PICTURE overload- RECAP!

SO much has been going on lately. I have been keeping myself super busy & away from the computer. I have to say it's been nice. I hate getting consumed with this everyday & loosing my focus on day to day "life"! With that, I am SO sorry for the enourmous break, but I want to thank you all for your sweet comments. All is wonderful with us, just livin' this busy fun-filled life & preparing for Avery's Birthday which is in 12 days! UNBELIEVABLE!

Okay so here are TONS of updates & pictures! My family has been deseperately wondering where I have been & want updates, ASAP! So here is my life the past week!

Between friends having babies, me teaching classes a ton, & being super busy with my little gal- I decided it was time to throw a girls night in the mix!













So, what has Avery been up to?

Ave has been enjoying being a big girl & eating all kinds of goodies- and making huge messes of course too! This past week she wasn't feeling well so we went to the doctor & found out she has allergies & a slight ear infection. We have been treating it with allegra & she seems to be doing much better. I had a long talk with the doctor on introducing her all kinds of foods... maybe this was a big mistake? BYEBYE baby food, hello big girl!







My girlfriend Kim turned 30 this past week! We enjoyed a nice dinner date out of town at this little quaint restaurant with some of her closest friends. It was just perfect!











Another thing keeping me super busy lately is preparing for my big Garage Sale! SUCCESS! I made some good money & sold some junk. I needed to clean out this house! We all had a blast. My 2 sister in law's & friend Alyssa all did the sale together. The kids had a lemonade stand & us adults had fun laughing & enjoying the morning/afternoon!

This guy was SO SO SO nice & made us girls laugh! He was my best customer & was excited to have his picture made with one of the items he bought. I can't wait to go visit him at his wing place! He promised us some free wings!

Mamee watched the babies all day for us Mommies!



I almost sold this little guy in the garage sale. He is getting a little out of hand lately. Maybe because he is jealous of Avery? He barks at everything. He is my little guard dog & freaks when he see's or hears the slightest noise. People walking their dogs run from him because he will growl & scare them off. He is small but can be mean. Don't let the cute little "in the bag" picture fool you. I couldn't find him & had to snap a picture. He curled up in this bag & it made me smile. I didn't sale him, but boy I want to some days.


So I am a little camera happy lately. I won't lie! I just love my new camera & can't stop this addiction! My Avery is turning 1 in 12 days.. I can't stop snapping pictures before she officially turns ONE!











We have really enjoyed the park here lately too! We love walking, getting outside, & smelling the fresh air. Being with my husband & Avery is medicine for this soul!









And speaking of pictures, I am by no means into "photography" & would never have the patience to do it for a living, but LOVE LOVE LOVE taking pictures on my new camera; but only for FUN! These are a few pictures I have taken here recently! I think capturing the most simple things turn out to be beautiful!








I hope each of you are doing very well. Thanks again for stopping by & checking in. I promise to keep you posted on some fun new changes going on!!!!!

"MIA"

Hi Bloggy Friends!

I wanted to give you a quick update! I have been receiving many e-mails, comments, & friend requests via FB etc on my "Missing in Action" from the blogger world. Please know I have read every note & I appreciate it but there are just too many to respond & accept. =) I appologize for this sudden action & assure you all is fine. I wanted my readers to know that I am not going to be leaving for good, promise! Im working out some specific details & will be back with any information that may change or even how I plan to move forward as a blogger.

Hugs to you all. Everything is wonderful & hopefully I will have some great updates for you in the near future!

XO!

Grayson Konner has arrived...

I just did a post on Grayson arriving tonight & by the time I posted it, he actually arrived! I had already showered, taken my makeup off & was ready for bed. I jumped up, re-applied everything, threw on some clothes, picked up my sister in law & FLEW to the hospital! We just got home from the hospital & it's midnight & I can't sleep because I am so excited & happy for my dear friends!

Grayson is just absolutely PERFECT. Everything about him is breathtaking! He has the most beautiful shaped face, & the cutest little body. He is 6 lbs & 10 oz. He looks like both Mommy & Daddy. The proud parents are doing wonderful, feeling great, & excited! Melissa did great & was in labor for about 35 minutes. Grayson was born around 9:50pm! I am so glad I was able to be there for Melissa tonight & welcome the arrival of her beautiful son. WOW, God is good! Here are a few pictures, we will get some more tomorrow.

Grayson, you are almost here!!!

This morning I received a phone call from our friends stating that they were checked into the hospital & were beginning the early stages of labor! I was so excited I could hardly stand it. We have been waiting for this day for almost a year now & for this blessing to arrive. Grayson is a very loved & wanted little boy. It's hard to believe that in a few short hours he will be here. I just get chills thinking about it. While at the hospital I watched his little heart monitor & could hear his heart beat. I was immediately reminded of my birth with Avery. Then I looked out the window while we were in the room & just thanked God for this blessing to the Stafford's. We have waited so long for this moment. I so vividly remember my husband & I holding each other one night when Avery was just a new born, laying in bed holding hands praying for God to provide for them. I wanted her to so badly to have what I was experiencing & knew that one day it would happen. I still remember the day they told us they were expecting & they completely caught me off guard. God truly answers prayers. Jermiah 29:11 so clearly states that He knows the plans He has for us, for a future of hope. God says that we only need the faith of a tiny little mustard seed! 10 months later this beautiful girl applied all of that to her life & look at where she is!

Melissa is doing great! She is glowing as always & very calm. She was resting when I made it up to the hospital today. She already had some pretty gifts & some beautiful flowers from her adorably sweet hubby! As of now her water is broke & she has an epidural & they think he will arrive before too long. I got a text from her saying she was feeling great! I don't think I will be sleeping much tonight!

While we were at the hospital we waited for a bit while they were checking her so I captured a few pictures of Avery playing on the fun colorful wall. She had a blast! We all went to dinner at Chillis afterwards & she enjoyed chowing down on her mashed potatoes!

Weekends fly by... WHY?

Weekends seem to FLY by. . .

Over the weekend Chad & I went to a Birthday Party for some friends of ours. Betsy turned 30! Her best friend Robyn who is also my cousin through marriage, threw the party for her. It was just absolutely precious. Every little detail was spot on. We have had a lot of rain in our area the past week, so the party was moved indoors to a hotel. It was supposed to be at an older home downtown Bentonville & the setting was to be like a shabby chic picnic! You could still capture the feeling of it, even in a hotel. I loved all of the detail. The tables were decorated with old vase, we drank out of mason jars, & even had our own napkins that were each different at each setting. Stinkin' CUTE!

They had so many fun games set up for the kids, pictionary for the adults where we all had to draw something pertaining to the BDAY girls life, & then the party ended up with desert, (all kinds of yummy pies), & root beer floats. Seriously, it couldn't have been more precious! Betsy had a great Birthday with friends!



















Sunday was very relaxing for me. I needed some "ME" time so Chad's parents offered to watch Ave the entire day. He went golfing & enjoyed guy time & I enjoyed spending time alone taking a nice long drive, going to Wal-mart, & cleaning. I sometimes get so busy watching Ave all throughout the week that I just stop taking moments for me & breathing. Doesn't mean I love her less, of course not! I just needed some time to think, relax, & be alone. Thank goodness for it because I am refreshed & ready to take on the week with my baby girl! I don't get "personal" days... & by gosh, I think I deserved one! ;)

Sunday night we had a BBQ with the Anderson's & my brother & sister in law at our house! Very last minute so we all threw things we had in the cabinet together & made a night of it! We all enjoyed eating pizza & grilling turkey burgers. We had pasta salad, & chips & dip as sides! It was simple, easy, & fun!











I am so ready for this week! Invites for Ave's party are going out, I have a few crafts to finish up, I have a garage sale to get ready for, & 3 appts around town! Oh, & I am hoping baby Grayson arrives. My dear friend Melissa is due any second & I am waiting patiently for the phone call to head to the hospital & sit!!! ;) I am dying to meet this little man!

I don't want to give too much away until they are out, but here is a sneak at her invitations! I just loved them & came up with the design & had my favorite shop print them.