Fun Swimsuit Giveaway!!

So any given year, bathing suit shopping is one of my least favorite things to do.  Very least favorite.  I mean Yuck Yuck Yuck!

This year, I have one maternity suit.  And I realize my pool and beach time will be greatly limited as Miss Molly will be monopolizing so much of my time! 

And I'm A-OK with that!

But I have wondered, what type of swimsuit will I find myself in later in the summer or next year and beyond?   Shabby Apple has a swimsuit line, and it is precious!

I mean, seriously, how precious!  I love this black ruffle suit...

This one, though, is hands down my favorite

What's more, thanks to Faith, I heard about Grosgrain Fabulous hosting a giveaway of one free suit!  How cool!  Be sure to check out the giveaway and Shabby Apple's precious website now!

A Letter to Ellie

Dear Eleanor Grace,


You are 18 months old today! Your Aunt B is crazy in love with you, and I cannot believe how quickly you’ve grown! Just last night, I got out the bassinette you laid in when you were a newborn to get ready for Baby Molly, and your mommy and I exchanged gushy text messages that went something like this:

Aunt B: Bassinette is in our room! I just emailed you a picture!

Your Mommy: Beautiful! It makes me tear up! I can’t believe it’s almost here!

Aunt B: Awe, I feel like it was just last week Ellie was in it!

Your Mommy: So do I! Our little girls are gonna have SO much fun together!

You may not completely understand it now, but you and Molly surely will have so much fun together over the years. She’ll be like a sister to you, I’m sure of it. And if you two are anything like your mommy and me, well. . . . . you’ll have a blast together throughout your life!

I oftentimes look at you and wonder how I could possibly love you more! Your little mind is constantly expanding, and you are so very curious about everything. Just this weekend, you spent some time with Aunt B and Uncle Tim. We were swinging away while Uncle Tim was working in the flower beds. You were quite interested in all the digging he was doing. I was trying my best to get a good picture of your cheesy grin you sometimes show. I asked you where your smile was, and the picture below shows you really were not interested in showing your big smile, but you obliged. I love how your eyes are glued to your Uncle Tim. You sure do love him!

You love to eat, too! I often say you get that from me and not your skinny mother! While you were here Sunday, you went straight to our cabinets where you know we keep snacks you can enjoy. I pulled out a pretzel rod, and you shook your head no and kept pointing. Problem? I gave you part of a pretzel rod. You? Wanted an entire rod, thankyouverymuch. And they’re big!

Your Lovie (that’s my mom!) and I are both constantly teaching you how to sound out our names. Who would’ve ever thought “B” would be hard? I make the sound over and over and over again. Most of the time you respond with “Ball!” Lovie has worked tirelessly to get you to say Lovie, starting with the “La” sound. That was all well and good until you recently pointed to your Aunt LaLa (Lovie’s best bud) and said her name big as day while we can’t get you to say our names for anything! And, of course, Aunt La La was pleased as punch!

Ellie Grace, your Uncle Tim and I love you so very much, and we pray God will constantly protect and guide you all the days of your life. So very thankful He entrusted you to your Mommy and Daddy and that we can be a small part of your precious, precious life.

Love you dearly,

Your Aunt B

An MIA Pregnant Woman and Her Emotions

So sorry I’ve been MIA…. Life is super crazy these days! And when I do sit down and begin to think about blogging, my mind is so full of emotions and thoughts that I can’t seem to get them organized in any sort of post that’ll be worth your time.


We’ve celebrated Molly’s upcoming arrival with showers, showers, showers galore! It’s been incredible, and Tim and I feel so blessed! Molly is one loved little girl already, and we are so very appreciative for every single thing that’s been given to her.

My mother helped me get her room finished by helping hang her pictures and wall decorations this last weekend. Below are some pictures!  We are not quite finished with the window in her room.  You'll see the precious roman shade my friend Amy made for the window; Tim's building friend is building a cornice board for us this week to hang over the top of the window.  Obviously the rod will come down.

The top of the chest of drawers

Molly's name over her crib

Molly's crib

Changing table

Window and corner decorations

While I’ve spent a good bit of time washing clothes, bibs, burp cloths, bedding, blankets and the like, Tim has spent a whole lot of time in our yard. He has built a pergola for our family’s swings ~ one for us and a baby swing for Molly! He’s currently working on planting two dozen plants in our back yard, and he’s laid some sod, trimmed bushes and done the basic maintenance work outside as well. To say we are both nesting is an understatement!

As for me, I’m feeling good, really. I definitely feel LARGE. And the heat has kicked in for real here (one digital sign in our town showed 100 Sunday afternoon), which only makes me feel LARGER. It helps when people ask me if I’m pregnant and then seem surprised when I tell them I have less than 5 weeks til my due date, too! I wanted to hug that girl’s neck as she bagged my groceries after she told me she could hardly tell I was pregnant! God love her precious heart…. Sure did make me smile, especially after I’d just been told the day before, “you sure are big!”

It’s not just being really big that’s making me feel oh-so-pregnant. It’s the hormones! They are out of control! One evening last week I cried while in line at Moe’s; we just so happened to go on a night where proceeds were going to benefit Joshua’s Wish, and I met Joshua’s mother who told me all about her precious son Joshua who battled a pediatric brain tumor and passed away at the age of four. I stood there holding my belly wondering how in the world this lady made it through that. She was telling us all about the radiation mask Joshua had to wear and how proceeds from that night at Moe’s would go to St. Jude to benefit other children facing brain tumors. And there I stood, holding my belly praying God will never, ever lead us into a Children’s Hospital. I had a hard time keeping my composure and ordering my meal without crying. And then last night, I cried while watching the Brooks & Dunn Farewell show. And I’m not a big Brooks & Dunn fan!?!?! At All! But someone sang one of their first hits from years back, and it reminded me of my Daddy. And no, my Daddy wasn’t a B&D fan either!?!?!?

These days are full of action, to-dos, and excitement! And I don’t wanna miss a thing!

Wednesday's Walk: So Long Insecurity

If you're like me and read lots of blogs of girls in the southeast, you've probably read your fair share of summaries from So Long Insecurity, the simulcast Beth Moore held a couple of weekends ago.

But I want to remember my weekend there, and since I'm certainly not nearly as popular as those other blog girls who've all posted precious pictures and their takes on the weekend, I want to remember the weekend for my own reasons.

Back in February one of my friends mentioned to me that she'd read on Kelly's blog about Beth Moore coming to Atlanta in April for a simulcast.  Amy asked if I was interested in going.  Beth Moore?  In person?  Yeah, I'm in! 

So Amy and I, along with our friend Meredith, bought our tickets and soon found ourselves planning out our weekend. 

And then, Miss Molly scared us all and had us thinking we may be having a baby earlier than expected.  I was put on bed rest and we tried to fiind someone to go with Amy and Meredith in my place.  They asked a few girls, I posted on facebook that I had a ticket to sell.  And we waited.

I knew of one lady who may be interested, so I messaged her, thinking she was already going and may have a friend who wanted to join her.  But she wasn't already going and didn't really want just one single ticket.

Tuesday comes, four days before the simulcast, and I was told by my doctor that I could resume life as normal.  I asked him specifically if he thought it would be okay for me to go to Atlanta for the simulcast.  He assured me I would be fine.

So, we decided I was in ~ again!  By this time, Amy and Meredith had planned and plotted and we had an agenda for our trip, let me tell you!  See, both of them sew and are very, very creative.  Meredith's also expecting her second little girl in August, so she and I both had nursery planning on our minds.  Those two plotted our trip up to Atlanta with various stops to fabric stores, Ballard Designs Backroom, and other shopping spots! 

Boy oh Boy did they mean business!  At 9:50pm on Friday night when we walked out of Target, silly me thought we were going to our car to finally ~ finally! ~ get to our hotel.  Amy starts pushing me the other way, only to tell me we're running in Old Navy first!  This pregnant woman was TIRED!  And Old Navy was closed!  So, we found our way to our hotel around 10 that night.

Saturday morning we woke up, grabbed some breakfast and made our way to Woodstock First Baptist Church for So Long Insecurity! 

Here we are on the little trolley taking us to the building. . .

Meredith, B, and Amy

And here we are with Kelly!  We waited in line to meet her like crazy fans!  And she was sooooooo patient, gracious, kind and humble.  Very humble.

What a great day is was filled with worship, digging into the Word, and being with precious friends!  I'll cherish our heart to hearts and reflections on Beth's teachings for years to come, girls!

Thank you, God, for precious friends!!

If you want to participate in Wednesday's Walk, jump on over to Jenilee's blog now!

Titus 2 Tuesday: Beth Moore

It's baaack!  Titus 2 Tuesday gives us the opportunity to honor women in our lives who have taught us Biblical principals and truths.  If you'd like to participate, simply link up below!

She is full of knowledge and truths.  She's no doubt a living vessel of the Father's.  And she's so precious!  Beth Moore.  I simply love her!  And Saturday, I went with two precious friends to see Beth Moore's So Long Insecurity Simulcast.  We were at Woodstock First Baptist church, and while we were there, on the same campus as Beth, we were in the overflow room. 

But that was okay.  Because Beth came to visit during the lunch break!  And we were tickled!  She and her daughter Melissa did a little question and answer session while there, so it was very real and it seemed we got a small glimpse of the real Beth. 

There's Beth!!

Beth spoke on her book, So Long Insecurity, and while the teaching she gave regarding being a SECURE woman in Christ, what really stuck with me was an answer to a question raised in her brief Question and Answer session during lunch.

A lady asked what was one piece of advice Beth would give to those of us who are raising girls in this world.  Obviously, I quickly pulled out my notebook and pen to write down just what Beth had to say. 

She quickly referred to Deuteronomy 6:5 - 9

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

For when we as parents Love the Lord with all of our being, when we impress God's commandments upon our hearts and that of our children, when we talk about them in our homes, when we tie them on our hands and foreheads, it's very much a ripple effect.  And then, everything we do, including raising our children, is done with the Love of the Lord our God.

On our way home, we talked about this.  And one of my friends said she had heard it said before that it's like throwing a stone into water and watching the ripples of the water.  This one command, to Love the Lord our God with all of our being, will ripple over into every area of our hearts and lives, including raising our children.

Now, I realize I am just beginning this journey of parenthood.  But I am already so thankful to have this little nugget of truth.  That I may bind it on my heart and be a true woman of God for my precious Molly.

Thank you, Lord, for Beth Moore.  Thank you for the incredible testimony she is!

Link up and tell us about a women who's touched your heart and life!

Molly's Second Shower

Thursday afternoon of last week, my mother's teacher friends threw a shower for Molly!  It was just awesome, too!  I don't yet have the pictures from the shower saved to my computer, but I do have pictures of the goodies!!!

We got two diaper bags, both of which I really wanted!  The one on the left will be her church bag; you know, the smaller, dressier one we'll use when we go to church!  Jenn, Brian and Ellie gave us that bag!  The right one I have named the bag of many colors, and I LOVE IT!  It was from the hostesses and was exactly what we'd picked out!  We also got a bath tub and smart shopper ~ both of which I know we'll use A LOT!

Molly got books and toys, too!  See the popper?  Couldn't be more perfect!  I don't really remember if I had one or not, but Tim definitely remembers his grandfather giving one to him and one to his little brother once.  Tim says he remembers his granddaddy laughing so hard as they pushed their poppers all throughout the house.  Strangely, though, both poppers "disappeared" soon....

See the diaper cake?  One of the hostesses made it, and it's so cute!  We also received tons of fun, cute clothes!!

more clothes, a monogrammed pillow from Molly's Lovie (that's my mom!)

Yes, more clothes and a precious little sign with an M in it.  The square pillow there was given to us at our first shower.

It's official.  Molly is one loved little girl!  And she will also be one of the best dressed babies around!  I am pretty sure we'll find ourselves having our own little fashion shows and photo shoots just so we can make sure that we get to wear all these precious things! 

My mother teaches with some precious, loving, giving women.  We are so very blessed by so many of them, and we love them dearly!  Thank you so much, precious ladies!  Thank you!

Am I High Maintenance?

Do you read Big Mama's blog?  You should.  She is hysterical!  Today's post is a cute story about her daughter, Caroline, playing in the bath tub, demanding her attention and finally admitting, "Some people tell me I'm high maintenance.  And you know what? ... They're totally right." 

Caroline?  Is six.  Maybe seven.

I laughed out loud while reading it!  It reminded me of the time Tim and I were driving somewhere, in the middle of a conversation.  I can't remember exactly what we were talking about, but it definitely had to do wtih women being high maintenance.

Me:  "I'm so not high maintenance."

Silence.

Me:  "Am I high maintenance?"

Silence.

Me:  "Tim!  AM I HIGH MAINTENANCE?"

He just laughed. At least he was smart enough not to answer right away with a heartily ~ and very much deserved ~ yes, yes you are!

He said it best when he finally got up the courage to respond.  It's not that I shop at only the finest stores, only wanting the nicest of things.  Heck, I buy my make up from Wal Mart and gush over a good pair of shoes or top found there as well!  I don't demand only the best of the best.  I don't expect to be treated like a princess. 

But I am high maintenance.  In that I am unpredictable at times.  One minute, I'm very self sufficient and don't want him to help me do anything.  The next minute, I may get a little huffy because he wasn't right there to help me move the chair or lift the ottoman or whatever it may be.  But I still want him to open the door for me. Always. (Side note:  he's the only man I ever dated who opens the door for me.  And I love it.  It doesn't matter if we're going to the gym at 6am or going on a date night.  Tim always opens my car door for me.  And. I. Love. It.)

Today, I may have to have ketchup on my fries.  Have to have ketchup.  Tomorrow?  Ketchup will likely gross me out.

And here we are, me on bed rest, learning to rely on Tim for everything.  I'll admit he's caught me messing around in the kitchen and pulling clothes out of the dryer once or twice.  And yes, he's asked me a couple of times quite a few times, "should you be doing that?"

And for once, I've not been high maintenance.  I hear him out and go sit back down where I should've been in the first place.

So, I want to know:  are you high maintenance?  Tell me about it!