Pure Love

Oh, this baby. I am so, so blessed.

I never imagined there could be enough love. But amazingly, there is an abundance.

Grant Todd Winborne

November 3, 2010

1:13pm

7lbs., 6 oz.

20 inches

some favorite things

the quiet of my house with only faint Praise Baby music playing from the kids' rooms and a snoring dog on the couch.

a sweet girl's smiling face saying "thank you" when i gave her an english muffin and strawberry smoothie this morning.

an energetic boy dressed as buzz lightyear re-enacting all buzz's actions he remembers from his trip to disneyworld.

a helpful husband who folded a load of laundry for me last night.

my last free day where kids are gone until 2pm until . . .

Carrier Cover

My sweet friend, Pamela, has a beautiful baby Macy Kate. When Macy Kate was born, Pamela crafted the most adorable car seat cover. I asked if she would make me one, once she began sewing again. Even better, she shared her secret on how to do it!

Pamela recently came over for a morning of sewing. (Our older children were at school and Macy Kate just watched from the bumbo and played on the floor quietly - THE ENTIRE TIME!!! I seriously hope my baby is cut from the same mold as she was!) Anyway, Pamela walked me through the process, used her serger where necessary and left me to finish the rest. What a fun project and oh-so-much-cheaper than the ones in the stores.

Here is the result. I couldn't be more pleased! And what a great way to re-use something from other children, but make it new again for the new baby?! Thank you, Pamela, for sharing your skills with me!

Muscles

Have you ever seen muscles like these? Never in my life.

It was 50s day at school for Jack today. He was pretty excited about his tattoo.

It's Fall, Y'all

I've always loved fall. It reminds me so much of when I was a little girl, and I have such good memories of that time. Plus, I love You've Got Mail and all the fall scenes in that movie. Freshly sharpened pencils, anyone?

So, here are a few pictures of fall at my house. These decorations will be up until Christmas kicks off sometime around Thanksgiving. Oh, I can't wait.

Did you know that I'll have a baby by then? (Any day now, actually.) But my plan is to send my older two children off to school, come home and soak up every single second of holiday goodness with my newborn. It brings tears to my eyes, thinking about it now. I can't wait to share Christmas with a new baby.

Until then, here's fall.

Aren't these pumpkin faces hilarious? My mother-in-law found the kits with a set of faces at the Dollar Spot at Target. My children were in heaven, having the best time decorating pumpkins. And I loved them because it was much easier than actually carving a pumpkin.

I Think It's Time

. . . to bring the blog back. It's been funny, I've gotten several emails from people to "invite me" to your blog, thinking that I was still posting. It just made me laugh, knowing people checked in or even missed it at all! I took it private a while back just so I could let myself off the hook. I was going through a funk, feeling a little too vulnerable. That happens sometimes and is completely acceptable, I've since convinced myself. It's been a nice break, but I think I'm ready to post again.

Recently, I have been thinking in terms of "blog posts". I have lots of pictures, our pumpkin party last weekend, new nursery pictures, projects I've been working on and other things I think might be fun.

So, here we go. New and refreshed. You're welcome to leave a comment and let me know you're here!

Movie Night and Homemade Bread

Tonight was movie night at my house. I ran into Blockbuster today with Jordan Ann to pick out ONE movie. Came out with two, one for each child. She was convinced we needed to get The Wiggles and surprise Jack with it. (I have no idea where she gets the desire to get surprises for people!) And of course, the second she saw Disney Princess Follow Your Dreams, she just has to choose that one for herself.

So after supper, we got into our pajamas, spread out sleeping bags, put on the movie and ate marshmallows. (I took several pictures to document the fun event, but don't have Wes's computer to upload them, I'm on Windows 98, remember? I'll get them soon, though.)

After I put them to bed, promptly at 7:15 and 7:25, I sat down with a new knitting project and to watch Julie & Julia. It was one I wanted to see in the theater, but never got around to it. It wasn't what I was expecting, but still pretty good. I loved the scenery, especially in France.

As I sat and knitted, I started thinking about what my next undertaking would be. I'm thinking about bread. I want to learn to make homemade bread. The healthy, whole grain type that I can give my children for breakfast and lunch. Personally, I can do with or without bread, but others in my house need it for everyday survival. And as much as we power through loaves of bread around here, it might be helpful financially, too. So we'll see. Something I will continue thinking about.

Do you bake bread? If so, do you think I would be able to do it? I'm a little intimidated by it. Especially the packets of yeast and letting it rise part. Do you have a recipe you would share? Let me know.

Wishing you a nice weekend...

All In One Day

Yesterday was a big day. It started off with laundry, as all Mondays at my house do. Afterwards, we hitched a ride with Wes's mom to preschool, since Wes was driving my car and his was in the shop (needing a new transmission, no less.) Borrowed her car and went to the gym. Would later pay severly for all the exercising. Came home to find out that I washed laundry PLUS a pullup. Had to seperate the clothes and rewash in two loads. That set me back a tad. But it was okay. Jack then helped me dust mop the floors. I scrubbed bathrooms. Changed sheets and made beds. Picked up JA from preschool and went to lunch with Wes's mom, still dressed in my workout-and-cleaning-house clothes. Nice. Came home, put the kids to bed. Attacked my closet.

Yes, this is where it gets good. I purged. I pulled more clothes off the hangers than I left hanging. I am determined to simplify. (One of my resolutions, but yet to be posted here, which is another story entirely. I may or may not get to it.) So after finished the bottom rack, I realized all the dust and hair (I know that sounds so incredibly gross, but that's what it was. My hair falls out constantly and it's all my children's fault.) had turned into tumbleweeds in the corners on these concrete floors. So I got on my hands and knees scrubbing the floors. Found a penny, heads up. Then, what did I find next????

I found my diamond earring that has been missing for more than a year. These are the ones that Wes gave me when Jordan Ann was born. In fact, I remember so clearly laying her down on the hospital bed next to me to open the little box for these earrings. Can I tell you how excited I was. Now, I know these earrings aren't the biggest and most perfect earrings, but they are to me. So, so special. And to know that they could have been swept away so easily.

What a reward for cleaning out your closet?! Moral of the story? If you're missing something, clean out your closet. Get on your hands and knees and scrub the floors. You might find just what you're looking for. Or maybe just a penny.

Million Dollar Question

Why is it that when you have money to spend shopping, you can't find a single thing? Please, someone, tell me.

I spent two hours in a dressing room and walked out completely empty handed and very frusturated.

Maybe next time.

Monday, 1/4/10

After a very disappointing realization last night that preschool starts back on Tuesday, instead of Monday, like I was preparing for, it turned out to be a good thing.

First of all, JA has been yucky, coughy, puny all day. Her pediatrician called in some cough medicine with codene (yay!) so hopefully she will be better after her long nap.

Second, it's snowing! Seriously, I think my children have seen as much snow in their short lifetimes as I have in mine. It's not normal to snow this often in Mississippi. Granted, it not accumulating much (although our slide in the backyard is completely covered), it's still exciting to sit inside and watch.

I'm making deer meat chili for supper and if JA feels like it, we can bake cookies. Oh, I hope she feels like it! :)

Which brings me to my resolutions for 2010. I am working on my list. I hope to finish them and perhaps include them here one day later this week. I think I need to do that so I'll stick to them, you know what I mean?

What are you up to on this crazy cold day?

Ephesians 2:8-10

I'm so sad tonight is Tim Tebow's last college football game.

Each week, I've looked forward to seeing what scripture he would be wearing in his eye black. While watching a game recently, I told Jordan Ann that we were cheering for the team in the blue shirts because #15 loves Jesus. What a true winner, in every meaning of the word.

He chose a powerful message, for this his last college football game. Makes me like him even more.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."