38 Weeks (Maternity Session)

I'm still here, but Noah is not. The doctor checked me on Monday and was surprised he didn't come during the Thanksgiving holiday. He's only a fingertip from being felt. I started feeling some back pain and painful contractions today around 3 and they have been coming and going since then. I'm hoping these are real and not false. I'll hold out as long as I can to make sure I don't get sent home from going to the hospital. In the meantime, here are some maternity photos that Paul did for me today.

Over the Weekend, Briefly

Since we were expecting Noah COULD come any day, we stayed home for Thanksgiving and the family came to our house. On Thanksgiving day, we cooked for my family and that evening we went on our first real Black Friday adventure at our local Walmart so Paul could purchase this video camera he had his eye on. It was more fun watching everyone else go crazy over the silliest items.

On Friday my in-laws came down to spend a couple of days with us. There was a lot of yummy pumpkin pie, tea, hot chocolate, shopping, and laughs. Here's a peek at a color scheme I'm thinking of for my kitchen and of course, the Christmas tree went up on Saturday!

What did you do for Thanksgiving/over the weekend?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving with your families! I am truly blessed with wonderful family, but most of all blessed with my own little family that I am so very grateful for.

What are you the most thankful for?

The Bags Are Packed

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Since the doctor said not to go out of town for Thanksgiving and to expect that Noah COULD come by the end of the week because it won't take much for me to go into labor at this point, we decided we better get the hospital bags packed and actually in the car. I thought I would share what I've packed. If you have anymore suggestions, feel free to give!

1. 2 pair of non-skid socks
2. 1 nursing bra and 1 sleep bra
3. Robe
4. Nursing pads
5. Underwear
6. House shoes
7. Flip flops for the shower
8. Phone and charger
9. Camera
10. Snacks
11. Baby book (to write down birth story and get foot prints)
12. Going home outfit for baby and I
13. Warm blanket for baby to go home
14. Car seat installed in car
15. Travel size shampoo, body wash, hairspray, toothpaste, and deodorant
16. Toothbrush
17. Brush and hair ties
18. Chapstick
19. PJs and change of clothes for Paul
20. Pillow
21. Birth plan, insurance card, pre-admitance forms

PS. It's too bad my bag doesn't look as adorable as the mini suitcases from elias & grace. If you have a little one, these would be perfect for staying at grandma's house!

37 Weeks

Baby has made it to full term (the size of a watermelon). I look back at where it all started as the size of a poppy seed and think how fast these 9 months really have gone. I'm now at the point where I can't wait for Noah to get here and I'm finally tired of being pregnant (can you believe I just said that?) I've had it that easy! At yesterday's doctor appointment it was determined that I've dilated 1/2 cm since last week. My doctor said to expect that he COULD come by the end of the week and not to go out of town for Thanksgiving.

"At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world...meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale Meconium, which you'll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it's like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life." -thebump.com

Don't Mind If I Do!

Every year right before my birthday, Anthropologie sends me a birthday "card" that has a 15% off coupon to be used anytime during the month of December. I was kinda excited this year because there are a few things I wouldn't mind having that I've been looking at. Here are a few favorites...

1. Sweet Briar Notebooks 2. Nostalgia Jar Candle, Atlas Mason 3. Plush Soldier Bowling Set 4. Baker's Twine 5. Domino: The Book of Decorating 6. Design*Sponge at Home

5 Things I'm Thankful For

Today I'm linking up with Julie Ann Art, adelynSTONE, and After Nine to Five in their Give Thanks Link Up Party. I found it today and just had to post a few things I'm thankful for!

1. Christ

I don't usually share church or spiritual related things on my blog. It's not because I am ashamed or that I am hiding it, I just use my blog as a way to share inspiration, crafts and things I enjoy in life that is second to living a holy life. If you've read my about me page you will see that my husband and I are the youth leaders in our church. We are also a lot of other things in our church. We keep ourselves very busy working for the kingdom of God and put Jesus Christ before anything else. Oh, and in case you are wondering...yes, I am pentecostal :)

2. My husband and baby on the way

This probably sounds cliche, but my husband is truly my best friend. We do everything together. There's not a time that he stays home while I'm out shopping, etc. We sit together at the table while I craft, we chat in the living room, we always eat together, and we almost always go to bed together. I love that we hardly ever fight. Most of all I am so thankful that he is a good spiritual leader in our home. I married a Godly, honest, and very positive guy! He is seriously never upset or negative, I love that about him. 

I am also so very thankful for the precious little guy that is still in my tummy. I've wanted him for so long (it feels like) and I'll finally get him in just a few short weeks.

3. Being able to stay home while my husband supports our family

I have always imagined myself as a stay at home wife/mother once we decided to start a family. I'm so thankful that my husband has always agreed with me and wanted me home. To be honest, it's not been easy only having one income, but you learn to work with what you have and God always provides. I enjoy having dinner ready when my husband comes home from work and soon Noah and I will both be able to greet him at the door.

4. My Pastor and church

I've been going to my church since November of 2000 and love it so much! Everyone there is truly my "family." I love my Pastor and his wife very much, as though they are another set of parents. I guess they really are since they are my "spiritual parents."I didn't grow up in church, however I feel like I've always been there since this is my one and only.

5. My blog and readers

When I started my blog back in 2009, I honestly didn't think I would continue for very long. You know how something new can wear off and you start to feel lazy because you don't get any comments at first, etc. I am so thankful that I have kept it going because now I realize whether anyone actually reads or not, this is for ME. I have made many wonderful blog friends and seriously appreciate each and every comment. I do read ALL of them. I am thankful for YOU!

What are you thankful for? Do tell!

Lately on Instagram...

 Pumpkin pie shakes from Sonic

 Sewing projects

The real pumpkin pie (a week early)

What have you been up to lately? Are you on Instagram?

36 Weeks

I had my 36 week appointment on Monday and the doctor did a vaginal exam to check my cervix to see if I had dilated at all. I expected her to tell me that I hadn't, but she actually said I was 90% effaced and already 1 cm dilated. Then she told me that it looks like Noah will be here 1-2 weeks early. I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for this upcoming event and get everything done around the house ASAP. Now that his nursery is finished I can finally mark that off my to do list. Now to finalize my birth plan, wash his clothes, pack a hospital bag, and install his car seat. Anyone have suggestions on what I should pack in my hospital bag that I may not think of? Do tell!

Nursery Tour

I'm so excited to bring you the long awaited nursery tour! I thought this day would never come and it came last night. While Paul finished hanging trim and did the chalking, I arranged Noah's closet and put everything away. I'm so happy with the outcome...for a while I started getting worried that everything would end up hodge podge, but it turned out great!

Source list:

Crib: Babymod Modena 3-in-1 from Walmart

Mobile: handmade by me using colorful card stock, twigs, and jewelry wire (tutorial to come)

Fabric: Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow (picnic plaid in pond, honeycomb in grass, and herringbone in pond)

Wall stencil: Olive Leaf Stencils on etsy

Paint: wall paint in squirrel from Behr and changing table in spicy banana pepper from Glidden

Changing table: mid-century console turned into a changing table by my husband

Changing table knobs: button knobs from Anthropologie

Wardrobe: Aneboda from Ikea

Squirrel figurine: thrifted

Book shelves: Bekvam spice racks from Ikea

Tree stump side table: free

Lamp and shade: Target

Rocking chair: Craigslist; painted in GLS Fern Rustoleum spray paint

Fox pillow: Gingiber on etsy

Closet size organizers: handmade by me; tutorial can be found here

Wall art: cardboard deer trophy from Cardboard Safari, D is for Deer print from Gingiber on etsy, leaf print from Eloise Renouf on etsy, I Am A Child of God print from Persimmon and Pink on etsy, you're so sweet I can hardly bear it print made by me, and alphabet animals print from Kaboodle

Vintage animals flash cards: jessi retro on etsy

Wooden rustic frame: Hobby Lobby

Laundry basket: Hobby Lobby (painted wooden tag with chalkboard paint and attached with twine)

DIY: Closet Size Organizers

I've been seeing these closet size organizers all over pinterest lately. The first time I saw it done by Ashley Ann I saved the idea on my computer. Then, once pinterest came along I added it to my DIY board. This is such a great idea for organizing baby's clothes. It's a very simple project and only takes about 30 minutes to make all of them.

Here's what you need:

-scrapbook paper
-scrapbook letter/number stickers

-craft paint

-paint brush

-Mod Podge

-"O" wooden craft letters

Step 1: First, you will trace one of the wooden "O" letters onto your scrapbook paper. I went ahead and traced all of them at once onto the different sheets of paper that I wanted to use. I made 4, but have decided I still need 3 more: 6 months, 9 months and 12 months.

Step 2: Once I traced all of the "O" letters onto the scrapbook paper, I cut them out and painted each of them with a coordinating color of craft paint. This step is optional if you don't want them to have wood showing. Craft paint dries pretty quickly so I waited a few minutes and was able to move on. 

Step 3: Once the craft paint is dry, you can glue the scrapbook paper onto the wooden "O" using Mod Podge and a paint brush.

Step 4: Once the scrapbook paper is glued to the "O", you can take your x-acto knife and trim the edges so that they are clean.

Step 5: The last thing to do now is figure out what sizes you need and attach that letters/numbers to the outside of the "O".

There you go! Now you have some cute clothing size organizers for your baby/child's closet! I made these for Noah's wardrobe that I'm hoping to have done this week. I'll show you the inside of his "organized" wardrobe along with the rest of the nursery THIS week!

Baby Shower #2

Yesterday afternoon, we attended another baby shower for Noah. This one was put on by one of Paul's co-workers. Karen has started a candy buffet business on the side called Elite Sweets and I have no doubt she will succeed, the shower was so adorable and much appreciated!

I'm Still Here!

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I've been on a mini break from the blog this week, but I have a good excuse! I've been checking things off of my to-do list. Some items are house related, some church, some photography business, but mostly baby. I've been going through everything and sorting it all out, returning items, working on the nursery, which should be ready for a GRAND tour next week! Here are my goals for this month that I posted here and I already have several of them completed.

• Finish the nursery
• Attend 3 baby showers
• Finish my autumn goals list
• Pre-admit myself to the hospital
• Pack a hospital bag (just in case)
• Pick a pediatrician
• Organize the hallway closet
• Clean the house thoroughly by the end of the month before Thanksgiving
• Dry clean our bedding

I'll be back at the end of this month to show you that I've finished all of them (speaking in faith)!

Baby Shower #1

On Saturday, my best friend Jennifer hosted a baby shower for my family and close friends. We had it at a local park and used one of their shelters. The shelter matched the theme perfectly and they have fire pits so we were able to use them for roasting hotdogs and s'mores. The weather wasn't totally corporative, you just never know here in Oklahoma. It was chilly and windy, but in the end it still turned out perfect! Here's a little sneak peek of the shower...

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Lately in Instagrams

I've been having hot apple cider almost everyday now. The table is finally cleaned off so I could put something more appealing on it. I received this vintage Carter's jumper from my first baby shower this week. Nursery art has been in the making, I've just been waiting on the room to be complete before putting it all up. I promise a nursery tour in the next week or two! 

This weekend is our family and close friends (co-ed) baby shower, I can't wait to see family and the adorable shower that my best friend Jennifer is hosting for me! What do you have planned for this weekend?

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