Playing Grown Up

music: Brooke & the Dr.

2012-01-31T12:22:00.004-06:00

Hey y'all!

Taking a break from cuddling Evie while she naps to listen to some new music.

Headed to listen to Brooke White's new project with Jack Matranga called Night after Night.

Yes, Brooke White is an American Idol contestant from long ago, but I still like her!

Listen here.

Also, so excited that Conan has offered a live streaming of Dr. Dog's new album on his site today. Think I'll put in my preorder today!

Whenever we see Dr. Dog in concert Grant always says that they're a "truly proper rock band." Indeed, they are.

Listen here.

In other music news, I've had the same song, All He Says I Am, on my song widget over there to the right for ages, but it's still my favorite song.

It's by Cody Karnes & Kari Jobe, and I listen to it over and over every morning when I get ready to gear up for the day in some good truth - the truth of who Christ has made me and who I can be that day in Him.

Here are the great lyrics:

(you can listen to it on the widget)

He whispers in my ear and tells me that I'm fearless.

He shares a melody and tells me to repeat it.

And it makes me whole. It reminds my soul

I am all He says I am.

And He says I am His own.

I was blinded by the scales upon my eyes.

But He came like a light and burned up all the lies.

He set me free; He reminded me

I am all He says I am.

And He says I am His own.

Chains are broken, the scales are on the floor.

Truth is spoken, I'm no orphan anymore.

I am loved.

I am new again.

I am free.

I'm no slave to sin.

I'm a saint.

I am righteousness.

And I'm alive.

*What's been your favorite song lately?*

The Detes (the birth detes, that is)

2012-01-30T08:02:00.002-06:00

Hey bloggy friends!

My what a long time it's been!

I had a great fast from social media, but I am glad to get back into the blogging game and hear from all my "digital pen pals."

(don't you think blog friends are just updated versions of pen pals?)

And I have great news to share, which you may already know:

Evie is here!!

Yay, yay yay!!

I wanted to share the detes of her birth:

About three weeks ago, I learned at a doctor's appointment that little Evie was in the breech position. My doctor was ready to schedule a C-section, but I wanted more time for her to turn. I really did not want a C-section.

While I was biding my time and encouraging little Evie to turn around, she had other plans.

At 3:40 in the morning last week, I woke up and thought I peed myself. So I changed pajamas and got back in bed.

At 3:45 I "peed myself" again. When I got up to change again, I realized there was water all over the bathroom floor. (if you've ever been pregnant, you know that bladder control is actually lost to the extent that you would assume you peed yourself twice in the bed - ha!)

Okay, duh, Brooke. This is where I realized that my water must've broken!

I said, "Grant, don't panic, but my water just broke."

I wasn't feeling any pain, so I didn't think I was having contractions. I called my doctor, and he said to come in.

Grant began running around packing his hospital bag. I was all packed up, so I tried to find something to do and decided to put on make up and get ready for the day. I suddenly realized I forgot how we wanted to spell her name and went in her nursery to read her name on gifts people gave her. I thought, Oh crap, what if I spell it wrong on her birth certificate?!

Then, to Tuscaloosa we drove! Usually about an hour drive, but this time, with Grant's hazard lights on and an ungodly speed, it didn't take long at all. He kept yelling at cars, My wife's having a baby! Get out of the way! Don't you people know what hazard lights mean?! It really was a shame I couldn't make it more dramatic by doubling over with some major contraction pains. (totally kidding! I'm so thankful for such a pain-free, stress-free ride to the hospital.)

There was one nagging worry in mind, however, that I kept praying about on the way - Evie being breech.

I so wanted to deliver normally without a C-section. Since my doctor had talked about the option, I had read about them, and really, really did not want the tough recovery that comes with them. Please let her turn, Lord, please let her turn.

But wanting to follow my Master's example, I always ended the prayer with, but not what I want, what you want.

When we got to the emergency room, they took us up to Labor & Delivery. They did a quick sonogram and confirmed that Evie was still breech. C-section it was. Okay, Lord, I know you've got this.

I wasn't worried and thought they'd take their time, but it turned out that I was having strong contractions every 4-5 minutes (thank God I never felt them!), so they wheeled me back to an emergency C-section.

In the hall, they grabbed Grant to take him away to prep him to enter the operating room.

This was the worst time.

They didn't tell me Grant would be leaving for a moment - they just grabbed him. Time didn't allow them to tell me much, really. When I was wheeled into the OR the lights were bright, it was so cold, there were so many people rushing around, then lots of people doing very uncomfortable things to me like putting in a catheter, doing the spinal, and doing all the things to prep me for surgery. I just kept thinking this is best for Evie and God will take care of us both and squeezing the sides of the cold metal operating table to deal with the pain of all the poking and prodding.

Finally - Grant came back. They restrained my arms and drew up the sheet so I couldn't see. I felt tugging and pulling and tried to tell myself that they were just prepping the area and sterilizing, not wanting to think that they were actually cutting me open behind that sheet.

I started to cry thinking of Grant having to watch that. I was thinking that he really had the worst position in this whole experience. Worrying about Evie and watching your wife get cut open.

Later he told me that the hardest part was smelling burned flesh from when they cauterize the layers to control bleeding. Good thing all I could smell was the latex-y smell from the hospital sheet drawn in front of my face!

But soon after I felt the tugging and pulling, I heard the sweetest little raspy cry! Stupid sheet in my face - I couldn't see her!

Then one of the nurses showed her to me and I was so sad I couldn't move my arms and hold her. Grant went to hold our little one and watch them do all her tests.

I could hear her crying and him talking to her, and I started crying again. Stupid C-section. I can't hold her yet! I tried to keep it together while they sewed and stapled me back up.

Soon, Grant brought her back over to me and I got to kiss her little face. The prettiest little face I've ever seen!

Then they took her again. Boo! When I am I gonna get to hold her?

Unfortunately, I had to be wheeled to surgical recovery and I couldn't see or hold Evie until I could wiggle my toes. Grant was with Evie, so again I was alone and started to cry.

I looked at my toes and tried to will them to move. Wiggle, you stupid toes, wiggle!!

They must've begun my morphine drip somewhere around here because I really can't remember much after this. I remember being in our final hospital room, but I don't remember getting there. Grant has pictures of me holding Evie, so I guess those stinking toes finally wiggled and I finally got to hold her.

The next couple of days in the hospital are a little foggy. Pain, sweet visitors that I can't remember talking to who made fun of weird things I said later, lots of holding and feeding my sweet, sweet Evie, and her eating like a champ. ooh, a freebie, I thought, nursing will go off without a hitch.

I couldn't finish a prayer without falling asleep those next few days in the hospital, but I do remember that God sent his Comforter to me like never before. The day before I went into labor, I had reread something in the Bible that I've read numerous times before - when Jesus fed the multitude with the loaves and fish.

When he was on Earth, he went around showing compassion to people by healing them and feeding them. He did that because that's his character - he is both provider and healer. I just prayed over and over, be my Provider and Healer.

Provide me with wisdom to know how to care for Evie. Provide me with healing in my body so I can recover quickly and do the things I need to do for her. Provide energy for middle-of-the-night feedings. Provide me with an assurance of your love and grace at all moments to be my strength and joy. Provide me with enough faith and trust that Your plans are, in fact, perfectly perfect when I start to think I got stinky deal with this whole c-section thing, and when I start to lament that I will probably always have to have them with all my kiddos. Provide for me and heal me. Provide for Evie and Grant and bring Your fulness of joy and wholeness to our little family.

I know there are much, much worse things than a C-section, and that they are actually quite common, but it's not what I would've chosen. But like so many things that we wouldn't have chosen for ourselves, it has helped me to grow in my dependence on my God and He has been glorified for his incredible faithfulness through it - and so that makes it a win! And, um, not to mention the incredible gift that came out of it: Miss Evie!!

(more on that sweet little subject later!)

It has also shown me how much I have to be grateful for.

I had never had to experienced surgery, or health problems, or physical pain at all really before this.

I have a wonderful husband who tirelessly jumps to help get done what needs to get done without being asked. (Seriously, he basically had that baby figured out before I came to from the drugs. The nurses kept talking about how impressed they were and I was all, oh yeah that's my adorable baby and my awesome husband, no biggie.)

And I'm so, so grateful for a healthy, happy baby.

I would be so thankful for her even if she wasn't this way, but she is such a little contented spirit who has made it so easy for this newbie-Mama to learn how to take care of her.

I have a lot to be thankful for, and I don't deserve any of it, but my God is so compassionate and good!

Everly June Premo

2012-01-18T15:43:00.003-06:00

I (Grant) hacked into Brooke's account to share a little pic of a little baby and proud mama:

Evie surprised us early-early this morning and decided she had had enough of the womb.

little mama lists

2012-01-13T08:42:00.001-06:00

things I'll miss about being pregnant:

*Everybody telling me to sit down when they're all standing.

*the Geniuses at the Apple store letting me break in line, then making someone move to give me a stool to sit on while they work on my computer.

*People giving me adorable little presents for baby!

*Cashiers at Wal-Mart rushing to put my bags in the cart before I can.

(um, that's a big deal at Wally World. you usually put your own groceries in your own dang cart or get some nasty looks from the cashier.What do you think this is lady - Publix?)

*Strangers looking at my bump and then smiling at me.

(I don't know if these smiles are if to say aw, life is being created inside of you. what a miracle. Or if they're smiling as if to say aw, you really don't know what you'r in for, honey. hope you're alright without sleep.

*Feeling her kicks and jabs.

*Having a new room to decorate!

*And of course, the end result: my little one!

things I won't miss about being pregnant:

*Um, puking.

(which actually doesn't really even bother me anymore that much)

*Clothes not fitting and having to buy new clothes I don't really love.

*Peeing every 15 minutes.

*Feeling the extreme urge to pee, then going and realizing that my bladder is actually empty, but there's just a baby on it making me think I have to pee.

*indigestion.

*the fact that I was part of the 1% of pregnant women to get PUPPP. It's the worst. If a pregnant lady ever tells you she has PUPPP, be very, very nice to her and buy her many presents. Thank God it only lasted about two weeks for me.

*not being able to have as much caffeine as this coffee-holic/choco-holic would like to have.

things I don't want to do when I'm a mom:

(and all the moms out there are thinking yeah right, lady. you're gonna do all these.)

*worry about every little thing - I hope I'm a laid-back mama

*compare developmental stuff to other kids and then feel bad if my kid's not there yet. or compare myself to other moms and feel bad if i'm not as cool/efficient as they are.

*worry about the cleanliness of my house

*cut my hair off on a whim

(I love so many people's short, cute hairdos, but I've had short hair a lot, and I feel pressure to style short hair, whereas long hair I can put into a ponytail or braid if I can't fix it.)

*respond out of emotion

(um, I know this is probably going to happen because I'm a human with emotions, but I hope I can train myself to separate my negative emotions from discipline and let my responses be out of love and patience. I know that whenever I have disciplined a student out of anger or embarrassment of their behavior, that I have regretted it.)

things I want to do when I'm a new mom:

*get ready every day (as in, put on makeup, real clothes, and fix my hair)

*go outside for a walk everyday

*focus on teaching kindness over teaching academic things (this is terrible, but I told Grant the other day that I would rather our child be kind than academically successful. thank goodness, she can be both, and let's hope she is. But seriously, for a teacher, I really don't care enough about good grades.) Although, I still have a lot to learn on kindness myself!

*this list of what kind of mom I want to be could go on and on, so I'll cut it short :)

moms, non-moms, and not-yet moms, what would you add to my list?

*click image for source

great advice

2012-01-13T07:31:00.004-06:00

We went to a financial peace conference at our church last weekend. We figure now that we are out of school and are about to have a baby, we better know how to manage things wisely with our finances.

Not that you can't do that before you start your job and have a baby, but when you get married in undergrad, then have 6 years of college, you kinda sorta do what you have to do to get by. :)

There was a lot of great advice and a lot of me actually learning about grown up things that I pretend to know about when people talk about it at parties but secretly have no idea about.

Anyway, they played this hilarious video that I thought you should watch:

Love me some Amy Poehler.

There's also a three-part message series on my church's website you can watch here called Financial Peace on Earth that I really enjoyed.

Great. Now I'll be doing disco moves and singing money, money, money, money, MONEY! for a good hour this morning.

more faith

2012-01-12T08:53:00.000-06:00

I often pray and ask God to give me more faith.

Whenever I hear the verse that says with only the faith of a mustard seed you can move a mountain, I wonder if I can muster up even that much.

When I read this in the One-Year Bible the other day, I was amazed at the simplicity and faith of the whole deal with the fishermen following Jesus and becoming his disciples:

Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed.A short distance down the beach they came upon another pair of brothers, James and John, Zebedee's sons. These two were sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their fishnets. Jesus made the same offer to them, and they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father.(Matthew 4:18-22 NLT)

Wow. I just think of what that must've been like. They've probably never heard of this Jesus. They were Jewish, so they knew that a Messiah was supposed to come, but this person is just coming up to them and saying, Hey, I know you're at work right now at your family business, but come with me.

My thoughts would've probably been, What exactly will we be doing? I don't know if I have the off-time at work. My dad will be so mad if he has to do this by himself. Where are we gonna go? Have you packed some lunches? Where are we sleeping and getting food?

But no. They dropped their nets and went.

Okay, people. Let's be honest. That had to be the Spirit of God within them confirming this man and what he was asking them to do. Assuring them that this man was who he said he was.

Lately God has shown me that his grace is even sufficient for the development of my faith.

When I read about the fishermen and immediately thought, I would've messed that one up big time, the Spirit assured me that he is in me, just as he was with the fishermen. He is bearing witness to the things of God. He is inside me producing faith in the moments that I need it.

I've always been worried about mustering up enough faith, but his Word says in Romans 10:17, "So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ."

So what do I have to do to get enough faith?

Hear.

His Spirit in me will do the rest. That's what he did for the fishermen/disciples, and that's what he still does for his people!

I can strive and strive to produce more faith in myself, but He says:

He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Psalm 147:10-11 (NLT)

*click image for image source

hooray - the nursery is complete!

2012-01-10T08:44:00.000-06:00

Hey guys!

Just wanted to post a few (i mean a lot) of pics from the nursery.

We officially finished all projects I wanted to do, so I'm calling this nursery ready for baby!

I want to tell you more about some of the projects we did because they were super-fun and easy (& cost friendly!), but today, here is a picture-ful post of my favorite room in our house:

Beautiful yarn "E" - a gift from my friend Robbie.

-scripture print from here

-little notebooks for keeping track of feedings

her toy bin looks sad with only a few little things, but she'll have some soon enough

huge dry-erase board made from thrifted frame - for my list-making self

I loooove our mobile - a gift made by my sister & brother-in-law.

I made the floral wall hanging to look like the one Ashley Meaders made for my sister-in-law's wedding.

cute growth-chart - a gift from her auntie Meg & uncle Mark

the book corner!

Grant bought me these hand-made dolls at an art festival when we were dating. Who knew we would get married and our daughter would use them? (well, I hoped!)

my mom gave me this pretty antique dresser a while back, and I thought it went great with the rocking chair my grandmother gave us

(p.s. I love the ruffly pink curtains from my sister!)

pretty prints from friends

a cute Belle & Boo print my sister-in-law gave me a while back for my birthday

My two sisters-in-law Kelsey & Meghan made this sweet, sweet Blessings Box with letters to Evie in it. It's one of my favorite things in the nursery.

and my mom gave me my baby book for Evie to look at.

I'm so glad that Evie's room is ready.

Looking around, it's mostly meaningful gifts from sweet friends and family, and it makes me so excited about how loved she already is.

Now, just come along, little one!

you got to pray just to make it today. . .

2012-01-09T09:44:00.000-06:00

you're so right, M.C. Hammer!

Happy Monday Morning, folks!

I wanted to drop in to tell you that I will M.I.A. for the next 21 days as far as social media and blogging go.

I usually schedule posts on here pretty far ahead, so some fun posts (including loads of pics from the newly completed nursery!! woop, woop!) will be going up that were already scheduled, but I won't be seeing comments or twitter or anything, so don't think I'm dissing you if I don't respond. (Is it still cool to say dis?)

I'm so excited about a little social media fast I'll be doing along with my church's biannual 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting.

Of course, I won't be fasting from food - being 8 months pregnant - but I will be fasting from all social media (pinterest, FB, twitter, blogs, etc). And since the prayer meetings are at 6 (in the morning, people!), I call that a fast from my usual sleep patterns. :) I'm a pretty hard-core sleeper-inner.

So, I'll see you folks in 21 days!

(Hey, by then, I'll be two days away from Evie's due date. Aah! We might talk next when I have a little girly here!!! Exciting.)

To "attend" the prayer services live online every weekday at 6:00 a.m., go here.

Okay, I'm off to make this cake and get ready for the BCS championship. Roll Tide! You better be rooting for Bama! :)

*click image for image source.

winner!

2012-01-09T08:38:00.000-06:00

The winner of the wool felt clutch give away is:

Cindy P, Congrats!

Send your mailing address my way at brookepremo [at] gmail [dot] com.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

To make your own, check out this post.

felt ball necklace diy

2012-01-07T08:25:00.000-06:00

I made these felt ball necklaces for my mom & sis for Christmas. I love felt balls - the colors they come in are so pretty, and they seem so wintery and cozy. I think they make a great winter-time necklace - like a little bit of comfy sweater to wear around your neck.

They would be a great little, day-brightening gift for a friend, I think.

Even though I don't fancy myself a very good jewelry-maker (I guess my fingers aren't small & nimble like an elf), I had fun making these.

Here's how you can make one:

What You'll Need:

-package of a few felt balls

-necklace chain

-wire

-pliers

-a needle with a hole large enough to thread the wire

Instructions:

1.) First, line up your felt balls how you want them to hang on the necklace, then cut a piece of wire about four inches longer than the width of them.

2.) Thread your needle with the wire piece. Using the needle, thread the wire through each of the felt balls.

3.) Take one end of the wire and use the pliers to create a knot around one end of the necklace chain. I also looped my wire around a few more times to make it more secure.

(There are no clasps on this necklace, I used a necklace chain long enough to slip over the head.)

4.) Squish the felt balls together and do the same knot & loops on the other end. Squishing the felt balls together will ensure that you don't have any wire slack showing once you get both sides on the chain.

Cut excess wire with the pliers.

5.) Use the pliers to push any wore that is showing back into the felt ball so only the necklace chain is visible.

Yay! You have a pretty felt necklace!

a tree replanted in Eden

2012-01-05T08:32:00.001-06:00

This is one of my favorite scriptures:

Instead you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.

Psalm 1:2-3 (the Message translation)

I just love the thought (& reality) of being a tree replanted in Eden. In Eden, everything was perfect. Man walked with God like a friend and talked face to face in the cool evening breeze. Everything was provided and there was no death or shame. Man didn't hide anything from God because there was nothing to hide.

Then we all know what happened there. That went to pot.

But our great hope is that Jesus has restored all of this! Because of him, we can be a tree replanted in Eden - drawing from God's rivers of Living Water for our nourishment, bearing fruit, and resting in fellowship, free from shame, with our God once again. yay, yay, yay!!

Shame can't wither our leaves. Sin can't wither our leaves. Worry and anxiety can't wither our leaves. Situations of life can't wither our leaves. We are. . .Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.

Everything has been restored through Jesus's obedience and work on the cross!

It's hard for me to live in the innocence and childlike state that Adam and Eve must've enjoyed in Eden - walking with God in complete nakedness. I always feel the need to cover myself with fig leaves. But God wants me, his beloved child, to come to him free from shame, free from hiding, with confidence in the righteousness that Jesus has earned for me.

Evie's name sort of came from this verse.

I hope so much for her to never pick up shame. I hope she will receive grace and fellowship with God through Jesus just like Eve first did in Eden.

I know a lot of people think of Eve as the one who introduced sin and death. But when I think of Eve, I see myself in her - and it only reminds me of the amazing work of grace that Jesus has done for us. Eve reminds me that he has won us back. He has restored what we once had.

No shame. I am a tree replanted in Eden - walking with God in the evening breeze - enjoying such refreshing freedom through Christ Jesus.

*click image for image source.

resolution is a dirty word

2012-01-04T08:26:00.003-06:00

Here are my little 2012 goals this year.

I'm so excited about being in God's Word this year. God blessed me so much last year with his Word, and I can't wait to see what he will show me this year. The Word gives fellowship with my God like I can't explain. I mean, Jesus is the Living Word. Oh man, I love it.

I use the One Year Bible, and I'm excited about reading Tricia Gunn's commentary on it.

The main things I wanted to improve on this year were fellowship/friendship-based. I want to be better about calling people and talking rather than relying on the internet for communication. I want to be more proactive when I meet new friends about establishing real-life hangouts rather than thinking, oh I'll get in touch with them on Facebook later, then never actually doing it.

Also, I want to be like my friend April, and do thoughtful things for people out of the blue. She makes me feel so loved with her thoughtful little acts. I want to do the same.

Grant told me that that 1-hour of internetting rule was pretty strict. It might get bumped up to 2 hours. Who knows. This list isn't a mean teacher. It is willing to change.

How long is a good amount?

I have some goals for eating better, but I think nursing Evie will help me to want to eat healthy, since she's getting what I'm getting. It's been that way with pregnancy. I think I've been eating healthier than ever, since there's another person who is affected by my food choices. I just read this book, and was so freaked out at what they do in labs to food these days. Eeeshk! I've got to start reading ingredients labels.

(Although, I'm really bummed about my "one dessert a day" rule. I usually eat a dessert with every meal. Yes, even breakfast.)

Of course, the working-out goals are for when the Dr. gives me the go-ahead after Evie comes. I'm so excited about starting Turbo-Fire!

------

My pastor always talks about the Rule of 5. I'm probably not explaining it well, but the gist of it is: choose 5 priorities in your life and turn them into 5 things you give time, effort, and energy to cultivating everyday.

What would your five priorities be?

What are some of your goals?

I'd love to hear them because it's probably something I need to work on too!

If you have no goals/resolutions, you must be like Mary Poppins - practically perfect in every way.

(ha! Grant and I were talking about how conceited Mary Poppins is the other day.)

*P.S. a great & encouraging message on the New Year and new starts here.

twittercrite

2012-01-03T08:06:00.000-06:00

hey there!

Just checking in today to tell you that I've officially become a twittercrite.

That's twitter + hypocrite.

Why am I a twittercrite?

Because when twitter first came out, I said to all my friends who joined. You just looooove yourself. You want everyone to know every move you make and you think they'll love knowing what you had on your sandwich for lunch, you silly!

But now I have joined, so that pretty much makes me a pretty big twittercrite. Ha!

Anyway, if you'd like to see what this twittercrite is having on her sandwich, you can follow me here:

Follow @BrookePremo

(just kidding, I won't tell you about my sandwich. i know you don't care.)

p.s. thank for everyone who gave me their opinions when I was trying to decide to join or not.

*click image for image source

diy & a give away: winter clutches!

2012-01-02T10:37:00.002-06:00

For Christmas, I made my mom & sis some winter clutches using my favorite wintery material - wool felt.

Super easy and fun!

I used a pre-made plain wool felt clutch from Hobby Lobby (I don't trust myself yet with sewing zippers, people.), and some wool felt in pretty wintery colors.

I used this tutorial and this tutorial to make all sorts of flowers to put on top, added some wool felt leaves, then I just hot-glued up a storm (the wool felt is pretty thick to sew through so many layers).

I think this would be an easy gift to brighten someone's day throughout this year.

And guess what?!

I want to give you nice readers one!

I haven't done a give away in quite a while, so I'd love to make one for one of you.

How to enter:

*Comment here with your favorite winter activity (sledding, sipping coffee by the fire, etc) to enter once.

*Post a link to this give away on twitter, facebook, or your blog and get another comment/entry.

Commenting will close this coming Friday at midnight (01/06/12), and the winner will be announced Monday (01/09/12).

happy first Monday of 2012!

so long. . .2011

2011-12-31T09:02:00.001-06:00

Every year, we make a little photo book, and I love going through all our pictures from that year and remembering all we did. I'm so glad we can keep all our memories on our computers these days.

(I really need to get on that "backing up" bandwagon in case my computer ever crashes.)

Here are some of my favorite times from 2011:

January:

We started out 2011 with a trip to Colorado with Grant's fam. When I look at these pics before we knew we were expecting, I think of us as so young. ha! Even though, we're really only a year older now.

Then we celebrated my mom's bday back in Tuscaloosa at Chuck-E-Cheese.

February:

In February, Buckley shielded himself from the cold weather with a Snuggie.

March:

The weather got warm again and we went on many a picnic. (which sometimes turned into naps)

April:

April was busy!

We went to Chicago to celebrate our niece's first birthday.

I turned 25 and had a karaoke bday party. So fun!

I threw a backyard brunch for my sweet sis's 27th bday. Brunch is my favorite meal to cook.

And this is not a favorite time of the year, but most memorable/life changing - the tornado that happened shortly after on April 27th.

May:

In May, Grant graduated law school! All his hard work had finally paid off, and I was such a proud wife.

June:

In June, we went to the beach and our nephew almost had a disappointment about the height regulations on the go-carts.

But it turned out okay.

In June, we also discovered that we would be having a BABY!! (although we didn't share until later)

July:

Grant was out of school, and I was off work - Heaven!

It was like a little taste of retirement. (except with no paychecks - ha!)

We went to the lake most days and Grant studied for the Bar Exam.

I visited my sis & bro-in-law in San Francisco and participated in the Renegade Craft Fair.

Then, the very last Harry Potter hit theaters (sad day) and we had a Potter Party with some fun friends before seeing the movie.

August:

We visited Nocolula Falls with my fam.

and went fishing with my fam

Then, we moved to Birmingham for Grant's new job. I'm still getting used to our new city and still have no idea where to get my nails done, but I love it.

We also learned that Baby Premo was a girl!

September:

Grant passed the Bar Exam! Hooray!

Buckley celebrated becoming a fancy attorney's dog by sporting a dapper neckerchief.

October:

Grant's parents got to come down for a football game and to celebrate Grant turning 27. That's old! (not!)

and Grant received his favorite baby gift: an Alabama jersey!

Then, we celebrated our nephew's 2nd bday with a basketball party my sister threw. Also, shortly after, my sweet friends birthed their little basketball. (just her, of course, not him)

November:

My sweet friends and sis and mom threw me the most lovely baby shower for Evie.

December:

We celebrated Jesus's birthday with my family in Tuscaloosa, complete with a giant birthday cupcake.

Looking through these has made me see that I need to break the ole' camera out a little more than on birthdays!

I am so, so, so looking forward to 2012, and Evie coming soon (just a few more weeks to go!).

What was your favorite moment of 2011?

What are you most looking forward to for 2012?

preggo-brain at its finest

2011-12-30T08:37:00.001-06:00

When I first heard of pregnancy brain, I thought it was a crock.

Hmmm . . . my recent foggy head would beg to differ.

Recent brushes with Preggo Brain:

-putting on all my makeup and realizing I haven't even washed my face or brushed my teeth yet.

-putting on my socks and lacing up my oxfords and realizing that I'm not wearing any pants.

-sitting down at my craft desk with all my supplies lying there in front of me, and thinking for so long, what the heck am I making again?

Preggo clumsiness:

-falling over when trying to "hover-pee" at Wal-Mart and peeing all over the floor and kind of down the back of my pants. (um, both gross and really embarrassing)

-spilled an entire cup of coffee all over our fabric couch

-tripped and shattered a coffee cup into lots of peices (it was also full of hot coffee)

(for a pregnant lady, I sure am drinking coffee a lot. ha! it's just my daily allowance of a cup of 1/2 decaf)

Do you believe in Pregnancy Brain?

*click image for source

a new year!

2011-12-28T09:00:00.001-06:00

The start of a new year always gets me so excited. I love fresh starts and the chance to reevaluate things in life (which is something we can do all the time, but just feels even more great at the start new year).

Not to mention that we are getting a new little person added to our family this year!

For this New Year, of course, my usual self wanted to throw an all-out New Year's Eve bash, but my 5-weeks-from-due-date-pregnant-self decided to keep it simple.

Here are some of the New Years ideas I'm pinning for next year, though:

(Next year, I'm thinking a fun bash with a countdown at 10 for us and our other kid-having friends.)

check out my Pinterest for sources for all these great New Years ideas above.

And here are some more great ideas from You Are My Fave that I'm bookmarking for next year as well:

Do you keep it simple for New Year's Eve, or do you go all out?

lots of doing nothing

2011-12-27T08:53:00.000-06:00

Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.

-from Pooh's Little Instruction Book (A.A. Milne)

Lots of doing nothing is what we do between Christmas and New Years. A great way to end one chapter and start the next, I think.

I'm gonna spend the next few days reading this book and re-reading this book.

What about you?

*click image for source

some christmas cuteness

2011-12-23T09:18:00.000-06:00

I love the Girls with Glasses because of their cute outfits and because their names are Brooke and Summer like me and my sis.

Here is a cute little Christmas song/video they made:

I'm checking out of the interweb-world for the holidays.

I hope you have a very, very, Merry Christmas, friends!

yessss. . .

2011-12-22T08:18:00.000-06:00

Oh man, you can't imagine my excitement over something I just found out. Fist pumps galore.

My favorite lady at my church - Tricia Gunn - now has a blog that follows the One-Year Bible reading plan. She expounds upon a verse from the reading in the One-Year Bible everyday, and I can't wait to read her thoughts. I think you would love it too.

(now don't make fun, but I've never actually met this lady in real life, only heard her speak, but I love her! If I ever run into her at church, I will probably be too nervous to introduce myself. I've gotten shy in my old age.)

Check it out here. And hop on the One-Year Bible reading plan here.

I'm so excited that the One-Year Bible is about to start over! I'm not gonna lie, I missed lots of the Old Testament last year. Like, seriously all of Lamentations. So maybe I'll get me some of those lamentations this year. :)

On a separate, but somewhat related note, how cute is this wedding-kiss fist pump?! Oh, fist pumps are great.

34 weeks :: 6 to go!

2011-12-21T09:10:00.000-06:00

(yes, she has a place to sleep, now let's hope she's a great little sleeper she gets here)

Today I am 34 weeks - hooray!

I was feeling a little underprepared because our crib hadn't come in yet, but it came last week and Grant assembled it that night.

Now I only have two more little nursery projects before it's complete. (pics to come when said projects are done)

Some of my favorite things in the nursery so far are:

Flapper Doodle prints

Bedtime Diaries prints

pink ruffle curtain

and pretty Lillian crib bedding

------

(p.s. Does anybody know how to make photos taken inside your house not have such a yucky color? I take pictures on manual but shoot with automatic white balance. My photos indoors always seem to have a yellowy-greeny color balance. Advice?)

it's beginning to look a lot like. . . well, you know

2011-12-19T11:37:00.002-06:00

Christmas!

I have been very behind in jumping on the Christmas train, but I think I've got it together now. This past weekend, I did all the things you're supposed to do - blasted Frank Sinatra and wrapped presents.

Last week, I made a little glittery garland with the fancy glitter paper from Hobby Lobby and decorated my mantle.

And made my annual batch of peppermint bark.

Packaging the peppermint bark is always my favorite part (well, and eating it). This year I ordered candy boxes from Uline. You have to order at least 100, but I always need little boxes for wrapping throughout the year.

Oh, and a happy accident born out of my own laziness - did you know you could crunch up candy canes or peppermints in the blender? You probably would've thought of that, but I got so tired of crunching them up and decided to try it.

Now I love to crunch candy canes up in the blender, make some coffee with the delicious CoffeeMate Peppermint Mocha creamer, put a dollop of whipped cream, and top with the candy cane flakes - so perfect!

(I like how the camera chose to focus, not on the peppermint flakes in the blender, but instead on my huge baby belly. ha!)

So, despite having 5 more presents to make and wrap, I'm feeling great with some presents wrapped and under the tree!

I can't wait for Christmas Eve brunch at my Mawmaw Clara's with her annual tomato Red-Eye gravy and biscuits. It's seriously the best thing I eat all year.

And I can't wait until Christmas Eve night when we all spend-the-night at my parents and participate in the "Feats on Strength" to see who can open a present first. And then the pretend "Airing of the Grievances."

There's one Christmas tradition we are missing out on this year, though, due to me being preggers - no going to Denver to spend time with Grant's family. Which also means no snow and no skiing. Boo! At least next year we will get a White Premo-fam Christmas with a sweet, little girl in tow.

What traditions do you most look forward to?

the promise of his presence

2011-12-16T10:53:00.002-06:00

. . . For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

-Romans 5:5

Loving the promise of his presence today!

Holiday check up:

*today I am making my annual batch of peppermint bark

*so excited about the packaging (my favorite part of wrapping)

*I have only 5 more Christmas presents to make.

*I made 10 Christmas presents this week while drugged out on Benedryl, so I hope the names on them are spelled correctly. I honestly don't remember making them. ha!

Happy Friday!

*click on image for image source

one, two, three

2011-12-14T09:57:00.003-06:00

Thank you all so much for your comments giving me on advice on Twitter vs. Facebook!

It was so neat to hear how y'all use the both of them.

Three things on my mind today:

One:

How cute are these board books for babies? I will definitely start collecting these for Evie so she can be a little bibliophile.

Two:

Oh how I wish that:

a.) I would've known about these cute maternity sewing patterns by Megan Nielsen earlier in my pregnancy.

b.) I wouldn't have been puking up my guts and actually felt like sewing.

c.) I was better at sewing.

d.) That if none of the above can happen, I can order this skirt and shirt by the same designer as part of my cute new mom uniform.

Three:

What, oh what, does a pregnant lady who only has four outfits that fit her now wear to look cute for Christmas?

Outfit Ideas, friends?

Better yet, links, friends?

*click on images for image source

don't be a jerk, it's christmas

2011-12-14T09:54:00.000-06:00

Ya'll, Christmas is just around the corner!

People keep saying things like, OMG, I'm finally done with my Christmas shopping. I was so behind.

Not comforting to me (I still have far to go.)

(BTW, Grant says I'm a major Scrooge because I said the other day that forced gift giving takes all the fun out of it. Sorry if I like to buy people gifts when I'm thinking of them because I love them and randomly want to make them feel special and saw something that I truly think they'd enjoy owning rather than scurrying around town trying to mark people I love off a list like they're grocery items. Just sayin'. I think this means that I need to Christmas shop all year long so I won't feel pressure and so I'll enjoy gift-giving more, and have time to give people more meaningful gifts. P.S. I know gift-giving is so not about me enjoying it, but rather the person enjoying the gift. Gee, I hope I'm not really a Scrooge!)

N-E-Wayz, I love that SpongeBob is promoting anti-jerk behavior around the holiday season. This is hilarious:

Get More: SpongeBob SquarePants Episodes,SpongeBob SquarePants,SpongeBob SquarePants Games

What about you?

Have you finished all your shopping?

Do you Christmas shop all year long, or are you a big ole' procrastinator like me?

twitter or facebook?

2011-12-12T08:33:00.001-06:00

(love these scripture prints my friend, E showed me!)

Okay people.

Lend me your technological wisdom.

For a person who loves blogging, I'm not very techno-savvy.

However, I signed up for a twitter account last week.

I really only signed up so I could follow my pastor because I almost missed Kari Jobe leading a night of Christmas worship at my church. It was a surprise - it wasn't announced or on the website but he talked about it on twitter. I was so glad I didn't miss it - It was so good!

So, like anything that I invite into my life, as I make a choice to welcome something new, I think about something I can get rid of.

You might think that sounds strict, but it's part of me wanting to pursue peace. I don't think peace will creep up on you in today's society with all there is out there and all the world offers. I think I have to pursue it.

When I was thinking of getting a Twitter account, it seemed like the natural thing to cut out in its place would be Facebook.

So anyway, that leads me to my question:

Twitter or Facebook?

Some pros/cons already in my mind:

I don't get on Facebook often, but when I do I get annoyed by the feed because I don't know who half the people are. (this is my fault for friending anybody who asks)

Would twitter makes this problem better because I could choose who I follow?

But Facebook is helpful in getting in touch with people that I'm not super-close to and maybe don't have their phone numbers yet. Maybe not having Facebook would make me get to know people faster by making me be like, Hey let me get your digits so we can be friends.

However, I don't really understand Twitter, and it would take me some time to learn what all this stuff means: # @ (what?)

Do you find more fun things to do with Twitter or Facebook?

If you had to pick one, which one would you go with?

Come on, people!

I'm leaving it up to you! :)

*And now for some eye candy.

Here's a pic of Kari Jobe's cute, cute holiday outfit she wore the other night:

(a cute little red sweater dress with a full, swingy skirt and a gold belt. And those cute shoes and tights! I sure do miss cute tights since I've been preggers. But tights are not going over this belly.)

and here's my favorite Christmas song she sang:

The First Noel by Kari Jobe on Grooveshark

and favorite regular song she sang:

The More I Seek You by Kari Jobe on Grooveshark

holiday gifts: hot cocoa kits with printables

2011-12-08T08:06:00.002-06:00

I think half the fun of gift-giving is packaging/presentation and also little personal touches.

I don't always have a lot to spend when I want someone to know I'm thinking of them, and personalizing gifts with printables makes an inexpensive gift a little more special, I think.

For this birthday gift, I used some free printables from Elephant Shoe Designs (the tags, stickers, and cards download here), and added the names by adding a text box over the image in Adobe Illustrator.

I put some mini-marshmellows in a ziplock baggie, then cut the paper to size and stapled it on both sides so it looked like a real package.

Then I made the little pom using this tutorial.

I know there is probably a list of hot cocoa kits as gifts as long as my arm around blog-land so this is nothing new, but I wanted to share a list of great spots for printables so you can make your gifts more personalized and special this holiday season, no matter the gift or what budget you're on.

Fun places to get free printables:

Just Something I Made

Share your suggestions in the comments if you have great places around the web where you get free printables to help with wrapping your gifts!

32 weeks

2011-12-07T11:24:00.001-06:00

I'm at 32 weeks today!

In the next two months, we'll have our little one!

Let's keep it real, though - these weeks in the 3rd trimester have not come without the normal pregnancy woes you hear of.

INDIGESTION

Oh my goodness.

It keeps me up all night long and is with me all day.

Constantly burping what feels like lava in my throat (stomach acid). Tiny little useless burps. I'd give anything for one big, rude, crude, BELCH to ring out from my gut and clear away all the indigestion. Even if this monstrous belch came in public, I wouldn't care. I'd let it ring out and then say, "Did you hear that?!" like Buddy the Elf.

ha! I love Buddy.

And rib pain. I am carrying my little one so high that it goes straight from boob to uterus, with nowhere for the ribs to go. The poor ribs. They just flare out like butterfly wings and try to stay intact. When I slightly turn to check my blind spot in the car, the poor things can't take the gentle twist and feel like they'll just crack into pieces.

And being SOB. No, not what you're thinking - get your mind out of the gutter!

Short of Breath!

You'd think I just swam around the Atlantic after I walk up the stairs to my seat in church. And forget singing the songs during worship. I see stars if I try to use the air required to sing after walking, so I just mouth along and throw a little clapping in there.

But despite all these little pregnancy ailments, I love, love, love Evie. Even when she kicks me right in my already-fragile ribs, I forgive her because I'm so glad she kicked and said hello to me during my daily tasks. What a day-brightener she already is.

My thankfulness for her and excitement for her to be here overshadows even the most annoying of pregnancy woes!

buzzz. . . a diy beehive lamp

2011-12-06T08:17:00.000-06:00

I originally saw this tutorial for a beehive pinata on Ohdeedoh's blog, right around the time my friend Julie said that she was doing her nursery in bumble bees.

I thought it would be so cute in her nursery, but wanted to make something a little more lasting than a pinata, so I used their general idea to make a hanging lamp. (I ordered the hanging light bulb from Ikea.)

It took me forever to finish (her baby is like 5 months old now!) because they took the tutorial down, and I was on my own as far as figuring out how to do it.

I used this tutorial from Martha Stewart for covering the paper lantern.

It was so easy and didn't take very long.

Buckley looked on for moral support as I attached all the circles.

(P.S. you need way less little orange circles than you think. I cut out loads and only used about 1/4 of what I cut out. All I know is, the next friend of mine who has a birthday is getting a load of big ole' orange confetti thrown at them.)

Then, I hot glued the little poms together to make the bumble bees.

I cut about an inch of black pipe-cleaner and wrapped it around the bee's body. I didn't even glue these on because the wire makes them stay on pretty well.

Then I cut little wings out of cardstock and glued them on as well.

Then I glued the little bee-guys to their hive.

Stick the light in and voila - a little beehive lamp!

I hope my friendy liked her very belated nursery gift.

holiday gifts: personalized candles

2011-12-05T08:33:00.000-06:00

Last week, I made a little present for all the sweet hostesses who threw my baby shower.

I wanted to make them something personal, so I bought them each a candle in a scent that I thought they would like. Then I found some fancy schmancy matches at a little boutique.

I still wanted to make their nifty gifty even more personalized, so I used waterslide decal paper to put their names on each candle.

I used some free downloads from Just Something I Made for the little "love birds" design on them, then added the names in Illustrator.

I have been trying to get better at photo-editing software (I'm still learning on Adobe Illustrator before I move onto Photoshop) because I feel like being able to use it opens up so many crafting possibilities!

Speaking of crafting possibilities, I LOVE my waterslide decal paper. I ordered it from here, and have found so many crafting uses for it so far. It's easy-peasy to use.

Anyway, I think these little personalized-decal-paper candles would be great as Christmas gifts for your friends. Let me know if you make some!

vintage storybook shower

2011-12-02T08:19:00.000-06:00

Hey y'all!

I am so excited to share some pictures from my baby shower from a few weeks ago.

Oh my goodness, it was just the sweetest thing.

I felt so blessed and special that my sweet friends/sister/mom would throw me such a great one.

It sounds silly, but the shower sort of felt like my wedding - a blur of people I love and wanting to get to talk to everyone for hours but not having enough time. A blur of opening presents and looking at pretty things and eating delicious cake.

Here are some pictures that my friend Heather took of all the cuteness:

The only thing I regret is that I didn't think to get in the photo booth at all that day! What a doofus/cotton-headed-ninny-muggins.

I'm so thankful my friend Heather took these beautiful photos so I can remember such a special day.

31 weeks: a little scare and God's favor

2011-12-01T11:02:00.003-06:00

(a sweet little new profile shot of Evie I got this week instead of my usual belly shot)

Hi there, blog friends!

Well, you probably haven't noticed, but I've been absent from the computer this week. I've had a crazy week!

First of all, I don't know if I've ever mentioned on here that I work a really long day on Mondays in my old town. It's only an hour drive, but it's a loooong work day, from 8 am - 9 pm. But I get a nice little lunch break.

I felt kind of crummy all day (just pregnancy fatigue and little preggo-ailments), so I decided to spend the night with my mom & dad rather than driving back home (especially since snow was in the forecast that night).

I had a terrible night that evening! I began having vomiting, diarrhea, and chills around 11:00, and it didn't let up until my dad left for work that morning at 5:30. Just to be blunt: having things going on simultaneously on both ends is terrible. TMI? Yes, probably.

I don't know if I had food poisoning from a restaurant or if I had an allergic reaction to some tea I drank.

What really scared me, though, was what my pregnant tummy was doing. In hindsight, my stomach and gastrointestinal system were just undergoing extreme cramping, but they way it was moving and changing the shape of my uterus really scared me. I thought I was having uterine contractions - especially since the bouts of vomiting, chills, and diarrhea would come about every five minutes for those 6 hours. No one was up, and my mom was already sick with flu-like symptoms, so I didn't want to wake her up.

I called my Dr. around 3:00 but he was in an emergency C-section. When he called me back, he assuaged my worry and told me that I probably wasn't having uterine contractions and just to get as many fluids as I could so as not to get dehydrated.

He called me in the morning and told me to come in for a sonogram to check on Evie.

She had to do a few things on a list in the span of 30 minutes to make sure she was okay - things like kicks and practice breathing.

I was so nervous, but thank the Lord, she did them all in 15 minutes!

I think because I was crying so hard (from not having slept that night and mostly from worrying about Evie), the sweet sonography nurse let me look at Evie on the 4D camera for the remaining 15 minutes.

I was so glad she was okay!

I know it's silly to worry. But I just couldn't imagine me feeling that sick, and her being in her little womb none-the-wiser - but that's how God designed it, and I'm so thankful!

When I was driving home, praising God for the fact that I was no longer spewing out of all ends, and most of all that Evie was okay, one thing kept coming to my mind - the favor of God.

When I was younger, there was this African lady that came to our church (she was cool because she had an African accent and she wore African clothing and headdresses) named Sister Titi.

Whenever you casually said to her, How are you doing, Sister Titi? she would energetically respond, I'm blessed and highly favored by God. She always emphasized the word highly.

Even as a little pre-teen, I remember thinking, Whoa, she's really got some confidence, there.

If she's highly favored, then what am I, chop-liver? And what did she do to get so highly favored?

The emphasis in my thinking on the word DO.

I have always equated God's favor on me and happiness with me on what I am doing or how faithful I am being. Even as I prayed for Evie's safety as I curled up in the fetal position on the bathroom floor all night, avoiding my flecks of throw-up on the carpet, I did a mental checklist of what I had been doing lately that would earn God's protection for Evie.

Ugh. Sick. I can't even type that without cringing, but it's true.

But as I drove home, thanking God for his protection, I'm so glad he reminded me that he did that because he is good and he is faithful. Not because of anything I've done, but because he loves me.

I used to wonder how Sister Titi could be so sure she had God's favor. Now I know. Apart from all his works and protection in my life and his benefits and blessings that I can see with my eyes in my life, I know because he said so:

*Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous;

you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 5:12

*For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

*The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:25–26

*What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet. Psalm 8:4–6

*Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:4–5

*For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

*Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

and they go on and on and on in his Word.

I'm not saying nothing bad is ever going to happen to me or that my family and I will never see sickness or want or misfortune, but I do know one thing now that He has convinced me of - whatever he says about me is what's true. I'm not going to go on this made-up economy of good works buying favor that I fabricated anymore.

He favors the righteous. He has done the work to make me righteous. That's enough for me!

Right on, Sister Titi! I finally get it, and, like you, I want to start living in it!

*

2011-11-24T08:10:00.000-06:00

We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is “good,” because is it good, if “bad” because it works in us patience, humility, and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.

-C. S. Lewis

Signing off from bloggy world this week to go cook some of Emeril's scalloped potatoes and a turtle cheesecake for Thanksgiving dinner. Can't wait to eat that dressing!

Hope your Thanksgiving is great!

*pic from pinterest

a thankful heart

2011-11-23T08:44:00.001-06:00

For the past few months, I have been praying for God to give me a thankful heart. It sounds silly to say, oh, it's weird when God answers prayer, but I have just been so surprised by the gratitude he has put in me since I've been praying this.

Not that I didn't think he could/would do it - I'm just always surprised when stinky ole' me displays fruits of his Spirit. It's like, Whoa, that grateful heart is SO not of me. What's it doing here? Oh yeah, he lives in me and out of grace is perfecting me. Yessss. . . . (accompanied by a fist pump)

Since he has given me the gift of gratitude, I have noticed that a grateful heart towards people does wonders for relationships. (again - sort of an obvious concept, but blows my mind in action) I was folding laundry the other day and hanging and putting away my husband's clothes, when I felt such a spirit of gratitude towards him. I am so thankful for all he does, and suddenly, doing his laundry was a joy.

And with people that I have had trouble connecting with in the past, when I have a grateful heart towards them, any little thing is a positive, rather than me concentrating on the negatives of our interactions.

Apart from relationships with others, when I have a thankful heart towards my God, thanking my Jehovah Jireh (God who is our Provider) for everything that comes from his hand, my dependence on him grows, and in turn my love and fellowship with him grows as well.

I'm so thankful for God making me thankful!

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)

*pic from pinterest.

family camping!

2011-11-22T10:17:00.003-06:00

One of the things I most look forward to all year is my annual family camping trip.

For the last few years, we have been going to Mt. Cheaha. You can hike up to the top, which is the highest point in Alabama. It's so pretty there.

We always hang out and make s'mores. Here's my sis being very cute with her cute self.

And of course, we had to take some belly shots. (One year, my sister was pretty pregnant, and this year, I was. She was in way better hiking shape than I was. I got so out of breath!)

Buckley came along this year. It was his second camping trip. He loves hiking, but fires give him the heebie jeebies. He won't go near them.

My parents in front of our cabin - my dad telling me about how mom hates his winter beard every year. I love it, but for her sake I discourage it in front of him.

My sis modeling Charlie Brown's sad little christmas tree that we found in the forest.

And on our hike, we always hit up the playground!

And we always find our cave.

(Poor little Josiah. He hurt his leg and couldn't walk the whole trip, and he was sick with allergies the whole time, but he was the most cheerful sick baby I've ever met.)

I love camping with the fam!

Do you have a favorite yearly family tradition?

P.S. I just love the woods and the outdoors. I think I'll buy a piggy bank and label it "cabin fund" so I we can build our own cabin one day.

29 weeks

2011-11-21T08:23:00.001-06:00

This past week was my 29th week.

Grant snapped my pic on Mount Cheaha (the highest point in Alabama) this weekend at my fam's annual camping trip.

I can't believe this week I'll be getting into the 30s.

The 30s seem so real, since technically 37 is full term.

Our crib is on back order and we still haven't ordered our changing table, which freaks me out a little since my "nesting" is kicking in lately, but I'm trying to be laid back about not being super-prepared. Evie is moving into a just-moved-into house, so really no room in here is "done," so hers may take a while too.

She has been cuddling up to one side of my belly lately making me look (and feel) very lop-sided! It looks so funny with one side of my belly jutting out and the other hollowed out.

Everyone told me my energy would increase with the 3rd trimester, but I feel more tired than ever. (I'm definitely going to institute some daily naps.) I'm feeling really squashed too - bladder, lungs, stomach - all squashed. I love to lay back, stretch out, and try to take a really full breath. Aaahhhh!

friday eye candy

2011-11-18T08:35:00.000-06:00

Hooray!

Two of my favorite online magazines have new issues.

Check out Gifted for so many cute ideas for Christmas gifts.

Check out Sweet Paul for great DIY wreath ideas and some recipes that look so, so delicious - I can't wait to try the dark chocolate cake with salted caramel filling. Yumsies!

Have a great weekend, my bloggy peeps!

Anthro Fashion Show

2011-11-17T08:02:00.000-06:00

I was so excited to go to my very first fashion show - especially because it was at Anthropologie!

It was just a local holiday "winter walk," showing all the new holiday outfits available, but I was mainly excited to see how Anthro's floor designers would decorate the store for Christmas.

The announcer for the show wore this beautiful Polished Platinum Dress.

The store used local models, and they all looked great, and their outfits were beautiful!

I loved seeing all the fancy holiday outfits, even though I can't wear any of them this Christmas due to being big & preggers. But hey, I only buy things from Anthro once they're back in the sale room anyway, so they'll be great for me next Christmas!

I got some great ideas for holiday decor. These trees made from book pages were really cute.

I'll figure out how they're made and do a tutorial here soon!

Of course, my sweet mom took a belly shot before we left. Since this was last week, this was my 28th week. Since I'd never been to a fashion show, I really wanted to look uber-fashionable, of course, and it took me a while to come up with something to wear that fit!

My mom, my sis, and I made it a Girls' Night Out and went for the delicious crabcakes at Chez Fon Fon - my favorite restaurant in town.

I've been trying to stockpile my GNOs before Evie comes - although I think Grant will do me a solid and keep her so I can get out with the girls.

I did a pretty good job of controlling myself at the show (I have trouble with Anthro because I love it so much) and only bought one thing that was way on sale and will work great with my pregnant belly and after.

What store is your fashion weakness?

(Seriously people, I have to only let myself set foot in there once a month.)

love it!

2011-11-16T11:02:00.003-06:00

Man, I have been loving watching New Girl.

It is so funny, and I want to copy all of Zooey's outfits. Even her awesome turkey costume.

Thawing a turkey in the dryer on permanent press is a great idea.

We have also been watching Up All Night. Will Arnette is hilarious and we think maybe we can get some parenting tips from it.

limitless

2011-11-15T10:11:00.002-06:00

Psalm 112

1. Praise the Lord!

How joyful are those who fear the Lord

and delight in obeying his commands.

2 Their children will be successful everywhere;

an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.

3 They themselves will be wealthy,

and their good deeds will last forever.

4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.

They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.

5 Good comes to those who lend money generously

and conduct their business fairly.

6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.

Those who are righteous will be long remembered.

7 They do not fear bad news;

they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.

8 They are confident and fearless

and can face their foes triumphantly.

9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.

Their good deeds will be remembered forever.

They will have influence and honor.

10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated.

They will grind their teeth in anger;

they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

Wow. The promises of God to his people are incredible. And we also have this promise:

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:20

I was watching the movie Tree of Life last weekend, and during a long stretch of abstract images that I think were supposed to represent the Creation (that movie is good but more of an art piece than a movie with a plot) an image of a waterfall was shown. It made me think of how crazy it is that some waterfalls in the world are always falling - I thought wow, how do they never run out of water? It just keeps falling!

This waterfall that never quits falling, always gushing with more and more water, where the water never runs out or ceases to fall, made me think of how, as a human, I just can't understand the abundance of my God. Sometimes I think his love will run out, or his grace stop flowing. But just like the waterfall that he made with his hands of ceaseless power, the waterfall that he consistently supplies more, and more, and more than enough water to, he himself is ceaseless and boundless and endless, and so are the traits of his character - love and mercy and so many other things. One day, when I see him maybe I'll understand how something could be without limits, but for now, I'll put all my trust in him.

third trimester - woohoo!

2011-11-14T08:20:00.001-06:00

Hooray!

The third trimester has begun.

I feel like from here on out that time will speed past, and she will be here before I know it.

Geez Louise - we better get really serious about ordering our crib, people!

Although, I am feeling way more prepared after my shower, and after people have seriously stocked us up - there are actually things in the nursery now!

I finally got sick of taking 20 minutes to dress my ever-expanding self and made a "preggo-friendly" portion of my closet. I went through and tried on things to decide what can still work, then took stock of what maternity stuff I need to invest in/borrow to get by until February. Dressing only takes 5 minutes now - yesssss!

Tonight we go to our "Caring for Your Infant" class, and we are so excited. I hope they teach us how to trim their little baby nails because that scares the crap out of me. Such tiny fingers if you make a mistake!

what I thought I'd never miss

2011-11-14T08:15:00.003-06:00

Me and Post-College Work have had a bumpy ride together.

I knew in college that I had always desperately wanted to do something artistic. My parents had always fostered those interest by letting me take lots of different types of lessons - cello, guitar, voice, painting, dance. . . and I'm even more thankful because paying for these lessons (and all the needed supplies) couldn't have been effortless for a pastor's family.

But when college came around, I majored in what had always come easiest to me - English. A practical major with a definite job that had great benefits - teaching - once you graduate. I was all into the changing kids' lives part too.

School was always an easy place for me growing up - I enjoyed my teachers and friends and didn't have to work too hard to slip by on the A, B Honor Roll - so why not continue my career in a place I knew was safe and where success came easy?

The problem was, I was not interested at all in my education classes. Cognitive theories of how to make children learn didn't thrill me like my classmates. Making lesson plans was a chore rather than an exciting opportunity to best present needed material. I'm ashamed to say this, but I'd never even really liked teenagers in big groups. I like them in small groups, but their minor annoyances tend to compile into something that is not appealing to me at all when you get about 30 in one classroom.

But, I wasn't about to waste three years of college tuition and time by changing majors, so ahead I went into the teaching world!

By day six I was in complete misery. My school was super tough. I had only been there a little over one school week when I realized that the administration wouldn't be much help. Only sat through about five lunches at the faculty table when I learned that most the teachers hated their jobs and popped anxiety pills like candy (don't get me wrong, there were those authentic world-changing type of teachers too, but they are few and far between).

After once month passed, I began to hear stories of my college classmates that had already quit their jobs. But alas, there were bills to pay. No quitsies for me! But I'm so thankful that I had to persevere the whole year at that school. (I completely understand others quitting though, because many of them were at even tougher schools where they had been physically assaulted.)

(I just remembered after I typed that that I was too once. A girl I didn't even know walked by and shoved me into the wall. Ha! Oh well.)

Anyway, I prayed every day while crying on the bath mat that I would get a better job the next school year. And I did! My job teaching at a community college came the DAY before school started. Talk about close timing!

I LOVE my students there. The community college population are just my kind of people. Many of them have so many barriers to their education, but they are such hard workers and they persevere.

When I was younger, my mom went to the same community college, talked to the Dean, got a full scholarship, and went to nursing school while working and having two almost-teenagers. Talk about spunk - my mom's got it! She is so smart and such a hard-worker. I have always been so amazed and proud of her, and I think that's why I love my students so much. I think, this lady in my class could be just like my mom - studying while her annoying daughter (that would've been me) danced around her singing an annoying song, asking when dinner would be ready while she tried to study after working all day.

As I was walking into my job the other day, it dawned on me that teaching will be something I will miss when I'm lucky & blessed enough to stay home with Evie like I want to.

Dressing in my "teacher clothes," driving to work with my to-go coffee in tow, filling my sleek, black teacher bag with crisp papers that have just been graded and entered into the grade book, thinking about what would make Mrs. A understand subject-verb agreement when we've already talked about three different ways, laughing after class with that guy who keeps getting on facebook during my lecture about how I busted him again in front of everybody (and thanking the Lord that he's good-humored about it instead of super-disrespectful), and especially trying to encourage people - that's my favorite part.

Even though all through college and in my first years of teaching, I thought it wasn't for me, I realized that I will actually really miss it.

Not the lesson planning, not the grading, not the lecturing about grammar for a three-hour night class per se, but the relationships with my students and serving the role as cheerleader & encourager for people who have real road blocks in their education to contend with.

I guess I didn't hate teaching. Maybe I just had to find my kind of students!

*What about you, blog friends?*

What do you do?

Do you stay at home with kiddos?

Do you miss your work?

Did it take you a while to find your niche in your career?

Do you work and raise children?

Do you work and raise children and go to school?

Do you work from home?

I'm curious!

P.S. not to be a Negative Nancy, but whenever I bring up the fact that I hated my first teaching job, I get judgy looks or comments from people who think something along the lines of "you're a terrible person for not wanting to teach younger kids. Who's going to teach them if everyone quits? Way to jump ship and get a different job, you quitter." And to be honest, most of these are probably me projecting onto these people what I think they're thinking, although some of them are real. And to these people I just think, "Well, if you feel that way, then you must have a heart to do it and you should." Even thought most people who make these comments aren't teachers. There are so many problems that are out of teachers' hands that directly affect their day-to-day. And everyone has different skill sets that make them more effective in different jobs.

Let's just say, you will NEVER hear me criticizing teachers, and Evie's future teachers will be getting some sweet swag as teacher gifts!

easy weekending craft: painted framed sign

2011-11-11T09:30:00.003-06:00

I made this easy little sign a few weeks ago for my sweet friend to hang on her soon-to-be-born little girl's bedroom door. It was so fun to make, so I thought I'd share what I did:

You'll Need:

a frame

a pretty piece of scrap-booking paper

paint or paint pen

a computer for printing

Just get a picture frame you like (Hobby Lobby has frames 1/2 off basically every other week), print out what you would like the sign to say in a pretty font, then tape your paper behind the glass that comes with the frame.

Once you've taped it where you like it, just use your printed words as a guide to paint over the words. (you can use a paint pen or a paint brush) You may have to do a couple of coats to get it as opaque as you'd like.

Put the scrap-booking paper in the frame behind your painted piece of glass, put some cute ribbon on top, and voila!

(an added treat: some frames come with two pieces of glass, so you can switch them out and use the sign, or use the blank glass for a dry erase board like in this tutorial.)

Some ideas I'm thinking of for signs in the future:

"Give Thanks"

"The Premos"

"Welcome"

and some short quotes or scriptures

(like "Scatter Joy!" - my favorite quote by Emerson)

Whether you or crafting or relaxing or partying hardy, have a great weekend!

(We are planning on going to a Harry Potter night at the zoo. Woohoo!!)

afternoon treat

2011-11-10T15:06:00.002-06:00

I re-pinned this Pumpkin-Nutella muffin recipe from Phenomenon the other day, and have had it on my mind ever since. Even though I had more important things to do this afternoon, the craving wasn't letting up, so I gave in and baked them.

They are delish!

I highly recommend trying this recipe!

P.S. I was super-proud of myself for actually making a recipe rather than just pinning it like I usually do.

Yum-eeee!

encourage-your-face-off Wednesday

2011-11-09T10:10:00.000-06:00

(Buddy the Elf is a pretty encouraging fellow.)

What is up, yo?

I had a few things I wanted to share that have been so, super-encouraging to me thus far this week, so I have deemed today "encourage-your-face-off Wednesday."

Hope your face is literally encouraged off!

(well, maybe not literally, because you probably like your face and I do too)

1.) This scripture:

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

-Proverbs 31:25

I'm so glad that (although I have none of my own) my God clothes me with his strength and his dignity, and that my future is bright in him and his provisions.

Also when I hear this verse, I think of Liz Lemon's Julia Roberts laugh - which makes it both encouraging and hilarious.

2.) John Mark McMillan's new album!

(I listen to most things on Spotify, but I decided to fork over the dough to buy this CD because it's awesome.)

Every time I listen to his lyrics, I end up praying for God to give me an understanding of his love and grace like John M. M. has. He writes about the good news like it is some old fairytale that he just found out was actually true. I guess there's just a freshness there that you don't find in a lot of Christian music today (if I hear a Christian artist rhyme "right" with "tonight" or "grace" with "your face" many more times I don't know what I'll do).

Here are some of my favorite lyrics from the new album, Economy:

from the song Seen a Darkness:

You have called us loved

And you have called us wanted

One time we were bruised

We were bankrupt and haunted

The valley of the shadow knows our name

We have seen a night

But we have seen the day

Dressed in the blood of loves hot veins

We have overcomeYeah, we have overcome

and I also love the song God's Murdered Son that says:

Glory to One

God’s murdered son

Who paid for my resurrection

Once from the dust, once from the grave

Daughters and sons from the ashes you’ve raised

And hidden our faults even from your own face

And scattered our debt upon the waves

Check out his encouraging music here.

3.) These scriptures:

from isaiah 42 (the Message translation)

But I'll take the hand of those who don't know the way,

who can't see where they're going.

I'll be a personal guide to them,

directing them through unknown country.

I'll be right there to show them what roads to take,

make sure they don't fall into the ditch.

These are the things I'll be doing for them—

sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute.

and from Isaiah 43:

But now, God's Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,

the One who got you started, Israel:"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.

I've called your name. You're mine.When you're in over your head,

I'll be there with you.

When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.

When you're between a rock and a hard place,

it won't be a dead end—Because I am God,

your personal God,The Holy of Israel, your Savior.

I paid a huge price for you:

all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!

That's how much you mean to me!

That's how much I love you!

I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,

trade the creation just for you.

"So don't be afraid: I'm with you.

I'll round up all your scattered children,

pull them in from east and west.

I'll send orders north and south:

"Send them back.

Return my sons from distant lands,

my daughters from faraway places.

I want them back, every last one who bears my name,

every man, woman, and child

Whom I created for my glory,

yes, personally formed and made each one."

Well, I hope you have been encouraged!

Have anything encouraging to share?

party hardy

2011-11-07T08:22:00.004-06:00

With birthdays and showers and weddings, I feel like I have been partying hardy lately. I hope these festivities just go right into the holidays and I can keep on celebrating! woop, woop!

With all these parties lately, you can bet your bottom dollar that I have spent many a night curled up with my hot chocolate, scoping out ideas on Pinterest.

Here are some of my favorite party ideas and tutorials that I have pinned and been inspired by lately:

*I want to host a ladies-only cake decorating party.

via The Sweetest Occasion

*I want to have a friend over for Italian cream sodas so we can talk and drink them and feel fancy.

via Sugar and Charm

*I want fancy-schmancy balloons at every party I have.

via Geronimo Balloons

(Um. . . BTW, if you try to make one of these awesome balloons for a party like I did for Grant's bday dinner this past weekend, be sure and spring for the giant balloons instead of the regular-sized helium-filled ones or your decor will (literally) hit the ground. I tried to make one, but the weight of all the pretty stuff made the balloon sink down.)

*I want to put pastel m&ms all over a cake.

via Babble

*I want to use this tutorial to make stuff glittery!

via Glitter Guide

Speaking of partying, my baby shower was this past weekend! It was adorable and perfect and Evie and I felt so loved. I'll share some pics with ya later this week.

I do love me some partying, because I love being with people I love and I love cute things, and parties combine the two. Speaking of hospitality, I read an interesting article that my friend Lynne posted on her FB status about the true, Biblical meaning of hospitality here - a great perspective that I need to keep in mind.

Happy Monday!

busy bee

2011-11-02T15:50:00.002-05:00

Whaddup, my nerds?

(Just kidding. One time Todd Packer said that on the Office and now I say it all the time, and one time I accidentally said it to a room full of my college students and then my face turned really red as I realized - wrong time, wrong place, Brookie.)

Boy, these past weeks have been so busy.

This past weekend was my nephy's Slam Dunk birthday party. It was a blast. My sis is great at planning parties. I made a little basketball-themed photo backdrop. Here are some of my favorite pics:

Then, that night, I did a photo booth for a very rustic, very autumnal wedding. I brought all my backdrop stuff, but when we got there, the bride had a huge hay bail for guests to pose in front of. It was so cool! I definitely want a giant hay bail for my yard.

This week, I went to Christmas Village - a major handmade holiday show. It was so fun. That, plus the fact that they're playing Christmas music on the radio now, has really gotten me excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas!

My favorite booth at Christmas Village was a vintagey sign company called Go Jump in the Lake. So many of these would be cute in a nursery (which, by the way, I have yet to begin doing anything in mine! get with the program, Brooke!)

Have you been busy lately?

What have you been up to?

I think it's the pre-holiday busyness creeping up on us!

happy halloween!

2011-10-31T08:19:00.000-05:00

(or, as Grant calls this day, Nick Saban's birthday, which is even funnier when you consider that this is also Grant's birthday.)

We finally got around to decorating our pumpkins this past weekend.

Grant did an Alabama-themed pumpkin. Roll Tide!

(Um, he is seriously talented at pumpkin carving. Just look at his Michael Jackson Thriller pumpkin from last year!)

Since we did our pumpkins so late this year and didn't really get to enjoy them before Halloween, I tried to make mine more Thanksgiving-friendly so I could keep it around longer.

I was trying to paint those pretty, pretty flowers from Rifle Paper Co. cards, and after I painted it, I traced some of the lines with a hot glue gun and sprinkled it with glitter so it'd be sparkly!

Speaking of pumpkins, I am getting to that uncomfortable part of pregnancy you hear about. I feel like I have a pumpkin under my shirt! I can't really lean forward to pick up something when I'm sitting, and sometimes I just feel like a big beached whale - it's so hard to get up! But I am so thankful to be feeling better that these little discomforts are no biggie.

What's up people? Are you dressing up tonight? How are you celebrating?

We are going to dinner for Grant's bday, so this will be the first year for a while that we aren't dressing up (in costumes, that is).

Happy Halloween!!

this week

2011-10-28T08:04:00.000-05:00

1.) Beautiful Bargain Shoes

These JCrew flats are the prettiest shoes I've ever seen, but I found these similar ones below from ASOS and ordered them in three colors. (when I find flats I like for a good price, I get them in many colors because that's all I wear winter or summer, and I'll wear out one pair really fast! The reason I had to get new ones is because my mom said she could see my toe poking out of my existing ones. Ha!) I got all three for way less than half the cost of the original beautiful shoes. I think they're so Kate Spade-ish. Score for bargain shoppers everywhere!

2.) Oh my goodness, my new favorite show!

Did you watch Once Upon a Time on Sunday? It's from the writers of Lost and is about fairy tale characters. It's so good!

3.) The Covenant series on relationships at my church the past few weeks has been so, so good. You can watch them here.

I think it's true that our society tends to view relationships with more of a "contract" status (where we protect our rights and limit our responsibilities) than with a "covenant" status (where we give up out rights and pick up our responsibilities).

I'm so glad that I can be in an eternal covenant relationship with God because of Jesus!

. . . for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

Matthew 26:28 (NLT)

4.) I'm always on the lookout for free printables and files, since I'm really bad about my graphic-making skills. I love all the free files at Free Pretty Things for You. Check it out!

Have a great weekend!!

lost type

2011-10-27T07:10:00.001-05:00

I'm no font/graphic design genius, but I do love new fonts!

Lost Type is a great website where you can name your own price for fonts. If you don't want to donate, you can enter $0 as your donation.

Here are some of my favorites:

Check it out here.

i love my whole house! (& delayed gratification)

2011-10-26T12:18:00.001-05:00

Remember this little girl's youtube video?

I keep quoting her and yelling, "I love my whole house!" since we moved in to our new place.

I really do. I feel so blessed to get to live here in our first non-college-couple house. There are so many little blessings - for example, we have a pantry!

We've never in our entire married life had a pantry. When I saw it I yelled, "Oh my gosh, we're rich!"

(Of course, having a pantry certainly doesn't make you rich, but it ain't too shabby for Brookie!)

While there are many things we still have yet to do and things we need to save up for (like, um, a skillet - we keep cooking scrambled eggs in the bottom of a big soup pot on the oven eye. and some new towels to replace the three bleached-spotted ones we have left. And an entertainment center so our TV can sit somewhere else other than on a rubbermaid box that is caving in neath the weight of the TV), I am loving how things are coming together.

**Update since I wrote this post - we got a skillet and something to put our TV on from Wal-Mart. Woohoo!! Eggs really cook better in a skillet than in a soup pot.**

I love Grant's motto he adopted from Hank Hill. When we need something and need to save a little longer for it, he always says "I do love delaying gratification!"

(No, we really do not love it. Who does? But it's a great discipline to cultivate because it's necessary!)

I think it's easy to get caught up thinking that when you graduate college (or grad school), or when you get married, or when you move, or when you have a baby that things need to be exactly like you imagined them.

I think my love of looking at things for inspiration like blogs and Pinterest also perpetuates the little mental images of what a home should look like or what things I should have or wear.

People inspire me so much with their "home arts" talents. Beautiful, perfect nurseries prepared before baby gets home. Wonderful holiday crafts for every season. Delicious, healthy meals with expensive ingredients on the table every night.

But these things aren't really feasible all the time. Baby Evie might not have the perfect nursery when she gets home from the hospital - she'll be okay without that beautiful rug on the floor for a while. I might not be able to do all the holiday crafts I want to decorate my home - craft supplies aren't free people! And we might just eat soup from a can with grilled cheeses once a week for dinner. I think we'll survive!

With anything, I have to do what I call a "source check" for myself from time to time. This is when I evaluate something I think and decide whether the source of that belief or feeling is from my culture/society or if it is from the Word of God.

I want my life and thoughts to be based in the Word and Biblical principles rather than what my culture is telling me. The reason I have to have "source checks" is because my culture is all around me! It's easy for beliefs and ideas to creep in that are from my culture.

And I think delayed gratification, contentment, a thankful heart, and patience is based in the principles and ideas from the Word of God that ultimately bring about peace. Too bad none of those are my natural inclination. ha! But God is developing these things in me, and sometimes from day to day it has to be a disciplined choice.

Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Proverbs 14:30 - A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

What about you? With all the wonderful things available, do you sometimes have to stop and remind yourself, Hey you, just because it's available, doesn't mean it's needed.

Make me feel better here, people. I know I'm not the only one who has to work to stay disciplined in this area! :)

craving-based baking knows no time limits

2011-10-26T07:34:00.001-05:00

I don't get pregnancy cravings very often, but when I do, they are usually for something that is difficult and time-consuming to make, and they usually strike later so I'm up late making something just so I can have a bite before I go to bed.

My most recent pregnancy-craving-bake-off began when I saw this Apple Cream Cheese Bundt Cake on the front of my mother's Southern Living magazine. When I got back home, I went straight to get the ingredients.

This cake takes a while to make, but it is sooo worth it!

Take my word for it, pregnancy cravings or not, you NEED a piece of this cake!

(also, I may or may not have fed my unborn child this cake for breakfast this morning. pecans = protein, apples = fruit. i'm not gonna beat myself up about it!)

25 weeks and a campout

2011-10-25T08:00:00.002-05:00

I will be 26 weeks tomorrow, but week 25 was pretty nice!

Now that I'm not puking up my guts, pregnancy is pretty much a piece of cake. Although, I forget about my stomach jutting out from time to time.

I got my shirt all wet at the water fountain at church for the second Sunday in a row, because I couldn't feel that my belly was pushing into the button to make the water come out. I keep "sucking in" to fit through places that I used to be able to fit through and remember that I've got a little extra person in there taking up space.

I love when I'm lying in the bed in the morning when Evie kicks a whole lot, and I just lie there and spend some Mama and Evie time, feeling her kicks.

In other news, Grant and I went on a last-minute camping trip this past weekend. It was pretty cold at night, but it was so fun!

We got there after dark, so we had to pitch our tent and gather our rocks and fire wood in the dark. It made me aware of why serious outdoorsmen are always like, "it's getting dark out, let's make camp!" They know their stuff!

Grant is excellent at tending a fire.

I am excellent at roasting marshmallows on a fire and eating them.

(By the way, so-called pumpkin marshmallows are not pumpkin flavored - much to my disappointment, they just have orange dye in them and are in the shape of a pumpkin.)

haha! It was so dark, I thought I was sitting on the blanket that whole time. Look, I'm sitting on the ground! No wonder my pants were so dirty when we got home!

Do you love fall and camping as much as I do?

musical monday

2011-10-24T07:16:00.000-05:00

Lots going on in the music world lately!

I have really enjoyed the new Gungor album, Ghosts Upon the Earth. "Brother Moon" and "Crags and Clay" are my favorites.

I love Feist's new album too! I have only listened to it in the background while I'm cooking and haven't really "attentively listened" but it sounds great!

It may be way too early, but I can't wait for She & Him's new Christmas album to come out later this week! Here's a sneak peek:

Another album I keep listening to when I get ready in the morning is Andy Zipf's Jealous Hands, which you can download for free here! This is my favorite song on that album:

Grant just told me that Mayer Hawthorne has a new album out. Woohoo! I can't wait to give it a listen.

What have you been listening to lately?

baby!

2011-10-21T07:03:00.000-05:00

our little one's name will be. . .

I'm so excited for little Evie to get here in 14 weeks!

in your face, caramel cake!

2011-10-20T14:27:00.001-05:00

Okay, people. You know I love me some Paula Deen.

But I had a beef with Paula when I tried her caramel cake recipe twice, only to have it completely fall apart.

The first time, I poured it in a bowl and called it a Caramel Dump Cake - as in "this cake was a bust, so I dumped it in this bowl and hoped you would think Caramel Dump Cake was a thing."

The second time (last week), I tried to piece it back together with my hands. I was making it for my grandmother and aunt's birthday lunch, so I really wanted it to work out.

I pieced the broken chunks back together and tried to "glue" them together with icing, and I thought it looked sufficient. However, when Grant got home, I asked him how it looked and he said, "Not to be mean, but it looks like an old man's lumpy butt."

Oh my gosh, after I laughed so hard I peed on myself, I decided I would forget Paula's recipe and try to make up my own.

I'm no recipe-maker-upper, but what I came up with didn't fall apart and everyone loved it - so I'm calling it a success.

Here's what I came up with. I'm calling this recipe:

---

Caramel Cake That Will Make You Feel Like a Winner, Not a Loser

(and will not look like an old man's lumpy butt)

Ingredients:

cake mix:

-two boxes yellow cake mix

-Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box

caramel filling:

-1 cup butter

-2 cups packed light brown sugar

-1/2 cup milk

-2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

caramel icing:

1 cup butter (softened at room temp)

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 of the caramel filling you made

1 cup chopped nuts, optional

Directions:

Make the cake mix as directed on the box, then divide into three greased 8 or 9" cake pans. Cook as directed on box.

While the cake layers are baking, prepare the filling and icing.

Filling:

While cake is baking, in a saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, and milk. Cook and stir over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Divide by half into different containers.

Remove cake layers from oven and allow cake to cool. Remove first layer and invert onto cake plate. Pierce cake layer with a toothpick over entire surface. Using half the filling mixture you set aside, spread 1/3 of filling mixture from one container on cake layer. Top with second layer, repeat process. Top with last layer and repeat process again.

Icing:

Cream together the butter and the sugar (it will be a little stiff). Add the filling mixture you set aside, slowly, mixing with each small addition, until you get a good consistency for spreadable icing that is not too runny. If you get the icing too runny, add more powdered sugar.

Spread icing over cake.

Use any caramel filling you have left to drizzle on top of the icing, then top with chopped pecans if you like.

Let me know if you make it and if you like it!

-----

Since I was bringing this cake to a birthday lunch for my grandmother and aunt, I printed out a cake topper on some kraft paper. I have a roll of kraft paper that I cut down to 8.5 X 11" when I want to run it through the printer. You need to tape it to a regular piece of paper so it won't curl up and jam your printer.

I used some graphics from this free printable on Martha Stewart's website (and made some changes in Adobe Illustrator) to make it.

I was also so excited about giving my grandmother this milk glass chicken. She collects milk glass, and she got my collection started as well - so it's kind of our special little thing.

*Speaking of milk glass, check out this cute tutorial on making your own "looks like milk glass" dishes and vases.

Well, I hope you make this delicious caramel cake and feel like a winner!

pregnancy progress & pumpkin oatmeal!

2011-10-20T11:28:00.001-05:00

Guess what, friends?

I can now officially get out of the bed and eat breakfast in the morning.

Double Yay!!

Up until recently in my pregnancy, I haven't been able to set foot on the floor without lying in bed for about 30 minutes to an hour and forcing down Cliff Bars or vast quantitites of pecans.

If I didn't observe this morning regimine, it was throw-up city all day long (even with the Zofran).

But last week, I woke with a old friend - normal hunger!

(as opposed to so-hungry-i-have-to-throw-up-immediatley hunger).

Just normal ole' hunger.

So I hopped up, went into the kitchen and fixed what, to me, was a glorious breakfast:

plain oatmeal, sweetened with agave nectar, with pecans and blueberries

Heaven!

Since this wonderful new development has persisted, I made a big ole' batch of Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal this week. Wanna hear the recipe?

I don't share many recipes on here because I'm no professional, and I am not a "follow the recipe" kind of girl. I usually throw things in until I like how it tastes, but here is how I made a quick pumpkin-spice oatmeal with things I already had around the house. I think you would love it (especially if you, like me, get obsessed with pumpkin in everything once the temperature drops below 80 degrees).

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

Ingredients:

2 cups Quick One-Minute oatmeal

1 cup milk

1 cup water

1/8 cup Pumpkin-Spice coffee creamer (more or less, depending on how sweet you like it)
1/2 15 oz can of pumpkin
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
a scant 1/4 cup brown sugar
chopped pecans
(i never claimed it was a healthy breakfast)

Directions:

Heat water and milk in saucepan over medium high heat until it boils.
Add in quick oats and cook for one minute over medium heat or until oats reach the consistency you prefer.
Remove from heat and mix in remaining ingredients - top with the chopped pecans.

----

This makes a LOT, so share with a friend! (or eat as two different snacks that day like I did)
Let me know if you try it and if you like it!

Here are some other Pumpkin Oatmeal recipes from the real professionals:

Food Network's Pumpkin Oatmeal with Raisins

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal from Good Life Eats

Pumpkin Oatmeal Pancakes

M.I.A.

2011-10-20T10:30:00.003-05:00

Hey y'all!

I have been M.I.A. from the interweb this week because I have been so, so busy.

I spent the beginning of the week in Tuscaloosa (teaching, going to OBGYN appointments to check on baby - she's doing swell, hanging out with family, and registering for baby gifts!), then I headed to Montgomery to watch Grant be sworn into the Alabama courts. It was all very official (they slammed down the gavel and everything), and I was so proud. Now Grant can officially get his Atticus Finch on!

I am glad to be home - all that galavanting about is tougher when you're preggers! So, now I can catch up on the interweb and tell you some things I've been wanting to share.

-------

First of all, let me tell you that most scary thing that has ever happened to me occurred yesterday afternoon.

When we got home yesterday, I took poor, neglected Buckley to the park to make up for his stinky week. We tried out a new park that I had seen while taking a back road one day. It was a great park. It had wide, open spaces to throw the ball, but it also had a large wooded area, where I wanted to gather some pine-cones to do this craft.

I had only thrown the ball about three times, but for some reason, which looking back I just think was totally God, I decided to go ahead and gather my pine-cones. So, I began walking the far distance back to the car to get my bag. When I had walked about half the distance back to the car, I heard growling and barking approaching.

I looked around to see two, large, angry, charging, snarling pit-bulls charging at me out of the woods!!

Aaaahhhh!

(I am seriously not exaggerating when I tell you they looked just like this - minus the chain, which would've been awesome in that moment.)

I tugged at my keys and bolted towards the car. My keys got jammed in my pocket as I rushed in trying to get them out. I reached the car. I fumbled with my keys and unlocked the door just in time for me to jump in and Buckley to jump in right over me - right as the two dogs reached us.

They barked and growled outside the windows for a while; I briefly considered trying to run over them with my car (don't judge me PETA), but then just laid on my horn until they ran away; then, I left - and I will never got back to that park that is guarded by rabid, wild dogs!

Me and Buckley were both a little shaken up!

(I think I would rather a wild, crazy person to charge at me out of the woods than an wild, angry pit-bull.)

Whew! Close one.

-----

*Anyway, I have several recipes I want to share with you later today (big surprise - a pregnant lady only thinking about food), and check back tomorrow, when I want to share our final name choice for little baby Premo!!*

*pretty field image from here

weird!

2011-10-14T07:53:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'm always late on the things that make the internet rounds, but I just saw these photos of celebrities that look eerily like these Civil War photos from the past.

Um, weird! Right?

Is Nicholas Cage 500 years old?!

Just kidding. But isn't that weird that a person from that long ago could look so much like a person from today? I wonder if they are distant relatives.

This is making me want to rent Tuck Everlasting this weekend. Is that not the best movie ever?

We have our first Birthing & Childcare class this weekend, and I'm so excited to learn things that I really need to know!

What are you up to this weekend?

Have a great one!

crafting it up with waterslide decal paper

2011-10-13T08:43:00.003-05:00

I kept seeing these cute projects online that used something called waterslide decal paper. Not having any specific project in mind, I ordered a pack from this website.

When I needed a quick but thoughtful gift for my Mawmaw Edie's birthday a couple of weeks ago, I decided to give it a go.

Edie is a woman who loves the Word of God, so I decided to make her a little "Scripture a Day" jar.

I used a free downloadable design for the lavender flowers from this great website, and then added the words of the scripture I wanted on the front of the jar in Adobe Illustrator. Then I just followed the instructions on the waterslide decal paper package to attach the clear decal to the jar.

Then I printed some of my favorite scriptures on on paper in shades of purple and lavender, and used my little paper slicer to cut them into strips.

I didn't have any lavender ribbon to match, so I wrapped some additional strips around my Sharpie to make some curly-q's for wrapping this nifty gifty.

I folded the "scripture strips" over (I was excited because they looked like little pieces of ribbon in there) and put them into the "Scripture a Day" jar. I got the jar at Hobby Lobby when they had their glass items half off. I really loved the cork lid!

Yay! Edie loved it.

The waterslide decal paper was very easy to work with, but I did think that the result was a little more subtle than I would've hoped. Next time, I'll make a thicker, darker design. (as you can see, I had to even put a piece of white paper behind it to make it stand out).

The cool thing about this paper is that it will adhere to most surfaces. After the decal has set for 3 hours, the surface can get wet, but is not dishwasher safe.

Here are some other cool projects I found online that use waterslide decal paper that I want to try:

A cute Halloween Project:

*via Klucking Bear

*custom coffee mugs via Little Old Hat

*penny necklace via Just Something I Made

*beautiful dishes via Better Homes & Gardens

Speaking of decals, I looove all the wall decals by Shanna Murray that you can buy. Her designs are so pretty and have that hand-sketched look.

Have you ever tried a project with waterslide decal paper? I'd love to see!

*

2011-10-11T15:40:00.003-05:00

Even when you're sick and tired of yourself, God is still energetic and joyful about you.

-quote from my friend Tyler's FB status. I'm voting his FB status updates "most likely to brighten your day."

Even though God has set me free from thinking of him as a meany-rule-monger-who-is-waiting-to-strike-me-with-lightening-as-soon-as-I screw-up God (which, by the way, is so NOT in his Word), sometimes I still revert back to my old ways of thinking again and forget that he is for me not against me. He is for me!

He is showing me what reality looks like when I am rooted and grounded in his love, and I am loving it!

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:16-19

*image from here.

24 weeks

2011-10-10T07:01:00.001-05:00

Hooray! 24 weeks is here. 16 weeks left.

I sometimes treat myself to a decaf Mocha Frappucino at Starbucks (especially on days when I lose my breakfast), and the baristas asked me how old I was when I went this past week. When I said 25, they said they thought this whole time that I was a pregnant teen! Ha!

I have felt so, so, so much better lately. I think the morning sickness is finally subsiding. Thank you so much for your comments and for checking in on me!

Grant said my frilly shirt masked my baby bump, so I struck this "dorky mom" pose.

Then I tried to get Buckley to come pose with Baby Girl Bump, but he wasn't having that. I sure hope those two get along.

pretty, awesome, & pretty awesome

2011-10-07T10:13:00.003-05:00

Happy Friday, party people!

If you are in Alabama (and an Alabama fan - not a stinky Auburn fan) you are getting ready to celebrate homecoming. Huzzah!

I am baking a caramel cake today for my grandma & aunt's co-birthday (yes, my grandmother had a daughter on her very birthday - what a wonderful present! if you don't count the being in labor on her birthday).

Then, we're headed to the game on Saturday. Woohoo! I like the Homecoming game because I sort of need all the pageantry (with the crowning of the queen and the special band show) to get through the game.

Here are some things that are pretty, awesome, and pretty awesome from this week:

--------

Pretty

Geez, Louise. These cookies are beautiful.

They are from Sweet Ambs on etsy.

-----

Awesome

My dad and my nephew already decked out for Homecoming in their matching Bear Bryant hats.

-------

Pretty Awesome

This GREAT news that never stops amazing me.

(pic from here.)

Colossians 1:20-23 NLT

"and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it."

(my favorite part bolded)

I hope you have a pretty awesome weekend!

cookie cake

2011-10-05T12:12:00.002-05:00

In high school, I worked three years at the Great American Cookie Co.

You know - those cookies stores in malls.

I got the job exactly on my 15th birthday. I went to the school counselor and got a "workers permit" and went and got the job. My parents had struck a deal with me that if I could save up a good down payment, they would get me the car of my dreams when I turned 16 - a lime green Volkswagen Beetle.

I loved my job. It was so fun (for a teenager) to be at the mall most days after school. My co-workers were mainly cool older girls who were either ahead of me in school or . . . gasp at the coolness. . . in college already!

Most nights I ate cookies for dinner, or my mom packed me a dinner. That is, until I figured out which restaurants in the food court would barter real food for cookies. Sweet deal!

Grant and I were talking about my Cookie Co. days and he said something that made me love him even more. He said that he used to come by the mall a lot in high school just to see if I was there, working at the Cookie Co. He said half the time I wasn't even there, but that he would just walk by to check. Heart melting!

Anyway, a sweet comment like that earned that boy a cookie cake when he came back in town from his law firm retreat this past weekend.

I must say, it was delish!

(Although, I've lost my touch a bit with the neatness of my icing words since my days as a Pro.)

just enough toilet paper

2011-10-04T07:05:00.000-05:00

pic from howaboutorange.com

The other day, I was cleaning the bathroom (one of my Saturday morning chores), and I filled the bathroom cabinet with six fresh, soft rolls of toilet paper. I had gotten these nice rolls of TP from the huge Costco package I bought of, like, 36 rolls that we stored in the garage.

As I neatly stacked them underneath the sink in the cabinet, I had a twinge of self-satisfaction. A little thought of "Ooooh yeah. I'm doing pretty good. Got lots of TP for the future. Nobody getting stranded without a roll in here! I even have a garage to keep all my toilet-paper-for-the-future in!"

Almost immediately, this line from a chapter in Proverbs I had read a few weeks before popped into my head:

. . .give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.

from Proverbs 3:8 (NLT)

I thanked Jesus for his Spirit, my Helper that reminded me to not put my satisfaction in these sorts of things, but to depend on Him for all my needs.

Yes, he provided the big ole' Costco whoppin' package of TP and I'm thankful, and NO, I don't think it's a bad thing to have enough or more than enough of something you use (well, to a point, those extreme couponing people who build extra rooms to store their 400+ bottles of shampoo in while there are starving kids in the world may be bordering on a bad idea, but who am I to judge?), but my point is, I've haven't often been at a point in my life where I had extra.

Grant and I have never just been able to get as much toilet paper as we wanted. We used to be out of toilet paper for weeks and would just try to make do until his parents came to visit because, due to their generosity, they usually bought us toilet paper while they were in town. I remember in college, before I was married and I was financially on my own for the first time, I had to choose one week between toilet paper and tampons. Well, I chose the tampons and just used the bathroom downstairs in my roommate/sister's bathroom. (is this getting a little TMI for ya? ha!)

I just want to make sure that I don't get used to being able to have extra. I don't want to conform to our society and depend on extra and security. I want to depend on my Provider. His hand is where everything comes from, and I am so thankful. He always provides just enough. I don't want to neglect giving things away, for fear that I won't get my extra. I want to know where my "just enough" comes from.

(and I sure hope He always provides just enough toilet paper! um, because it's kinda important. ha!)

nursery plans :: rocking chair corner

2011-10-03T07:01:00.001-05:00

Okay, first of all, if anyone is halfway graphically-design-literate, ignore my stinky Illustrator collages. I'm no tech genius, it just helps me visualize decorating things better to put them all together in a collage.

I wanted to share what I'm thinking for my little rocking chair corner of the nursery and get your feedback.

My sweet grandmother is giving me her beautiful antique rocking chair with the fancy scroll-work looking sides with curly-Q arms. I can't wait! It's so special to me because she rocked her children in it.

I think these things are what I've settled on for the perfect little corner to rock, nurse, and read in:

1.) The dusty-pink fabric for rocking chair cushions (my friend Lulu will hopefully sew me some).

2.) Pretty Leah Duncan pillow on top of that dusty pink cushion.

3.) Blue side table with book storage beside rocking chair.

4.) Beautiful Anthropologie lamp shade for lamp on side table. Lots of books will be read in this little rocking chair, so we'll need some lighting!

5.) Blue ottoman for mommy's feet when nursing.

6.) Pretty green floral round rug for in front of rocking chair.

I'm excited! I think it will look very cute together. It's been kind of difficult for me to visualize things when I think about the nursery because I don't really have a theme and I don't even want a specific color scheme, really - I just want to be able to choose things I like and things Baby Girl will like without being inhibited by a theme or scheme. But that sort of makes it more difficult to make sure everything will look great together once it all gets in there.

Whad'ya think? Moms out there - am I forgetting anything I will need in my little rocking chair area that you found was helpful?

hooray :: hooray :: hooray

2011-09-30T08:53:00.003-05:00

Congrats to my hubby who passed the Bar!!

He is now officially Hubby, Esquire.

Now we can finally pitch that show to TLC about a pet attorney who cracks pet cases - the title will be Pet Esquire, or Pesquire. And Buckley will be his crime-busting sidekick.

(and Buckley can wear this dorky neckerchief while they crack cases together)

For realsies, though, way to go! I'm so proud of/ thankful to you for all your hard work!!!!

Blog friends, I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Have you had anything to celebrate lately?

*pic from geranimoballoons.com

not as unwise but as wise

2011-09-29T07:04:00.000-05:00

Here's one of my scriptures of the week.

This scripture came to my mind after I watched my third episode of Toddlers and Tiaras the other day. Yes, that's one and half hours spent on that. Eeeeshk!

(I really do like that show a lot because of its overall horridness and train-wreck quality where you cannot look away from the terribleness of it all.)

This scripture encourages me to choose the way I spend my days wisely, investing in eternal things, and not getting lost in the things that the world offers, because it offers a lot - and a lot of time-wasters!

It made me think of Ananias. Do you know the guy?

He is in Acts 9 for maybe 9 verses, but his impact was incredible. Ananias is the guy who came to Saul, now renamed Paul, when Paul was blind after the Lord called Paul to follow him.

Paul was blind for three days, and in the meantime, God tells Ananias to go to him and restore his sight so Paul can begin his ministry (and boy was Paul's a great ministry!). Ananias knows that Paul used to kill followers of Jesus, but he does it anyway, and he got to play a major role in all the great things that followed that!

When I think about Ananias, I always want more information and more backstory on him. But the main thing is that God had a job for Ananias and when that job came up, Ananias was ready.

I think this "living not as unwise but as wise" is what Ananias was doing in his backstory, and that's what I want to do!

Want to download my little scripture card? Click here.

sugar sheets

2011-09-27T07:09:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of Wilton Sugar Sheets?

I saw them this week at Wal-Mart and got one for my mother-in-law's birthday cake.

It is an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of edible sugar paper with a cute little design on it.

You can cut the sheet into any shape you want and lay it on the icing, and the sugar sheet sort of dissolves into the icing.

They sell punches with border designs and shapes you can use on the sugar sheets, but I just used my Martha Stewart paper puncher for the border, and it worked great.

Then, I drew an "L" (her first initial) on the remaining piece of the sheet and cut it with an exacto knife.

It was so easy and only took about 10 minutes for the sugar sheet part. I think it made the cake look a lot fancier than it really was (and covered up what a stinky cake-icer I am a little bit).

I went onto the Wilton website to see what all designs they had, but was excited to see they have lots of solid colors, and tutorials on other ways you can use the sugar sheets.

I want to try these next:

I never would've thought of doing something 3d with them!

Until my cake decorating class starts, I will be cheating with some Sugar Sheets!

(okay, I really sound like I work for Wilton here. ha! Dear Wilton people, I will accept any form of payment for this shout out!)

baby kicks and stadium stairs

2011-09-26T07:09:00.000-05:00

Week 22 is here!

Baby is kicking all the time, especially when I tutor English (maybe she's a future writer if she's so excited by the grammar talk).

Her belly home is really getting out there, but I've still been able to get by with my normal clothes (I already own mostly full skirts and dresses because that's most comfortable to me and I don't look cute in jeans). I've invested in maternity jeans, and I think the next necessary purchase is some maternity leggings, as mine squeeze the dickens out of the belly.

I have gotten some full summer skirts for way-on-sale at Anthro, that I'll just pull up higher over the bump, then put some tights underneath when it gets colder. I don't feel bad about these purchases, because they're great now, and I'll so still want to wear them after being pregnant. (I always say my perfect closet would be one full of Anthro skirts - like Superman's closet, only all skirts and dresses instead of spandex super-hero uniforms!)

I felt majorly like a pregnant lady this weekend when I had to climb many, many stadium stairs at the Bama/Arkansas game - I had to take a lot of breaks to make it to our seats.

But the game was really fun now that I have a new goal of paying good attention and trying to know where the ball is at all times.

(We took this the week before with Instagram at the Bama/North Texas game.)

funny|gross|exciting|encouraging

2011-09-23T07:07:00.001-05:00

funny:

A misunderstanding:

Brooke: Grant, will you put this package out for Melody to pick up?

Grant: Who's Melody?

Brooke: the mail lady

Grant: Why do you call her Melody?

Brooke: that's her name.

Grant: where did you hear that name?

Brooke: when you call her that!

Grant: I was saying Mail Lady, not Melody.

Brooke: Oh, I thought it was funny that she was Melody the Mail Lady. What's her real name?

Grant: Angela

*I don't think I called her Melody to her face - hopefully.

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gross:

This week I filled up my Target throw-up bag on the way to my OBGYN appt and had to pull over to finish on the road. And I had to cancel speaking to a 9th grade class at the last minute because of throwing up (I felt like such a jerk because if a speaker cancelled on me when I was teaching 8th graders and then I had nothing to do with a bunch of 8th graders, I would be seriously Peeved Off!)

But baby is doing great, and I've gained enough weight, so at least vomiting is more an annoyance than a health issue.

---------

exciting:

My headboard Before & After made it to the final Design Sponge book. Hooray!!

I tried not to get my hopes up, because I know editors have to cut things often, and also my pictures weren't great quality, but there my bed is on page 333.

It's a really great book with so many great ideas that I want to try.

---------

encouraging:

Some encouraging quotes on the girltalk blog about how Christ is interceding for us to the Father:

It is a consoling thought that Christ is praying for us, even when we are negligent in our prayer life; that He is presenting to the Father those spiritual needs which were not present to our minds and which we often neglect to include in our prayers; and that He prays for our protection against the dangers of which we are not even conscious, and against the enemies which threaten us, though we do not notice it. He is praying that our faith may not cease, and that we may come out victoriously in the end.

-Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, p.403.

If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.

-Robert Murray M'Cheyne, Robert Murray M'Cheyne p.179.

Had anything funny, gross, exciting, or encouraging happen to you this week?

Have a great weekend!!

adorbs

2011-09-22T07:18:00.000-05:00

Some things I am thinking are totally adorbs this week:

Number & letter lollipops from Vintage Confections. Too pretty to eat!

Ottoman poufs from Aletafae. I think I'll be getting one of these for my nursery.

LOVE the scripture prints from Naptime Diaries. I will be framing some of these in my nursery as well.

New-to-me etsy shop Depeapa has cute, cute screen printed bags and porcelain pendants that can worn as necklaces or pins. So cute.

it's a boy! photo booth

2011-09-20T20:37:00.002-05:00

This past weekend, I did a fun little photo booth for an "It's a Boy!" shower in downtown Northport.

I was glad to be back on my old stomping grounds, although it was Sunday, so my favorite restaurant, City Cafe, wasn't open.

I had so much fun making the props for this photo booth.

Some baby-boy-themed signs:

(which also doubled as fans since it was hot!)

My favorite props - the old nursery rhyme with some vintagey graphics. I want to make one for girls for Baby Premo's room.

Another one of my favorite props to make for this photo booth - a birch wood & turquoise chalkboard boy silhouette. I think this would make a great wall hanging in a nursery as well, so I plan on making a girl one for my baby's room.

The folks at the shower were so sweet and everyone had pretty hair. Here are some of my favorite shots:

The mommy-to-be above, and a girl who found a hilarious use for the balloons on the backdrop below.

While the mommy-to-be opened her presents, I took a break and walked around downtown. I guess I didn't appreciate how dang cute downtown Northport is when I could go there any day, but I snapped some pics of its perfect quaintness:

I had a great time, and I have some photo booth DIY tutorials to share with ya later this week!