Midweek Confessions

Today I am linking up with "E, Myself, and I" and just sharing a little of the randomness going on over in our Hawk's Nest...

- I have realized that so far this week I have worn nothing but yoga pants... and scrubs today at work in the ER... but just yoga pants. Welcome to 35 weeks prego :)

- Does anyone else use reusable grocery bags? Well I love them because they are handy and sturdy and environmentally friendly and all that jazz, but just let me tell you that when I take 4 bags into the store and the ignorant bag boy thinks that he is being helpful by placing all of my groceries into only two bags that weigh about a ton each full of milk and juice and 20 some cans of tomatoes or whatever else I want to scream at him "I brought in 4 bags for a reason, and because as you can obviously tell I am 8 months pregnant and can't lift that into my car you idiot!" So far I have refrained but each time it happens I get closer and closer to unleashing a little hormone wrath or simply asking him to re-bag my groceries {that would probably be more friendly}

- I am unnaturally excited to be getting our new washer and dryer installed tomorrow! Its just the little things like worrying about the dryer overheating and shutting itself off or the old inherited washing machine with a short in it stopping at the same spot every cycle and then having to remember to reset the dial mid cycle so our clothes don't soak in soapy water for hours that I am really going to miss.. ha!

- I was told today that I am mastering the pregnancy "waddle." Perfect.

- I am currently drinking a glass of chocolate milk in bed {possibly a correlation between this a the pregnancy waddle?} and sweet Bella girl is curled up between my feet. Perfect ending to a busy day!

Happy Leap Day!

super creative baby gift idea

My college roommate and dear friend Leigha gave us the neatest baby gift last weekend.... 

They are "Baby Fruit Parfaits" - SO cute and SO stinkin' creative! 

Look closely.... there are Baby washcloths on the bottom, diapers, super cute onesies, more diapers and then baby socks for a cherry on top! 

Isn't Leigha talented! Its an awesome change from the traditional diaper cake. They were simply too cute to not share :) 

Thanks Leigha!

Our Florida Trip & 33 Week Baby Belly!

Jay and I were so blessed to get to go to Florida last week. Our trip started with the annual Chick-fil-A seminar in Orlando for Operators and their spouses and then we took a couple of extra days for a mini "baby moon" and traveled to St. Augustine & Amelia Island. It was so very nice to be away for a week and for some warm weather in the middle of February! I felt great the whole time which was awesome because we were a tiny bit worried that traveling at 33 weeks pregnant would end up not being the best idea... but everything was easy-peasy and I am still feeling pretty good! Sleeping soundly through the whole night is really my only complaint... Just God's way of preparing me for some more sleepless nights ahead :)

First of all our Chick-fil-A seminar was amazing as always. Love that company! We got to hear Marcus Buckingham on living in your strengths {it was really neat because he talked a lot about marriage too!} and Kay Warren (Rick Warren's wife) spoke about Choosing Joy and it challenged me a ton. I'll probably have to share more about that another day.... We also tried the new Chick-fil-A Brownies & Cookies coming to a Chick-fil-A near you in a couple weeks... all I have to say is great ready because they are to delicious! It was also so great to see lots of Chick-fil-A friends and family and to hear that Chick-fil-A as a company is COMPLETELY DEBT FREE! It was a party when they announced that and really quite an accomplishment! So proud to be a part of a company that is truly solid financially and has taken steps to be wise throughout its history.

okay, I could go on and on, but enough about all that... Here are a few pictures from our trip...

We spent an afternoon at Sea World while in Orlando... love those dolphin and Shamu! 

 Beach in St. Augustine

Whoa - look at that 33 week Belly! Jay snuck this one while trying to set up the self-timer on our camera

 Here is another of the 33 week Baby Belly {its no longer a bump because it feels HUGE so now it has become "The Baby Belly"}

 It was so peaceful and relaxing and we actually saw dolphins out swimming but couldn't quite capture them on camera. 

So beautiful!

 Love him incredibly much :)

Baby Girl's first trip to the beach... her next will be quite a bit more eventful I am sure! 

Mother - Son Date Knight

Hey Y'all! We are back from our little Florida vacation and enjoying a not too hectic week in good old Waynesboro {and whats left of the snow - so pretty... now come on spring I am ready for you!}

About a week and a half ago we had our first ever Mother - Son Date "Knight" at Chick-fil-A. It was so much fun! We have had Daddy-Daughter Date Nights in the past and it was long over due for the Mamas and the boys to have a special night of their own.

I had a blast making lots of "Knight" theme decorations and took full advantage of breaking in the sewing machine my sweet Mama gave me for Christmas. Here are a few photos of the decor and the evening...

 Castle Walls

 Conversation Starters for Moms & Sons to spend time talking - the whole point of a date night huh? love them!

We had a IceDream Sundae Bar complete with a Lego Castle of course

 I made Bunting! It was so easy and so simple and I am in love. Pretty sure Baby Girl will have some bunting in her room at some point. Its a great, easy, quick project for left-over scraps of fabric

 My sewing machine and I began a love - hate relationship with burlap during this party planning process. I made 20 of these numbered burlap banners and it took awhile... 

 I feel like they turned out exactly like I wanted them to, and definitely gave a more rustic castle feel to our Chick-fil-A dining room, but it was quite an undertaking for this beginner sewer. 

If you ever come across a need to barrow 20 burlap castle banners, I am your girl, because I am holding on to these babies for a long, long time :)

Our Chick-fil-A Servers... They are so terrific and made the whole "knight" a huge success! Love them! 

We had a balloon twister making all kinda of neat {safe} swords and shields. They were a huge hit!

Bethany keeping everyone organized!

 A few Mamas and their sons... Its so, so wonderful that we get to plan these kind of special Chick-fil-A events. I feel blessed to be part of a company that cares so much about helping people slow down and take advantage of the important things in this crazy busy life!

Prayers for you Baby Girl: "I don't want you to be good"

I have always admired and respected Lysa TerKeurst of Proverbs 31 ministries. I love her blog and her heart for people. She is also married to a Chick-fil-A Operator in Charlotte, NC. I have followed her blog for several years and am continually encouraged by her wisdom and honesty.

A couple of days ago I came across her post about not wanting to raise a good child. I also saw it on my friend Meagan's blog. I read this post several times and have read it out loud to Jay and just can't seem to get it off my heart. So if you are a Mama, or a Mama to be like me, or if you think you ever want to be a Mama read this and let me know what you think.

Baby Girl...

My prayer for you these past couple of days is that you are not a "good" child in the world's eyes or even in your mama's eyes. I want you to be a child of your heavenly Father. I want you to be great in His Holy and Perfect eyes, and I want you to accomplish amazing things for His Kingdom, and I want you to figure out what that looks like for your life in His timing.

My prayer for myself is that as your Mama I let you be a naked fountain jumping kiddo. Not that I am encouraging such exact behavior, but I want you to be independent and to explore and to love the journey of life. Lord give me the grace to laugh at such experiences and to continue to teach me what being a humble Mama looks like

I am pretty confident, that based on the fact that your sweet daddy was most definitely a Naked Fountain Jumping kind of kid, that you will most likely give this neat and tiddy, and organization loving mama a run for her money. And I pray that God gives me the grace to remember that He is in control and not me. That he has plans for your life that I don't know about, and that He will make you Great. I will simply be blessed to be your Mom and strive to teach you what it means to daily follow Him.

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12

Walk in the Light precious Baby Girl. Embrace the abundance. Enjoy the journey and adventure of life.

Love, your Mama

Y'all also check out this cute little girl and her Birthday Challenge. What a neat little girl... I bet she was a Naked Fountain Jumping toddler too :) It makes my heart smile! 

Happy Weekend friends!