True Love

That girl of mine! I just love her so.

Thankful Thursday

• BFF's - I am not one who likes absolutes. I haven't told someone they were my "best" friend since elementary school, because I simply can't name one person as THE best. Ok I tell my husband that he is my BFF, because he truly is, but that is a special relationship that can't be duplicated or compared... I have so many great girlfriend relationships and in truth all these women are my BFF's just in different ways. What makes them the BEST is that they love me and allow me to love them in return (hopefully I will be more on the returning end soon). A kind comment, a concerned text, a small favor, a listening ear or email, an offer of service even if I don't take them up on it, a laugh, a smile, a crazy story (I looove a good crazy story), shared trials and triumphs. To all my BFF's. I love you.
• Blogging tips and tricks - Tagging in reader may have just revolutionized my life. Sound dramatic? Just try it!! Check out Kami's blog to see how to tag in Google Reader and get some other fantastic blogging advice.
• Sunday morning phone calls - My younger brother has taken to calling me on Sunday mornings. We chat while I make the kids their Sunday morning muffins and give them a bath before church. I miss him when his life is busy and we don't get to talk as often. These last few months have been a treasure of time and conversation. I am afraid these conversations won't be as frequent soon with the new baby and his life on the cusp of an upswing in busyness. So I will cherish the time we do get to talk.
• Books - Ohhh I just love a good book. Actually I even love a bad book. I just love to read. My sweet Mother in Law Suzanne (you have to go see the cuteness she whipped up this week!) sent me a box of books this week. I think I was supposed to save them for after the baby was born, but I sort of read them all.. already.. this week. It's an addiction that needs to be fed!
• My Baby Brother - He has the starring role of Willy Wonka in his middle school's musical production tonight. If I thought there was any way I could have convinced my doctor or my husband to let me go I would have busted the bank to see him tonight. I am so proud of him, excited and nervous for him, and full of love for this guy.

Thanks for all the great Thankful Thursday logos Tib!

He's got a name!

Ernesto announced to me at dinner last night that he has decided on a name. I smiled and said great! I was worried we were actually going to end up calling him Three.No, I didn't ask.
No, he wouldn't tell me even if I did.
No, I am not worried at all.
Yes, I am completely excited!

Find this gorgeous print at winborgdesign. It is a bit out of my decorating price range, but a girl can dream! I also love all their little robot prints!

Seeing Eye to Eye

Ernesto and I, we don't always see eye to eye. What?!? I know hard to believe right? It's true.

Friday Ernesto had to leave early from my doctor's appointment. He waited to meet with the doctor as long as he could, but in the end had to get back for a meeting he was presenting. So he didn't get to hear the discussion.

Friday was a busy day. We didn't have a chance to get to talk after my appointment. He had work and I had mommy things to do. We had already planned our last pre-baby date so after work, we went this way and that getting the kids dinner and settled before we left the kids in the babysitter's very capable hands.

Finally after running a few errands we sat down to dinner and talked. I went through the conversation I had with the doctor when he cocked his head to the side gave me the narrowed eye look and said, "You mean you are supposed to be at home on bed rest?!?!?"

"Bed rest?" I demurred. "No, I am on "restricted duty"."

After reviewing the terms of my "restricted duty", he concluded that I had been out far longer than my allotted time. He ordered our dessert to go and returned me home to the couch... where I have been for most of the weekend; counting contractions, drinking gallons of water, and in general going stir crazy. I know. It's only two more weeks, quit complaining...

Thank goodness he goes back to work tomorrow. Too bad my kids are total tattle tales.

Do you ever...

Do you ever leave something on the table/floor overnight because it will be so much easier to clean/sweep up once it is dried out?
Ewww grosss! Yeah um me neither.

Thankful Thursday

A few Sunday's ago in RS a friend of mine said that she had spent the last few days of summer looking forward to the fall because her oldest would be in elementary school and her youngest in preschool. She enjoyed her first few days of being in her own home alone, but quickly she realized that she was a little bit too lonely. She began listing to talk radio for company and distraction. After a while she decided that she was distracting herself from the opportunity to listen to the Lord. She turned the radio off and began her days of quiet at-home-alone having a conversation with God.

On Tuesday mornings I drop my kids off at pre-school and head up to Nashville to visit with one of my doctors. This drive takes around 45 minutes and can be stressful because of traffic or inclement weather, of which Nashvillians seem particularly skittish. I usually take the opportunity to blare my music at probably unsafe levels, but that is what being kid free is for!

My friend's comment kept playing over and over again in the back of my head. A good indication that the Lord was trying to have His say. Tuesday the weather was ideal and the traffic was non existent, in fact I didn't take my cruise control off the entire way in to downtown and I cracked my window to enjoy the near perfect temperatures. I turned my iPod off and started praying.

I began by praying for different friends in my life. I prayed for my friends still and newly struggling with unemployment. I prayed for a friend who is making tough choices on behalf of her family because she knows that it will strengthen her family in the long run. I prayed for a friend who has had that domino effect of sickness going from one kid to the next for weeks now. I prayed for a friend who is learning how to help with the everyday implications of her child's autism diagnosis and prepare for the long term needs as well. I prayed for my friends who feel lonely and out of place. I prayed for the ones who want to make changes but don't know where to start. I prayed for the ones who have simply asked for prayers. Suddenly I felt very grateful.

I didn't think whew, I could have it so much worse. The Lord and I, we got to reminiscing about my own really really tough times. The moments in my life when there was more chaos, uncertainty, fear, sadness, and despair than I though I could handle. I remembered those moments when I was sure I was on the verge of giving in. During those times the Lord was with me. He was there in those unexplainable series of events that saved me, those tender mercies that cracked my hardened heart, those private moments of understanding. I felt peace and gratitude. Those were some of the worst/best moments of my life, because I knew that no matter what He was watching over me. I knew I was loved.

I felt that same sense of gratitude as I drove to my appointment. The odds were not in my favor this pregnancy to make it to 34 weeks. The odds were even less likely that I would make it to 34 weeks without any major complications. When the doctors told me all the things that could go wrong I was fine, absolutely fine, didn't really phase me. I knew I was supposed to have this baby. It lasted for exactly three days. Then I lost it, a complete and utter breakdown. There were a lot of people in my life that were worried about me and praying for me and Three. I was overwhelmed and afraid and pretty sure that I wasn't going to make it. I didn't think my body would hold out, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to cope emotionally, and I felt too spiritually empty to rely on the Lord.

Then I received something I was sure I didn't deserve, that sense of peace and calm that assured me that the Lord was with me. I knew that He would be with me no matter what came my way during this pregnancy or in my life, just like He always has been.

Here I am 34 weeks pregnant and exceptionally healthy; there have been no major complications. This pregnancy has been pretty close to text book and Three is still in the belly right where he should he be. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Be it happiness or sorrow, I know the Lord with be with me and for this I am grateful.

Popped

My belly button never "pops".So how am I supposed to know when Three is done? Did you go from an innie to an outie?

Oh Baby You...

Got what I neeeeed. Which is one fun party!

I knew that my friends and family were throwing me and Three a party, but I had no idea that they were going to go that all out! Since Olive Garden wasn't open in time for my birthday or my shower, they brought the Italian to me. Amanda made Chicken Castellina which she got from the Olive Garden website. We had a Renee (of WWMD fame) veggie pasta ORIGINAL!! She has promised to post the recipe. Melissa brought an Italian specialty, lasagna. Cheryl made the cutest little favors, chocolate covered pretzels all swirled with blue. Julie and Heather brought the bubbly! Suzanne and Shannon brought salad and had the desserts covered with a variety of Tennessee Cheesecakes. That is what you call team work.

Hey ladies

Put your hands in the air and wave em like you just don't care. I know you can't tell from the very polite and posed smiles in all these pictures, but these ladies are a rowdy bunch! All that food you see in that yummy post up there, we burned every last calorie consumed by laughing.We played some really fun games. The first one was the Attribute Game. Suzanne printed up a list of attributes, physical and emotional then had me say if I wanted Three to inherit that trait from Ernesto or myself. The ladies had to try and guess who I would pick for each attribute. Shannon came in at an impressive 24 out of 30 right, she said it was almost cheating since she has lived with us and knows what we like about each other.

We played two guessing games. The first was a 9 oz. Avent bottle filled with little plastic babies, rattles, bottles, and other teeny tiny baby things and you had to guess how many teeny tiny things there were. The other guessing game was a gift bag filled with newborn diapers and you had to guess the number of diapers.

The last game was a test of my speedy mothering skills. There was a bag full of mismatched socks that I had to match and fold together and the person who guessed my time won. Even finishing in about 45 seconds, it seemed like it took me forever!

The prizes Suzanne put together were the cutest. She gave a clue as to what was in each bag. You can see the little gift bags there on the fireplace.

Take another picture

With your click, click, click, click camera... then pray the pictures get lost.

I know that I have mentioned before that I have horse teeth a big smile, but it takes a few candid shots to make me realize just how many funny faces I make!

Hint...

Somebody in this picture is pregnant... Yes I mean besides me! And she might be wearing something green that she knitted herself. Congrats!!!

Gigi's Cupcakes

THE GOODSTHE GIRLS

Any time spent with these ladies is an absolute blast. We laughed, we ate, and we ate some more.

A special thanks to the Staff at Gigi's who not only stayed open late so we could have our little get together, but also took pictures and emailed them to me because my camera is unfortunately missing. Sorry this took so long to post!

Eclipsed

Honestly and truly, I was considering the amazing guacamole to be the cherry on top of a quite close to perfect birthday week.

Then the guacamole was eclipsed as my cherry on top... We got to Shannon and Seth's house for our usual first Sunday of the month family dinner and who was there to join us?


Suzanne flew in to surprise me for my birthday and for the baby shower. She is the most loving mother in law ever. Oh and she also came to see Shannon/Seth/Dallin and their house since she hasn't been able to come out since they moved here.

I just love surprises!

Holy Guacamole!!

I have had dreams since Friday about GUACAMOLE!!! Not just any guacamole, but delicious, made fresh for you, at your table, scrumptious guacamole. We went to this great restaurant in Franklin, Sol on Main, that had been recommended to us at least four times in the last year. We can be slow to catch on, which in this case was definitely our loss.We had the salsa trio and the fresh guacamole for appetizer. Remember I am pregnant and it was my birthday so Ernesto did indulge me. For dinner I had a wisely recommended shrimp dish and Ernesto had beef tenderloin. Both were excellent. Then we shared a chocolate tamale for dessert. Please don't count the calories for us, ignorance is bliss.

I was pretty sure that after the sweet presents and the kind words, comments, emails, instant messages, cards, and hugs that I received that the amazing guacamole was the cherry on top of a quite nearly perfect birthday week... but the guacamole was eclipsed...

Spoiled

Have you caught on yet that I am all about my birthday? Luckily Ernesto loves my birthday too.

He spoiled me this year like he always does even though he says he won't. I don't complain!

Nestling Birds Necklace from the fun and funky UncommonGoods.
And a new good read recommended by Kari. These is my Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine 1881-1901