Tuesday, May 31, 2011

WIWW- What I Wore-Weekend Style

I'm playing catch up on "What I Wore Weekend" since I haven't done it in a while! These are some weekend and weekday outfits from the past couple of weeks :)

Purple Striped Tube Top (thrifted) with a Straw purse (thrifted) and a matching necklace and earrings from Charming Charlie's.


Ikat Print Maxi Dress (ebay) and turquoise earrings


Vintage tablecloth that I found at Gina's Junk and I turned it into a strapless maxi.


Moroccan Tunic (Marshall's) Leggings and peacock feather earrings from The Beadcage here in Columbus, Ga.


 Hot Pink Tank Dress (Plato's Closet), Fleur de lis earrings (Charming Charlie's).


 Floral Tunic Top (thrifted, but it was brand new with tags from Target), dark denim shorts, vintage shell earrings (used to be my nanny's)


We just joined a gym! My mother in law bought me this Nike top last year for my birthday and I love it because it's something I wouldn't go out and buy for myself.


Don't forget to check out my fabulous May Sponsors!!!











Friday, May 27, 2011

Picasso

My little Picasso in the making...



He is constantly begging me to "pink!? pink?!" Which means "paint!? paint!?"




I think there's some famous artist potential here...and to think it all started with Diego and a driveway ;-)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The Baby Process


The diapers were stocked up, the bottles sanitized and ready.  The car seat base was installed, the clothes were washed in Dreft and perfectly folded into little, sweet piles eager to be unfolded and slipped over my baby's head.  The hospital bag had been packed for weeks and the house had been cleaned from head to toe.  Sleepless nights were common.  The effort it took to flip from one side of my body to the other was ridiculous.  Waking up all hours of the night, stumbling through the dark until I found the bathroom.  I even kept a granola bar by my bed and a glass of water.  About 3:00 am, my stomach would begin to growl and keep me from sleeping until it had been satisfied with that chocolate and oatmeal bar, even though waking up to unwrap it and eat it was such an annoying hassle.  I got to where I could unwrap and eat it in the dark without giving it an extra thought.  My husband would make fun of me later for this saying, "I remember being woken up every night by a loud crinkling noise and then I would hear 'nom nom nom'!".  
He had NO idea what I was going through! He just knew that all the restless, sleepless nights for me meant that he would be woken up at least once because of me.  But we won't even talk about the husbands now.
37 weeks hit and the waiting game began. I remember thinking, "I could go into labor at any moment!!!"  Each day seemed longer and longer and longer.  I felt so prepared and ready for my little man to get here.  The pack and play with the bassinet was set up right beside my bed. My boppy was sitting near my overstuffed chair, waiting to cradle my infant while I nursed him.  My electric breast pump was all set up, as well as my breastmilk freezer storage bags.  I literally couldn't be any more prepared!  Or so I thought...
37 weeks turned into 38, then 39 and then 40!  40 weeks and my baby still wasn't here and not only that, but he seemed very content inside of my belly with no signs of even thinking of coming out.  I just wanted to MEET him! To hold him and kiss him and to stop feeling like a beluga whale walking around...after all, at this point I was 60 pounds heavier than I was 9 months earlier.  My youthful, thin figure had been transformed into a waddling, 200 pound blob with a rear end protruding out in the back almost as far as my 9 month baby bump was in the front!  How much longer was I going to have to wait? I was trying to be patient but was failing miserably.  
I never thought I would be induced but by the time 40 weeks rolled around and I wasn't in labor by any definition of the word, the idea of induction seemed like a wonderful, miraculous thought. A week later, I was admitted to the hospital and induced.  The pitocin was a monster! My natural contractions were somewhat manageable, but when they kicked that pitocin up, woo whee nelly! It was a pain I just can't describe.  Something I had never felt before and something I have yet to feel since.  21 hours later, on the dot, my sweet Caleb was finally born!  He was plump and had the perfect shaped head with little, sweet, rosy lips just asking to be kissed.  I was expecting him to come out with a big cone head like most babes, but he was my little beauty.  Weighing in at 8 pounds and 2 ounces and screaming to the top of his lungs.  They finally handed him over to me and I just couldn't stop staring at him.  Here he was, finally!  All those months of waiting and wondering what he would look like and all those hours of labor, the pains and the rude things I said to my husband and the oxygen masks and the wonderful, wonderful invention they call an epidural and my favorite person through the entire labor and delivery process, my anesthesiologist....the entire long process of pregnancy, labor and delivery and he was finally here! 
I loved that little sweet boy before I even met him.  I loved him from the moment I read that shocking positive pregnancy test, because I knew, no matter what the doctors said, he was a BABY! A real person from the moment he was conceived.  Even in those early few weeks when the ultrasound pictures don't show a very "baby-like" figure, I knew he was my babe.
This past January, I went through that same excitement of reading a positive pregnancy test.  I made a sign for Caleb that said, "I'm gonna be a big brother!" and I eagerly videotaped Caleb walking into the living room holding the sign up for Seth to read.  Seth was so excited, I was so excited and Caleb, even though he didn't know WHY, was excited with us!
Then that dreadful day at the end of January came when our worst fear was confirmed.  We had lost our little baby and knew that in this life on earth we would never have to chance to meet him or her.
  Much like the indescribable paint of labor, it was an indescribable feeling of confusion, sickness and heartbreak that I had never felt.  I remember sitting at home trying to think of something, anything that would cheer me up, but nothing seemed to sound like a fun idea.  I remember holding Caleb tighter and kissing him longer during those weeks of sadness.  I realized even more of the miracle he was and is to us.
February went by and we celebrated my sweet Caleb's 2nd birthday!  We had a great February and the pain of losing our little baby the month previous was less and less every day. Not that we would ever forget completely, but the sting and freshness of the pain of losing the baby had dulled itself, something I was so grateful for and the phrase "Time heals everything" made a little more sense to me.
 Then the middle of March rolled around and we were once again filled with the joy of finding out we were expecting!  We didn't know it would happen so quickly for us again and we were elated.  I felt so sure that this pregnancy would be healthy like my pregnancy with Caleb was.  Plus, what were the odds of miscarrying twice in a row?  A few days after we found out we were expecting, we found out we had indeed miscarried.... again. What was going on? WHY was this happening again??? The pain returned, but this time with the pain came anger, worry and confusion.  What was wrong with me? Were we ever going to be able to have kids again? Questions clouded my mind and I was overcome with sadness.
 I was afraid to tell anyone because I felt as though they might question or criticize our decision to try again so quickly after our first miscarriage, so we kept it a secret for a few weeks.  I went to the doctor where they ran every test possible.  Thankfully, all tests came back normal, which was a huge answer to prayer.
Now, we are just wondering what God's plans are for us.  We are trusting His timing completely for when, if ever, we will have our second child and I find comfort in knowing that one day, in Heaven I will meet my other two babies that I never had the chance to meet here on earth.
It's been more than 2 months since our second miscarriage and since then, so many aspects of our lives have changed.  We found out we would be moving, Caleb finished his first school year and is talking up a storm. We've met new friends, one of which also experienced the loss of a baby at 21 weeks.  I know God placed her in my life for a specific purpose and it has been so freeing and healing to be able to talk with another Christian mom about the babies we lost, even though our stories are completely different, but I'm so grateful for her story and her friendship, especially at this time in both of our lives when we are left with more questions than answers.
I look back at the 60 pounds I gained when I was carrying Caleb and the sleepless nights of pregnancy and the first few months of having a newborn in our house and the adjustments that come with that and the pain of giving birth to Caleb.  I remember being so tired from being up several times a night, nursing Caleb and changing his diapers for the first few months of his life.  But those few months went by so quickly and even though I was exhausted, I wish so badly to have those newborn days back now.  To have a sweet little infant in my house and a brother or sister for Caleb to love on.  But today, I will rest in the peace of Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God..." and the words to one of my favorite songs, "It is Well with My Soul":


When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul!
If you are a mama and you're reading this today, I hope you will stop and forget about the messy house, the dinner that needs to be made, the kids that aren't listening to you and the frustration and feelings of being overwhelmed and just take some time to love on your sweet babies, no matter how old they are! They are precious gifts that God has graciously given to us and even on the days when they are driving us crazy, they are still little miracles from God!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Will you help me with my bathroom?

I am in a little dilema for my hall/guest/Caleb's bathroom. I can't decide whether to make it a guest-ish bathroom with a pretty shower curtain, or a kid-ish bathroom for Caleb.
I have found a few really cute shower curtains...so will you help me decide which one I should get for the bathroom?





4. Or one very similiar to this striped one (except the blue is a little lighter) that I found second hand:

What do you think???

1,2,3 or 4?

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Show us YOUR Blog!

ANNOUNCEMENT: I have been trying to reply to so many of your sweet comments but A LOT of you ladies don't have your "Reply-To-Email" set so that I can reply straight to your email address.  Will you please do one thing for me and set it by clicking HERE so that I can get to know you all better by being able to email you a reply? It only takes a second!  Thanks Gals!!!!!! 

Moving on....
I have been getting the sweetest comments and emails lately from some really wonderful ladies with GREAT blogs! I don't always get a chance to visit everyone of your blogs but I thought that I could have a blog party where everyone who would like can add their blog to the list so we can all go check each other's lives out :)  This is just a blog party to promote your blog and have the chance to meet some other great blog friends!
I am going to start by highlighting a few of my favorite new blogs that I have been enjoying:









Now it's your turn :)

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Before and After Spray Paint Makeovers!

Patio Furniture Before:


And after a few coats of some Krylon Spray Paint!

And some stripe detailing with a foam brush and "French Vanilla" Acrylic paint, which really looks yellowish, but I like it!

$5 Gina's Junk Table Before (Pretty but Rusty!):



And AFTER:

I used some silver metallic spray paint!


Have you done any thrift store makeovers lately?

Monday, May 16, 2011

Our Life Lately


First Happy Meal...and he was Happy!

Pup pup saying goodbye to her mommy

He just showed up in my room like this

First watermelon of the season

Sunday checkers with friends

Flowers from friends


Mother's Day Gift


Figuring things out by himself




Last Day of School :(

Cookout with friends

Big eyes at Toy Story on Ice

Thanking God for all His blessings to us...big and small!

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Weekend Fun

We have had such a fun weekend!  Friday, Caleb and I went to base and got to spend some time with Seth in his office.  Caleb has a new found love for office white boards :) 
Friday night wasn't so fun since I decided to highlight my own hair and almost had to go get a pixie cut...I admit, I cried.... a lot! You might think I am silly for crying about possibly having to cut my hair but I have been letting my very slow growing hair grow out for 3 years and the thought of starting all over makes me cry! Luckily, with the help of my awesome nanny who is a beautician, a jar of deep conditioner, a head wrapped in saran wrap and a break down on twitter, my hair has been salvaged! I will NEVER do that again...seriously, NEVER!!!! And now I unintentionally have my red hair back...but I would seriously take any color hair as long as it's on my head!!!

Saturday was a GREAT day, all around! We got the house cleaned really good so that a retired military couple could come look at our house.  They were so fun to talk to and ended up signing the lease before they left! We couldn't be happier.  They are in their 40's and the husband is meticulous about good looking yards  and the wife is an interior decorator who prides herself on being a neat freak (she even keeps a basket of clean socks at her front door and tells her guests to take off their shoes and put on a pair of socks before they come in!).  They stayed for 2 hours talking to us and going on and on about how much they loved the house and the yard.  We are hoping they decide to buy it from us.  Definite answer to prayer though! We put out house up for rent on Sunday and less than a week later (before the "for rent" signs were delivered) we rented it out.  God is so good!

But the day didn't stop there...oh no siree! My sweet friends April, Amy, Jessi and their families came over for a cook out.  I have been meeting up with these girls at least every other week for coffee since the fall.  We found each other via blogging and have all become the best of friends.  We decided we should all get together and meet each other's husbands.  We had a blast! 
L to R: Jessi, Yours Truly, Amy holding Elliot, April holding Rowan

Caleb and Cayden (Jessie's little boy) were best buds all night and Amy and Aprils little baby boys were troopers! The only people missing were Jeremy (Jessi's husband) and Rylie (April's little girl).  We sure missed them!
Caleb and Cayden...only 4 months apart and they party'ed the night away!

Sweet cousins getting to know each other :)

  Dessert time was my favorite...besides the fact that we were eating red velvet cake....we all sat in the living room and told funny stories about each other.  Oh, it was so much fun! Makes me even more sad that we are leaving soon :(  So now it's our goal to do as many of those cookouts as possible!!!

We sat the men folk at the baby table...lol! The ladies got the big table :)  
L to R: Seth (my hubs), Matt (Amy's), Jason (April's) and the two little guys

Today, after so much fun stuff this weekend, we are planning on going to church and coming back home to nap and chill out all afternoon! 
I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend...it's not over yet though so enjoy your Sunday! :-)