I should be sleeping, but instead I'm popping in to share a few fun tidbits of this week so far.
First, I've done yet another review of Nourish Organics over at She {hearts} It. This time, I've reviewed their new organic grapefruit wash, and I'm giving away an 8oz wash! There's a discount code too. Trust me, you're going to want to get your hands on some of this ultra-moisturizing, best-smelling-ever wash.
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Second, little girlfriend FINALLY just got her hair trimmed. For the first time. Did I mention she will be 4 in a few weeks? Yeah.
My Rapunzel just recently decided a trim would not shatter her world, and perhaps it would even make brushing her sometimes-snarly ends a bit easier. It was barely 2 inches, but the act of cutting my baby's hair for the first time totally tugged at my heartstrings. My dear friend Leah graciously snipped those ends, just like she trimmed Mac's hair for the first time about a year and a half ago.
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Third, I did finally finish the little seat to use at my sewing desk. I wish I had a "before" picture, but just imagine worn red leather and a scuffed, medium-wood finish. And the "after":
LOVE this fabric.
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Last, I've been trying to be much more deliberate in taking pictures with my real camera, not just on my phone. So here's a few of my littles to make you smile. The days have been long and often trying lately, but I love these little people with all of my being and we are all growing and changing. Especially me; especially my momma heart. This post especially resonated with me today. God's molding me, and all I needed to do was let Him.
the fact that in a few days, I will have a new kitchen! We are refacing, and my pretty glass knobs will FINALLY be attached to and doing their job on the cabinet doors.
reading:
"Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe." A few close momma friends and I are reading along together and discussing the questions at the end of the chapters and on the blog. I can't even tell you what this book is doing to my heart. I feel just drenched in encouragement and determination to be the mother God designed me to be and my children need me to be.
waiting for:
Spring. I planted almost 100 bulbs in my front beds this past fall and I can't wait for them to emerge.
excited about:
our upcoming annual OBX trip - just a few weeks!
trying to:
find a pretty chair for my new desk area in the kitchen.
working on:
a cute little seat/bench for my sewing table. My mom pulled it out of the trash on the side of the road and it's in perfect condition- just needed the worn red leather seat covered in pretty fabric and a spray of grey paint. I don't have a before picture, but I'll share the after picture, well, after. :)
enjoying:
this little 5 month old... and the fact that she loves to politely fold her hands all the time.
using:
my coffee maker waaayyyy too much lately. Oh but how I love a warm cup in the morning... and afternoon.... and perhaps a decaf in the evening [insert wide-eyed emoticon here].
some great She {hearts} It reviews & giveaways to be posted in the next few weeks. Isn't our new design pretty?
singing:
a silly "Evyn Mae" song that I made up. We've also been calling Evyn "Mae-Mae" lately. It has just stuck - and I so love it.
needing:
to go to bed earlier.
learning:
(from the "Desperate" book) that my mothering needs to be not based on the expectations of our culture, people around me, or even family. It needs to be guided only by scripture. Sally Clarkson has been blowing my momma mind.
listening to:
the Tinkerbell (Brynlee is currently obsessed with fairies) movie, a nail gun, and Evyn stirring over the monitor.
wishing:
I knew exactly when my best friend's baby was coming so I could guarantee that I will be there when the baby is born (and it is SO a girl - I am convinced, even though they are not finding out until baby comes). I am going to try my very hardest to be there - I'm just praying it all lines up.
doing:
not well in my vow to start running (again). This weekend is go-time. Ryan and I, along with a few others, are doing the Color Run in two months and I need to improve this 13 mile/minute pace nonsense I've got going on here!
dreaming of:
finding a mentor, living out my passions, and truly & confidently embracing all I am called to do and be.
Brain dump time! Apparently my new blogging motto is "all or nothing" because I'm either silent for a month or word-vomit typing. Here we go.
- Blogging. I love it, need to do it, am obsessed with reading blogs, and still use nursing sessions to devour my google reader list, saving my favorite blogs for last. I SO WANT TO BLOG every day or even every other... or heck once a week. Obviously it's not been something that's possible for the past few months (I don't think I really need to explain WHY) and I keep talking about how I want to do it and whine about it when I don't. So I AM going to do it more. For me and to continue to preserve this little space. Oh and I am just giddy over my little blog makeover... Molly is the bomb. If you're looking for a sweet soul to make your blog the prettiest, look no further.
- Giveaway. Coming so soon! I have the goods gathered, now just need to photograph them. Look for my "Winter Essentials" giveaway by the end of this week!
- A-dubs. My girl Ashley is coming to visit me on Thursday! I am SO EXCITED! I haven't seen her since the summertime when I was 26 weeks pregnant with Evyn, and when I see her in a few days she will be 30 weeks pregnant with her baby boy. Crafting and chatting and coffee... hurry up and get here, Ash!
- Projects. SO MANY IN MY MIND. I want to do all of them. Mostly house stuff and some half-done, started, or I have gathered supplies for but haven't started. I am crawling out of the post-baby funk (which was not that bad this time around but has left me desperate to take some time and create things... ALONE) and am so inspired to do ALL THE PROJECTS. But then I get overwhelmed with all I want to do and then am left paralyzed. And then the guilt of the presence of unfinished/unstarted baby books and picture-taking-slacking wells up... baby steps. Care for my babies first, but take baby steps in the direction of not losing myself in the craziness of this season.
- An effort to look human. Just a few little attempts to look a little more decent in the day-to-day. I'm a little late jumping on this bandwagon, but wow, is dry shampoo awesome. I just bought the cheap Suave kind, and I love it. The smell is amazing and it makes my hair feel so fresh. I'm also really into light grey nail polish lately and finally got my hands on some. (OPI french quarter for your thoughts)
A fresh cut and color and pretty sweater doesn't hurt either.
- DF/GF. I went dairy-free when Brynlee was about 4 months old and when Mac was about the same age. I exclusively nursed them, and both were showing signs of intolerance. So now that Evyn is almost 4 months old, I figured I had better just go ahead and cut myself off from dairy as a precaution. Now I confess, I also want to start shedding this baby weight (everyone told me it would be the hardest with #3 and BOY ARE THEY RIGHT) and I lost so much when I went off of dairy with the others so I'm hoping this helps. I also have dropped gluten because I read it can help with your skin amongst other things. SO, since Friday I haven't had a bit of dairy or gluten and feel fab. I don't even feel deprived when I have a lunch that looks like this:
The black things in the middle are chia seeds, and I'm not sure why I waited so long to incorporate them into my life. The benefits are awesome! I just add a tablespoon here and there in foods that I can easily put them in (smoothies, peanut butter, salads).
- Running. Remember when I ran a half marathon? Well, after that I took a YEAR off of running. Sadness. I've been wanting to get out there again, but the combo of kids & weather & no treadmill has, um, delayed my efforts. Then, Raechel threw out an idea to put together a team to keep each other accountable in the running department. Yes! I was able to get out a few times since then (weekends and 60 degree January days are my friends) but the high today is 12 degrees so I think I'll spend the rest of the day snuggled in with my babies. At least I have the will, right? I'm hoping this push to run will help with the whole losing the baby weight endeavor, too.
Last year, my word was patience. I scribbled it on my little chalkboard canister and it stared at me from my kitchen window sill all year.
I can't say I was super successful in becoming the most patient & kind girl this year... but I did try. I also lectured my kids quite enough on how important it is to be so... yet I'm not sure I was a living, breathing example most of the time.
This year, I majorly struggled to find "my" word. I felt like nothing could truly encompass the magnitude of what I wanted to change and to dwell on.
Is that enough adjectives for you? I really could go on and on.
For far too long, I have tried to be enough without Jesus. Yes, I believe in Him, trust Him, and follow Him, but I still want to do it ALL on my own. It's time for me to let HIM be enough (because, duh, He is) and accept that I AM enough WITH Him.
[Side note - ever write or say a word so many times that your brain plays tricks on you and you question if that word is even a real word? I'm there. Ha.]
I'm going to keep it real here. Yesterday, I was talking to Brynlee about New Year's resolutions. I explained that some people like to think of things they want to be better at for the new year, and that I wanted to "Be more patient with you guys, exercise more, and..." Pause.
"And not scream at us so much?"
Ummm. Why yes. Face palm. I laughed, but, HELLO! Wake up call.
Honestly, I've gone through my days without committing them to Him. I get so fed up and frustrated and scream at my kids after I've refused to ask Him to help me in the patience department. I've moved forward with (small) business endeavors without committing them to Him, or even praying about them. I've tried to solve problems without Him. I've come to conclusions about myself (most of them not very nice) without consulting Him first and without remembering what He thinks of me (I'm His treasured possession {Deut. 26:18} - whaaat?!). I've forgotten that I don't have to be everything - and also try to be and do everything without Him. If I'm rejected, the wind is just knocked out of me. If I feel un -loved, -wanted, -admired, -successful, etc, I am just out for the count. I need to cry out to Jesus that I am not enough and BELIEVE that He is enough, before I attempt something (like getting out of bed in the morning, for example) and cry out to Him that He is enough if what I've hoped for or hoped to be fails. I need to not let all the other voices cloud my mind (even well-meaning ones) and first listen to the ONE voice that matters. I spend so much time comparing myself to others who seem to have it together so much better than I do (or envying the people that don't have it together but are okay with that!), or anyone else that is more "" (fill in the blank!) than me. Blogging, pinterest, social media, and all the things that I let influence me pile up. Everyone else may truly BE better at me than everything but HE is enough and I am enough only because of Him.
And so, my word will stare at me from the window sill all year long. I have to say - I probably wrote and re-wrote the word "enough" on that canister with that stinkin chalk pen fifteen times until it looked as "perfect" as it was going to get. Funny (and symbolic) how I can't even make my word LOOK enough in my eyes.
I picked a word that I know I can never truly be. But God will be enough and He will make me enough. So freeing. I'm so excited.
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Happy New Year friends! Anyone else want to share their word for the year? I've noticed a lot of word-sharing on blogs in the past few days. Love.
In a week or so, I'm going to be getting a blog makeover (I can barely contain my excitement) and to celebrate I'm going to do a giveaway! It's going to be a giveaway containing some of my essentials for/things I've been loving so far this winter. This is gonna be fun. Bring it, 2013.
I could just let a couple of weeks go by (again), not post, and just go on as if the events of Friday didn't occur... but I just can't. So many people are sharing their wisdom, opinions, and insights from this tragedy, and while I am no writer or preacher or inspirational speaker, I do have thoughts that I just can't hold in. I'm not sure how eloquent or intelligent this will come out, and I often can't put my feelings into words. I'm scared to put my opinions out there and never want to offend anyone. However, that usually results in me saying nothing, and for once, I'm going to share what's on my heart. I have no answers, but I can't help but try to make a little sense of things in my mind.
My heart is completely ripped apart and crushed for the families of the victims of this horrific tragedy. Those teachers, those babies. When I first heard about what was going on on Friday, I was instantly nauseous and just sobbed and prayed. I wasn't even quite sure what to pray as the number of casualties increased and facts were presented. I know there is no explanation, no right answers. I definitely think there are wrong answers to the "whys" (that it was "God's will," and so forth) and it is frustrating that some people were so quick to place blame on things of a political nature.
I can not even begin to fathom what those families must be feeling now. My heart feels like it's been smashed, and I have never even experienced a fraction of the pain that they must be experiencing now. After the news broke, my first thoughts were "I am never leaving my kids anywhere and I'm going to put them in a bubble and they are never ever going to school." Thoughts that I'm sure are normal, but were definitely a result of panic and the heat of the moment. As I've been mulling over everything these past few days, my heart has been tugged in the direction of thinking to do the opposite of my original, panic-stricken thoughts.
I hope my kids are the ones who make the difference. Not like it even needs to be said, but I would never, ever put my child in harm's way if there was even the slightest whisper of a threat of a possibility of a chance of a thought (you get the idea!) that they might be in any sort of danger. However, will sheltering them guarantee anything?! I am all for homeschooling and think it's wonderful (and would most definitely do it if felt called to do it or it was necessary for my children, and I have the deepest respect for the parents who do it) but I am more convinced that I would not do it for the sole purpose of protecting my children from the yuck and scariness of the world. It's a long shot, but what if my child is the one who ends up making the positive impact on that one child who would have otherwise grown up to be a mass murderer? What right do I have to deny God His hands and feet? I cannot and will not place blame here, but I can become further convinced that teaching my children that showing kindness, acceptance, and God's love and mercy are the most important things to show to others. I want them to learn that caring for their peers and being a light to this horribly dark world is more important than popularity, recognition, and even education. After this awful event, I am even more convinced of this calling on our lives and so determined to teach my children that we were created to love and care for OTHERS.
I am also convinced that God can take bad (terrible or horrifying or unthinkable... take your pick) things in our lives and bring good from them. He's pretty amazing in that way. I think it's our responsibility to honor those babies' and heros' lives to learn from what happened and let God change our hearts and habits. For me, (as cliche as it may be) I am feeling the tug to just BE with my kids more and appreciate every moment we have together. I've been so frustrated, so impatient, so discouraged lately. Yet, all that goes out the window when I strip down my role as a mother and wife. I remember that being an example to my kids is my job and drawing my strength from God is my only answer. We are not guaranteed our next breath, and I want to live as though I believe that. So, if this tragedy makes us habitually live in the moment with our loved ones; if it makes us put down the phone and the computer and the social media and the stresses and the fears and the selfishness... what better way can we honor those lives that were taken?
As this weekend went on, I could not get the song "Even If" by Kutless out of my mind. I pray I can have that faith: that I will still declare God's goodness and faithfulness "even if the healing doesn't come." I may have not experienced loss and pain and uncertainty like so many others have, but that doesn't mean it won't happen to me (as much as it terrifies me to even say that). I do NOT think that God's "ways" include "causing" terrible things to happen, but I do think that His "ways" do include revealing Himself to us through those terrible things.
"Even If"
Kutless
Sometimes all we have to hold on to
Is what we know is true of who You are
So when the heartache hits like a hurricane
That could never change who You are
And we trust in who You are
Even if the healing doesn't come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing
Even if the healing doesn't come
Lord we know your ways are not our ways
So we set our faith in who You are
Even though You reign high above us
You tenderly love us
We know Your heart
And we rest in who You are
You're still the Great and Mighty One
We trust You always
You're working all things for our good
We'll sing your praise
You are God and we will bless You
As the Good and Faithful One
You are God and we will bless You
Even if the healing doesn't come
Even if the healing doesn't come
All I can seem to pray and lean on is "You are God, You are good."
Jesus, no matter the tragedy or trouble, please help me believe that. Please help me live it.
it's dark and chilly and Christmas lights are twinkling.
I am thinking...
about how wonderful that peppermint stick ice cream I just ate was... and how I surely went over my calorie limit for the day as a result of it!
I am thankful for...
my minivan! Never thought I'd every say that in my lifetime.
I am learning...
to crochet. Thank you, YouTube. Once upon a time (probably two decades ago), my grandma taught me the very basics of knitting and all that came of that was a washcloth. I am determined to master crocheting. Infinity scarves, here I come!
I am creating...
Christmas presents, jewelry, and house decor. Speaking of jewelry, my Etsy shop is up and running again. I'm offering a 15% off coupon code (BABY3) that will be good until at least after Christmas!
I am going...
to start blogging regularly again. I miss it. I may get even less sleep as a result, but it will be worth it. A blog re-design may be in order!
I am hearing...
Shark Tank. Ryan's favorite.
Around my house...
I see Christmas decorations and baby things. Love.
One of my favorite things...
is my sweet Evyn Mae's smiles and coos. Brynlee loves to talk to her and laughs uncontrollably when Evyn "talks" back. Ev's been sleeping long stretches at night, too. It's wonderful. Ohh I love my girls so much. My boys too.
A few plans for my week...
hanging out with my kids, Christmas shopping/creating, a fun night with the lovely craft night ladies, and dreaming up projects. I'm finally feeling inspired again to sew, decorate, create, write, blog, and read. It's good to feel passionate about the things I love to do again. Christmas shopping... that's one thing that I do love to do but dread it, especially when I have to go out in the craziness alone with all the kids. That results in a crisis every time.
Pictures...
[our Christmas card picture]
My sweet nephew Greyson Flynn was born to my sister and brother in law on October 14, so these cousins are just 9 days apart (despite them being due on the same day, but let's not mention that around Meghan). Love.
Tomorrow: I'm going to follow Raechel's lead and link up to an "At Home for the Holidays" link up party. Can't wait!
I thought I would pop in and finally at least post a picture or two and introduce my new baby girl...
Evyn Mae was born at 1:18pm on October 5, 2012. She was 9lb 2oz (my biggest baby by almost 2lb!). She is now 5 weeks old! She is such a love, I can not imagine our family without her. The kids are absolutely obsessed with her. Never knew my love could multiply this much, I can't even explain it.
We've been keeping busy (understatement) with daily life and spending time together as a family. Brynlee started preschool and my Macky boy turned TWO on the 7th of November. Sometimes I feel almost paralyzed by gratefulness for and awe of what God's given us. I am living my dream. No material thing in this world can begin to measure up to my sweet family. The days are so full and often overwhelming, but I am trying to focus on each individual day and remember that the hard times are so fleeting. I can't believe Evyn is already over a month old. I'm walking around in an exhausted haze, my house is a wreck most of the time, showers are few, and trying to get out of the house by 9am when Brynlee has school results in nothing less than a crisis situation. Yet, I am so full of peace and joy.
Okay, okay. Perhaps this "blog on the back burner" thing is getting a teeny bit out of hand. I've had so much I've been wanting to write and record, but I'm honestly so physically and mentally exhausted that I can't really even seem to stay up much later than the kids do at night, let alone write beautiful blog posts.
How about a list of updates:
-Pregnancy. I'm just about 35 weeks! How did that happen?! I feel like I am so close yet so far. And undoubtedly humungous. Bigger than with Brynlee or Mac and I'm so ready to just snuggle this baby girl and have my body (somewhat) back. Physically this pregnancy has been pretty normal- I am ridiculously exhausted (have I said that enough?) and in lots of pain from normal pregnancy stuff. Contractions galore, and chasing/lifting/having my bed invaded by/being jumped on by my kiddos surely contributes. I just want to be able to attend to my babies! So it's been tricky. Plus, I have had these racing heart episodes a few times this pregnancy (like resting HR getting above 220) so I had to see a cardiologist, get an echo, keep a heart monitor on me for a few weeks, etc. I haven't had any episodes for a few weeks so I'm hoping it's just a pregnancy thing that I won't need to worry about anymore in a few more weeks.
-Kids. Crazy as ever. Mac is blowing me away with his latest skills: singing entire songs, holding impressively long and understandable phone conversations, remembering things that even I don't remember. Brynlee is still constantly in dress up clothes on a daily basis and starts preschool in a few weeks! I'm so excited for her. She's going to LOVE IT!
-Ryan. Yep, he's still here. In case you were wondering. :) Love him a lot and wish he could be home with us all day every day.
-Vehicle situation. Just yesterday, we turned to the dark side and are now a minivan family. I kinda really love it. The kids are over the moon! Even Ryan is smitten.
-House. Nursery decorating is in full swing! I can't wait to share the finished room. The livingroom built ins are also finally done- I will share as soon as I dust off my camera and get some photographic proof. I haven't even taken pictures with my real camera since our Nashville trip. Shame!
-Fun thing to gasp at. Look what I did to my (almost) two year old phone. Luckily we were eligible for an upgrade and now I'm a friend of Siri. Good thing the iphone 5 comes out in a few weeks - at least I get to be current until then.
So that's my brain dump for now. I'd better get dressed for the day, now that it's almost 3pm and I think Mac is finally down for the count nap-wise. Or maybe I'll just snuggle with my big girl on the couch just a bit more. Can't wait to feel my love multiply again when baby girl comes... it's just unbelievable to me that I'll have three kids so soon. I'm living my dream, and so, so grateful.
I'm not sure I've mentioned this here yet, but my sister is pregnant, too. She's pregnant with a sweet little boy, my new nephew. Oh, and her due date? The same day as mine! October 6.
Seriously?! We laugh because we could NOT have planned this, let alone probably even succeeded in being pregnant at the same time. We always thought it would be fun to be pregnant together, but we never even imagined this.
And I am just loving it. Being exactly 19 months apart, Meghan and I have shared pretty much everything we have ever experienced. We worked the same jobs, babysat the same kids (usually together), went to the same college, went on double dates together, were in each others' weddings, and both moved to Massachusetts for our husbands' jobs. I have to say though, being pregnant together has been my favorite thing we have shared. Being her first baby, she often asks me questions via text or phone (since she is still in MA- very sad face here) and I love to still be able to help her out, whether it's telling her the weird pains she's feeling are no big deal or telling her to call the doc ASAP because that weird pain is something to be concerned about. Despite this being my third pregnancy, I honestly don't remember every single detail along the way of my first two, so experiencing (and RE-experiencing for me) the same things at the same time (first kicks, aching hips, out of control headaches) has been so comforting to both of us. And I'm so excited to give her all of Mac's baby stuff since her baby will be born right before Mac's birthday. Bonus!
I'm so grateful, so excited, so amazed. God is so good, and even in His amazing goodness throws a few surprises and little extras in along with it. I will never take any of that for granted.
Cousins at 21 weeks. This image still blows my mind!
Love you, my sissy, and that crazy baby boy who I can't wait to snuggle!
I had my 20 week ultrasound on Monday, and baby girl was kicking and punching away. Ryan, my mom, and the kids all piled into the tiny room and a good report was given. And, let me tell you, I felt that same rush as I did the very first time I saw my first and second tiny babies wiggling around on the screen. I cried when I was told "It's a girl!" and Brynlee beamed knowingly.
So amazing.
Now for a name... Brynlee keeps saying her name will be "Little Spaghetti." Seems to be our only option right now!
Today we weeded the front beds and Ryan laid mulch. Kids ate popsicles, practiced cartwheels (after momma poorly modeled one for them as they looked on in awe), pretended to mow the lawn with daddy, and got reprimanded when they played too close to the street.
I've been dwelling on "You're the Best Song" by Bethany Dillon for the past few weeks. I'm going to keep it real here... I've really been struggling lately with parenting. Exhaustion, typical toddler misbehavior, wondering if I'm doing the right thing in certain situations, worrying about what other people think and how I may be being judged. This song brings me to tears (okay, sobs) and encourages me to press on in these challenging days. It reminds me how blessed I am to be given the opportunity to shape little lives and how every day, every moment, is an important opportunity to nurture my babies- in so many ways.
I hope this brings encouragement to any of you who may be needing it... mommas and even mommas to be. Those prayers for our future littles (even if they are just a twinkle in your eye at this point) matter so much. I remember those times of longing for a baby and praying for whoever, whenever he/she would be and would come... or if they would ever come at all. Our prayers are the seeds that will shape who our children will become, be it soon, or later-than-sooner. We may not see the fruit of those prayers until years down the road, but those seeds of prayer are forming roots deep inside of our children and, by God's grace, they will flourish in time.
And, the lyrics, just in case :)
You're The Best Song
Good morning
You and the sun are up before I'm ready
But ready or not, you need me
So here I am
I'm learning that in the long hard days
There is beauty
Do you know my favorite place to see it
It's when I look at you
And though I'm tired now
You're worth every sleepless night
You're worth it all, cause I know...
You're the best song I'll ever write
And we're humming and dancing through the years together
You're the best song I'll ever write
And I pray you'll hear Jesus in it when you're older
I remember when you were just a heartbeat that I heard
and now our eyes meet
Forever is not enough to love you
You're the best song I'll ever write
And we're humming and dancing through the years together
You're the best song I'll ever write
And I pray you'll hear Jesus in it when you're older
Every prayer for you is like a seed in the ground
Every tear I cry is like rain
And in its due season
I pray a harvest will be found
Your heart and mouth confessing Jesus' name
Your heart and mouth confessing Jesus' name
it's a gorgeous day! The kids and I paid a little visit to the zoo this morning and it was so refreshing to walk around.
I am thinking...
about (now that I'm feeling a bit better pregnancy wise *besides the surprise bursts of nausea and awful headaches*) all of the fun projects that I'm excited to get my hands on. Trying not to feel overwhelmed by everything I want to get done and trying to just let myself enjoy my kids and projects, not see either as "work" or something I need to impress others with (this article spoke to me so much and keeps popping into my mind).
I am thankful for...
the dvd player for 12 hour car trips. Enough said!
I am learning...
that putting things off just makes me stressed out.
I am creating...
ummm... a baby. Ha. Still trying to unpack from our vacation, so I haven't been able to get past that this week!
all I see are Mac's "BIIIIG TWUCKS!" strewn about. He is obsessed and I love it.
One of my favorite things...
is how Brynlee doesn't even put real clothes on most days lately... just a princess costume and (sometimes) leggings. She hops into my bed around 7 am and is usually already in costume.
A few plans for my week...
hanging out with my momma tomorrow, craft night tomorrow night, and girls' night Saturday night!
A picture...
one of my favorites from vacation... more to come. :)
So... you may have noticed how my posting has been sporadic and my weekly posts have gone from extensive tutorials to lame-o car cleanings and such. In fact, I know it's been noticed, seeing that my number of followers have been dwindling as of late and I've been constantly racking my brain for SOMETHING to inspire or motivate me to be creative.
I've been super diligent with posting something, despite any high rankings on the lame scale that it may have, every week since I started my 52/1 personal challenge. This week, we have been vacationing with Ryan's family in the OBX, and I thought this was the perfect time to share a project that I've actually been working on for the past, oh, 15 weeks or so...
(this picture was taken 2 weeks ago at B's party, so I was 13 weeks here)
Yep, baby K version 3.0 is cooking! It was a total surprise to us to learn of my current state, and I shall say that I did panic for a few weeks days. The thought of 3 babies 3 and under makes me terrified, ecstatic, and so full of love I could burst.
I'm 15 weeks now, and this week I spent time resting (ish) and trying to make the huge belly that has already taken over my abdomen (I have practically exploded in the past 2 weeks) look cute. We will see if my vacation pictures portray cute belly-ness or not. I've been called out by strangers (in public) 3 different times this week. At 15 weeks!!! As far as I know, there is only one baby, and we did have an ultrasound at about 9 weeks and heard the heartbeat around 13 weeks. I'll have my 20-ish week ultrasound in a few weeks... I can't believe it. It's flying by. The first trimester nausea seems to be on its way out and the exhaustion is here to stay, plus the second trimester headaches are coming in right on cue. I'm already calling "girl" because I had those awful headaches with B but not with Mac... we shall see!
So, please forgive my lame posts and utter exhaustion... I'm trying to stay motivated despite feeling yucky and overwhelmed. I can't wait to share some house progress and fun projects that I hope to start... and I'm hoping that I will get a call from the shop saying my sewing machine is fixed and ready any day now! I picked up this book on a whim probably a year ago... I can't wait to dig in and prepare for baby and maybe even whip up something to dress this monstrosity of a belly in!
