New boots, clean house, great weekend!

This has been a great weekend. We truly enjoying spending time with friends and family, however, this weekend was a phenomenal weekend to spend with my husband. I don't know if I'm quite "nesting" yet- because when you hear that term, you have the tendency to think that you get this drive to clean-clean-clean... but I still have to push myself so hard to do the normal stuff that I should be doing around our house. So... Let's just say that my bedroom/closet/bathroom have suffered tremendously the past 26 weeks. We finally MADE ourselves clean them this weekend. It was hard work, multiple loads of laundry and a ton of folding... but BOY does it feel good! :)

One night, we also went out for a some sushi (since it's one of my primary cravings... always. NOT because I'm pregnant. Because it's incredible and I love it all the time!). We typically go to a place that's about 2 minutes from our house that we love. There's a newer place on the other side of Okemos that we had tried a couple of times (Maru), and thought was good... just not as good as "our" place. We decided to give it a whirl again and we could not have been more pleased! It was so phenomenal. We had our first experience sitting at the sushi bar instead of a table- and I think we've found our new favorite spot! It is so cool to see these chefs create such works of art with FOOD!

Our favorite roll was the "Crouching Tiger": Shrimp Tempura, Cream Cheese, Crab, topped with Ebi and Avocado, Spicy Mayo, Eel Sauce, Wasabi Aioli, Masago and Negi

I don't even know what half of those words mean... but it's fully cooked- so it's healthy for me AND Keegs... And all together that group of words I don't know ended up being the most amazing combination of flavors I've had in a long time... I think I'll dream about them at night until I get it in real life again!

Also... I just have to post my newest, most incredible find. It's been a long time since I've bought anything for myself. And that's for a couple of reasons:

Reason #1: BABY STUFF- there is so much coming up for Keegan that we need to either purchase before he arrives, or save up for so we're prepared after he arrives (e.g.: Daycare) so we should stop spending money on ourselves and start saving for our family.

Reason #2: IT'S DEPRESSING- HA! But really. I've always been someone who doesn't try things on. I just know what fits me well, and I can see something hanging, hold it up to me, purchase it and bring it home. And almost 100% of the time it turns out to be a great buy... But since August... I can't gauge my size properly and then get so depressed while trying to buy cute things. SO... What does a round little pregnant girl buy?!

SHOES!!! Well, Boots... My feet haven't grown enough that it depresses me to buy shoes! :)

Here they are:

My husband made me promise that I don't share how much I spent on them (and no- not because I spent too much- but because I can't bite my tongue when I get an AMAZING deal!!!)... and I already spilled the beans to a girlfriend at church today... Ha!

But let me just tell you, GO TO YOUNKERS IF YOU WANT TO FIND CHEAP BOOTS!!! :)

I have a feeling that this week is going to be a long one. Anyone in any of the 29 states that are supposed to be pounded with a foot of snow on Tuesday probably feels the same way, too!

26 Weeks

Here we go!

Only 14 weeks left... but right now that seems so long! Last week it felt like I JUST found out I was pregnant... this week though, I'm feeling like I've been pregnant forever. I can't figure out why. This whole pregnancy thing is a total roller coaster! I can't wait to meet the finished product- but lets just say the process can be so tiring and emotionally draining.

There are so many friends of mine that absolutely love being pregnant. I'll never forget one of my friends telling me that she's never felt sexier (yes, I said sexier) ever in her life than when she was pregnant. Oh, how I wish I was one of those girls!!! :) There are some incredible things about being pregnant: like feeling my son dancing around (ha, I made the mistake tonight of eating an entire packet of Fun Dip... Keegan is lovin' it!).

Bless my Kristopher's heart, though... He treats me like a queen when I feel like a total buttface!

So here's the bod at 26 weeks:

I'm 26 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 26 Weeks

Size of baby: Keegan is about the size of an English Hothouse Cucumber... whatever that is! But it must be big because Keegs sure is growing! (according to BabyCenter.com:)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 15lbs... Wahhh...

Maternity Clothes: Maternity pants exclusively (other than sweats!) and maternity shirts (well I guess occasionally I'll wear regular shirts but never where anyone can see me because I look like a crazy in them!) 

Gender: Baby Boy- Keegan Michael :)

Movement: He's a dancer! I've always just really felt him when I've been sitting and laying down, but this week he's been kicking SO hard even when I'm standing and walking around.

Sleep: I've had a lot of trouble FALLING asleep lately. I don't know if it's anxiety or if its just because I'm uncomfortable... but I definitely don't have trouble hitting snooze for an hour in the mornings!

What I miss: Shopping for clothes and having a lot more energy... guess I should get used to it... from what I hear I won't be hittin' snooze in the morning too much longer!!! :)

Cravings: Sushi still, PEANUT BUTTER AND BLACKBERRY JAM SANDWICHES, and Chocolate pudding. Mmm! All of those together sound like the perfect meal to me! Ha!

Symptoms: Sleepiness, sore joints, sore boobs! HA! Definitely some other things that shouldn't be posted on the internet!

Best Moment this week: We've discovered the flashlight game with Keegan. I read that if you shine a flashlight on your belly you can see if your baby responds and that will check to see if their little eyes are working properly... We laughed so hard the couple times we did it- because he seemed SO surprised! I love getting to know my son's little personality before he's even born. I know he'll be so different after, but those little glimmers into who he is-is so amazing! :)

Oh, Mondays...

Today was definitely a Monday. I woke up feeling decent, but by the time I got to work I realized I am definitely fighting something off. All of a sudden in the middle of our morning meeting, I started sweating, growing nauseous and started having a throbbing head ache. I toughed it out, even though I still feel gross. Would you believe that at 6 months pregnant all I had for dinner tonight was some Mrs. Grass' soup?! Delish! Ha, about the only thing that sounds delish to me right now! From what I hear, though, the flu bug has been going around. A few people at work have had it in the past couple of weeks... I just want it to go away so my week can fly by and so we can have another weekend together (by 'we' I mean Kristopher, me and our boys, Henry and Tyler)! :)

On a totally different note, I have had a number of realizations the past week. I am really becoming overwhelmed by the need to pray for God to open doors, close doors, and just show us where we need to go in every aspect of life. I think we so frequently become overwhelmed by OUR plans that instead of trusting God to show us how we need to live our lives, and what we need to do with our days, finances, and futures, we spend so much more time making our own plans. Little do we know that all He has to do is say it isn't so, and it won't happen (or vice versa). Wouldn't life be SO much easier if we just trusted that God is in control and has a perfect plan in place for us?! It is much more easier said than done.

If I can ask, anyone who's willing to pray for me, pray that I will just learn to trust that God will prepare the perfect plan for our lives- and for me and my husband to just go with the path He takes us- I would greatly appreciate it!

Onto ANOTHER subject... I just want to share one of my new guilty pleasures...

How horrible, right?! HA, they're AWFUL... but for some reason I cannot get enough of them! Mmm, Mmmm, Mmmm!

Speaking of horrible... I better, leave. The Bachelor's on and I definitely can't bear to miss anymore of this horrible reality television! I Love it.

So. Many. Guilty. Pleasures. :)

Furniture: Check!

Look at us! Checking more off the list... Last weekend it was the chair rail, this weekend it is the furniture! I know this is all I'm talking about lately, simply because this is the most exciting thing going on in my life ;)

I ADORE this! We finally figured out how we want the furniture arranged. The picture on the wall is a vintage-looking poster of the Empire State Building, and it says, "Stand a Little Taller: Make Each Day a Little Better Than the Day Before." I thought that was perfect for a little boy's room!

Haha, just the other side of the room... Don't mind me and Tyler, just relaxin' in Keegs room! I am lovin' it. Probably my favorite room in the whole house now.

This is an up close of his changing table. The picture is from my younger sister, Jericca. She gave us a cute little frame that says, "Baby to Bee..." and has a picture of Keegan's 3D Ultrasound for Christmas. The piggy bank was one that Kris and I picked up from Family Christian Bookstore RIGHT when we first found out we were expecting a boy (ha, the same trip when we went to pick up James Dobson's "Bringing Up Boys" on the trip home from the ultrasound when we found out that Keegan is a he!). It has Jeremiah 29:11 on it:

 "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Exciting times coming up! A number of my friends and family are all expecting as well, so these next few months are going to be SO fun with all the showers and babies being born. I have a feeling they're going to absolutely fly by as well.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone! I know I am!

Pregnancy Update!

I am so going to be one of those bloggers who do the cliche blog survey for each passing week of the pregnancy. It makes me wish I would've started this blog sooner, so that I could look back and remember some of the early times in my pregnancy...

I'm 25 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 25 Weeks

Size of baby: Keegan is about the size of an average rutabaga (according to BabyCenter.com:)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 14lbs... Still hard to say!

Maternity Clothes: I wear all maternity pants, some shirts, and SOME regular shirts

Gender: Baby Boy- Keegan Michael :)

Movement: He is busier and busier everyday. Last night we watched my stomach move from side to side!

Sleep: Its hard to fall asleep, but once I do I am out. Let's just say my dreams have been crazier then ever this week... (by crazy I mean singing "Meet Virginia" with Snookie and Ronnie from the Jersey Shore. Ha!)

What I miss: Fitting into my normal clothes/shopping. That's about it! 

Cravings: Overall: Sushi, Ice Cream Sundaes with Sanders Hot Fudge. Plus anything spicy!Symptoms: Tiredness, Mild Headaches, Joint Pain... According to my friends I've been waddling for a while, too. But I just think it's because I started wearing flats and I'm not used to it! 

Best Moment this week: getting Keegy-Boo's room completed (sans the furniture and bedding)!

I'm going to ask you to please ignore my face in this one. It was the end of a long day, without too much makeup! Haha, I was tired :)

Let me end this post by stating that it's almost Friday and I couldn't be happier.

I also want to say that although I'm really loving the new judges on American Idol- I'm a little disappointed... not by the lack of talent, but because of the lack of horrible auditions. Normally at this point in the program there's so many more bad than good, but I feel like there are SO many talented people that they don't stand out as much when they audition! Come on, folks... Where's William Hung when I need him?!

Choosing Joy

I must need to learn a lesson.

Lately I’ve been faced so much with opportunities in which I need to choose joy. I’ve always been someone who others have thought of as cheerful and optimistic. I’ve always THOUGHT I was optimistic. But this past week, on multiple occasions, my mom and I have had conversations during which she’s reminded me to just choose to be joyful.

In general, and for those of you who really know me, we’d probably all agree that I AM joyful! However, I’ve been overwhelmed lately with the tendency we all have to get frustrated and down on ourselves. But during it all, life will be SO much better if we make the conscious effort to live joyfully. In my field, I deal with SO many people on a daily basis- a number of which are angry or frustrated (who wouldn’t be when it comes to their money?). It is so easy to take things personally and get upset. But through it all, I should CHOOSE joy. In a perfect world, once my son is born, I would love to be able to spend much more time at home with him. But we have a mortgage payment, and our world is not perfect, so I will be spending just as much time at work… and I can guarantee you, my work and home life will be much more pleasant if I choose to live joyfully!

I’m so thankful for having people in my life (cough, Momma, cough) that will remind me to live joyfully. Not in a condescending way, but in a way that highlights how miserable life would be without joy.
Mark my words- because I’m posting this on the internet, I will be faced with many more situations in the next week where I can choose to handle them joyfully or let my frustrations overcome me!

Zephaniah 3:17- The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

On a lighter note… I’m just going to post the cutest baby shirt I found on Etsy (pattiecakedesigns):

(Except OBVIOUSLY it will say, "Keeganasaurus," because he will be the cutest little dino on the block! :)

To end, let me just say, I'm watching the new American Idol. I am surprised that I like the new judges. All I have to say though, is that I'd really like to give Steven Tyler some adderall!!!

You're Welcome, Auntie M

Today I was lucky enough to have the day off. I had yesterday off since it was MLK day and I decided I should take today off and enjoy a 4 day weekend... and boy have I enjoyed it! Today was such a lazy day with the dogs. All we did was laid around, except for when I was able to spend some time at the mall and at Marshalls... I always find SO many cute things at Marshalls. It's hard to walk away without tons of bags of stuff!

When I got home there was a package on my front porch [I rarely get good mail so when I do, I'm pumped]:

(ha, no offense, I blocked our address because it probably wouldn't be too smart to post my address on the internet!) But, look closely at who it's addressed to!

I opened it up and found a letter inside:

Talk about cracking me up. I stood in my kitchen with my dogs laughing for a while... Can you read the P.S. at the bottom? It says, "Disclosure- I don't actually expect these to be "the outfit." He could wear them anywhere." My sister is so funny! I love our humor... because no one else would be gutsy enough to write a letter like this, and include these in the package:

My Auntie is Awesome, My Aunt is the Best!, My Aunt ROCKS!

Is this not one of the funniest things you have ever seen?! I was just wondering which of my sister's would be the first to get Keegan some clothing like this... You win, Auntie M, you win!

So thank you, my dear sister, for giving me a great laugh on what would have otherwise been an extremely boring (yet relaxing) day! I'm so glad you and Kyle moved back to Michigan. We all missed you guys so much!

Chair Rail: Check!

Today we accomplished something that I've doubted for so long that we would actually do... we successfully hung a chair rail in Keegan's future nursery... To anyone else, it probably doesn't sound like that great of a feat, however, to Kris and I, today it was our Mount Everest! And we climbed that mountain successfully! I am proud to say that I, 6 months pregnant, really did help. I sawed, I hammered and I painted....

And we didn't argue!

Let's start with some before shots:

Here's my handsome husband. He isn't a person that we normally refer to as "handy," but he did an amazing job on this room. It's incredible the things a man will do/learn to do for his children!

Now, after multiple coats of khaki, blue and white paint and dozens of bent nails and smashed fingers...

I give to you, our Mount Everest!!!

There's a proud papa right there... taking in our couple day's work! We are so proud and now cannot wait to pick up the furniture to complete the room. I absolutely love the way it looks, but oddly enough (or maybe not so oddly), I feel even better about being able to check things off our list of "to-do's" before Keegan makes his grand appearance. I am one of those people that despises having things left on my list, no matter how much time we have left. All I think about it what is left to do. My husband sure does know the way to my heart... checking things off of that list!

So, we'd like to thank everyone that gave us advice on hanging chair rail and painting...!

Lastly, I just want to post a picture of some canvas letters that I painted a couple of weeks ago (totally copied some that I found on Etsy and ended up saving approximately $40 in doing so). These nursery letters were what kicked us in the hiney to start getting things done, and I have to say, I'm proud of how they turned out. Can't wait to see them hanging on the wall.

Thanks for sharing in this post!

Starting Out!

I've been so encouraged by some basic blogs that I've been reading on a daily basis, that I felt that maybe I should give the blogging world a whirl myself. They haven't been geared toward anything specific, but the women that I've been following have inspired me in their desire to lead lives that bring glory to God in the way that they live their lives with their husbands and raise their children. Since in about 15 and 1/2 weeks I will be both a wife AND a mother, I figured now was as good of a time as any to hop on this bloggin' bandwagon!

Don't get your hopes up... my life is far from exciting, but I know I'm not the only one who finds joy in the little things in life, so that's exactly what I'm hoping for.

So to start, our first son is due on May 5 so we are busily preparing to welcome him into our home. Bit by bit things are coming along: we've been blessed so far with so much for him. While watching Miss America last night (yes, my incredible husband watched Miss America with me), we put together Keegan's beautiful high chair and his Co-sleeper Arm's Reach bassinet. Not going to lie, a girlfriend at work recommended the Co-sleeper to me, and I could not be more excited. This bassinet straps safely to your bed and allows you to essentially have your child within arms reach- which (hopefully) will make nursing a much more pleasant experience for everyone in the first few months. Who would've thought, even a year ago, that I could get so excited about a bassinet!

This long weekend is allowing us to, Lord-willing, finish the nursery  (all except the furniture- that will come in the next week or two, then I'll post a finished product picture). After a long time searching, I finally decided on the most awesome bedding from Pottery Barn Kids...

Not going to be embroidering his name on it. As much as I adore monogramming everything, I don't think our future children will appreciate having to use everything with their big brother's name on it just because I got a little carried away! :)

One little splurge that I found on the Pottery Barn Kids site that I'm pretty sure I might have to buy to complete the room is this so cute lamb mobile:

I am in love with this! This boy is going to have one cute room. Not a baby room, a big boy room! :)

I am looking forward to blogging more. I think my husband will appreciate it too, so I can post "exciting" things on here (like this lamb mobile) instead of calling him over to look at all of my cute finds... You're welcome, Kristopher!