A little of this, & that...

This little sweetie pie is growing like a weed, can you believe she is quickly approaching her 6 month old mark? WOW does time ever fly! And, she has a little attitude that is coming out in her, I kinda like it!

I was 9 months pregnant in this picture, seems like yesterday I was waddling around town with this big ole belly. Now I am running around town with my baby on the hip or in that heavy carrier! I will admit, sometimes I miss this belly! It was cute when there was a perfect little angel inside. Now if only it would shrink back to pre-pregnancy! I'm working on it! It's so hard! Everyone said breastfeeding would do it, but it DIDN'T do a thing for me but make me more hungry & pack on MORE weight!

My girlfriend Lane had her baby boy, Judson tonight! He is the cutest little thing, with the most adorable eyes! I have 6 friends that are pregnant at the moment & 2 just delivered babies, today! Everytime I hear about it I think of my baby belly & that is what made me want to post that pic above! It's so fun!

I did a few posts back on my other friend Melissa that struggled with getting pregnant & finally did, naturally. If you are struggling & want me to pray for you, I would love to put you on my prayer list! I know how important it is for all of us ladies to have babies out there, & it's such a struggle for some. I have already talked to a few of you bloggers out there, but I would love to pray for you!

And, if you don't mind, I could use some prayer as well...

My father in law was admitted into the hospital this afternoon for what they think was a mild stroke. They are running tests in the morning, but I ask that you please say a special prayer for him now. We love him so much & ask that God's hands be all over him tonight & that he rests peacefully through tomorrow while they run these tests. I will keep you posted!

These boots are made for walkin'...

Ya'll, this weekend while I was shopping with my mom & sister in law for our Christmas, I just so happened to pick out these adorable boots! I am in love & can't wait to get them so I can wear them with leggings, jeans, dresses... they are adorable.. Thanks, Santa! =)



I also picked out this adorable Houndstooth print scarf to wear with my new black jacket...

WOW, God's Grace!

I am sure if you follow my blog you might have popped on over to my good girlfriend's blog, "Stafford Stories"!

A little history . . .

Melissa & her husband have become very close to my family over the past few months, really almost a year now. Her husband & my father work together & my father actually introduced all of us. They started coming to our church & becoming very active about 8 or more months ago.

Meanwhile for the past 2 years they have been trying SO hard to get pregnant. It's been such a hard road for them. They began her first treatment (IUI) in December, 2008. She went through so many hard times of shots, hormones, driving, money! They would drive over 2 hours way to see doctors. They did EVERYTHING to make their dream possible.... I didn't actually know Melissa during the main parts of her infertility that they struggled with, but followed her blog & read all about their ups & downs & cried with her through days of saddness & pain. I felt so confused that I was pregnant & happy, to know that she was wanting so badly what I had. God truly humbled me & has continued now that I have Avery, on those hard nights of no rest! I would think of how badly she wanted just that & would do anything to be up all night with a baby! I would pray so hard for them & did it daily in my quiet times almost as if I had known them my entire life! We grew close & each Sunday it seemed as if Pastor would preach on something that led more to what they were going through, & after each sermon we would hug each other so tight. Some days I would just want to cry! All day!

Towards the end of their last go around with treatments, it was close to time for me to deliver Avery in June. I was amazed by her joy for me, & the love and support that she gave me. She was calling & checking constantly before I had Avery, following my blog, etc... Her & her husband were just amazing when they hardly knew me & Chad. When I actually had Avery they were up at the hospital the day of, loving on Avery & being there for me & my husband as if I had known them for a lifetime.
... And during this SAME time of me having a baby, her twin sister just had a baby boy, her sister was about to have a baby girl, one of her close friends was delivering about 3 weeks after me, & then me! So she was surrounded by it, and swimming in it. I just was so amazed by her true faith. All while I was seeing her spirit grow closer & closer to the Lord... she was so strong!

Anyway, I am writing you this now because on November 7th her & Chad had all of their friends over for a party, & night of cards to kick off the "Holidays"! They handed us each a card & acted as if we were playing a game. They told us to all open the card at the same time, & we did! I broke out into tears because the prayers that I, along with them & everyone else had been praying for, were finally answered. . .



They are due on May 24th, 2010 with their miracle baby. The miracle is that they weren't even on infertility when they got pregnant...it was completely natural! They were given less than a 5% chance. I will never forget what her husband said, "We were going about the wrong way to get pregnant, & when we started doing the right thing, we were blessed"... AMEN, GOD IS GOOD!

I am so excited that she is due literally almost an exact year from when my baby girl was born. I can't wait to be there for her during her whole pregnancy & love on this baby! It will be spoiled rotten. Melissa & her husband have become very close to me & my hubbs, & I can't wait for a lifetime of friendship & family with them!

Melissa, if you are reading... I love you, & have prayed for this for SO long.... "Ask, & you shall receive"

Girls Weekend Away!

I started off my weekend with the girls Thursday night. We all decorated Mom's Christmas Tree & enjoyed hanging out! But, while we were having a fun time, my sister in law accidentally fell down a few stairs and sprained her ankle! We thought that she broke it. Mom & her stayed home from work & went to the doctor Friday while I watched Avery, & it was indeed just a sprain. We layed low Friday night & cooked dinner together, baked some deserts for the trip, decorated mom's tree in her dining room, painted nails, & laughed!

Saturday early we got up & around for Branson. My Dad surprised us girls & booked us a room at the Hilton so we were so excited! We seriously laughed AND cried all the way! We always seem to have funny stories, & then get sentimental as well with some tears, happy tears though. We stopped in for some Olive Garden for lunch while waiting to check in to the hotel. Once there we relaxed in the room & then took Avery down to see Mrs. Clause. She was in the lobby of our hotel so that was fun. We enjoyed some night shopping... the weather was perfect! We enjoyed dinner at this wonderful Mexican place on the landing by the water. It was SO good! They make your guacamole in front of you, fresh! After dinner we all did a little more shopping & decided to head to the room to get Avery asleep! Mom watched Avery for us so that me & Tiff could enjoy a little girl time!!

Sunday we woke up & I went & got us girls coffee at Starbucks! Then we did some major damage shopping for Christmas! While mom had us both together she decided to just get our Christmas completely done! We spend FOREVER in Franchesca's, my fav! We went to Joe's Crab Shack for lunch & sat outside on the water. We didn't get home until late & took our sweet time! Of course we stopped in for a little Andy's sweet treat. We were so bad, & ate all weekend, but it was a girls weekend I will never forget.

My mother is so special... I just love her & PRAISE GOD for her everyday. Thank you mom for such a lovely weekend away! I love you!

Seriously? Our luggage... WOW Avery had a lot!

Our hotel:

The lights were beautiful...

One of Mom's trees we decorated, it's sparkly!!!

Her fun topper we all created:

We had fun baking!

Sweet treats...

Her fun tree in the dining room we played with:

Tiff holding Avery before we left:

Dixie, my little neice!

Me & Tiff with Avery at Olive Garden:

Avery being cute!

The girls hanging out:


Tiff & Avery shopping

Relaxin' these feet!

Our bed, sooo comfy!!

Tiff chillin too!

Avery loved that bed too!


Angel in the bed of pillows:

She didn't even know what to think!
















The water show to Christmas music:


The tree in our hotel lobby!


Avery had her thumb in her mouth & her foot kicked up, chillin:

The girls enjoying lunch:

So beautiful...

Enjoying shopping!

Animal Prints, love them!!!!

Can I just say, I love animal prints, of any kind! I think they are fabulous, classy, fun, sassy- you name it! I seriously don't think they will EVER go out of style, they are HUGE in the fashion industry this year! Colored leopards of all kinds, and even zebra are big. I have noticed zebra's with lots of colors being in for your tree this year, from black & white, brown & gold, & even green zebras. I added the brown & gold to my red & gold tree & it just pops! I have TONS of it all around my house, thought I would share some fun things that I love the most!

Last night my sister in law came over to hang with me & mom & she slipped on her stairs and hurt her foot. We thought she broke it & went to the doc today, but it's just a bad sprain. So, the great news is that she is okay, but we are still able to do our girls weekend! So we are headed out of town first thing in the morning to do some shopping & eating out, my favorite things! Hope everyone enjoy's their weekend!

Christmas Decor- Dining Room

I have been so busy! Mainly trying to catch up on playing with my girl since we have both been sick & out of wack. I have been doing some Christmas shopping & spending a lot of time with my mom! Throw some decorating in the mix & I have just kept myself busy! I have however stopped to enjoy a nice cup of coffee! I just love this time of year and pulling out my ole' Christmas cup, it's my favorite! Yesterday it was a dreary looking day so I enjoyed staying in my PJ's cleaning around the house and playing with Ave.


I thought I would post a few pics of my decorating! I am still not finished, I seem to find things daily when I sneak into Hobby Lobby. I am loving the zebra this year. I have a little splash of it in my tree, so combined with what is on the table it really pops & looks so fun, yet classy! All that is left in the dining room is mesh & ribbon to all the chairs, & then I will be finished! Here are just a few of of my dining room set up! I think I am going to do a room a week before Christmas!

On my buffet table, Im still adding a few little things here & there, but I just love these candles! My best friend gave them to me in a gift bakset she brought me one time, and look how adorable they look with ribbon added, sitting on top of a punch glass! Simple, easy, & FUN!

I love my place settings. I just added the diamond, I am adding them to all of the settings for some glitz! I love some bling. I added a small clear plain plate to the gold charger so I wouldn't over power with what is on top. I had plans for Christmas plates but they didn't look so good... I like the simple with the bold statements on top:

I LOVE crowns so I added 2 of my favorites laying around the house to the table:

Notice the "present" candle holders? DOLLAR STORE BABY!!! Im all about a good buy!

We have big weekend plans! My dad got me, my mom, my sister in law Tiffany, & Avery a hotel room out of town! I am so excited, we are going to do some girls shopping and eat out! I'm looking forward to getting away & doing something different. What a nice surprise!!!

I am ME again.. for now anyway!

This week so far has been amazing! Avery has been sleeping through the night again, & I have been feeling like my old self again. The past few weeks have been terrifying for me... mainly because I have never had to experience taking care of myself while being sick, AND a baby... throw NO sleep into the mix and we were just a disaster! I seriously thought something was wrong with me, I was so tired. We are doing so much better & this week just keeps getting better & better!

We spent the day shopping yesterday with my sister in law Kara. She just moved into her new place so we have been decorating & getting her settled. So of course we made our rounds at Hobby Lobby! I also got a new car yesterday! I call it my mommy car! It's so nice, roomy, & fast! I love it!

Today was my girls lunch. My friend Danielle had all of us girls over for lunch & we all brought a dish. I brought cheesecake, it was yummy! There were 6 of us and we all enjoyed sitting around the table chatting & catching up! I got several pictures of Avery and her friend Kyah. Kyah's mommy is a special girl to me. Her name is Suzette & I actually met her blogging... come to find out, she lives in my area & is very close with some other gals that I know! Small world! So she followed my pregnancy & I followed hers, and now our girls are a week apart! How fun is that? We finally met after our babies were born & I can tell we will be life long friends! Isn't Kyah a doll?!?!?

The girls playing tummy time!

They had fun stickers all over them!!!

Aww, friends holding hands!

Kyah loved Avery. . .

Cheese sweet girls!

Tonight was our Thanksgiving Kitchen Queens. I am so full! We had so many yummy things to eat! I made green been bundles.. easy & simple! All you have to do is take long green beans, & wrap them in bacon. I prefer the maple flavored bacon for a twist, AND when you cook it smells up the entire house and makes it so warm! Pop them in the oven for around 20 minutes or so on 350 & you are golden! Here are a few pics from our fun feast!!!



Me & my sister in law:

I was hungry!!!

Me & Tara with her neice, Bree...

Sweet Bree!

Rachel & Amanda:

A few of us girls:

Even our dogs enjoy Kitchen Queens!!!

Chad is gone the next few days so I am hanging with mom & my sister in law Tiff. All the boys are going deer hunting for a week! So us girls have lots of baking planned, slumber parties, decorating, & even a fun weekend trip! I can't wait! This time of the year always makes me think of Christmas approaching... we like to start getting all the decor in full swing! Speaking of, mine is completely done so I will be posting pics little by little over the next few weeks!

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas . . .

We are better.... mucho better! I am feeling so good. It's amazing how rest can do a body good. I feel like a changed woman!!!

Saturday Chad and I went to the Razorback game & enjoyed some time outdoors together for a few hours. I literally didn't leave the house but once all last week and needed some fresh air. You can't beat 75 degree sunny weather, & football at that. It was nice! Saturday night we ventured over to our good friend Chad & Melissa's house for a wonderful dinner party with several of their friends. It was GREAT! Im still uploading pics from that so I will do a whole other post on that another day next week! We are so blessed with good friends, I always say it but I can't stress it enough... God is SO good!

Me & my hubbs before the game:




With that rest, I must add that I got extremely bored. When my temp had been broken for almost 24 hours I decided it was time... time to put up the Christmas tree! I love Christmas, everything about it! I wait MONTHS out of the year for it, and then literally get to enjoy my decor a month. So each year, I start earlier and earlier, and this year, it was early November. So far I only have 2 tree's up, but here are a few tiny little looks. I am not yet finished, I still have place settings and other little additions to add to my tree's to make them how I want them! I like lots of stuff! So these tree's are crazy & full of anything & everything! I will have the rest of my decor up by the end of the week when I finish some shopping. Im working on finding brown zebra stockings that match the ribbon addition in my tree's, and getting them monogrammed! I also have to get Avery's tree going in full force, she's going to have a cute diva one to match her room perfectly!!! For now, here are a few looks at 2 of my tree's so far...

Saying goodbye to Fall....

...And hello to Mr. Tree, oh how I have missed you, you need ALOT of work!

A little look at our main tree in the living room area, not yet completed.. BUT, notice I added ZEBRA, my favorite! There are little splashes throughout:


I am having a funky fun purple & silver tree in my breakfast room this year, not finished yet...need MORE ornaments, imagine that!

Finally, I picked up Avery! I hated being away from my baby but I felt it was in her best interest because I was running a high temp and Chad had a sore throat with white pockets on the back. The doctor told us not to risk it.. so my parents kept her for 2 days! Although they loved it, I am sure they were ready for us to get her, they had a blast and looked exhausted!

Avery getting tons of kisses from mommy!!!

She had so much play time with all her fun toys!

Looking adorable in her sweet bird outfit, one of my fav's!



Today we helped my sister in law Kara & my neice Stella move into their new home! We had such a fun time decorating and playing with the babies all afternoon. My mother in law made this yummy soup and sandwhiches and we just all enjoyed being together as a family.

Im looking forward to the week, I have a few things up my sleeve for me & Avery so we can get out a bit. It's going to be a nice week!

One of my favorite places- Eureka Springs

Quick update- Chad and I are feeling slightly better.. still ran a fever as of 11ish last night, but nothing since then. We are laying low home today and relaxing watching TV and movies, later this evening. I am just trying to get my sleep and get this body back into mommy mode so I can take care of my little angel.

So while I am not doing much today I thought I would go ahead and post a few pictures from our weekend day trip to Eureka Springs on Saturday when my best gal was here. We love this place. It's so beautiful! Here are a few pics, but I must add that she took most of these pictures. She is so good at photography, I just eat her up. She's the best!!!

We are all SICK. . .

Yesterday I got chills around 3:00 all of a sudden. It hit me like a ton of bricks! I couldn't get warm enough! My mom came over after she got off work to hold Avery and I took a nice warm bath, still not able to get warm. The night progressed and I felt even worse. Chad said he wasn't feeling well either. I new it was going to be a long night, and that it was! Avery woke up once every hour again. I have been really trying to put my hands on this for a week now. Knowing she is teething made me think it was just that. Never in my life did I know it could be this hard, running a fever and being shaky, while trying to also be up with the baby every hour. WOW! I feel like I hero today because I survived...

...Today Chad and I both went to the doctor because I swore I had the swine flu. I have been running a temp of 102, all night! So we both went. Turns out, it is just a virus, but I am very contagious so the doc said to get Avery out of the house! My mom is so sweet and took off 2 days from work to help us out! But, while we were at the doctor, mom took Avery to the doctor for us. I new I couldn't be in her doctor while running fever because I didn't want to get the sweet babies sick, so she took her. Come to find out, SHE HAS A VIRUS! The doc said her throat was SUPER red, which explains why she hasn't been sleeping this past week or wanting to drink her bottle! I just KNEW something was wrong.

Anyway, I am sad today because Avery won't be with us for the next couple of days, but we have to get better. I'm thankful I am going to be able to catch up on some much needed sleep. The past few days I have been on edge, not myself, extremely grouchy, moody, etc... PMS mixed with all of this doesn't help, HAHA! Anyway, hopefully we are on way to recovery because we have some big fun plans with a bunch of friends this weekend!

For now I am going to be eating a lot of:

Drinking a ton of this and water:

Watching all my TV shows I need to catch up on:

While cuddling on the couch with a blanket:

Take lots of nice relaxing warm baths with candles:

...And finally, disinfecting this house!!!


I hope your day is a heck of a lot better than ours has been!