2012 in Review

To say that 2012 was an emotional year for us would be an understatement. We went though a few lows and some amazing highs...and now we anxiously await 2013 and meeting our little girl!

Here's a look at some of the "big" posts in 2012 on the blog:

- I shared a post about finding love with God's timing. One of my favorite posts to date.

- We experienced the loss of our first baby at 11 weeks.

- I wrote a letter to my husband that was really emotional and raw.

- This post on lies was so inspiring as everyone shared what their biggest fears are in the comments. It was heart wrenching to read and yet so beautiful to know that we are in it all together.

- I shared a few crazy funny things that patients tell us in the ER.

- My BFF got married!

- In July, we announced that we were expecting a sweet baby.

- We found out that we were having a GIRL and picked a name for her.

- Our gender reveal party was one of the greatest nights of our life!

- We celebrated two years of marriage!

- I turned 27 and shared a little post about where I'm at in life.

All in all, it has been an amazing year and I have loved getting to share our life with all of y'all. Through blogging I have gained lifelong friendships and I have been forever changed.

Happy New Year! 

Sweet Baby Bump - 35 Weeks

The highlights:

- Celebrated our last Christmas as a family of two. We can't wait for Emory to join us!

- Baby E had piles of presents everywhere that we went! 

- I love being able to feel her butt/foot/head/something push out against my stomach. 

- Started having a little bit of back pain this week, only on my right side when I walk. 

- The baby clothes have officially outgrown the closet. 

- We only have a few nursery projects left...then we will be done!!

- The swelling in my ankles was much better this week. 

A Few Christmas Scenes

We had such an amazing Christmas this year. Even though Emory isn't here yet, it almost felt like she was because she definitely had her own pile of presents everywhere that we went. She is one loved little baby already! We got tons of great gifts, ate way too much food, and really enjoyed spending time with family. We are so blessed!

We spent Christmas eve at our church's candlelight service, followed by Waffle House with my family. I think that waffles and hashbrowns will have to be our new tradition each year. So good. 

Christmas morning we woke up early and headed over to my grandma's to open presents with my family. Even though my parents say they "cut back" this year, we were still spoiled rotten. 

We had lunch with the whole family and then poor sweet hubby had to head to work. I did get to go visit him at work later that night and make a few runs with him. Speeding around with lights flashing and sirens blaring is pretty exciting. I'm so thankful for all the people who work on holidays. 

Grandma's tree. 

The pups enjoying their huge Christmas bones. 

I didn't take very many pictures and I have to say that it was really nice to just sit back and enjoy the moments, rather than worry about getting a picture of them. There's something to be said for really living in the moment. All of these pictures were from my phone. I'll share a few from the "real" camera tomorrow. 

I'm back at work today after 6 days off...and let's just say I could have taken another week off. What is it about Christmas that just makes me want to sit at home in my pajamas?! 

I hope that y'all had an amazing Christmas as well. I can't believe that 2012 is almost over!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! 

Sweet Baby Bump - 34 Weeks

The highlights:

- Everything looked/measured great at our appointment this week!

- We have another ultrasound to recheck growth/weight at 36 weeks. 

- I started having some swelling in my ankles and feet this week. 

- We got our rocking chair for the nursery in yesterday (thanks mom and dad!) and it's adorable. 

- I have been a baby clothes/blanket/everything washing fool lately. 

- We are pre-registered and ready to go at the hospital. 

Check out the swelling on my (c)ankles. Yikes. 

I have an urgent prayer request for y'all - my friend's little girl that I posted about the other day (see here) is having brain surgery this morning. Please please be in prayer for them. 

Christmas Ornament Swap Link Up

It's time to link up and share our ornaments from the ornament swap! 

I was partnered with Hilary for the swap. Here's the two ornaments that she got me:

I love that she incorporated the beach with the ornaments and that they were both full of glitter and sparkle. She picked the angel ornament in memory of our first sweet baby, who is spending this Christmas in heaven. Just the fact that she thought of our lost baby made me love her even more. Such a sweet, sweet gift that I will never ever forget. 

Now it's your turn...link up and share your ornaments from the swap with us! 

PS: Don't forget to enter the giveaway for $440 worth of goodies! 

Spectacular Giveaway - $440 Prize Pack

Up for grabs today is an amazing giveaway full of prizes put together by a few fabulous friends. Consider it an early Christmas present. 

You could win:

Amazing Grapes

Everyday Enchanted

From Mrs to Mama

Life's a Beach

Life's A Dance

P!nk Persistence

Run With Me

Simply Beautiful

Tales of a Twenty Something

Tea With Mrs. Kee

Teal Annie

This Won't Hurt A Bit

I'm also throwing in a month of my bottom banner ad ($40).

So that brings us up to $440 worth of prizes! On your mark, get set, ENTER! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

All About Skin

I'm pretty picky about skin care, particularly when it comes to my face. I am one of those really OCD people who truly washes her face every night and every morning and never ever goes to bed with makeup on. If I fall asleep for two seconds with makeup on, I have a pimple appear. Really. I love trying new skin care products and I really love when something actually works like it is supposed to!

I was super excited when I heard about Doctor's Dermatologic Formula (DDF) and their amazing deals this holiday season. Believe me, you do not want to miss out on these!

First up, the DDF Revolve 400X Micro-Polishing System. It's like getting a microdermabrasion treatment at home! It reduces fine lines and pore appearance, while boosting skin radiance and tone. It's regularly priced at $98, but you can get it for $45 with free shipping when you use the code: DDFMICRODERMA. (Good through January 31, 2013).

On top of that awesome deal, they are also offering ANY second product at half price, with free shipping. Use the code: DDFSKIN to take advantage of that! (Good through January 31, 2013).

I personally would love to try their mattifying moisturizer. My face always has a sheen on it and I am constantly on the lookout for a moisturizer that won't create extra oil. They also have products that focus on anti-aging, acne, sensitive skin, and hyperpigmentation. Basically, they have a lot of great products and with the great deals running right now, it's the perfect time to try a few out!

I haven't tried any of these products yet, but I certainly plan to. Have y'all ever tried anything by DDF? Be sure to check out their website and these great deals. Let me know if you end up buying something from them! I'd love to hear what you think! 

Sweet Baby Bump - 33 Weeks

The highlights:

- The app on my phone says 6 weeks and 2 days to go. Ahhhh!

- We bought the mirror for the nursery. 

- My parents are buying us a rocking chair as a Christmas present. It should be here soon! 

- I'm still sleeping good and all through the night. 

- People tell me every day that it looks like I'm due tomorrow. Blah blah.

- Our house has been taken over by baby stuff and I'm loving it.

- Got my hair highlighted this week finally! It had been over 3 months.

- Still carrying baby girl super high. I can't wait to see her drop!

And because everyone loves a good comparison shot:


23 weeks versus 33 weeks.

I just want to thank everyone for all the prayers on my last post. They are SO appreciated and exactly what that sweet family needs. I'll keep y'all updated. 

Prayers Needed

One of my best friends found out yesterday that her 2 year old daughter, Shayleigh, has a brain tumor. They found the brain tumor solely from the Lord's provision after a random fall. They are shocked and scared, but they are leaning on the Lord.


Shayleigh is wearing the blue bow.

Please be in prayer for them as they deal with this and make some hard decisions. Specifically, pray for them as they decide when/where to have surgery, that the surgery will go perfectly and they will get all of the tumor, that Shayleigh will recover 100% from it, that it will be benign, and that they will feel God's presence throughout it all.


With Shayleigh and her mommy.

Nikki has a blog (that hasn't been updated in awhile) and I would absolutely love it if y'all would leave her a little comment over there just to let her know that y'all are praying for them. They are specifically asking for prayer, prayer, and more prayer...and I know that it would mean the world to them to know that people from all over are covering them in prayer. Go here to leave her a comment.

Thank y'all for lifting them up. I'll keep y'all updated. 

What Night Shift Taught Me

I had to work a night shift Sunday. A whole 12 hour one. 

Luckily I got to work it with one of my best friends, Kay, who is also pregnant. She's two weeks ahead of me. Both of us are used to working days. We knew it was going to be interesting (horrible) from the moment we volunteered to do it.

This is the only picture that I have of us...from almost 2 months ago. We have grown. 

Here's what I learned while on the night shift:

- I eat when I'm bored/tired and I would get fat if I worked nights all the time. We ordered pizza and each ate a whole entire large pizza on our own. Yes, I said large. Granted, it took all night, but still. We also had cookies and lots of candy. 

- Patients are nicer at night. They are asleep. ; )

- You can only sit in one chair for so long before your butt goes numb. 

- A hospital is pretty spooky at night. It makes the perfect scene for a scary Lifetime movie. 

- When the clock strikes 4 am, delirium sets in. 

All in all, it really wasn't that bad. I actually kind of liked it, which makes sense because I've always been a night owl. I even got off at 7 am and went shopping for a few hours, which was super nice because no one was in the stores yet. I got tons of Christmas shopping done. 

I'm back to days the rest of the week, but I'm totally up for working a night shift again.

On a side note, I'm looking for a few more bloggers/shops/businesses to join me for a huge group giveaway. Email me if you are interested...I'd love to have you!

PS: Don't forget to enter my giveaway from yesterday! 

Giveaway - Pedia Bear Baby Blanket

I'm so excited about today's giveaway because it combines two of the things that I love: nursing and babies! Have you ever seen a product and thought "now why didn't I think of that?" That's how I feel about the product up for grabs in today's giveaway. It's genius!

Becky is a registered nurse who has worked with babies and kids for years. She created and designed the Pedia Bear science blanket after seeing for herself just how much babies could be soothed by scents that they were familiar with.

The science blanket has a micro-mesh pocket with a scent swatch that can be customized with any scent, like mom's perfume, dad's cologne, or soothing oils like lavender. The blanket can be used all day, every day, but is even more perfect for times when you can't be there. Your sweet baby can smell your familiar scent and be soothed even when he/she is away from you, whether at daycare, grandparent's house or bedtime. 

I can vouch for the high quality of the blanket. It is super soft and comfortable and comes with the cutest little bear on it. I obviously can't tell y'all if Emory likes it yet, but I sprayed a little of my husband's cologne on the scent swatch and I'm loving it! I can definitely see how it would be soothing to a baby. This is a perfect gift for baby showers and new parents. Right now shipping is FREE, so it's the perfect time to order, just in time for Christmas!


E's sweet blanket waiting for her arrival. 

Nurse Becky is sweetly giving away one science blanket to a lucky reader today. Enter using the giveaway tool below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sweet Baby Bump - 32 Weeks

The highlights:

- Emory looked healthy and perfect at our appointment this week. 

- Baby girl is a bit of chunk, measuring 5 pounds and 4 ounces already! (89th percentile!)

- Just hearing how much she weighs makes my heart melt. Five pounds is a real baby!!

- People keep saying "I bet you're so ready for this to be over." And honestly, I am and I'm not. Of course I can't wait to meet E, but I really still feel great and I sleep good, so I'm blessed and loving it! 

- I feel like nearly everyone that I know is pregnant and it's such a fun stage of life. 

- We have pretty much everything that we "need" for baby girl. Now it's just a matter of organizing it. 

Giving

I don't know what it is about this year more than years past, but it seems like I have seen a ton of friends and bloggers doing acts of kindness...and I am really loving it. I think that we all tend to get a little more generous during the holiday season, but it's also easy to get busy and distracted. I love pulling up my Instagram/Facebook and seeing that someone has done something kind/giving for another person, that they may know or may not know. It makes me stop for a moment and remember what the holidays are all about...what life is all about...what Jesus is all about. 

I've seen people: leaving sweet notes/money/gift cards in random locations for a stranger to find, baking cookies for neighbors and dropping them off as a surprise, tipping waiters extra generously, donating toys/clothes to those in need, filling up shoe boxes of goodies for children, adopting a family and buying them gifts for Christmas, and so many other things. Some are big, some are little. Some are more expensive, some are pretty cheap. It doesn't really matter what is actually done, but it's just the fact that someone took time to go out of their way for someone else, especially in a society where we tend to think "me me me" all the time. 

So this is me, thanking you if you have done something like this, because you have inspired and motivated me. You have encouraged me. I want to do more, be more, give more, love more. Not just during the holidays, but all the time.

Leave a comment with something generous you've done this holiday season for someone. Don't think of it as bragging about it, because it's not. I'm asking you to tell me. Think of it as inspiration. 

On a side note, this is the only Christmas tree that we have up so far. I'm so busy nesting for baby, that I'm totally not nesting for Christmas. At least there's something festive in the house. It's a start. 

Mirror Mirror on the Wall - Nursery Help

I have pretty much everything for the nursery already, even though we have barely started on it. Hey, we're working on it. I've been shopping and storing little trinkets and goodies since we found out that baby was a little princess. One thing that I can't decide on, though, is a mirror to hang above the dresser/changing table. 

So now I need y'all's help.


1 / 2 / 3 / dresser

I absolutely love the shine and bling of mirror #2, but I think I'm leaning towards #1 or #3 because of the shapes. Everything in the room is square and boxy (dresser, crib), so I like the curvy mirrors.

Which one is your favorite?

Life Tidbits

- Christmas cards are ordered. Yay! Yes, I'm late. 

- Maternity pictures are in. Woohoo! I can't wait to share them. 

- We go live with a new computer system at work today. Wish us luck! 

- It cost $170 to take Diesel to the vet yesterday for an ear infection. Ugh. 

- We picked up 6 containers of baby girl stuff/clothes from my cousin yesterday. Such a blessing!

- I have been a baby clothes organizing and sorting fool lately. I'm obsessed. 

If I'm at home, you can find me in the nursery. Although I'm kinda silly because I seriously cannot make a decision about what items should go in what drawers. I ask my husband like it's the end of the world. He looks at me like I'm crazy. First time mom problems.

Making Time for Marriage

When you are pregnant, people love to give you advice. One thing that my husband and I have heard over and over again is to continue to make time for us as a couple, now and once our baby girl arrives. I would love to live in my pretend bubble thinking that "we won't have any problems" and "our marriage is too awesome to suffer any," but realistically I know that it can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. 

One of the biggest things that we can do for our marriage is to pray. Pray for each other, for our marriage, for guidance, for love, for forgiveness. The best way to have a healthy and happy marriage is to base it on the Lord and love each other as He loves us, not just when we have a baby, but all the time. 

I can definitely see how easy it is going to be to get so preoccupied with our new little baby girl that we forget to really focus on each other, so I'm determined to make "us" a priority. So tell me moms, how do you keep the love fires burning? For those without children, any advice looking in from the outside? What is most important to keep the love alive?

Around #2

Sharing a few posts/items that I love from around the internet today. 

- This gender reveal post. Makes me so excited for them! 

- Chevron scrabble personalized wall art. So cute. 

- This heartbreaking post about a young boy fighting cancer...and how we can help.

- A recipe for chewy cranberry oatmeal cookies. Delish.  

- This birthday list with the most adorable monogrammed chevron scarf. 

- The cutest personalized burp cloths I've ever seen. Who wants to get me these? ; )

- This post about being content in this crazy materialistic world. 

- Precious DIY snowmen ornaments that are actually easy and cheap to make!

Take a peek at these links...you won't regret it.

I'm off to a baby shower today for one of my best friends!

PS: How cute is my little baby daddy as he puts together his daughter's furniture?!