First Leg of Christmas

Like many families during the holiday season, Michael and I have several family gatherings to attend. This past Saturday we took care of his father's side of the family. We had a great time visiting with family that we don't get to see enough of. For the first part of the day, we were at Granny Harris's Christmas party. Michael especially loved it this year because we got a start to his family tree. Because Olivia's arrival is right around the corner (literally!), his aunts and grandmother put together a good bit of his background - up through great grandparents. It was really neat, because there were old family photos included, too. This was certainly a gift we will treasure. For the rest of the evening we hung out at his dad's. After exchanging gifts, Michael worked on computer stuff (I'm glad he could help, but blah, boring!), and I got to hang with the girls - MUCH more fun than stupid computer stuff - even though we only talked about the Jonas Brothers. I mean really...could there be more girly guys?!? I guess my parents felt the same way about the New Kids on the Block!! (Oh, oh, oh, OH, oh -- Hangin' tough!!) I wonder what boy band will be popular when Olivia goes boy crazy??

Spaghetti Sauce Eruption

This morning started out ROUGH. I had promised my first period kids for some time that I would bring them breakfast this week as a reward for their great behavior - not that it's too hard - there are only eight of them (don't ask...). So, I woke up early, got dressed and ready, and commenced making breakfast. Things were rolling along great, and Michael even got up to help me finish up. I was running a tad bit behind, so I started to rush in the kitchen. In the process, I managed to knock a bowl of marinara sauce from the night before off the edge of the counter. Doesn't sound so bad, right? That's what I thought. Whatever, it's on the floor, I'll clean it before I go. I couldn't fathom why Michael was as perturbed as he was - until I turned around. The bowl had hit the floor spewing marinara ALL OVER the kitchen. I literally mean ALL OVER. The refrigerator, the walls, the cabinets, the ceiling, the microwave, and not to mention, ME. I looked down to see the side of my white shirt and pants covered in spaghetti sauce. So, blue jean day moved to Wednesday. I truly had nothing else to wear - thank goodness that the City Board walk-throughs were yesterday!!

The First Baby Shower!

Tuesday was a crazy, exhausting day. Although I didn't make it through the City Board walk-throughs with out a visit (I just KNEW they were coming to my room...), I did rack up at our first baby shower! We got some really great gifts. Lots of clothes, a Boppy pillow, and perhaps my favorite - a Pink Spots! Thanks, Noah! We are very thankful and grateful for the love from Bryant High School. Now, as soon as a get her dresser painted we can start filling it up!

The Sleeping Arrangments

There are so many things that they don't tell you BEFORE you get pregnant. I mean, I was aware of the general: morning sickness, headaches, mood swings, etc. They don't tell you about the weird noises that you make getting up and down, the constant state of heartburn, and the trouble sleeping.

For the last few nights, I have been on the couch. Not because I was in the doghouse, but because my back and hips were hurting so bad from the bed. It was so bad Sunday afternoon that I had a hard time walking. So, Sunday night, I wanted to try something different. I asked Michael to pull the foam mattress pad off the bed and sleep with me in the floor. This didn't work. Well, not for me at least. I woke up at 3:00am, still in pain - with one dog alone in the real bed - Michael on one edge of the mattress - and the other dog on the other edge of the mattress.
Since I was still hurting, I decided to try the couch. When I woke up again at 5:00, Michael was in the bed next to Sadie, and Jonah was on the mattress pad by himself, with his head on MY pillow. Sweet.

Olivia's first pictures!!!

Note the cute double chin!

We fought with her hands the whole time. If she didn't have them blocking her face altogether, she was trying to stick them in her mouth.

VERY large feet. Bless her heart...she didn't stand a chance.

There are SO MANY things to say about these pictures that I don't know where to start. I am already so in love with this little girl it's not even funny! We were so excited to get the 4-D Ultrasound done on Thursday. Michael couldn't be there, but I was fortunate to have my Mom and my Grandmother by my side. There are somethings that are just too special to do alone. We learned that even at even at a chunky 4 pounds, she is right on track. She measured at 32weeks and 1day; according to my due date, I was 32weeks. Only eight more weeks to go!! This time has flown by!!

Seeing Spots!

The nursery is FINALLY painted!! Michael and I have been working on it for a few days now. We started late Wednesday night, worked a bit more late last night, and I finished up the trim work and embellishments today. The polka dots took forever, but I loved it! When I retire one day, I am going to paint for a living. I love the creative elements involved in the whole process. Here's a video shot around the room, and a picture because Michael was being a dork with the camera. Don't ask why I was lying on the floor still holding paint.

So it's not the traditional "Baby Girl Pink" nursery, but I think it is adorable and fitting - Michael and I are not very traditional people...

Count your many blessings...

Name them one by one! You remember that old song?? I haven't posted in a while, simply because I don't have that much to update on. Olivia is still growing, hiccuping, tae-boing, and somersaulting on a regular basis. She is really craving hamburgers and french fries. I try to indulge her whenever possible - my butt is showing it. So, as a result of not having too much to update, I thought I would share my many blessings for the month of November - since it is the month designated for giving thanks and all. There is one for each day of November and are not ranked by level of thanks. :)



1. I am thankful the drop in gas prices. I filled my tank up last week from below empty and it was only $43. Now I don't feel so guilty about driving anywhere.


2. I am thankful for my husband who is extremely generous with strangers and (literal) crack heads. This normally irritates me. God blessed it by allowing him to win a contest at work. We got the check last week.

3. I am thankful for nights out with friends. We got to spend some time with Chase and Kelli this past weekend. Who knew that an hour at Willie T's would be the last time I would see them for four years? Still grateful for the time.


4. Which brings me to Chase and Kelli. There is so much to say about these two. Let's sum it all up with God using them to bring us back to him. What a TREMENDOUS blessing. They leave for Indonesia in a few hours for the next 3 years. Wow.

5. I am thankful for our new church home. I feel like I really get to worship at Ridgecrest. It's great.

6. I am thankful for a brother and sister-in-law who are wrapping up in the having kids department right when I am starting. Hand-me-downs are the BEST. From maternity clothes to baby clothes to all kinds of stuff, I am eternally grateful.

7. I am thankful for new friends. Like changing schools mid year, I was worried about all of the friends we would lose/miss when we changed churches. While I still dearly miss them, I am very excited about the new ones we've made. We were able to fit in and bond right away. I love my friends!

8. I am thankful for a husband who is thankful for me.

9. I am thankful for a work place that, no matter how crazy it can get, I still secretly love. I love my friends there, and for the most part, my kids that I get to spend everyday with. After recently visiting my Alma mater, I know how lucky I really am.

10. I am thankful for the week off from school! As much as I secretly love it, it still makes me crazy and I needed a BREAK!

11. I am thankful for God's timing. Having Olivia in January was NOT on my time schedule. I am beginning to see now though how it is good. If not for the Thanksgiving break and the soon to come Christmas break, I don't think I could make it to the end!

12. I am thankful for a house big enough (for now) to hold us, the baby, and the dogs. I am thankful for planning ahead. We didn't need a three bedroom three years ago!

13. I am thankful for my awesome parents. Not only because they are already spoiling their first granddaughter rotten, but because they raised me so that I could feel confident about raising her. I am thankful for the lessons, the spankings, and the love. Mainly because they taught me the love of Jesus, the rest is just trivial.

14. I am thankful for my friend Kirk. He works for Newell-Rubbermaid, the parent company of both Expo and Graco - the fuel for two of my loves - my school and my baby. And he sends me free stuff. I just got a huge box of pens. I had to refrain from piling them all up and rolling around in them.

15. I am thankful for our friends who have been giving us stuff for the baby. We've acquired a changing table, high chair, and swing/rocker thing.

16. I am thankful for a husband who doesn't always hold me accountable for my mood swings. He laughs at me, and even though it makes me mad at first, he makes me laugh at myself.

17. I am thankful for cable and channels that still have wholesome things to watch. The Hallmark Channel still shows Little House on the Prairie. I heart Laura Ingalls.

18. I am thankful for technology that makes my life easier. From data projectors at school to TiVo at home, technology can be a great thing.

19. I am thankful that we live in a democracy. Even though the presidential election didn't go the way that I would have had it to, I am still thankful for the ability to choose. I had a voice.

20. I am thankful for the Internet. This has saved me from asking my doctor 4,000 questions that are probably pretty retarded to him, but are important to me! babycenter.com is the best!

21. I am thankful for our town having great Chinese and Mexican restaurants that fix my cravings. No, not pregnancy cravings, these started LONG before the pregnancy!

22. I am thankful for talents. This is not a pat on the back... I am thankful that God gave me the talent of artistic ability. Being able to paint allowed me to save money on projects around the house and for Olivia's room.

23. I am thankful for a husband who loves me no matter what I look like. And trust me, I've been looking rough around the edges this week.

24. I am thankful for Weight Watchers. Without losing the weight originally I wouldn't have gotten pregnant; now that I am and have gained WAY more than baby weight, I know I can go back and do it all over again.

25. I am thankful for a boss who doesn't hold me to strict dress code rules during these last few months. It is great to be able to be comfortable and cozy at work when I feel like a whale.

26. I am thankful for praise and worship music. I have found a new love for WDJC and Christian music altogether. Also, I'm thankful for projectplaylist.com, which allows me to listen to the music at school.

27. I am thankful for my retarded dogs. Jonah, who we got to accompany our original spaz, Sadie, has actually done the opposite. He started out mellow, and he's now become the spaz. God love him.

28. I am thankful for my great family, both blood and by marriage. There are so many good things about them. They drive me crazy sometimes, but what good family doesn't?

29. I am thankful for Alabama actually having a winning season. It's about time for a National Championship, and I think this could be the year. Also for the professed Christians on the team. I love you Glen Coffee for speaking out specifically about your faith, not the general I found religion talk. You found Jesus, and you're telling people about it.

30. And last, but certainly not least, I am thankful for this little baby inside who is making it difficult to type. I love you and I can't wait to see you!! Just two more months!