as was the humiliation of Jesus,
to glory.

To modern mothers I would say "Let Christ himself be
your example as to what your attitude should be. For
he, who had always been God by nature, did not cling
to his prerogatives as God's equal, but stripped
himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave
by nature and being born as a mortal man. And, having
become man, he humbled himself by living a life of
utter obedience, even to the extent of dying, and the
death he died was the death of a common criminal.
That is why God has now lifted him so high. . ."
(Phil. 2:5-11 Phillips).

It is a spiritual principle as far removed from what
the world tells us as heaven is removed from hell: If
you are willing to lose your life, you'll find it. It
is the principle expressed by John Keble in 1822:

If on our daily course our mind
Be set to hallow all we find,
New treasures still, of countless price,
God will provide for sacrifice.

Bath time

2011-07-31T19:18:00.000-07:00

Lounging in my "hot tub"

Sucking on my fingers

Posing for the camera

Getting all clean...

Bath time ain't too bad!

Cry it Out

2011-07-30T07:52:00.000-07:00

Crying it out update:

Will-1 : Parents-0

Yesterday morning we were all ready to cry it out so after his 6 am feeding we had a little play time in the bouncer and then I put him in his crib. He would have none of it and proceeded to cry for 30 mins straight. So we did let him try to cry and he was just so worked up that we got him after 30 mins. Well he had worked himself up so much that he cried straight until his next feeding at 9 even being held. At that point he fell asleep during his 9 am feeding before finishing his bottle and slept like a rock until the next feeding he was so tired. But at least he did sleep in his crib once he was asleep :)

After that episode we decided that instead of making him cry it out in his crib, we needed to take a little more time to transition him into taking naps in his crib. Until yesterday, he would take day time naps in his swing or on our chest with his only time in the crib being at night. So that is what we are doing the next few days. If that means rocking him and shhhhsss-ing him and swaying, we do it. Anything to get him settled and almost if not entirely asleep. Then we are putting him in his crib. It has been going pretty well. He took 2 or 3 naps in the crib yesterday and only 1 or 2 he wouldn't stay asleep so we had to resort to the old method of letting him sleep where ever he could.

Now, we did have to go in the room a couple of times each nap to put the paci back in or shhsssh him back to sleep. But, we didn't have to pick him up. I think that is progress! And last night he only took about 15 mins to get back settled after his middle of the night feeding!! Yay! So much better than his regular 45 mins or an hour of settling.

This morning he wouldn't sleep in the crib after his 5am feeding so he again slept where ever. But this last feeding after his 8 am feeding he was fussy even being held so we just put him in his crib figuring if he was going to cry may as well let him try to cry in the crib. So we let him fuss a little in his crib and he went to sleep. I think he was just tired.

It would be nice to have an instruction book for newborns but the truth is there is really no right way to do something. It is all trial and error. I told Taylor yesterday that I don't know what people did before Google. But we are constantly googling something about newborn care or feeding!!!

Maybe we can really work on crying it out in a couple of weeks!

Photo Shoot

2011-07-28T18:58:00.001-07:00

My wonderful SIL Ashley came over today with her kiddos in tow and spent a little time photographing Will. Here are a couple she sent me today and I can't wait to see the rest. She did a great job and I'm so thankful that she helped me out by doing this. With everything going on at our house I have had a hard time picking up the camera and taking pics of my own!

Big Yawn! He should be tired we were up all night last night :)

My precious blue eyed boy

On another note, I'm going to start working on getting him to sleep in his crib during daytime naps starting today. Is 4 weeks too soon to cry it out? Will is use to sleeping on our chest or in the swing in the living room but I want him to associate the crib with good sleep. Right now it takes a lot of effort to get him to sleep in the crib at night. Like we wake up to feed him in the middle of the night and it will take about an hour to get him to sleep afterwards. He is just very alert at that time of night. Most nights he is just wide eyed and will cry if you put him in the crib. Anyone have any advice on getting a baby to sleep in the crib during nap time and then by default better at night?

One Month

2011-07-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

One month old! I can't believe it. It is amazing to see how much Will has changed in just 4 weeks. This little man is really filling out. He is around 10 lbs now and taking about 5 oz at each feeding. Feeding every 3 hours and 4 hours at night. My little piggy!

I finally got a good shot of his face today....

He loves to suck on anything. Hands, arms, paci... yesterday he gave himself a bruise on his arm. Did I mention that he had scabs on his arm at birth from sucking in utero! So, we keep a paci in his mouth so he doesn't lose a finger!

We do A LOT of holding in this house to keep him happy. He doesn't like to sleep in his crib and would prefer to be held or sleep on your chest. Last night at 4 am when he would not go to sleep in his crib and I desperately wanted to sleep, I had to remind myself that I can sleep when he goes to college but these times are precious. The stage where I can hold him swaddled in my arms.

So we hold...

And he gets sniffed a lot. Ray isn't super interested in him or I think he just doesn't know what to do with him. One day they will be good friends I know it...

This is a picture of us heading to church this past Sunday. This was actually Will's 3rd trip to church. We have made it to Sunday School 3 weekends in a row and done well. It is good to be able to fellowship with others and to get out of the house. We just couldn't get everything together to get a picture the previous Sundays.

He has gotten so alert the past couple weeks. He was just staring at me during these pictures. So cute.

He may have been smiling even. Or had gas, we will say smiling. This picture reminds me that I have neglected my roots. Yikes I need a hair appointment.

But really, I'm just thankful to get a shower most days!!!

Check in

2011-07-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

We are officially 3 weeks into parenthood and things are feeling more and more normal. Thankfully!
First of all, thank you all SO much for the encouraging comments on my last post. The nursing situation has not really changed since last post but I am emotionally feeling better about the realization that I will most likely not be able to nurse Will for much longer.

I did meet with a lactation consultant last Friday and she advised me to follow a routing for a week as a last ditch effort to see if it would increase milk supply. We rented a sensitive scale and I have been weighing him, then nursing, then weighing again to see how much milk he was getting, then we bottle feed formula and then I pump 15 minutes after nursing. This process takes an hour usually.

Will is only getting about 1 oz from me and we are having to supplement 2 ounces of formula for each feeding. Since doing this whole routine and pumping after every feeding, my milk supply still has not increased in 5 days. So the reality is that I can't keep this whole feeding process up indefinitely and if it doesn't show any signs of increasing in the next couple of days then I will need to make a decision about what I am going to do. But, I do feel like I have tried everything that I can try. I did switch herbal supplements per the lactation consultant and have been taking Go-Lacta and MotherLove's more milk plus. Both haven't worked for me. For whatever reason my body is not doing what it is supposed to. It is very frustrating and a helpless feeling BUT I must let go of wanting to control this.

So that is a update on that. Thanks again for the comments and encouragement. It has really helped me to not feel as stressed or like I'm the only one this has happened to. The beauty of blogs :)

Now on to more fun stuff...or not. Will's first sponge bath at home...

This face pretty much sums up how he felt about the sponge baths.

Thankfully he LOVES the tub bath now that the cord is off. I haven't gotten a picture of him in it yet.

But this was his face after we finished the sponge bath. Content again.

And we are doing some tummy time this week. His neck is so strong and he loves to lift it.

I'm really enjoying him as he gets more alert...well he is crying now and ready to eat. So I have to go!

2 weeks

2011-07-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it has already been 2 weeks since we brought little Will home. Sometimes it feels like it has flown by and sometimes not.

We are in survival mode around here and my sis in law puts it. I can't say there haven't been tears and emotional breakdowns by me and Will. Just being honest. We have been told that the first 6 weeks are the hardest and that it does get easier.

I really had no idea that these after pregnancy hormones could be so intense. I will just cry at nothing and it has been hard. Thankfully I do feel like I'm on the upswing right now and have had a couple of manageable days where i don't feel completely overwhelmed.

We are all learning to adjust to this new normal. Here are a couple of pictures of Ray not understanding that the bouncy seat vibrates.

This one is funny because Ray is cocking his head at the seat and Will. Just trying to figure it out.

One of the main reasons for my overwhelm-ness is that I have very low milk supply. (Sorry to any guys who read this blog). This threw me for a loop and we have been supplementing with formula per suggestion by our pediatrician. Will's weight was dropping and I was only able to pump about 1/2 an ounce total. He should be eating 2 ounces so that is not nearly enough for this growing boy. I struggled with feelings of failure as a mom and not being able to provide nutrition and guilt that he wasn't getting all breast milk. Luckily, I am doing a little better. I'm still nursing him and then offering a bottle of formula after each nursing session. Which he gladly accepts and takes all 2 ozs most of the time.

I have been taking fenugreek herbs, drinking ovaltine, eating oatmeal. All to no avail. I'm still only pumping 1/2 an ounce a week later. But Will is back up above his birth weight thanks to the formula so that is good.

I had no idea breastfeeding was going to be this difficult and I just didn't see the low milk supply coming. Will is a great nurser and has a great latch so it isn't him at all. Which makes me feel more guilty that for some reason my body isn't doing what it is supposed to. So that is where we are right now. If anyone has dealt with this or has any advice let me know.

Back to the pictures. Here we are going on our first walk. This was maybe 4 or 5 days after birth (which I did pay for the next day :) )

We are learning tricks of what works in our house to get this little guy to sleep. Actually he is a really good sleeper when he is full. We didn't end up getting a sound machine because we didn't want Will to be dependent on props for sleeping. This picture pretty much sums up night 3 of being at home. We downloaded white noise/heart beat tones mp3s and put the ipod in ear shot!

Overall we are making it and managing on less sleep. We love our little guy and are so thankful for him, that the Lord has blessed us with a healthy baby and a good baby really.
T will probably kill me but I love this picture. If you have had a newborn in the house then you can identify.

The Birth Story

2011-07-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

We are home and getting settled into our new normal with our little one. His birth day is one that I will never forget. It feels like he has been with us longer than 4 days!!! I want to document his birth story because I will surely forget. In fact some of the details have slipped seeing as I have been on pain medication for the last 4 days! Ha, I don't do well with pain meds.

Monday morning I called the doctor's office concerned about an increase in swelling and a rash that had developed on my shins over the weekend. Because I was so close to due date, the doctor just told me to go ahead and come in for an appointment. He said my blood pressure was up, 136/90 and wanted to go ahead and induce as I was almost 40 weeks.

So Monday night we checked into Crestwood at 8pm to begin medication to "ripen my cervix". Now most of my friends had told me they never experienced much dilation with this medication so I was expecting to go in get the meds and an ambien and get a good night sleep before pitocin the next morning. My dr even told me that would be the plan.

Well the meds started and I started having contractions. Very mild and manageable but contractions non the less. I was excited! I went ahead and got the Ambien and settled in for some sleep. Instead I just laid there thinking that the contractions were getting annoying and preventing me from the sleep I desired. The sleeping pill wasn't helping so I asked for a pain pill. Nubane is what they brought me and it did relax me but it made me feel incredibly loopy and out of it. Now I'm not sure if I got sleep or not and I'm not really sure how much time went by but I remember thinking I'm feeling weird and loopy but these menstrual cramp like contractions are starting to hurt. The nurse came in and checked me and I was at 7 cms dilated!!!! NO WONDER I was starting to get uncomfortable. I also told T at some point that I thought I could do a natural birth because I got to 7 cms without knowing. So glad that the nurses and T didn't let me try that. That was all thanks to those crazy pain meds. So I got the epidural about 3:30am and was really hurting by that point.

Here I am post epidural getting excited about labor. The nurses were surprised at how fast I progressed with the cytotech and told me I would probably have the baby by 7am. The night was a little tense because my contractions caused heart rate issues with me and baby. It didn't really register with me because of the Nubane but by the point this picture was taken things were better.

Strong contractions that I couldn't feel.

Taylor even took a picture of the clock because at this point the nurses had checked me and said I was close to 10 cms. They had called my doctor and had me in stirrups getting me ready to push. Notice the clock says 4:00am. Taylor called our families (who we told that there was no way we would have a baby in the middle of the night so go home and rest) and told them I was almost complete and ready to have this baby. They all headed up to the hospital.

....My doctor came in and checked me. He said nope, she is only at 8cms. He advised the nurses to get me into a wedge position because Will needed to drop lower into my pelvis to get me fully dilated. And that is where I stalled...At around 9 cms. The next 8ish hours were spent at 9cms in various wedge positions. And one crazy position called the Texas hold em or something like that where I was laying on my stomach at an incline. All of this FINALLY worked and I was complete at 10cms. All the times are a blur b/c I was so tired of waiting for this boy to get here. Once I was at 10 cms I started pushing with my nurse. I pushed as hard as I could for 1 and half hours with no progress. She told me I was pushing very effectively and hard but I simply could not get Will past my pelvis. She said that I might be looking at a C-section which upset me because this scenario was my biggest fear. Laboring so long only to have to have a section.

Finally the pitocin I was on was making Will's heart rate go crazy so the nurse turned it off and called my doctor immediately. He came in and gave me two options:
1. We can go in for a c section right now or
2. We can give this vaginal delivery one shot but warning me that it would involve forceps, a vacuum and tearing.

I chose the vaginal delivery and then the delivery room became very intense. There were seriously like 10 people in there. I didn't realize it until afterwards but there was concern on many faces. They had the OR ready for an emergency c-section and other hospital personnel ready for something to go wrong. Obviously this was not the romanticized delivery I had in mind. Where it was me, Taylor a nurse and the doctor.

As soon as it was time for me to push, Dr. Conrad had forceps around his head...that didn't work so next came the vacuum. That got his head out but his shoulders were very stuck. It took me pushing, Taylor pushing me and 2 nurses basically on top of me pushing on my uterus and Dr. C pulling. He did some kind of twist maneuver and finally his shoulders came out and Will was born at 1:07pm!

I didn't get to see him immediately because he was rushed over to be worked on. He was having some breathing problems.

A SERIOUS conehead with forceps and vacuum bruises.... and limp arms. The doctor was worried his clavicle was broken. Bless him.

But soon he came out of his shocked state and was looking great! For the ordeal he went through he had great APGAR scores! This is his "what just happened" face :)

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Finally seeing the little one for the first time after about 10 mins...I loved him instantly

First picture with one proud and relieved daddy. Taylor watched the whole birthing process and was pretty nervous. I was too loopy to realize what was going on. All I knew was that there was alot of aggressive tugging going on.

First bath in the nursery

Meeting the family who camped out all day literally in the waiting room. The grandmothers.

We had cousins visit on day 2. Taylor's sister and her two kids Kate and Jack.

My sister, Allison loves being an auntie.

My dad, I think Will loves his grandpa.

We had friends visit. You can see here that he actually has hair, not bald, it is very blonde with a little red in it.

Another of Auntie Allison

Finally going home to start our new normal as a family of 3.

Home at last!

Meeting our brother, Ray. Ray is doing very well with little man. He is curious when he cries but is gentle.

Chilling at home

Getting use to being a mama. We have had challenges and plenty of sweet moments so far. We are trying to enjoy them all.

Thanks to everyone for the sweet comments and prayers. I haven't responded to emails and messages so far because it has been a whirlwind with little time to get on the computer. But know that I appreciate every comment and message.

Will's Birthday

2011-06-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

8lbs 4 oz and 21 inches long.
He arrived at 1:10 pm today and we are in love! I will be back later with the birth story. It is a bit of a doozy but we are thankful Will is healthy and here.
Right now we are are resting up at hotel Crestwood trying to catch our breath!

The Time has Come!!!

2011-06-27T10:54:00.001-07:00

I am going in to the hospital tonight at 8 to start the induction process!!! Medicine to ripen the cervix. And then hopefully we are going to be holding Will tomorrow!!! We are so excited.

Everything is alright but my blood pressure has been a little high the last couple of weeks and since my due date is Wednesday, the Dr. is going to go ahead and deliver. I'm still only 1cm dilated and 60% effaced so we are praying that my body will respond to the induction medication and that things will go smoothly and of course that Baby Will is healthy at the end of it all.

I will try to keep this updated but seeing as how Taylor does not blog and I will be out of commission I can't promise updates tomorrow. I'm going to try Facebook updating tomorrow though. So stay tuned! Thanks in advance for the prayers!

39 weeks

2011-06-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

And Will is still holding strong inside the womb!

I went for my appt today and am still 1cm dilated and 60% effaced. A tad improvement in the effacement from last week. The doc said that he has dropped though which is progress for sure. So we continue to wait and be patient and see what the Lord has in store for us.

My last day of work was yesterday. I went ahead and decided to take a week off before my due date thinking I would be miserable at this stage in the game. But truthfully, I feel pretty good. Not super uncomfortable or anything. I plan to get some little things done around here before Will is born and spending some time visiting with friends and just relaxing!

Here's hoping this is my last pregnancy picture at 39 weeks :) I'm getting tired of the stepping on the scale each week!

No progress

2011-06-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

We went to the dr yesterday for my 38 week check. No more progress since last week. Will is still sitting up high and has not dropped yet. I know that we still have 2 weeks until due date but I found myself being more discouraged by this news than I thought I would. So much for not getting my hopes up about this baby coming early. I guess I did have my hopes up in the back of my mind. I am praying that Will drops soon so we can get things going.

Please pray for us over the next couple of weeks as we get ready for this big change. I'm so excited about becoming a mama and am so thankful the Lord is choosing to bless T and I in this way... but it is a big change. And this girl doesn't handle change very well.

When I graduated with my masters, I distinctly remember walking out of the Haley Center on Auburn's campus after my final exam and just stopping to look around and soaking in that moment. The moment where one door closed and a new stage of my life began. The moment where I could process the "huge-ness" of leaving a building I had walked out of everyday for the very last time. Of leaving a campus that had become a home over the 7 years I spent there. This seems kinda dramatic but this is how I process change. I really need these moments of closure to move on to the next thing.

While I cannot wait to start this next stage of my life, the stage of motherhood, I also know that I'm closing a door to a life that has been familiar and comfortable for the past 29 years. Only being responsible for myself. And then the last 5 years it just being me and my husband. I'm excited about this next stage in life and all that it entails. As unknown and unfamiliar as it may be. So please pray for us as we spend our last few days or weeks as a family of two and that I can process all of this change and adapt quickly.

...And that Will drops :)

Will's Neutral Nursery

2011-06-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

We finally have finished the nursery! Yippee. When I first started thinking about nurseries, I decided that I wanted to do something neutral and even a little gender neutral that didn't scream girl or boy. In the long run I hope this will save us some time and money because I would like to use the same bedding again with number 2. So here is Will's neutral nursery. I'm so pleased at how it turned out and can't wait to spend time rocking my little baby in this room. We tried to do everything on a budget so here are some pictures and details:

Wall paint- Bracken by Valspar
Crib- Davinci Jenny Lind
Glider is BEST brand, Rena style
Ottoman- to save a little extra money, I decided not to purchase the matching ottoman to the glider and instead scored this little glider at Goodwill for $15. With a fresh coat of paint and new fabric in a coordinating fabric, it does the job and looks as good as new!
Drapes- JC Penney of course. I cannot toot their horn enough. They have great quality for great prices. I think I paid about $65 for all 4 panels and they are thermal lined!

Bedding- The crib bumpers were made by a local Guntersville seamstress in ivory minky dot with cream muslin ties and piping. The skirt was made by yours truly. I used this method that I had seen on a number of blogs but it was super simple. I decided on cream for the bumpers because I can pair that with any fabric skirt. So if we have a girl next time, all I have to do is find cute girly fabric if I decide I want to make another skirt.
The skirt stripe fabric was $4/yard on sale at Hancocks of all places! I don't know the make of it but it is a blue/green stripe.
Lab paintings by me. I found some inspiration on etsy and made these acrylic paintings.

The bolster pillow and glider pillow are covered in Robert Allen's Khanjali ikat purchased from King Cotton. It was the most expensive so I used it sparingly, but I love the pop of blues and greens it adds to the room.
Vintage Airplanes- I love how this project turned out. We love airplanes in our family. Taylor's dad has a hobby of restoring and flying old planes. So growing up, Taylor use to hang around the airport and help out. These are 4 vintage WW I aircrafts that we found to go in Will's room.

Dresser- Craigslist dresser $90 with new paint and hardware
Sweet going home gown from Mimi (my mom) and my grandmother, Nana.
Will's letters compliments of a good friend, Brooke who graciously passed her little Will's letters on to our little Will. Thanks Brooke!!!

So there you have it! Nursery project in the books.
At this point our bags are packed and we are ready to get this party started :)

Catching Up

2011-06-09T06:40:00.000-07:00

I'm 37 weeks this week! Yay. I can't believe how fast these last few weeks have gone. I hope they continue to fly by. Taylor and I are both very ready to meet our little Will and have him here.

I am still thankfully feeling pretty good! No back pain or hip pain and sleeping great at night very comfortably...except for waking up to go to the bathroom about every 2 hours. But I will take it! The only discomfort I have now is when Will stretches. There is just not much room! Sometimes I wonder why I am not in more back pain when I look in the mirror and see how much I'm carrying out in front of my body! Yikes!

I went to the doctor yesterday for my first appointment getting "checked" and I was 1 cm dilated already. I was very surprised although I had been feeling more cramps the last few days. The dr was pleased seeing as how it is my first baby and I'm already dilated. Maybe Will is going to make his arrival early. I'm not getting my hopes up though. Dr said he looks like he will be a big boy. Will has been measuring big the whole pregnancy and dr. estimated him to be about 8 1/2 lbs. So I am praying he does come early :)

I have a few things to do in the next couple of weeks in preparation for his arrival but the massive to-do list has dwindled to just a few things. That is good. I need to finish packing my hospital bag and finish his nursery. That only includes hanging the pictures and getting him some baskets for toys. Otherwise everything is done. Clothes and sheets washed, crib made up, diapers all in their places. All we need is our little boy!

Just some of my sweet hostesses for a Sunday School shower a few weeks ago

35 weeks...we are making it!

2011-05-25T08:16:00.000-07:00

I'm officially 35 weeks now. And that means only 5 weeks left until due date! Yay! I can't complain, I am feeling pretty good physically except for hefting my big self out of bed about 6 times a night to go to the bathroom. Luckily, I can go back to sleep easily after I get up but trying to get my body into a standing position while in a sleep induced stupor is hard!

Baby showers are over at this point, except for Taylor's work but b/c that is mostly men it should be simple :) I had a nice work shower last Friday and sweet church friends threw me and Will a shower on Sunday. Mom and Allison stayed in H'ville until Tuesday to help me organize gifts and get some items ready to return. We went to Babies R Us and Target on Monday to take back some things and just doing that helped me feel better as I could cross that off the massive to-do list I have going.

A few things left to do before Will is born:
1. Pick a hospital and pre-register (sheesh, this is a big one right)
2. Purchase some necessities for this mama (nursing supplies, post-birth "recovery" items etc.)
3. Finish Will's nursery! This one drives Taylor crazy I think but as "not important" as it really is, it really is important to ME! I guess it is the nesting thing. I know it won't be the end of the world if I don't have wall art and lamps but it bothers me to have things left undone.
4. Wash baby clothes and bedding
5. Pack hospital bags
6. Get all my FMLA and Short term disability paperwork finalized
7. Install car seat

I keep this running to-do list with me at work or home so that I can just add something when I think about it. That helps keep me from stressing out or forgetting things.

So to end this post. Here is a little art project that I did this weekend. I got inspired by art I found on etsy but it was the wrong colors. Mainly, it didn't feature a yellow lab but a black lab. And we have to stay loyal to our yella fella, Mr. Ray of course. I'm thinking this could look cute above the crib or dresser.

Birmingham

2011-05-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

This Saturday I headed to B'ham for a little shower that my college roommates threw for me. Lindsay and Laura Beth were so sweet to get us all together for some girl time. Much needed! I love these girls. It is just so easy to pick up where we left off if you know what I mean. We spent the day just chatting and catching up on life. Later Laura Beth, Lindsay and I went and ate at the new Big Blue Bagel in Birmingham for dinner. It was yummy! And it tasted the same as the original in Auburn. It is in Crestline Village and that night they were having an outdoor music event so the whole village was jam packed with people. Mostly younger single people in their early to mid 20's looking all trendy and stylish. I kinda felt like I was in college again and then I looked down to realize I was pregnant and not trendy and didn't feel like I was in college anymore...ha. But it was a fun day and I really appreciate these girls and their thoughtfulness. Baby Will and I had a wonderful day!

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Child Birth Class

2011-05-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

T and I made it through child birth class. Actually neither of us were looking forward to it because we were afraid of being scarred for life. I had heard horror stories about the videos and just didn't want to be subjected to seeing that. Up until about a month ago I hadn't even wanted to read what child birth was like. I'm kinda an " ignorance is bliss" person. I don't really want to see what is coming so I just ignore the issue until I'm faced with it. But at this point in the game, I did really want to know about child birth since I would be doing this thing in a few short weeks. When I told Taylor we had to bring pillows and a blanket he looked at me like a deer in the headlights and said "are you serious"? We didn't know what was in store.

So here I am 32.5 weeks preggo on the way to class this past Saturday.

I have to say our class was very tame and actually pretty informative. The videos we watched were computer simulation births and not the real deal. Perfecto. I don't want to see a baby come out of me much less some random lady on a video. The most awkward part is when you and your partner have to practice breathing techniques. Well ladies breath and their "support partner" does some type of massage to keep them "relaxed" during a fake contraction. Everyone was so serious doing this part except for me and Taylor. Maybe we are just too immature for this kind of thing but we couldn't stop laughing or making comments under our breath. Seriously, getting in birth positions and breathing didn't relax me it just made me more tense.

All joking aside, we did learn some things we didn't know and I do feel more prepared for the birth process. Tonight is the breast feeding class, Lord help us and our immaturity. This time we have to bring a teddy bear for practice.

Tornado Post

2011-05-04T07:09:00.000-07:00

As most Alabamians I must have said the phrase "I can't believe this has happened" hundreds of times last week. The 200 plus tornadoes that occurred in last Wednesday's storm system completely shocked me and the effects of the devastation will be long lasting. In bad ways and good ways. I think that when horrible things happen we ask 'why'. And that is a legitimate question to ask however the answer will not be clear. For we know that the Lord is sovereign and as He says in Isaiah "my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts". We simply cannot understand the mind of God but we have to trust in all of this that He is good. That He will bring glory to himself. As I was standing on the front porch with no power watching the last line of storms come through on Wednesday, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the glory of God. As giant trees swayed and small limbs occasionally snapped, I thanked the Lord that I serve Him. He is bigger and greater and more powerful than any tornado that came through our state on Wednesday and He could calm any storm he wanted to.

Huntsville lost power at about 5:30 on Wednesday when a massive EF 4 tornado carved it's destructive path a little north of the city taking with it all the transmission lines that supply power to Huntsville from a power plant near Decatur AL. What a freak thing to happen. We didn't get our power back until Sunday evening and many areas of the Madison/Huntsville didn't get power until even later.

As glad as I was to have power again, today I have been kinda missing the no power situation. Taylor and I were supposed to go on our "babymoon" vacation this past weekend. It was going to be a chance to get away and just spend some quality time together before Will is born. Even though we didn't travel, it ended up being one of my favorite weekends in a long time. We grilled out every night (trying our best to eat our meat before it spoiled) ate dinner by candle light, took walks, talked and talked, read books and focused on what was important in our life. Let me tell you, all the material things that consume our lives on a daily basis don't mean anything and I'm so thankful that the Lord once again reminded me of that. It was nice to live a simple life if even for 4 days. Everyone out and about had crazy hair, no-make up and minimal showers...and if you did look "nice" you were the minority and people looked at you funny. It was very humbling and refreshing to not be worried about what others think.

As I am sure most people have already seen, the destruction caused by these killer tornadoes is unreal. Homes gone, businesses gone....lives gone. I was amazed seeing the damage path in Tuscaloosa. But good comes out of the rubble. I think people all over the state and the world are evaluating what is important in life. The treasures we store up here can be instantly decreased to nothing. We have seen that in Haiti, Japan, here and any other area that has experienced a major disaster. But we have seen good too. Taylor has gone out to volunteer at the sites in our area that were destroyed. I wished I could have gone and helped too but at nearly 8 months pregnant I'm afraid I wouldn't have been much use. He said the destruction is unbelievable but people are pitching in and helping out neighbors. People from all walks of life who may not have ever crossed paths are helping each other move trees and debris. God still brings glory to Himself.

You may have already seen this video but it is just a short re-cap of the damage of last Wednesday. There are so many areas that were effected it just brings me to tears. I feel very blessed that my family was spared. Here is the link if this video doesn't work http://youtu.be/Lw1X0KI9JRg

Easter Weekend and a Shower

2011-04-27T08:50:00.000-07:00

This is a long over due post from Easter Weekend. I had started writing it last week and then our state was ravaged by tornadoes and we lost power from Wednesday until Sunday evening here in H'ville. A LOT has been going on to say the least and this blogging thing was not possible nor a priority.

The Saturday of Easter weekend I had a lovely shower in Guntersville. We are so blessed to have sweet family and friends who join in our excitement for Baby Will to be here. Here are just a few pictures from the shower.

The tiniest socks I have ever seen. Hopefully Will has my feet and not Taylor's or else he is never going to get to wear these.

Family picture: Ashley (who took all the pictures for me at the shower, thanks!), me, my mother in law and aunt-in-law.

Our great friends the Henrys and the Words. Can't believe these 3 guys have been such great friends since birth and now we all have boys. Hope they can be good buddies too!

Sunday we had a great Easter service at our church and then ate dinner with T's parents and sister's family.

Book Suggestions

2011-04-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

I am interested in making some book purchases as we anticipate Will's arrival. I am looking for topical books on breastfeeding, newborn care, sleep schedules etc. for after he arrives. Anything that will be helpful for us new parents! Just wondering if any of you moms out there have good suggestions for books. I haven't bought anything yet so I'm open to any and all suggestions so please send them my way!!!

Good News

2011-04-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

I have good news on two things today:

1. I passed my Glucose test yesterday. I just got a call this morning from the nurse who said I passed all four of the blood draw tests, so I am good. No diabetes!!!! Yay! Thank you all for your comments and encouragement. I don't think I would have freaked out if I had had GD because it would have really helped me keep a better eye on what I am eating. I may even start to do more research on eating a more balanced healthy diet now because of the scare. Which is good!

2. We finally have a name for our little boy! William Taylor Owens but we are going to call him Will!
Taylor and I both really liked Will the whole time we talked about names. In fact it was the top of both our list we just never could pull the trigger and commit to it but nothing else was in the running. Silly...but committing to a name is HARD, at least it was for us. Now we can really start calling him by his name, which feels so good. We can't wait to meet our sweet baby Will sometime in June (or perhaps July but we will think positive and say June). The little one was measuring 34 cms at my 29 week appt. He is a big boy and now we can't chalk that up to Gestational Diabetes...ha! Just his 6 foot 3 inch father :)

Glucose Test- Epic Failure

2011-04-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

I took my glucose test at the doctor this week and ended up failing by 14 points. Not really sure what that means. So I have to go back for the 3 hour test on Monday morning. To make matters worse I almost passed out at the one hour test yesterday so I'm scared about passing out at the 3 hour. About an hour and 20 mins after drinking the glucola I was seeing stars and losing hearing. The nurses had to fan me, put cool rags on my neck and give me water and crackers. It was scary. Please just pray that I will make it through the test and that I will not have Gestational Diabetes. I'm nervous about that too. So all in all, this hormonal pregnant girl is a little stressed and emotional :)

Update: I did not pass out during the 3 hour test this morning. Praise the Lord. Now just hoping for good results that I will get back tomorrow!

Baby Shower Time

2011-04-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had a jam packed trip to Montgomery. Friday night we went to an engagement dinner for my cousin Mary Virginia. It was held at her uncle's house outside by the lake. The weather was beautiful and the company delightful. Too bad I didn't bring my camera along.

Saturday morning, Baby Owens and I got showered by friends and family at our first baby shower. My mother's friends were so generous and thoughtful to do this for me and I'm so thankful for everything! It was so much fun and we felt very loved by everyone who came. It went by so fast that I wish I had had more time to talk to everyone longer!

Sis and I

We were given lots and lots of boy stuff.... All adorable of course!

The ladies even decorated the table with all things boy. At least all things OUR boy will love. Auburn football, vintage tonka truck, doggies...

The little man got some books! And Kelli, who wrote down the gifts, was serious about her job :)

I got to see some wonderful friends from high school. Like I said, I just wished I could have talked longer to everyone.

And Krystle came over from Auburn. Her hubby and my hubby have been best friends since diapers. It was so nice of all the Henry's to come to Montgomery. Taylor especially enjoyed having Albert and baby A.G. to hang out with during the shower. Thanks guys!

And a quick picture of the Momma and Daddy at 29 weeks. We did not try to color coordinate...promise!

We had a wonderful weekend and appreciate our friends and family so much! It was good just to be home for a little bit and visit with people that we don't see nearly enough. Getting all the gifts unpacked and organized makes all of this feel so much more real! We are excited about seeing our little boy and can't believe we only have 11 weeks left until due date! Yay!

And We Are Growing...

2011-03-27T06:55:00.000-07:00

This is me and little one (who does not appear to be so little, is anyone else a little scared besides me??) at 26.5 weeks. Yesterday was super rainy around here and so we enjoyed getting some inside projects completed. We put the crib together, as pictured above. And I love the way the nursery is starting to take shape. You can see we painted the walls and got the glider in.

And here is a sneak peek of the fabric for the room. Sorry for the quality of the picture, the lighting is terrible.

The bumper is being made by a seamstress and I am going to attempt to make the skirt this week! We will see how that little project turns out.

Taylor also painted our craigslist dresser last weekend and we bought new pulls for it. It looks completely different.

I will post a completed nursery post later when everything is complete and in it's place! Happy weekend!

Baby To-do List

2011-03-06T05:22:00.000-08:00

We have been busy around this house getting the to-do list accomplished. Some things I tend to procrastinate on but I think all things baby I am in overdrive to mark things off the to-do list. I just like making decisions and going with them when it comes to nursery items, gear, fabric etc. All except this kid's name! We are still working on that.

So that is what we have been doing since I blogged last.

I ordered the crib and mattress.
The nursery glider ordered awaiting delivery.
Dresser purchased. We snagged a deal on our local craigslist and now Taylor has a fun project awaiting him!
Stroller ordered. After MUCH debate...seriously. I ended up purchasing the BOB revolution off Amazon when they were running a sale. I think it will fit with our lifestyle best as we like getting outside for runs etc. I decided that I will use it as my everyday stroller and purchased the infant carrier attachment to go with it. I hope this boy likes being outside because we are going to get our moneys worth!
Last weekend my parents and sister came into town and we drove to Fayetteville to visit Sir's fabric. We had a blast enjoying the quaint downtown square but had no luck at Sir's. After that little outing, mom, Allison and I went to Hancocks and found perfect fabric. Right under our noses. I am still in the process of ordering the fabric for the bumper and accent pillows. But at least I know what I am doing now.
Ordered 2 different sets of blackout drapes from JCPenney. Will decide b/t the 2 when I get them in. I have found that JCP has wonderful quality drapes and great prices. Check them out if you are in the market. February was their window treatment sale month but they are constantly running a sale on them throughout the year.
Don't worry, I will do a sneak peek nursery post when I get more stuff together. Right now we have splotches of different paint colors all over the walls. No decision yet on the wall color. That should not be a bullet...oh well.
Sent 2 8x10 belly pictures of myself to my grandmother who is in a nursing home and has poor eyesight. She hasn't seen me since the belly popped out. Yikes...I hope she appreciates them, it was hard to know they were being sent to her that large.
And finally, yesterday, T and I registered!!! I was semi dreading this. I remember all too well the tears in Bed Bath and Beyond during wedding registry day. But, thanks to good advice from a number of friends and my SIL, I came prepared with an excel sheet of all the items I thought I needed and the decisions I had made via advice and research. I also brought the trusty Baby Bargins book with us. That helped too. All in all, it was pretty fun and not too stressful at all.

Those are some of the things that I have done so far. I sometimes think about how very irrelevant all of those items are. All we need is a crib and mattress and we will be fine. I do think constantly about how this little boy is such a blessing from the Lord. And I cannot wait to meet him and have him here!

Nursery Ideas

2011-02-16T07:26:00.000-08:00

I have started thinking about the nursery over the past few weeks and I really love neutral nursery's. I had kinda decided early on that I wanted to do neutral bedding for the crib so that I can re-use it later. But that is harder to find than it seems.

Here are a few pictures that I have gathered off the web for inspiration. I guess these all kinda look like the rest of my house. Calm colors, serene, neutrals. Oh well, it is what I like folks.

source: Nest Egg

source: Nest Egg

Source: Confessions

Source: Blueprint Bliss

I'm still trying to piece this all together in my head but there are so many things that I like that it is hard to narrow down a plan.

Pictures

2011-02-13T17:51:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures from 20 weeks that I want to remember.

Official 20 week belly shots.

I brought in blue cupcakes Friday to work to tell my coworkers that "It's a Boy". It was fun and they appreciated the sweets.

Now on to the decision making. First thing is a name for this boy. We have just started talking about names so we have no idea but know that something will come to us. It is just a hard decision naming a person, ya know?

A random question for you moms. Do you have a jogging stroller. If so what do you recommend????

The Day We Found Out Who You Were...

2011-02-10T10:17:00.000-08:00

Dear Little One,

The Lord has known a long long time who you would be. Before we ever dreamed of you or were expecting you. He created you unique and special and is knitting you together in my womb as we speak. Today, He let us in on His secret, our first born.

This has been an interesting week as we anticipated our 20 week ultrasound. We battled anxiety, a stomach virus and today a snow storm to get to sneak a peek at you. Last night, I woke up around 3am thinking about you, anxious about the day ahead. The bedroom was so quiet, I couldn't hear your father's usual labored breathing of deep sleep. So I quietly asked " Are you awake"? "Yes" he faintly replied. "Are you nervous?" I asked, "A little" he whispered. We both laid there in complete silence for a very long time. I knew what he was doing because I was doing the same thing....praying for you.

This morning we woke up to 2 inches of snow on the ground with road closings, business and school delays...and were nervous about whether we would even get to have our 9am appointment. Nevertheless, we scraped the snow off the car and headed to the doctor's office. When we arrived, most of the staff was still trying to get into work but the ultrasound tech was there, praise the Lord. We would get to have our long anticipated appointment after all!

My heart was racing SO fast on the ultrasound table that I thought for sure yours would be going nuts too. But your heart rate was a calm 143. And you were just a movin in there. I guess the sweet tea for breakfast did the trick :) As the nurse showed us all your parts, 4 chambers of the heart, 10 fingers, 10 toes, healthy organs all in the right places...my anxiety decreased. I was thanking the Lord over and over for protecting you and watching over your development. It was amazing and surreal to see how you truly are, "fearfully and wonderfully" made.

The moment we got the first look at your face, your profile. Ah...my heart swoons. I think dad and I both thought we couldn't love anyone any more than you right at that moment.

Then...we saw "it". And instantly I'm sure your dad started to envision t-ball, football games, fishing, hunting, working on cars, fixing motors, and teaching you all the things that your Pop taught him. I'm sure he was thinking about how you and he will be best friends...just like he and Pop are. And how you and he will wipe your mouth on your collar instead of a napkin or have dirt and grease stains on all your undershirts. Your dad didn't say anything, he just patted my leg....I teared up with a big smile on my face.

Needless to say, we are thrilled. And we can't wait to meet you...our son. It feels good to say it :)

And Ray doesn't even know what's coming!

And It's a....

2011-02-08T08:23:00.000-08:00

Stomach virus :)

So, T woke up with a stomach virus last night, bless his heart! He is so sick today. We had to reschedule our appointment for Thursday.

Lots Goin On!

2011-02-07T05:10:00.000-08:00

February is turning out to be an eventful month for us.

First, meet our nephew, Jack. He was born technically January 28th. And I meant to blog about this last week but it didn't happen. Congrats to Ashley, Adam and Kate on their new "bubba". We adore him and are so glad he our newest family member.
Second, this marks 20 weeks in my pregnancy. I can't believe it is half way over. Sometimes I feel like it has gone by fast and other times...not so much! The sickness has almost completely gone away by this point. Praise the Lord! I get "sick" maybe once a week now if that. The back pain from a couple of weeks ago subsided and now I'm going prenatal water aerobics twice a week. That may be helping to keep things loose and stretched out. And, this past week, I think that I have started to feel some movement. Although it is very soft and feels more like a "pulse" or light tap. Not consistent at all. I'm ready to feel baby move more regularly so I know he/she is still in there!

Speaking of he/she. We go for our ultrasound tomorrow! So we will find out soon enough if we are going to be having a boy or a girl. We don't care either way and are just praying for a healthy little one and healthy pregnancy. Last week, I really struggled with an anxious heart and worrying about the "what ifs". I have been praying through this a lot and do feel that the Lord has been lifting me out of this worry. So, this week, I am way more excited than I have been.

So stay tuned for updates!

Servant Heart of Motherhood

2011-01-26T08:14:00.000-08:00

Since Sunday, I have been struggling with (what I think has been) ligament pain aggravated by overdoing it on Saturday. Saturday I ran errands, shop vacced the house and played Bunco with some friends that evening. By Sunday afternoon, I was immobilized on the couch with the worse pelvic/ lower back pain I have ever experienced. I felt like a bowling ball was sitting on my pelvis. Sunday and Monday, I could barely stand up and laying in the bed offered no relief. After crying (once again) about the state of my body and how it hates me, I have reluctantly slept in the recliner for the past 2 nights. The only place where I could actually fall asleep. Needless to say, I have not been a happy camper.

When I found out I was pregnant the first book I bought was "Mission of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson. It had been recommended to me by friends and I have been reading it over the past few weeks. I would encourage all mothers or soon to be mothers to pick it up. It is on the biblical design of family and motherhood and how it differs from what our culture tells us a mother should be.
This morning, the chapter of Mission of Motherhood that I am reading was about the servant heart of mothers. How we are called to give up our desires, comforts and self for our children. To serve them as Christ served the disciples on the night of the Last Supper, washing their feet as one of his last acts on earth. It is such a beautiful demonstration of love and humility. I guess in my head I knew this self sacrifice was part of the role of a mother, but I have been thinking "I still have 5 months until baby O is here, then the self sacrificing begins". The Lord really convicted me today that my role as a servant mother began at the day of conception. It doesn't begin when the baby is born. The Lord is teaching me to give up my own physical comforts right now and sacrifice that for my growing child. And, if serving my child means back pains, sleepless nights, exhaustion and nausea, then so be it. I will choose to rejoice in this blessing and be thankful that the Lord is working on my heart.

17 weeks...

2011-01-19T13:39:00.000-08:00

A little pregnancy post for you friends. I just had my 16 week appt. Tuesday (on my 17th week) and everything is still looking great. Will I ever not be nervous until I hear that heart beat??? Maybe not, but it is worth it. Speaking of heartbeat, the little one's was 154. At 12 weeks it was 174. So explain that all you gender predictors out there. Your guess is as good as mine in predicting boy or girl for this little one.

People love to ask "what do you think you are having". I don't see how anyone knows or can guess this. I really don't have any idea, and am not leaning towards either gender. But I guess we will find out soon enough, Feb 8th!!! Only 3 more weeks. We are just praying for a healthy baby!

Some things I want to document about this stage of pregnancy.

The only craving I have is dairy. I can drink milk by the gallon and I am loving yogurt.
And...I still dislike just about anything prepared at "my" home much to T's dismay.
It is obvious that I'm preggers now. After the Christmas break I really couldn't hide it anymore.
Sleeping on my side is not fun for this lifelong belly sleeper.
Throwing up is not for sissies. Somehow I have managed to projectile vomit on the wall and throw up in my own eye. But....thankfully...
The sickness tapered off by week 16. Thank you Lord.

Well there you go, an update on pregnancy. I will leave you with a picture of the belly at 16.5 weeks.

And the full shot. We are growing peeps!

Kate Day

2011-01-15T12:34:00.000-08:00

We had the pleasure of watching this little one for a few hours today.

Our niece Kate hung out with her Uncle T and Aunt Manny while her mama and daddy took a trip to the emergency room. Adam has had a nasty bout with a kidney stone and had some complications that needed to be tended to. And Ashley, with 3 weeks to go until her due date with baby Jack, took him and left Kate with us on the fly. Please pray for their little family. This is all very stressful and even more so this close to Jack's birth. We are praying Adam will be feeling better very soon so that they can be well and rested for their new little one.

We improvised and found all kinds of things to play with today. Tee and Kate played with Grandma Joyce's farmer figurine. It came in handy in a pinch.

We "called" everyone we knew. Mama, Daddy, Ray, Ivey, Granna, Pop etc....

She had so much fun she forgot to be lady-like.

Keeping Kater was good practice for the new "parents to be". But good thing they don't come out of the womb with that much energy! We would be in for it.

On another note, I am on day 5 of not throwing up!!!! Praise the Lord! At 16 weeks the sickness seems to have waned and I back in action. Thank you all for your encouraging comments on my "stomach virus" post last week. I was at my low point guys. It was bad. But it seems like when I thought I couldn't take it any more, the Lord has shown me mercy. Thank you, thank you sweet Jesus.

I think I may spend my first Saturday of not feeling sick by going to look for some maternity clothes and sitting in nursery gliders at the store. Wahoo!

Snow Day Number 2

2011-01-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

We are on snow day number 2 up here in Huntsville. Yippee. T and I are off work and I am enjoying resting and relaxing after our late night cheering on the Tigers. War Eagle!!!
That was a stressful game and I must confess that I did fall asleep during the 3rd quarter. I was exhausted and I guess when I started having heart palpitations due to stress I decided to close my eyes. Bad move. I woke up in the 4th quarter with 4:33 to go. But, I am so glad I didn't miss the ending! It was a great game and I'm so glad for both Michael Dyer and Wes Byrum. What a Freshman year for Dyer and what an ending for the Senior, Byrum! The whole season was surreal and unexpected.

And here are some other pictures from our snow. We took these yesterday on our drive around town to see what was going on. Our town looked like a winter wonderland and it was fun seeing kids sledding and people walking their dogs!

Beautiful Jones Valley

Driving down Whitesburg

Snow Day!

2011-01-10T06:39:00.000-08:00

We woke up this morning to 5 or 6 inches of snow on the ground and this pup went crazy. He has been in snow before but none this thick. We tried to get some pictures with him. Taylor's turned out well...

Mine..not so much. I was just asking him to sit but it looks like I'm yelling at him.

In any event, it is soooo nice to have Monday off of work for beautiful snow. Especially after the week and weekend I had. Last week back to work was really hard for me after the holidays. It was super busy and by Friday I felt like I was falling apart. I had a terrible headache that I thought was due to pregnancy and exhaustion. By Friday night, I was having stomach cramps plus massive headache. On top of that, at 15 plus weeks I am still throwing up every other day. Friday night I laid in bed and started to panic. Lots of irrational hormonal thoughts started pouring into my head, like...will I ever feel better again. Am I going to be sick this whole pregnancy etc. I took a zofran and that eased the stomach cramps allowing me to finally go to sleep at 1:30 am. The next morning,I woke up to full on stomach virus. Taylor had it too. Finally, I called my mom and literally had a hormonal breakdown on the phone...sobbing. (p.s. I was never a crier until I got pregnant). I think I was just so exhausted at not feeling well for the past 15 weeks that the stomach virus pushed me over the edge emotionally and physically. Lets just say, I have never been so thankful for a Monday off! I am feeling better today as far as the stomach virus goes and we will just have to wait and see if the "morning sickness" goes away in the next couple of weeks.

I really don't mean this to be a complaining post because, trust me, I know how blessed I am to be pregnant and I am thankful for that. I'm just tired and keeping it honest :)

Hope everyone in N. Alabama has a great snow day!

New Year, New Blessings...

2011-01-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

If I have seemed a little preoccupied and frankly MIA for the past few months, I have a good reason...

See, I have been pretty busy over the past 3 months.

This little one has been taking up residence around here...

And...REALLY enjoys laying on the couch, going to bed at 8 o'clock, and occasionally rejecting the food I am trying to feed him/her :)

If you can make out this 8 week u/s... kudos to you

That's right, I am expecting! Taylor and I are thrilled to be on this journey and feel incredibly blessed that the Lord would give us such a gift. Baby O will be arriving sometime around the end of June and we covet your prayers as we grow, prepare, and make ready for our 2011 Blessing! Times are changing once again and we eagerly await this change!

At nearly 15 weeks, Little One and I are learning to live in harmony...let's just say. So I hope to be back blogging more often very soon!

Ready for Christmas

2010-12-24T11:35:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is getting out the ornaments and decorating the tree. T and I are slowly accumulating ornaments but only being married 4 years, we are still adding each year. Here are just a few of my favorites...

This bird actually came as a set of 4 that hung on my parents tree. There was a yellow one, a pink one, a green one and this blue one. My sister and I loved playing with them when we were little. Each year we would look forward to seeing them again at Christmas. A couple of years ago my mom gave one to me and I love how it is a reminder of my childhood Christmases.

T and I received this Auburn ornament our first Christmas.

I added this Scottish santa last year after we had the opportunity to visit Scotland.

We are all ready for Christmas except that I haven't wrapped hardly any presents. Must get on that today!
I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas. We are thankful for so many things this season. The Lord has blessed us beyond measure but the focus of our thankfulness is the gift of Jesus Christ and our eternal life through Him. Have a blessed Christmas!

Free Christmas Cards!

2010-12-02T10:40:00.000-08:00

Christmas cards are always a topic of conversation at our house around the holidays. I do love getting them in the mail but always have a hard time choosing a picture for the one we send out to friends and family. I just love seeing how friends and family change over the years and photo cards are the best ways to share with friends and family! I keep all the past photo cards in a basket and bring them out at Christmas. It is a fun way to reflect on years past.

I really debated on whether to actually make a card this year but then I heard about a great promotion from Shutterfly! So it looks like will be sending cards out again because I can't pass up this generous offer.

I have used many different websites in the past to make my card but this year I am planning on taking Shutterfly up on their offer and trying them out. I am sure I will not be disappointed!
Shutterfly has some great discounts on holiday cards and fun gifts for family and friends. They even have beautiful invitations for Christmas parties.

Right now they are running a promotion for free cards if you blog about it. For more information on how to take advantage of this sweet deal AND get some great quality cards in the process check out Shutterfly.

Around...

2010-12-01T16:12:00.000-08:00

Well we have just been out of touch I guess. I haven't blogged in month but I feel like we have been busy the past 3 weeks and are just now recovering. 3 weeks ago I had to fly to Tampa FL for a work trip, the next week Taylor went out to California for a conference and then of course last week we traveled to Montgomery to spend time with my family. I'm glad to say we are back at home for awhile and are ready to enjoy this holiday season.

We got back from Montgomery on Sunday evening and our dog had had enough of us I think. We took Ray with us but he spent most of the time outside looking in the living room windows. He can't stay still inside at my parents house because they have cats. Way too many smells. He just ends up annoying us so outside he goes every trip. He acted like he didn't sleep at all the whole time we were down there. So when we got home, he promptly got up on a bed and went to sleep.

And no he isn't allowed on the beds. He just took it upon himself to break the house rule.

It was kinda pitiful so we let him lay up there for about 5 minutes before Taylor made him find another sleeping place.

I think we are all just catching up from our weeks on the move! I can't blame him I'm pretty pooped myself.

Gatlinburg

2010-11-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

This weekend we took a quick trip to the Smokey Mountains with Adam, Ashley and Kate, (Taylor's sister and her fam). The weather was so beautiful. We went on a few hikes with paved paths for Kate's stroller of course. The above picture is the view from Clingman's Dome. Although the path was paved, don't let that fool you. It was practically straight up. Adam had a lot of fun pushing Kate up.

At the top of Clingman's Dome we all tried to take some pictures. It was very windy and VERY cold so it was hard to cooperate for the camera.

What you don't see in this picture is 3 adults jumping up and down hollering at Kate to wave and look at the camera.

One of the hikes had a waterfall at the end of our journey.

Overall it was a great weekend. We enjoyed mountain vistas, pancake breakfasts, chili, enchiladas and watching Auburn win. The leaves were beautiful and the time spent with family was wonderful!

Pumpkin Carving and Lost Cats

2010-10-20T05:34:00.000-07:00

This weekend, T and I went to a party where we carved pumpkins. So, ta-da here is our tiger eyes pumpkin. I can take no credit for this. Taylor made up a template and he carved it. I'm just not any good at meticulous projects. Impatient...that's me.

Last night when I got home from work, I noticed that Ivey, our cat didn't greet me. So I looked for her all over the house and she was no where to be found. I had come home for lunch and T had come home at some point in the afternoon briefly so we assume she got out of our house then. We immediately changed clothes and started searching outside in bushes in neighbors yards. Mind you it was lightening and raining and we are outside yelling for our cat. She is strictly an indoor (never been outside before) cat and has been de-clawed so I was especially worried about how she would fair outdoors. We rode around the neighborhood but by that point is was getting dark and she is solid black so it was impossible. I walked over to the neighbor's house to tell her what was going on and on my way back I heard meowing and there Ivey was, pawing at the front door begging to be let back in. As soon as she saw me walking up the driveway she bolted to me. I was never so happy to see her! I often complain about having an indoor cat and...yes...I try to pawn her off on family members regularly but when it really came down to not being able to find her...I was worried and sad.

And how is that for a random post. Happy Halloween, War Eagle and Welcome Home Ivey

Muddy Mayhem

2010-10-18T15:44:00.001-07:00

Last Friday, the university I work at had an event called Muddy Mayhem. Basically it is an obstacle course through various piles of mud/jumping in pools of muddy water etc. My co-worker Holly and I did it as a team and we finished in record time. I was proud of us!
Now how I got roped into doing this...um... This semester I am teaching a Freshmen Introduction course called Charger Success. Basically University Life/University 101 if you took a similar class in college as I did. The Muddy Mayhem was a brand new event this year geared towards Freshmen and getting kids involved. So because I teach a section of the class, I told my kids that we would cancel class last week if they showed up and participated. Sitting through class or running through mud??? Tough choice. I told them that I was going to do it so they should too. I'm all about leading by example!

Here we are post clean up after running the course. This picture doesn't do it justice.
Here is a good one of Holly right after we crossed the finish line. Seriously, I love this girl...we shouldn't be paid to have this much fun but we are!

Painting Furniture

2010-09-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

This dresser used to be my grandparents. It sat in their master bedroom and I can still see my grandmother's lipsticks all perfectly lined up in their acrylic holder. I inherited and used this dresser throughout college, moving it from one house to another...one apartment to another. Up and down stairs. The original paint had never been updated so it was rather dingy and worn. In its day it was a creamy yellow color. Very typical French Provincial style. It had gathered some nicks and dinks from all the moves it had endured over the years. But... it has always been one of my favorite pieces and we decided it needed a face lift. So.....

How to paint over oil based paint:

The dresser's original paint was oil based. You can't paint latex over oil based without a mess on your hands (learned that the hard way in college with another piece of furniture).

1. First Taylor sanded the "shine" off of it. This is the stage shown in the picture below. He did wear a mask because when you sand old furniture you really don't know what you may be inhaling.
2. Then we painted it will an oil based primer
3. After the primer dries (we let it dry over night) you are ready to paint with latex paint

And.....After.....

I picked Benjamin Moore's Gray Horse as the color. Love it!!! It is a wonderful gray color and I would definitely recommend it. The paint finish is semi-gloss.

So there you go. A piece of furniture good as new!

Updates

2010-09-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

I guess it has been a couple of weeks since I did a real blog post. We have been pretty busy and lots of crazy stuff has been going on.

Most notably, I got in a wreck on the parkway last week. Hit by a "Latino man who may or may not be undocumented" that is P.C. for illegal. He totaled his car and then just walked away off the scene of the accident never to be caught by the police. Frustrating. We are still waiting to see the damage estimate on my car. But it is probably not good and will most likely result it either being totaled or us selling it. Nice. I was perfectly fine though and for that we are thankful.

I also got around to painting the triple dresser in our master bedroom. I finally took some pictures of it and will post those later. It turned out great! Maybe a tutorial is in store for you guys :)

Other than that we have been to 1 year birthday parties, moving family members to their new house (and cleaning their toilets), volunteering at the CARE center 5k race, busy at work, and trying to enjoy Auburn football without having a stroke. War Eagle!

The Gracious Rescue of Surprise

2010-09-22T08:53:00.000-07:00

Here is a great post from Desiring God Blog today. In life, we are often taken surprise by the things that don't work according to our plan. I know that we have all been there before, and will repeatedly be put in these situations throughout our life. It is part of living in this world. I know this is a longer post but I promise it is worth the read!

"When you scan the biblical story you can’t help concluding that following God brings a life of surprises. Whatever plans God’s people made and however they tried to figure out God’s plans, they were constantly greeted with surprises. They faced turns in the story that they never would have anticipated. God’s plan again and again included things that would not have been included in the story if his people had been doing the planning.

One of the reasons for this is that we human beings tend to focus on outcomes. We simply want things to go well and turn out right. God surely does care about the end of all things, but he is graciously at work in the process as well.

The surprises along the way are God’s surprises. He is never caught off guard or unprepared. He calls us to follow him beyond the boundaries of our wisdom, strength and character. The waiting we have to do and the surprises that we face are meant by him to be tools of grace. They are designed to release us from our self-reliance and the hold our dreams for our lives have on us.

In those moments of surprise, it is important to remember that you may be confused, but God isn’t. In this moment when you are not sure what is going on, you haven’t been abandoned. No, the opposite is true: you are being rescued. But living this way is hard for us.

As pseudo-sovereigns, we hate waiting, disappointment, obstacles, and failure. We struggle to accept the fact that these things exist in a world that is under the wisest and most benevolent rule possible. C. S. Lewis comments that a hardy belief in the truths of Christianity actually makes your experience of pain more painful. It is bad enough to have to endure pain, but as a believer you must say that it was not an accident and that it was sent by a God who declares himself to be good!

To us, often God's order looks like disorder, and his wisdom looks like foolishness. God's lovingkindness often seems to be anything but loving, and definitely not kind. All of this has to do with one humbling thing that we all have to admit: as sinners, we want our own way. We want life to work according to our plan. We don’t want to have to face the unexpected or deal with disappointment. We want life to be smooth and predictable. And we want all of this because we are more concerned about our comfort and ease than we are about the processes of grace that are at work in us.

It is hard to rest in the rulership of the King when our hearts and minds are so preoccupied with the success of our own little kingdoms.

Life surprises us with the reality of who is king and how different his will and way are from ours. We have lived day after day, month after month and year after year in the world of our needs, our wants, and our dreams. We have nurtured the illusion that if God really does love us, he will give the things that we have determined are good to us.

We have convinced ourselves that if we obey, God will keep his part of the bargain and send “the good life” our way. We thought that if we parented well, then all of our children would turn out the way we hoped. We thought that if we worked faithfully then we would harvest the seeds of our investments in our later years. We thought that if we kept our bodies under subjection then the Lord would bless us with good health. We thought that if we followed the Lord in personal devotion and public worship and ministry, then our lives would be spiritually rich.

Remember, you are not alone, God's people have always struggled with the shock of his rule. The kingdom of darkness is being destroyed by the kingdom of light, and none of us can escape being affected by the carnage.

Deep beneath every struggle of doubt and confusion is a collision of kingdoms. The theology of God’s unshakable sovereignty is easier to verbalize than it is to live. The truth that a God of relentless grace is after the total transformation of our hearts, is easier to conceptualize than it is to rest in at street level.

Require yourself to be brutally honest in this moment. What is it that you really want out of life? What is it that you want from God’s hand? What is the true dream for which you have been working? What are the joys that captivate your eyes and control your heart? What is your, "If I only had , then I would be happy?"

How much have your dreams been personal, earthbound, physical, and here-and-now? Have you been motivated by your kingdom more than God's Kingdom? How is your present discouragement, disappointment, confusion or grief a window on what has actually captured your heart? Have you really wanted God to be your wise and loving Father who brings into your life what he considers best, or have you wanted him to be a divine waiter, the all-powerful deliverer of your dreams?

Could it be that you have prayed for grace, but that you don’t really like the grace that you have been given? Divine grace doesn’t always make your life simple or your pathway clear. God’s grace doesn’t always provide you with release or relief. God’s grace often brings you hardship, confusion, and surprises. These things are sent to you, not by a God who is messing with you because he’s more powerful than you, but from the hand of a God a glorious grace, who is exercising his power for the purpose of your transformation.

So, the next time God surprises you, don’t doubt his goodness, faithfulness, and love. No, lift your hands to the heavens and celebrate. You are being rescued. You are being loved. You are being delivered. You are being transformed. And be thankful that since nothing can separate you from his love, there are more gracious surprises to come!" -Paul Tripp

War Eagle...Hey!

2010-09-06T14:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend we headed down to the Plains for game day. I love being in Auburn, just wish it weren't 3 plus hours away from H'ville. We ate at Big Blue Bagel (a fav) had beautiful weather for a night football game and got to visit with our bestest friends and meet the newest addition to our crew...little A.G. Henry (4 weeks old).

Just chillin in Uncle Tank's arms

He loves ceiling fans :)

And big brother Hank...so happy we came to see him!

I didn't take any pictures of the actual game... so you will just have to manage without them in this post. War Eagle...and I'm so glad it is fall!

Saturdays

2010-08-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole, French Novelist

Saturday mornings with Ray...

I love the above quote. If you are an animal person, you get it. They are the best. Last Sunday, our pastor used an example of how he uses his phone to send himself text messages throughout the day to remind him of his quiet time that morning. For example, if he read about encouragement then he would put a message in his phone "to be encouraging to others". He sets it to send him the text at certain times throughout the day. When he gets the message, he encourages whoever is in front of him at the time. Taylor and I both joked that Ray gets constant text messages to wag his tail. That dog loves life and loves everyone. At night when we are just laying in the den watching tv, if Taylor and I start talking to each other, Ray will start thumping his tail at just the sound of our voice. It doesn't have to be directed at him. He really is just that happy about hearing us talk. Wish I were more like that.

On another note, the top pic was taking with my new camera lens. It was an anniversary gift from the mister. After researching and asking around, we decided on the Nikkor 35mm 1.8 lens. I have just been playing around with it but need some new subjects. So far I really love it and I think it will be a fun lens to play with.

Work Related Funny

2010-08-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a spoof of the old spice commercials. Except...instead of it being about manly Old Spice body wash and deoderant, it is on the topic of encouraging college students to study better. Which happens to be my job. If anyone out there works in Higher Ed they will appreciate it. HA!

4 years

2010-08-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

A post about marriage:I have been married to this wonderful man for 4 years now. We dated 4 LONG years before we got married. You would have thought it was an eternity by the way I talked about it. Looking back, I'm glad we dated for so long. We "grew up" together. I was 20 when we met at Auburn. We made some great memories there together! As many friends got engaged and married right out of college I was thinking "When will this boy ever propose"!!!

And he finally did...
We were both in our 2nd year of grad school when we got married. He proposed in April and we got married in August. 4 months to plan a wedding!!!! And that is all we needed, it was perfect timing. We got married during the break between Summer and Fall semesters took a whirlwind honeymoon to Hawaii and started back to school and this "new" routine...and living arrangement.

Our first year of marriage is still one of my favorites. People say that the first year is the hardest. Adjusting to living with one another etc. For me, it is one of my most treasured years. We knew each other so well before we got married (we dated 4 yrs ;-P) that the adjustment of living day in and day out with each other was comfortable. It felt right. We lived off Taylor's GRA stipend. Shopped at wal-mart for grocerys. Lived in a one-bedroom apartment. Life was simple and we young and having fun!

In my last Fall semester of grad school, I worked part time at Auburn's Athletic Department until 10pm every night and Taylor would work in the lab on his research until then as well. We would come home, catch up on each other's day and stay up to watch the late show with Conan O'brien. It was our routine. When I started my full time internship at Career Services in the Spring, Taylor and I would ride the Tiger Transit to campus every morning together. 8 o'clock, there we would be waiting outside our apartment like school children ready to get on the bus. HA! We joined a wonderful married couple Sunday School that year, made great friends, and enjoyed being together in one of our favorite places in the world, Auburn AL.

4 years later, things have changed just a little bit. We have a dog, we actually drive to our work, we don't stay up to mid-night (barely past 10pm), we have renovated a home, have a mortgage and the responsibilities of adulthood and thankfully we have mastered couponing at Publix (no more wal-mart...yay!).

Through the ups and downs of the past 4 years (really 8 years) God has been faithful to us. He has strengthened our relationship with each other and Him. Although we have faced some sad times over the past few weeks, we know that the Lord has used it to refine us and draw us closer to Him and to each other. We will continue to praise Him for the incredible blessings He has given us and thank Him for our trials.

I honestly believe that I could go through anything in this life as long as I had Taylor by my side. He is my best friend and the one my heart loves. And, isn't that the way it should be??? Growing in love over the years...I think so :)

Love you babe!

Thoughts on a Sunday

2010-07-25T05:55:00.000-07:00

“Making us like Jesus was God’s plan from the beginning. God ‘predestined’ or planned for us to be like his Son (Romans 8:29). Before God even made the world, his plan for you and me was to make us like Jesus. And everything that happens to us is part of that plan.”

- Tim Chester, You Can Change (Wheaton, Ill.; Crossway, 2010), 15.

I subscribe to this blog Of First Importance. It gives a little "food for thought" each day. Some are scripture passages, others are quotes from authors like Tim Keller, John Piper (my fav) and others. The above passage was posted last weekend and it really hit home with me and I have been meaning to post it.

I believe there is great hope in this truth. Most of us can relate to the fact that we don't understand why some things happen in our lives. Taylor and I have been experiencing one of those times recently. One day I hope to blog about it, right now is just not the right time. The Lord has been teaching me a lot in the last couple of weeks. Mostly about control. And the fact that I am not in control He is. Interestingly, this has been a topic I have blogged about before. This time around, I have had a greater sense of peace during this lack of no control over my life. The Lord has been real and present. And honestly, it feels good. It feels good letting it go and knowing that the Lord has control and He uses the circumstances in our live to make us more like Jesus. A verse that has especially meant a lot to me has been.

Eph 1: 11-12 "In him we were also chosen,^e]">[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹²in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory."

There is great reassurance in this. What purposeful God we serve! He is not wreckless, his hand is evident in our lives as he orchestrates his will. And his will is ALWAYS good!

Happy Fourth!

2010-07-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

July 4th is one of my favorite holidays! There is just something about bbq, the lake, and fireworks that makes me feel kid-like. We enjoy the fourth so much! We get to hang out with family and friends and play at the lake. What could be better!

Hope you all have a great holiday weekend. Happy Independence Day!

45 Minutes

2010-06-23T05:21:00.000-07:00

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days" Ps 90:14

These days I am feeling God's presence in the morning hours. I have been waking up at about 6 each morning and going for a nice long walk. I have enjoyed this new found habit more than I thought. Life is simple in the mornings. It is the start of a new day and new possibilities. The morning is fresh and clean...no stains yet from the hustle and bustle of the upcoming day. The only people out are those over the age of 65 :) And they are kind and smiley...always offering a "good morning" to you. The mornings are good.

If anyone knows me they know that I am not a morning person. Which makes the fact that I wake at 6 every morning to walk seem more absurd. It is true, I was not a morning person in my former life...but I am now. Maybe it just comes with territory of being an Owens!

I have come to covet the 45 minutes that I spend outside by myself talking to God. And I have a lot to talk to God about these days...don't we all. For those 45 mins the world is still and void of distraction. I hear my feet on the pavement, birds chirping, cicadas humming, squirrels scattering... pure nature. No TV, facebook or email to distract me... no sir... I have nothing but pure alone-ness for those 45 mins. And it is beautiful.

When you have 45 mins to talk to God, you realize how trivial some of your daily "small talk" prayers really are. I liken it to maintaining a conversation for 5 mins with someone. You can chit chat your way through the small talk and part ways without establishing a substantial conversation that held any meaning. I "small talk" God it my prayer life all the time. I take 5 mins and run though my prayer request without devoting the time and effort that the Lord deserves from me. I have been convicted of this lately. So, the past 2 weeks, I have been really talking to God during those 45 mins. And it has been a blessing to my soul. Through these mornings with the Lord, I have become intensely aware that I don't pour out thanksgiving and praise near enough. I have tried to focus more on those aspects of prayer lately and the results have literally brought me to tears at times. I have so much to be thankful for...God has been gracious to me and to my family although we deserve none of it. I think that is what has brought the tears on the most....my utter worthlessness being blessed SO much by a sovereign Lord who knows I will continue to fail him. It is humbling and convicting to be keenly aware of despite all my faults and sin nature, God loves me so much and still blesses me despite of myself.

Anyway, that is what is on my heart for today. Speaking of family blessings...check out my SIL and BIL blog. We are pretty excited about a new addition to our fam come February!

Summer Events

2010-06-08T11:00:00.001-07:00

For those of you who live in Huntsville, this week marks the beginning of two of my favorite summer events offered in our lovely town.

Last night kicked off the Concerts in the Park summer series put on by the Arts Council. Every Monday night from 6:30-8:00, there is live music at Big Spring park. Bring your chairs, picnic, dogs, kids and enjoy. T and I are religious about going to CITP, so if you see us say hi. Last night was packed! We met up with some friends and enjoyed a beautiful evening outside socializing and listening to good music. Here is the summer schedule

Today, begins Huntsville Track Club's Summer Cross-country Runs. I blogged about this the last two years. It is a great track through the woods if you get tired of boring road running. Which I do. Each Tuesday there are 3 races. A 1 mile, 3 mile and 2 mile. The first race (1 mile) begins at 6:30. What I really like about Summer Runs is that you can run all 3 or just one. It is up to you. The entry fee for the whole summer is $7 and you get a t-shirt! Good deal I would say. Especially for those of us who are embarrassed to still wear old sorority t-shirts :)
More info on Summer Runs here

So with Monday and Tuesday nights booked up and a bible study night thrown in the mix...looks like we will be busy this summer!

London Pictures

2010-06-05T06:02:00.000-07:00

Wish I could have been there but I wasn't. Seeing pictures does make me miss being there though.

Before T left, I asked him to take some pictures of the things we missed seeing last year. So he did.

Wimbledon Centre Court

Some pretty building

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

St. Pauls Cathedral

St. Paul's

My favorite- The London Bridge "Tower Bridge"- The sun is just beautiful

Buckingham Palace

And of course, Big Ben!

Home

2010-06-04T11:49:00.001-07:00

In case you didn't know (which you didn't) my man is home! T is back from a work trip and I'm so glad to see his face. T has to travel frequently for work and of course I don't broadcast when he is away on the internet. You understand...I don't want others to know that I am home alone :)

So T got back last night from LONDON. He has been in the U.K. this week and I have been a little jealous. Most of his trips are not too exciting but on occasion he gets to go to an interesting locale. I sent a camera with him so that he could take a couple pictures that we didn't get to last year when we were in London for 4 hours (if you remember our crazy travel adventure). I'll post some of his pictures later just for fun.

One strict request, was that he bring me back Munchies. They are the best candy ever and are not sold over here in the states! We were obsessed with them last year when we went to Great Britain. Has anyone ever had these??? They are a tiny little whopper, covered in caramel, dipped in chocolate. Perfection. Really they are a hybrid between Whoppers and Milk Duds. Two of my favs.
So I'm excited to have Munchies and my husband back home! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

First Friends

2010-05-22T19:45:00.000-07:00

Tonight we had some friends over and these two youngins got to play together.

Rowan is 4 months... He is pretty chill.

Kylie is 8 months and she is a doll. Seriously, she looks like a little china doll :)

She really liked playing with Rowan's hair...

He does have a beautiful mane of hair...

Thanks Murphrees and Paynes for bringing the crew over and hanging out. It was fun!

Feeling like I need a blog post

2010-05-20T18:29:00.000-07:00

As you can tell, I haven't posted anything in over 2 weeks. This is what happens to me on occasion. I hit a "blog posting" wall if you will. Nothing seems interesting enough to for me to talk about on here and I'm just not very good at making the "ordinary" sound interesting enough to readers.

We finished the bathroom a couple weeks ago and it has been glorious not having anything to work on. In fact this past Saturday we had all our "chores" done early and decided to take a drive over to downtown Athens Alabama. I know that is completely random..right? Well, I had mentioned to T a few months ago that I would like to explore some of the quaint little towns around our area. So he threw out the option of just driving over to Athens. We walked around the square. I love traditional town squares! We went in stores and ate at this place, Wildflower Deli. It was yummo! It was a quick drive over an back so an easy trip.

Two weekends ago we went over to the lake for the afternoon. It was high time to take Ray. His first of many lake trips this summer. That dog loves to swim and retrieve! The highlight of the trip was the fish that Taylor caught. Ray was very interested.

So that is a quick recap of what we have been doing the past couple of weeks. How was that for random. Now back to watching 30 Rock.

Bathroom Renovation-The Details

2010-05-02T20:01:00.000-07:00

Our 1956 bathroom remodel. Black and yellow tile, wall mounted sink and a scary medicine cabinet. That has been the view each morning for the past 2 plus years. We knew when we bought this house that it would require a little TLC and so we set out to renovate our first home. You have seen our other projects on this blog and now one more project is "in the books". We have had good times and frustrating times during this renovation journey and this master bathroom remodel was no different.

Without futher ado...
The master bath

First weekend.

Tile out and rebuilding the shower stall.

Fast forward many weeks from the above picture and this is the bathroom today!

Ta-Da

Now for the Details:

Paint Color:
The paint color is Benjamin Moore Cashmere Gray. It is a great gray/green color. Because this bathroom is SUPER small, I picked a very light airy color to make the room look larger. Another little "trick" to making a space look bigger is using a large mirror. We purchased a large mirror that covers the whole wall.

The Sink:

We went with a standard pedestal sink in this space. Once again, small space...so the pedestal sink is sleek and takes up very little room.

The Shelves:
I knew that we would likely need to put a pedestal sink in the bathroom so I asked T to build some shelves for the storage we desperately needed! We have no linen closets in either bath. He came up with the design and they turned out exactly how I wanted!

I already had these Pottery Barn baskets, so we used them as a guide for shelf spacing. I keep my hair dryer, brushes, lotions, makeup, necessities in one and T has his stuff in the other.

The Shower:

We decided to go with a drop in shower instead of tiling a shower ourselves. Taylor had never tiled a shower before and we just were not comfortable with trying to do that ourselves. No water damage please :)

I wanted to include a picture of the shower curtain because my sister in law, Ashley hemmed it for me. I took a regular size shower curtain and just cut it to size. Thanks Ash!

So there you have it....bathroom remodel down! We finally cleaned up our bedroom this weekend and were able to put down the rug. No more sheet rock dust! Ivey and Ray love the carpet :)

Here they are doing what they do best. Ray sniffs...Ivey hisses.

I feel like giving my husband a special thanks. He sacrificed so much time and effort doing this bathroom and it wasn't as easy as I just made it look on this blog post. When you do all the work yourself it can be frustrating and exhausting at times. But rewarding on this side of the process.

So, I think we will be taking a break for a little bit before we do anything else :)

At least that is what we say....

Get Ready... It's Comin!

2010-04-30T06:56:00.001-07:00

A Big Ol BATHROOM post coming on Monday!!! We have just a couple of things to finish up before the master bathroom is FINISHED, i.e. shower curtain and towel rod...that is it. I can't believe it!

I know you are all on pins and needles right :) Check back on Monday, I promise I will deliver!

And just as a reminder, this is what we were dealing with. R.I.P. bumble bee bathroom!

Fine Dining

2010-04-28T05:15:00.001-07:00

I came across this photo on the blog Limestone & Boxwoods. This dining room is stunning. Can you imagine all the natural light!? Just had to share. Below is the kitchen that goes with it.

Sneak Peak

2010-04-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

Let there be light!

The light fixture is in at least :) Just kidding, the bathroom is coming along slowly but surely. Last night T and I caulked baseboards and trim. One thing led to another and we realized we were going to have to completely patch and sand the door frame b/c the old paint was peeling so badly. That is the way it goes I guess. Nothing is as easy as you expect it to be. But the bathroom is really looking great. We are doing all the small tedious work at this point. Caulking, painting trim, installing shelves etc. Hopefully I will have a full bathroom post in another 2 or 3 weeks. Let's hope at least :)

G Chatting

2010-04-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

My sister is visiting us for a couple of days and while I am at work, she is hanging out at my house. We g chat sometimes online. Do you g chat with your sister?? It is a great invention. We just had this conversation and I thought it was kinda ridiculous so I have decided to post it. Two important things you should know before you read it. 1- Allison is a nurse 2- Ivey (our cat) loves to "bat" things around the house. Specifically hair bands or hair related accessories.

Allison: hey

me: hey

Allison: there's a pair of tweezers and a headband in your toilet

i don't knwo how they got there

me: that little crapper...ivey

Allison: is there something to fish them out with?

me: your hand.

Allison: ewww
me: just wash it afterwards

Allison: what about a coat hanger

that is gross

me: allison you wipe peoples butts for a living

Allison: if i had a glove maybe

with gloves!

i could use a zip lock bag

me: that is fine. they are in the cabinet above the coffee maker

Happy Hump Day. Hope your day is going ridiculously well.

10 years

2010-04-11T14:51:00.000-07:00

We just got back into town from my 10 year high school reunion. I only took 2 pictures all weekend and here they are. I literally talked my head off and didn't have time for photos. It was so much fun! There was a photographer there both nights so hopefully I will get more pictures later.

Friday night we all went to the Montgomery Biscuits game. And then Saturday night, we had a nice dinner at a classmates house. We ate outside and it was lovely. Taylor and I finally left at midnight last night and when we got into the car he said "I'm all out of words at this point". Bless his heart, I kinda threw him to the wolves while I talked to all my old girlfriends. He seemed to be making friends with the other husbands. I just felt like there was so much to catch up on. Most of us are scattered here and there and everywhere. It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since I graduated from Trinity. It was really fun to see the people who I grew up with again all in one place. We all decided that we hadn't changed much. People were still the same.

So here is to another wonderful 10 years!

Don't you love how our little buddy tried to get in our picture?

Pittsburgh- I'm Back!

2010-04-05T06:41:00.000-07:00

I am back from Pittsburgh. I had a wonderful long weekend with some amazing friends! What a cool city.

Day One we took an incline rail way up to the top of an overlook so that we could get a great view of the city.
Elizabeth Ann and I

Going up...up..up on the incline rail.

The three girlies on the incline car. This is the only pic I have of the 3 of us. Sad.

The overlook....incredible!

Elizabeth Ann (baby Hall) and Milla. This is the only pic that EAT looks preggers in. She is 17 weeks and you cannot even tell! It was the shirt :)

After we took the incline back down we walked through an historic train depot converted to a fancy restaurant. Milla helped me with the shutter speed and manual setting so that I didn't botch this ceiling picture! Did I mention she is a professional photographer???
Gorgeous ceiling...

That night we went to a good Friday service called a Tenebrae service. It was held in the cathedral on the U of Pitt campus. Beautiful service and moving.

Day 2 we just walked around Pittsburgh's market district where vendor set up their wares. We stopped by Pittsburgh Popcorn for a yummy snack.

They had about every flavor imaginable.

After walking around the market streets we headed to the park for relaxing, girl talk and some much needed sun! It reminded me of our college days at good ole Kiesel Park or the White House side yard. The next day, we split ways and headed home...boo. It was so wonderful to catch up with these girls! I have missed them!

P.S. I was shooting mostly in A or manual mode but forgot that I had left the white balance on indoor lighting...hence the blue tint on ALL my photos. Daggers! Oh well, I'm learning :)

As Promised...A Catch Up Post...With Pictures!

2010-03-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

I just got home from my first photography class and I think it is going to be great. The man who teaches it is adorable. He has to be pushing 80 years old. Anyways...he gave a great intro lesson in optics. Hopefully I will learn some cool things that I can share on the blog.

I promised last week a few blog posts with pictures. So here ya go.

As mentioned in the previous post, I did get the rug for the master bedroom. It still remains in the guest room rolled up awaiting a "debris" free room before it is laid out. In case you wanted to know what "frieze" looks like....this is it. Ray liked it....He liked it so much that the day after this picture was taken, he hiked his leg and peed on it. REALLY! The dog hasn't peed in our house since MAYBE his 2 week living with us. But I digress...

Speaking of Ray, have I mentioned how obsessed he is with his blanket. He carries it everywhere. Like...he...NEVER...leaves...the...room...without...IT! We call it his "binky".

And have I ever mentioned how obsessed Ivey is with the dryer??? Do I ever even mention that we have a cat??? We do...sorry girl! She loves the dryer and if you leave it unattended, this is what you will come back to.

Jackson Vine....I think it is growing...I really don't know.

I planted a bunch of root bulbs with tubers in these pots. We will see how long it takes them.
By the way, I am now trying to shoot only in Manual Mode on my camera. It is proving to be a little difficult. Like in these pictures I think I may have had either the ISO too high or something. I'm learning peeps!

And finally, an update on the painting of the kitchen/dining room. Here is a before picture. The color in here was BM's Bleeker Beige. It wasn't terrible but I never loved it in this room. Too much neutrality. I have that color in other rooms in the house and it works. Just not in here.

Here is the AFTER: Lightened things up, don't ya think??

This color is BM's Arctic Gray. It is the same color that I painted the living room (as you can see). It is a great color if you enjoy soothing cool tones.

Ray man likes it....but really he likes his chew toy and binky much more.

It is hard to believe that the kitchen/dining room started out looking like this 2 years ago.

It is also hard to believe that Mr. Puppy looked like this not so very long ago...how lanky is he!

Don't expect another post until next week at least. I am heading to Pittsburgh on Thursday for some much needed girl time with some fabulous friends!

No pictures

2010-03-22T07:42:00.000-07:00

I really have been very busy lately. But I just haven't been inspired to take pictures of the projects I have been working on lately. So here is a commitment to you all of the upcoming posts- with pictures- that will make their way onto this blog soon!!! I promise :)

1. Last Wednesday, T and I got some Jackson vine tubers from his aunt. We got a bunch of them that I promptly potted in 3 large pots. I planted them on Friday so I will post on their growth. Hopefully they will start creeping pretty soon.

2. I painted the dining room/kitchen last week. I will post some updated pictures of the new color.

3. Next week, I'm taking a fun trip to Pittsburgh to stay with one of my very best friends, Milla. The other 1/3 to our trio, Elizabeth Ann will be flying up from Memphis!!! I'm am SOOOOO very excited to be spending this time with my BFFs! We haven't all been together in 2 years!

4. BIG OL BATHROOM POST on it's way. Currently, sheetrock done, paint on walls, now onto the floor and installing the new sink/toilet/mirror etc.

That's all for now! Happy Week!!!

Monday update

2010-03-15T13:08:00.001-07:00

First, I just wanted to share a couple of photos from Cote de Texas blog. I love the tranquil design. This house is just refreshing.

This weekend was pretty productive I would say. Taylor worked in the bathroom most of it and it is looking excellent! I think I will wait until everything is finished before I post pictures. Right now, the shower is in and the sheet rock has been hung. Taylor is still in the process of taping/mudding/and sanding everything. But it is looking great!

Last night I decided to re-paint my dining room and kitchen. I know it sounds crazy, but I never liked the neutral color that I had in there. I just felt like everything was too neutral. The walls, the cabinets being dark wood, the seagrass rug under the table. So I painted it my favorite color, Benjamin Moore's Arctic Gray. It is the same color that is in the living room. I absolutely LOVE it! Wish I had done it to begin with. I will post some pictures once I finish up the second coat and put all the furniture back in its place. Right now it is a mess.

Rug Update: Thanks for everyone's feedback on my rug post. Although I love the look of natural fiber, I decided to go with frieze! It is soft and comfy and easy to clean. If I had a prize, the prize would go to my friend Miranda who suggested Underfoot Wholesale Flooring! I ended up getting a great remnant at an even better price! Seriously, I got a 9x11 carpet w/binding for $100 less than 2 other carpet stores that I had priced out the same type carpet. Right now it is rolled up in the guest bedroom b/c there is a layer of sheet rock dust on our master bedroom floor :-P
But I will post pictures once everything is back in order at our home.

Do you have a green thumb???

2010-03-12T14:06:00.001-08:00

Has anyone out there had experience planting Jackson Vine. I may attempt this in the upcoming week for our front porch. I would love to hear your thoughts about planting it.... either personal experience or just information. I am not really a "green thumb" sort of person. Thanks!!!!

My FAVORITE Month!

2010-03-08T07:27:00.000-08:00

March has long been one of my favorite months for a number of different reasons. March is a gift from the Lord. I always feel like I have had all of the winter I can stand and then there is the first beautiful Spring day of the year and everything is refreshing! This weekend was glorious! I hope that you all got outdoors for a little bit.

I walked Ray and ran. It felt so good to get back out there after a couple of months of hibernation. My legs were pretty sore though! Can we say "out of shape"!

March always brings early spring flowers like daffodils and forsythia. I get so excited seeing the yellow shades pop up in flower beds around the neighborhood.

And then of course, my birthday is today. Which gives me the excuse to eat Thai food! T is taking me to Surin for sushi tonight. T is not the biggest fan of sushi or Thai food but he is a wonderful husband and he loves me...so Surin it is :) I have been craving it for a while! He is also giving me a brand new bathroom for my birthday...ha! I am a very lucky girl.
While b'days are fun, getting closer to 30 is not! But... hey, maybe this next year will be my best year yet!

In put Needed

2010-02-25T05:22:00.000-08:00

Ok, friends and blog stalkers. I need your input. I'm am trying to find a rug/piece of carpet for our bedroom floor. I think the ideal size would be 10x10 to cover most all the floor (I think this is what I want to do but will welcome any other ideas). The catch is I don't want to spend too much on it, I just want something warm and comfy. Our bedroom is very cold and drafty and Ray doesn't like laying on hardwood floor :)

Please let me know if you have had any luck finding carpet for a good price and where. I've only been to Haley's flooring (if you are familiar with Huntsville). I had a good convo with a carpet guy about remnants vs. picking out carpet but I'm not sold on either. He did kinda make me interested in frieze carpet though. Anyone have any frieze. It looks like a short shag, and it is loosely hooked. He said it was one of the "cleaniest" carpets out there. The loose hooked carpet is way easier to clean with the vacuum than the short tightly woven carpets. Interesting. Not sold on anything though, so please share any thoughts you may have.

This is the space: As you can see the bed can't be centered b/c of the windows.

And just in case you were wondering how we are fairing with the bathroom remodel, here is our bathroom today.

T and his dad got all the tile out and we found no rotted wood! yay!

Ok, please share you input. I really need it and my husband is tired of hearing me talk about carpet!!!

So Much to Say

2010-02-17T09:27:00.000-08:00

Wow...I have had a crazy past few days. There are so many things I want to say yet just don't have the words for it. Friday, T and I headed to Augusta for our good friend's wedding. We both took off work for a long day of driving...in the snow. Thankfully, the Lord orchestrated that for me. You will very rarely hear me speak of work on this blog so most of you have no idea where I work or really what I do in detail. I like to keep professional/work related information off of the internet. Just a privacy thing. But, I feel called to speak about my work just this once. I work at a university here in Huntsville. The University of Alabama in Huntsville. Friday afternoon, our campus experienced an overwhelming tragedy that some of you may have seen on the national news. A faculty member shot 6 people during a meeting on Friday, killing 3 and wounding 3. Needless to say our campus community is broken by this terrible event. It has been difficult for me to process this. For those who don't know anything about UAH, we are a small science and engineering university with about 7000 students and about 330 full time faculty members. Needless to say as a small school, we know each other and are hurting for those we have lost. This tragedy will not only affect the students who took classes with these professors or had them as advisors but it will also touch so many faculty and staff members who knew them as friends and colleagues. Please join me in praying for their families and our school. Everyone will be back for classes and work this coming Monday. So that was Friday....

Saturday we went to the wedding and had a great time. It was beautiful, the bride and groom were beautiful.

Sunday, I caught at 7am plane in Augusta headed to Denver to meet up with some co-workers for a conference. The conference was good but honestly our hearts were not all there. I had a strong urge just to be back home. We did learn some great things that we can use though and we made some great contacts.

I got back from Colorado late last night and of course was greeted by the Ray dog and my hubby! It was wonderful to hug them. Now I am trying to catch up on emails etc. Another things I came home to was this...

My husband's work boots...which by the way I find very attractive. He is a "push up your sleeves get dirty and get the job done" type of man. I love that about him. Over the past couple of days, he has been diligently working on demo-ing our master bathroom. Yikes but exciting!

Stay tuned for more updates... Our renovation hiatus is over :)

Because I have nothing better....

2010-02-08T16:20:00.000-08:00

....to do but take pictures of my dog. Here ya go. Ray and his "true love".

Ray and his tennis ball...true love. He carries it all over the house.

He sleeps with it....

It is never far away...

On another note, the necklace that I won a couple of weeks ago came today. What a fun surprise! And I love the packaging.

Nothing to Report

2010-02-08T05:14:00.000-08:00

Sorry, I have nothing going on to blog about lately. So, I just thought I would post this picture from Little Green Notebook. This has become one of my fav rooms out there on the internet. I really love gray walls but sometimes they can look drab. This design is excellent. The gray is the perfect backdrop for the pops of color and fabrics the designer used. Here is the whole post on this room.

Also, this gal has probably one of the best birthing stories out there. She just recently had her 3rd little girl. If you want a good read, here ya go.

Can you tell I don't have much going on? It's raining here in H'ville...again. I'm getting a little tired of this trend. Cold and rainy. I'm ready for Spring for sure!!!

A Great Friday

2010-01-29T08:41:00.000-08:00

I never win anything....

until today!

Lately, I have noticed many blogs giving away freebies to a lucky winner. Most of the time all you have to do is leave a comment on their blog post and that automatically enters you in the drawing. I don't really do this very often unless the prize is something great!

So when I saw that one of my fav blogs, La Dolca Vita was giving away a Stella and Dot necklace, I had to leave my comment to be entered in the drawing.

Well guess who won this lucky lady!!!!That would be ME! How crazy is that... right??? I'm so excited because lets face it, I LOVE Stella and Dot jewelry but haven't been able to pay the price. So thank you Paloma, I can't wait to receive my Palm Necklace !

This made my day :)

Pretty Image

2010-01-26T06:47:00.001-08:00

I found my favorite kitchen today on this blog. I saw this picture a while back but didn't remember where I had seen it. Low and behold it popped up again. I just love that big window!

Worth Watching

2010-01-19T05:31:00.000-08:00

http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/?p=363

I hope that everyone had a nice weekend. T and I were off yesterday and enjoyed the beautiful weather. I went for a walk with Ray then a run. T washed my car and worked outside and around the house. I am so ready for spring now.

Quickly, I wanted to share the video linked to the top of this blog with all of you. This Sunday, our preacher preached on suffering and the book of Job. It was a moving sermon in light of this weeks events in Haiti. Really, a sermon on suffering is always convicting and moving. He showed the above video as a closing to the sermon. This video is Matt Chandler, lead pastor at the Village Church in Dallas. He filmed this video before he went into surgery because he didn't have the time to actually share with his church all that was going on.

If you watch it, you will not be disappointed. His attitude towards his suffering is incredibly moving and convicting.

Addiction

2010-01-13T05:33:00.000-08:00

I came across this as I was cleaning up my desktop on my computer. I wrote this journal entry of sorts when I was interning at the Opelika Mental Health Center in grad school. What an experience! Re-reading my thoughts of nearly 4 years ago, made me realize that not much has changed. Control is still the "thorn in my flesh" if you will. At the time, I wanted to control where I would get my internship placement, as you will read, but now that thing I wanted to control has been replaced by other worries. Some petty, some not. This entry was just a clear reminder to me how truly in need of Grace that I am. I know where my "weakness" is, yet I cannot fix it on my own. Obviously...I still struggle with it 4 years later. In fact, I may never be able to finally release the grip of control on my own, chances are I will not. But, that is why I am thankful for a loving merciful God who has covered me in His grace.

Fall 2006
"I also learned that all people are addicts and that addiction to alcohol and other drugs are simply more obvious and tragic addictions than others have. To be alive is to be addicted, and to be alive and addicted is to stand in need of grace"
Dr. Gerald May "Addiction and Grace"

Wow, how this has resonated with my heart over the past 2 months. You see, I have been working at an addictions center as a counselor in training. At first I felt sorry for my clients and hurt for them because of the bad choices they had made. But it didn't take me long to realize I'm in the same boat as they are!!! Who am I kidding, I'm addicted too.
"To be alive is to be addicted", Amen. My name is Amanda Owens and I am an addict. My drug of choice is CONTROL. I crave control over my life and constantly steal it back from the one who loves me the most.... Jesus Christ. And just like an addict, when I don't get my drug I experience withdrawals. Oh how I experience the tremors of worry and the sweats of anxiety. But we all have our addictions, don't we? Dr. May says "we are addicted to work, performance, responsibility, intimacy, being liked, helping others, and an almost endless list of other behaviors".Yes they may not be as tragic as drugs but nevertheless they are all the same in the Lord's eyes. Is He not just as displeased with my control issues as my client's meth issues?
This "Ah Ha" revelation really has come from an issue that I have wanted to control this week. You see, I have interviewed for this internship position that I want so badly I can almost taste it. And I have to wait over the weekend until Monday to know if I got it or not. Today my stomach has been in knots but have I been praying that the Lord would take this out of my hands and that HIS will would be done???? NO WAY! I have taken my drug (control) and look how well it is working for me. Yeah right! And now I'm saying to you all that I am in need of Grace. Everyday of my life I need grace to remove the cravings from my addiction to flesh and in the place of that desire to fill me with power that only the Spirit can provide.
"JUST FOR TODAY" This is a recovering addicts mantra in substance abuse treatment because you cannot say 100 percent that relapse will never happen because sadly it is very likely. Recovery is one day at a time and so is mine. Today, I will place my need for control in the palms of my savior, Jesus Christ. Just for today, I will die to myself and my flesh and be washed in Grace, resurrected again with the Spirit's strength. Just for today. And then tomorrow I will do the same, and the day after that. To say that I won't struggle is a lie but I know I have a Heavenly Father that is merciful, loving and full of Grace. And He is all I need. Just for today.

I did get that internship. I was the only student out of a 16 person cohort not placed in a mental health counseling internship. Instead, I got the opportunity to work in Career Counseling at a university and have been in Higher Ed ever since. Kinda neat looking back on everything.

Snow Day

2010-01-08T05:49:00.000-08:00

The Huntsville area got a nice blanket of snow yesterday and it doesn't look like it will be melting anytime soon. It is frigid here! Many schools and businesses started closing early yesterday as well as some major roads in our town. My work, of course, held on until the end and we were not released until about 2:30. Luckily, I could get home and no roads on my route home were blocked. So, this gave me a little time to play outside with my dog and my camera.

Ray ate his body weight in snow....watch for the yellow snow cones!

I threw him snow balls....

He did a little retrieving. Sitting on the snow isn't quite as comfortable....

Overall...we had a fun afternoon playing outside. And, I don't have to go into work until 10 this morning so I'm just watching it snow and enjoying a cup of warm coffee. Stay warm.

G'ville C'mas (on New Years)

2010-01-02T08:35:00.000-08:00

New Years Eve, we spent the night at T's parents house to celebrate the Owens family Christmas. The plans last week were foiled because both of my in laws got the stomach virus. So we made it up at a later date.

We had a great time hanging out with each other and enjoying good food and gift giving. Our newest member of family, baby Kate, was enjoyed by all. It was fun having a baby around this year. I tried to get a few pictures of her early New Years morning. None turned out great due to my inability to take pictures in low lite situations. Good thing, T gave me photography lessons for C'mas.

Ironically, the best pictures I could get of her were when she was freaking out watching Ray. She didn't really like him.

But these facial expressions are SO not typical of her. She is the happiest smiley baby I have ever seen. Never in a bad mood. I guess Ray brings out the worse in her.

We stayed over to watch the Auburn/ Northwestern game. What an insane game! Taylor finally said "lets leave" and we got in the car frustrated and not wanting to literally stand there anymore with our luggage over our arms waiting for that game to end! So, with radio on, we listened to Auburn FINALLY win that game!

So, here's to 2010. I really haven't made any resolutions other than to finish P90X. I'm kinda frustrated at it. But in 2010 I'm going to finish it so that I can just say I did it. I finished Phase 1 of the Classic version pretty strong with little results and I have been half way committed to Phase 2. Technically I am in the 2nd week of it but due to holiday eating and traveling, I am not going to even count those 2 weeks. This week, I am switching to P90X Lean, Phase 2 instead of keeping going with the Classic version. I have gained about 4 pounds since starting it. I don't really know if the exercise is to blame or just holiday food. But I'm going to give it a good effort this month by working on my eating habits and doing the Lean version for the rest of the 90 days.

If you don't know anything about P90X, then this won't make sense to you. The Lean version is a little more Cardio and less resistance training. I love doing the upper body workouts but really, I don't need to do 2 a week. One upper body in exchange for one more day of cardio will hopefully help take those extra pounds off. We will see in 60 days I guess.

A New Year in Review

2009-12-31T07:13:00.000-08:00

Hope you all have a very Happy New Year. Here is a recap of 2009 via my blog post.

January-

Most posts were of Ray (go figure) and decorating. I got the damask print chair and made cafe curtains among other projects.
A niece- A/A found out they were having a girl

February-

I hosted some girl friends at my house and used my fine china for the first time...EVER
We also went to Stone Mountain with friends. Taylor's first time to see it.
Taylor built Ray a dog house and I made the first bed (that bed lasted a couple months unlike the bed made on Monday)

March-

We went to the nursery to pick out plants for landscaping.
I had a nice birthday spent at the lake with some of my favorite people (and dogs).

April-

We landscaped the front yard! Big project.
Ray destroyed my lovely oak leaf hydrangea.

May-

More sewing projects. This time I made bolster pillows for our bed.
Ray ate the delete key off my laptop.
We went to a wedding and spent some time at the lake when Ray made his first and last jump off the dock into the water

June-

Our neice, Miss Kate, was born!
I went on a beach vacay with my college girlfriends

July-

I got a new camera just in time for...
Our trip to Great Britain! I fell in love with Scotland on this trip...sigh.

August-

I mainly blogged about our trip and posted pictures
I completed some little projects, painting a pineapple lamp and framing our maps from trips.
3 years of marriage together... I am blessed :)
Mr. Puppy turned 1 year old.

September-

We went to the mountains with our Bible Study group and all came back with the stomach virus.
Auburn football games of course.
In Owens family fashion, we labored through Labor Day and started our trim painting.

October-

Fall decorating with friends, Halloween parties and a little bit of Ron Burgundy and Veronic Corningstone.
And of course Ray's favorite toy, the broom. He is always such a big help :)

November-

I started P90X...eek. And yes, I am still doing it although I hate it.
I also started a new job that I absolutely love!
We spent a lovely Thanksgiving in G'ville with T's family.
And I made a Christmas Wreath for our front door.

December-

T ran his first marathon...wahoo!
We celebrated Christmas in Montgomery and are now awaiting the New Year!

Well, that was pretty fun to look over an entire year. Here's to 2010.

Frustrated

2009-12-30T13:34:00.000-08:00

I pulled out the sewing machine yesterday...to work on a little project...

for a dog....who shall remain nameless because I am mad at him. He needed a bed for his doghouse. A bed to keep his cedar shavings in....

Picture of said "nameless" dog

This morning (less than 24 hours) after I made the bed for this dog, he had destroyed it and scattered cedar everywhere....then he decided that he was tired from his shenanigans and took a little nap on the bed.

I'm a little annoyed...