my cup runneth over.

happy new year!

2012-01-01T19:30:00.003-06:00

Boy, am I excited about 2012! I'm not sure why, but I just am. I am looking at this new year as a new opportunity and a fresh start. As Oprah says, it's another year to get it right.

I didn't make any New Year resolutions because I have NEVER been able to stick to them and they create more stress than I need right now. I am, however, committed to doing a few things this year or the next, or however long it takes me.

I was inspired by a friend of mine who posted that he read the Bible from cover to cover in 18 months. I want to do that. I found a calendar online that breaks it down so that you can read it in a year. I am not going to put that much pressure on myself - but I am going to do it, no matter how long it takes me. If you're interested in such a thing, you can find a calendar here. It lists the scriptures in chronological order, which I think is very cool (plus I like things linear. I blame my OCD). I just want to read it in the order in which it happened. I'm pretty sure it will be a great story ;)

Of course, I want to lose weight and de-clutter my house and be a better wife and mom and do volunteer work and make a difference and etc. etc. I always want to do those things. But I saw on our church's Facebook page to wait until today's message before committing to a resolution. So, I did. And I'm glad I did. Our pastor asked us to ask God what ONE THING He wants to do in our lives. Since we always make a laundry list of all the things we want to do in the new year and we crap out on almost all of them by Valentine's Day, I thought this was a fresh perspective.

He challenged us to ask ourselves the following questions:

1. What ONE thing do I desire from God? (Whoa, I have like, ten things).

2. What ONE thing am I missing?

3. What ONE thing do I need to let go?

4. What ONE promise do I need to hold onto?

In other words, if God was to tell you that He would do anything for you this year, what would it be?

Holy moly. Talk about challenging!

I don't have the answer to that first question yet. I am needing to take a few days to decide which of the many things I desire is the most important/most immediate. Whatever that is will be the only "resolution" I make this year. I would rather grow in ONE area and change my life in ONE way than commit to a thousand, superficial things that never pan out. Agreed?

I pray you all (whoever you are) have a wonderful and blessed 2012. Here's to good things to come!

just some inspiration for your tuesday.

2011-12-27T21:03:00.003-06:00

I found this on pinterest.com. And I'm pretty sure I squishy-heart love it:

People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them, anyway.

hello, world.

2011-12-26T19:53:00.002-06:00

So, yeah. It's been like, two years since I last blogged. Notice the change in the design? I paid a designer to make this blog all pretty-like and I do believe she did a great job...then, I go two years without blogging a gosh darn thing. Lame.

I am *hoping* that my blogging days will soon return because just today, I bought a wireless keyboard for my iPad2. Ever since I got this iPad2 for Mother's Day, I have spent zero to very little time on my actual iMac desktop computer. I know, I know. #FirstWorldProblems. But because the iPad is so easy to access from anywhere, I just havent had the need to get on the big computer.

Blogging on the iPad wasn't easy. I've gotten used to typing on it now, but I don't ENJOY it. Enter the wireless keyboard. This thing is awesome! I am sitting in the living room, on my couch, with my iPad docked on the couch arm, while I lay back and type, type, type away. Yay!

On a different note, I hope everyone's Christmas was magical and wonderful. Mine certainly was am I am gently fading into the post-Christmas depression I always siffer about this time of year. I hear they make a seasonal anti-depressant for the winter and if you know a guy who deals them, I'd like his pager number...

So the holiday has come and gone and now we settle in for the longest three months of the year. Winter. Blah.

I guess that's all for now. I just wanted an excuse to use my new keyboard. I know this post was pretty pathetic.

Here's hoping for more! ;)

i did it!!!

2011-10-13T20:23:00.004-05:00

It took me ten months to gain 50 pounds. Yes, FIFTY!!! And it took me ten months to lose it.

As of this morning, I am officially my pre-pregnancy weight!

And this is how seeing that number made me feel, grey sweatpants and all!

I know I sound like I'm tooting my own horn but, well, I am.

It was no easy feat. I had to restrict calories and workout. I know, wild concept, huh? But it was soooooo worth it! Seeing that number put a little skip in my step today and made me literally do a fist pump in the bathroom.

My goal, or comfortable weight, is still ten pounds away. I can do it. I know I can. If I can lose 50 pounds, I can lose 10 more.

It's not about being hot (although that is nice, not going to lie), but more about feeling like me again. Carrying around this extra baggage brings me down. I don't feel like myself. It causes me not to be able to wear some of my favorite outfits and jeans. I just want to feel confident again, you know? Today is definitely a step in the right direction.

Fist pump!

This is what an extra 50 pounds on yours truly looks like...yikes!

beautifulness.

2011-10-12T22:22:00.001-05:00

Lyrics to "After the Storm" by Mumford and Sons:

And after the storm,
I run and run as the rains come
And I look up, I look up,
on my knees and out of luck,
I look up.

Night has always pushed up day
You must know life to see decay
But I won't rot, I won't rot
Not this mind and not this heart,
I won't rot.

And I took you by the hand
And we stood tall,
And remembered our own land,
What we lived for.

And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more
tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your
fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.

And now I cling to what I knew
I saw exactly what was true
But oh no more.
That's why I hold,
That's why I hold with all I have.
That's why I hold.

I will die alone and be left there.
Well I guess I'll just go home,
Oh God knows where.
Because death is just so full and man so small.
Well I'm scared of what's behind and what's before.

And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more
tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your
fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.

And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more
tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your
fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.

remember when i used to blog?

2011-09-14T21:14:00.003-05:00

Yeah, me too. And it was glorious.

I have a few minutes, so I'll update bullet-style.

I absolutely love my new job. I've never really been able to say I loved a job before, except for when I waited tables (I know, what?!) and worked at the coffee shop. I really, really, really love this job and the people in my office. We have fun, but work hard. I am designing magazine layouts, taking photos, doing interviews, updating all our social media, and truly feel like I am in my element. It doesn't feel like work most days. What a blessing! The best part about it (and what I've never experienced in any other "real" job) is personal autonomy. They trust me with things. I get to spearhead projects. I get to dream big and they actually listen to my ideas and encourage me to press on. I am actually able to set new things into motion. It feels so good!!
Vivian is growing like crazy. She has a third tooth and is starting to not want as much baby food anymore, as she is CRAZY about "big people" food. The girl can put a hurting on some Ritz crackers, goldfish crackers, and cheese puffs. It's adorable.
Husband continues to be consumed with his current course. Last night, he got home at 3am. The night before? Midnight. It's crazy, but I've gotten into a routine and most days it's not unbearable. I will be glad when it's over, though. Five days in Vegas to celebrate? Yes, please!
I don't blog as much anymore because I feel like anything I have to say is boring. Work. Baby. Husband. That's all I got these days.
I lie. We do go out and do fun things here and again, when we can. Last weekend, we went and biked the river trail, which was beautiful and FUN! The wind was in my face (in a good way) and I felt like a kid again. I even got a little sun on my shoulders and face and just felt overall healthy and happy.
But other than THAT, there's not too much of interest going on these days.
I need to change that.
Do you think I'd blog more if I paid someone to snazzy up this place? I am thinking about hiring someone to make my blog pretty again. But would that just be a big waste of money? Or motivation?
It's time to wash the dishes and hit the hay.
Riveting, I tell ya.

lessons, lately.

2011-08-22T21:56:00.004-05:00

On my last day as a housewife/SAHM a few weeks ago, I felt the Lord speak into my heart to make a home-cooked meal for my Husband and his six other classmates who often have no time during the day to eat, let alone eat anything healthy or homemade. The course they are in keeps them gone all day and most of the night and food is the last thing on their minds.

So, I felt the prodding. And I followed through. For once.

I really didn't want to make them dinner, necessarily. It was a lot of work on my LAST DAY as a lady of leisure. But I listened because I just felt compelled to. I brought green beans, pecan and cornflake-crusted chicken, and jalapeño cornbread. I didn't stick around to see their reaction because in that moment, that just would have felt weird. I told Husband to bring home the dinnerware and spoons and then I left. He then called the rest of the guys to the meeting room where they ate their dinner while taking a much-deserved break from the grind.

When I got in my car to drive home, I was beaming. It was such a good feeling. Not that cooking dinner for seven men is like, the most amazing thing anyone can do, but it was more that I actually listened and followed through. It felt so nice to do something kind for someone else. It was then that I asked to hear Him even more. That He would speak more things like that into my heart. That my ears would be tuned to Him and his leading. Boy, does He deliver!

A few days ago, I was driving around base dropping off marketing materials to various facilities. I was almost done with my "route." In fact, I just had one more stop to make. I was hot and quite irritable and was hoping that no one would be in next office. That I would be able to simply leave the poster on a desk or slide it under the door. Didn't happen. I pulled up and was greeted by a very zealous, overly-eager airman who asked me if he could help me. I asked him to please hang up the poster in the meeting room. He said he would be happy to and asked if there were any more marketing materials to distribute in the dorms. I said my supervisor had sent an email to so-and-so about 400 flyers but we hadn't got confirmation to proceed, blah blah. He said he wasn't So-And-So, but that I could email him next time and he would see to it that they get distributed. Then, he handed me his business card. Apparently, he was the dorm manager. I was so annoyed at his gusto. When I saw the card, I thought: "What a dork. Like, seriously? You need a business card to indicate that you're a dorm manager?" I smiled and thanked him for being so helpful and then walked back to the van. Before I even took three steps, a message rang in my ears so loudly that I stopped walking and repented right then and there for my terrible attitude. The message? "You stop it right now. This is the first time he has ever felt important."

Even now, days later, it still brings tears to my eyes that I was so judgmental. But I am THANKFUL that I was able to hear such an important lesson. I asked to hear Him. That never meant that I would hear only good things :)

Today my sweet baby girl had to go to the doctor because she has contracted pink eye :( I had to go back to work, but I felt wretched leaving her when her eyes looked so bad. She was acting fine, of course, but it just looked awful. I picked her up as soon as I could and was pretty disappointed with what I saw. She was fussy before she knew I was watching (she didn't get a good nap today) and her eyes hadn't been cleaned and her nose was running. Nothing irritates me more than a messy baby. Babies are human beings and need to be treated with dignity. What adult would want to go around all day with snot coming out of his nose and food caked on her cheeks? I am a big stickler for clean children and it just really bothered me that she was so filthy :(

I brought her home and promised her extra snuggles and love tonight. It had been a rough day for both of us. After dinner, I gave her a good, long bath and wiped her beautiful, blue eyes with a warm washcloth until they were all clean. I put the antibiotics in her eyes (which she hated), used the aspirator for her drainage (more fussing), and applied the special medicine for diaper rash that we got from the children's hospital when she had a horrible stomach bug when she was 6 months old (more and more fussing). I put lotion on her skin and brushed her hair. I put extra-clean-just-came-out-of-the-dryer-warm pajamas and changed her sheets and dusted her crib. I wanted everything to be perfect for my baby tonight.

I turned on her lullaby machine and snuggled her up in her sleep sack. I turned off the lights and held her close in the glider as I gave her her "night cap" bottle, as I do every night. As we rocked and she had her bottle, all the while mesmerized with the pretty lights on the ceiling, I told her, "You know, I do these things to make you better. Those eyedrops aren't fun and I know you don't like them, but they're going to make your eyes pretty again. They won't hurt anymore and won't be yucky. I know you get mad at me sometimes, but I do things like use the aspirator so that you can breathe better at night time. Mama's never going to hurt you. Everything I am doing is because I love you and want you to get better."

Do you see where this is going?

I held her close and breathed in her sweet, baby smell. As she was drifting off to sleep in my arms, my eyes welled up with tears for two reasons. One, because I absolutely cannot stand my baby being sick and want to fix her immediately, but know that I can't. And two, because at that very moment I heard: "You see how you feel about her right now? That's just a drop in the bucket of what I feel for you, Cassandra..."

If you ask to hear Him, He is quick to answer. And it is revolutionary.

vivian blogs for the first time.

2011-08-13T18:26:00.004-05:00

Deep thoughts by Vivian:

milk,, [//???????????????????????????????????? ???????????

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????P

?::::::::yby g b jjjjj m ygyygughvß´stvftbgyvff6

Clearly, she sees life just like I do.

(I laughed so hard when she typed all those questions marks).

j-o-b!

2011-08-02T20:50:00.001-05:00

I start my new job tomorrow! I should be readying an outfit, taking a shower, or doing something much more productive than blogging, but I'm excited and wanted to say that I start my new job tomorrow.

The End :)

someone please show up at my front door with cupcakes!

2011-07-29T15:15:00.002-05:00

I am so Natalie Portman right now. Ugggggh.

day one of daycare.

2011-07-25T22:16:00.003-05:00

I don't really want to write about the details of my kid's daycare, the staff, the toys, etc. Because I'm tired and that's boring.

I just want to write something out so I don't forget the moment.

I wasn't emotional when I left Vivian this morning. I had her on my mind all day, of course, but I wasn't sad or scared that something would happen to her. I am thankful we started a Mother's Day Out program when she was 3 months old to help me with that anxiety. I wanted her to have a good day and to be happy when I picked her up. I wanted her to be clean, rested, and have a full belly. I dealt with a little guilt here and there, the little devil on my back making agreements with me about leaving her, blah blah blah. But I didn't cry...

Until I picked her up.

I pulled into the parking lot around 4:30pm. Moms and Dads were getting out of their vehicles everywhere I looked. Most of them were wearing military uniforms. One woman in her blues because it's Monday, one Daddy in his BDUs. One mama pulling on her flight cap because rules regulate that she wears it when she's outdoors. It hit me then that we parents, all of us, no matter who you are, are all doing the best we can. It matters not if your child is in daycare, if he stays home with you all day, if she has a nanny, if she stays with family, if he goes to work with you, if she goes to daycare part-time. It doesn't matter because we all love our children. And you know what? They'll all be okay.

A mama and her son were walking out of the child care center while I was walking in. He was holding her hand. They were silent until he said, "I had a fun day at school today, Mommy!" She smiled at him and said, "I'm so glad!" It was reassuring!

It just made me happy to see that we all live different lifestyles. And that's OKAY. The guilt I wrestle with for being gone from my child for eight hours a day is nothing compared to how a military mama must feel when she gets orders announcing that she'll be deploying to Afghanistan for 6 months.

All of us are just doing the best we can. And no one has the right to tell us, or make us feel, any different.

going back to work.

2011-07-19T21:53:00.004-05:00

I mentioned several weeks ago that I had a job interview the following day.

Well, I GOT THE JOB!

Since then, I have been doing paperwork and getting things in line for this new chapter in my life. Yes, I want to work. No, I don't have to work.

*Cue my defending wanting to work while having a child*

I like to work. I like to make money. I love my child. I love my child more than I love money. BUT, this staying home everyday is driving me crazy. SHE is not driving me crazy; staying HOME is driving me crazy. I tried working part-time, but all I could find is weekend work. I did that for about 4 months (did I even tell you about that gig?), but that soon ran its course. The weekends are the ONLY time I see my husband and it just wasn't worth it. Moving on, the job is in marketing, a field that I have been wanting to break into for quite some time. The job is also NOT 45 minutes away from home (i.e. there is no commute). The job is five minutes away from the best day care in our area. The job is too perfect to pass up.

I know it will be hard, especially at first. But I think once we get in our groove, things will work out fine. I am worried about how I'm going to be able to do it all, though. I'll not only be a working mom, but I'll be a working mom who is also a military spouse. Pretty much the hardest combo, ever. Ok, being a single mom is probably much harder, for sure. But with the program that Husband is currently involved in, I sort of feel like a single mom already :( He hasn't seen our kid in two days. He gets home right as I'm putting her in her crib (not by choice, of course). I know, waaa waa, but it sucks. Single moms, you have my utmost respect. Wow, that was a tangent!

Working moms: When the heck do you fit in time to exercise?! I thought about waking up super early to get it out of the way, but I just don't think I'll have time. I take forever to get ready, especially when I'm trying to look nice, so I think the morning is out. I won't have enough time on my lunch break, either...so I'm slowly coming to the realization that I might have to do my workouts in the (gasp!) evening! The evenings are already kind of crazy what with dinner, dishes, bath, bedtime, playtime, etc. How do you supermoms do it?! Perhaps if I do it as soon as I walk in the door? But that cutie patootie face is so tempting. It's amazing how much time I lose while hanging out with her. She is a BIG distraction - in the best kind of way, of course.

So, that's me. Going back to work. Thoughts totally scattered. Feeling a little, no, a LOT, overwhelmed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

normal day.

2011-07-07T15:43:00.004-05:00

I stumbled upon a blog while ~~stalking strangers on Facebook~~ doing some research on the Tracy Anderson method.

This inspires me.

And is now my new life's motto.

caylee marie.

2011-07-05T20:05:00.006-05:00

I watched with bated breath when the judge announced that the clerk would soon be reading the verdict in the Casey Anthony murder trial. I could tell by the way he thumbed through the papers that the verdict would be

Not guilty.

I had a feeling it would happen this way, but I was hoping with every fiber of my being that it wouldn't.

I respect the law incredibly. I am even seriously considering going to law school one day. My favorite courses in grad school were the media law seminars. I dig the judicial system. So, I understand that she was found not guilty based on the lack of evidence. There was no proof beyond any doubt that she did, in fact, murder her daughter. The verdict makes sense, legally.

But we all know she did it.

Tonight, there is an event circulating around Facebook asking folks to turn on their porch lights at 9pm tonight in remembrance of Caylee Anthony. I will be joining in on this. I think it's a lovely gesture. The event indicates that the lights will be on for Caylee to see and know that her little life mattered. This whole thing just makes me so depressed.

I mourn for the little girl who's life was stolen from her. I mourn for women who so desperately yearn to be mothers, but who, for whatever reason, can't be, yet this woman was blessed with a perfectly healthy child and disposed of her like she was trash.

My heart breaks for every child out there who has no voice.

I am thankful, though, that this world is not my home and that this world is not all I have to look forward to.

Sweet girl, your little life did matter. And in your tragic death and story, you bring us all back to the Giver of all good things. We take comfort in knowing that you forever live in glory, free from all harm and resting peacefully in Jesus's arms.

i'm 29 and america is...old (and other things).

2011-07-04T20:27:00.004-05:00

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

Today is my 29th birthday and it's been wonderful! Our whole weekend has been quite a whirlwind, so we took is easy today, which was much needed and appreciated.

We went to a BBQ at a friend's house on Saturday night and then a big party last night, where the host spent $1200 on fireworks. Not joking. We were kind of wiped out today. We did a little shopping, had a bite to eat for lunch, went to Cold Stone to indulge a little, and now we're home. Baby is asleep and pizza is on its way. Healthy? No. But hey, it's my birthday.

Our biggest adventure starts tomorrow, when Husband leaves for the Weapon's Instructor Course. I mentioned it in an ealier post, but it is an intense course that will make him a "master" of his aircraft, so to speak. It will have him bouncing back and forth between here and Las Vegas for the next 6 months or so. It will be very trying at times, but I'm not scared. I prefer back and forth over a 6-month deployment any day. So, these next 6 months should be interesting...to say the least.

I am still waiting to hear back from the job interview I had a few weeks ago. I know they called my references and they have been asking for some more background info...which I am taking as a good sign. I'll go into further detail about it once I know I either have it or the position has been filled by someone who is not me. Ha!

Husband bought me the Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis Method DVDs for a birthday gift. Yes, I asked for this gift. No, he does not think I'm fat and gross and need workout DVDs...just for the record :) I am eager to start the healthy eating and workouts once he leaves tomorrow, but I need a more structured plan for the healthy eating (which I don't have yet) so I am trying to compile a grocery list and will get all the food in the next couple of days. And THEN I will start the DVDs and the healthy eating. I want to be smoking hot for his WIC graduation in December. And these last 10 preggo pounds are just NOT moving, so without him here, I'll be able to kick the healthy eating into high gear. (It's a lot easier to eat healthy when you don't have to cook dinners for two. I can simply eat a Lean Cuisine for dinner and be happy. Husband? Not so much).

That's about it for now! Thanks for being patient with my sporadic posts these days. I know this blog is kind of lame...boo.

hodge podge. myriad. stuff.

2011-06-16T16:52:00.004-05:00

That last post was annoying me every time I hopped on here to check blogs. So, I changed it to this one.

I don't have much to say. Uhm, bullets, anyone?

My last day of bootcamp was this morning. I wrote a little bit about it on Facebook (where I do most of my socializing these days). It feels so good to have completed something I started. Something I loathed!!! I got up at 5 in the morning to do this crap, y'all. But after it was all over, I felt amazing. I shaved off two minutes off my mile run and was able to do more pushups than before and did the wall-sit longer than ANYONE in the class. I could have kept going, but decided anything over 5 minutes would just make me look cocky. I told my instructor that after 20 hours of labor, I could wall sit all day long. Ha! We are having a bootcamp survivor's party tomorrow night in Little Rock and Husband and I plan on making a date night out of it. What a great experience it was! It was definitely the jumpstart I needed to get my fitness back on.
I didn't lose any weight throughout the process, but I did lose about 3% body fat and some of my clothes definitely fit a lot better than before. I'd say that's progress! If only I could eat a little better. That's my down fall. I could work out every, single day...but passing up chocolate cake?! No way.
I have a job interview tomorrow. Yup. I sure do.
The fam and I are headed to Florida soon for a little vacation before Husband leaves for the Weapon's Instructor Course. This course lasts about 5ish months and it will have him bouncing back and forth between here and Las Vegas. It will be trying, but I'll take back and forth over a 5ish month-long deployment, for sure. The best perk? I can attend the graduation ceremony in Vegas in December and we will stay and play a few extra days afterward. Viva Las Vegas!
That's about all for now.

"youth is wasted on the young." -- george bernard shaw

2011-05-26T09:54:00.007-05:00

While driving back home from dropping off my daughter at Mother's Day Out, my heart became heavy.

Sometimes I get very sad when I think about events from my past. This usually happens after a night of dreaming dreams in which all those mistakes are remedied.

Last night, I had a very vivid dream where I was able to reconcile with people from years ago - people that I had hurt in profoundly deep ways, and who also hurt me (this group includes, but is not limited to: friends, acquaintances, co-workers, employers, teachers, etc.) This morning, I recalled that dream and got very sad, remembering it was just that: a dream. And that the past is still the past and real life makes it impossible to go back and change.

I know that these feelings of regret and guilt are fleeting and the wise thing to do is pray against them. And I will. And things will be fine again. And then they'll come back again. And the cycle will repeat itself. And that's okay.

I am surely not the most wise person I know. That's a no-brainer. But I do know that I have gained at least some wisdom over the years. To have had just a tad of that knowledge and experience and maturity back then would have prevented so many bad decisions, hurtful words, and broken hearts. I simply didn't have the tools then that I have now. It fills me with regret.

Today's Cassandra would have been amazing in the old Cassandra's shoes.

Today's me would have made a different path for myself than I did back then. That notion makes me so sad. But it is a notion I must reject because, quite simply, it is unhealthy and poison to my spirit to think about "what could have been." Note: I am not wishing away the life I have now. The way things have worked themselves out is nothing short of amazing. That's called grace, y'all. :)

I just wish that I could sit down with these people, share a cup of coffee, rehash the past, explain why I did the things I did, and then apologize. I wouldn't change what I have now. I just wish I could show them who I am now and where my heart was back then. Would they even recognize me?

In my dreams, things are fixed. A warm bear hug is exchanged and all is well. We then turn away from one another and re-enter the realm that has become our real lives, knowing that the wounds in our hearts have been healed. It's just so beautiful.

And then I wake up...and realize it was just a dream. And then I write blog posts like this.

And then I make some coffee, take a hot shower, pray against these feelings, and hope that somehow, someway there is an understanding in the spirit of these people that I would make things better if that opportunity was ever made available.

"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait on Him." -- Lamentations 3:19-24

1/2 birthday.

2011-05-22T14:50:00.003-05:00

I can't believe she's six months old already. It goes by way too fast. Seriously. I don't like it.

But I love her :)

Happy 1/2 birthday, little one!

May 17, 2011

g-i-jane...or something.

2011-05-16T20:43:00.002-05:00

Groupon delighted me with an email a few days ago for a 5-week, $49 membership to Fitness Bootcamp.

Since I'm crazy and a glutton for punishment, I signed up.

The camp began today. I signed up for the 6am class because, once more, I'm a glutton for punishment and really, it's the only time I could work out with my husband's work schedule and the little one.

I went to bed pretty late last night (boo) and had a hard time falling asleep. Then, I woke up at 4am, nervous that I had overslept for the class (when I spoke to the instructor on the phone a few days ago, he informed me that if one doesn't show up for the class, he "sends the dogs out" to find us...I was scared).

I couldn't fall back asleep, so I just laid in bed until about 5:10am. I threw on my workout clothes that I had laid out the night before, grabbed my water bottle and Breakfast On The Go (love these things, by the way) and made the 30-minute drive down to the camp.

I was surprised at how many people were on the roads at 5:30 in ther morning. Other than military personnel, truckers, and medical personnel, who on earth needs to be at work that early?!

I arrived to the camp and there were TONS of people there. Groupon works, y'all.

We met in a room where our instructor (did you see him on the website? Intimidating!) informed us that today we would be performing a PT test, starting with a one-mile run. GASP!!!

It was grueling! I am not a runner! But I want to be one.

So...we ran. It was cold and windy outside and my lungs were on fire. I ran/jogged/walked and clocked in my one mile at an amazing 11:51. Terrible...but you gotta start somewhere, right?

Then, we had our push-up and sit-up test. How many can you do in one minute? I did 27 modified push-ups and 30 sit-ups. LAME.

Then, we had to do the wall sit and see how long we could last. My time? 1:16. LAME! I realized, though, that I was doing it wrong. I had my knees practically touching, thus placing WAY more weight on my quads than necessary. Everyone else had their legs set wider apart and they were able to last a lot longer. I'll remember that for next time!

So, I am about to head for bed and get up and do it all over again. I'm excited about this new adventure and I hope I see results. I don't expect to lose 20 pounds or anything, but if all I do is shave off that mile time by 2 minutes, I'll be happy. Plus, it's awesome getting your workout out of the way to early in the morning. I had the rest of my day to do what needed to be done, I wasn't stuck in a stinky gym, and I knew that I had already exercised. What a great feeling!

1 day down, 19 more to go. HOO-AH!

my first mother's day.

2011-05-08T17:31:00.003-05:00

There are no words. I love them.

working on it.

2011-05-04T17:01:00.004-05:00

When I have found the time, I am working on the transition from blogspot to wordpress. Some of you asked why I'm switching.

I mentioned in my last post that I was annoyed my the interface of blogspot. That's nerd talk. Translation: I hate how blogspot looks and am annoyed by how complicated it is to design, etc. That's one reason.

The other is for more privacy. I want to be able to password protect certain posts and allow the rest to be public. I don't like having two blogs - one public, one private. It's too much upkeep.

And speaking of upkeep, sometimes (ok, every day) I feel so bombarded by technology. Between Facebook, this blog, Twitter, Angry Birds, Words with Friends, the iPhone, the iPad, the iMac, and email, I don't have time left in the day to even read blogs for pleasure anymore. I'm tired of that. I'm taking control of my "tech life" and making my new blog more streamlined, more focused. Having a "personal blog" about my daily life is just too daunting right now. Having an objective to my writing will provide me with much more motivation instead of blabbering on and on about how Vivian ate a NumNum for the first time and got it into her eye instead of her mouth.

All this to say I am working on a new blog, with a new concept. It's going to be a great outlet for me, if I am able to do what I vision.

So, stay tuned!

under construction.

2011-04-20T09:51:00.002-05:00

Obviously, my blog looks jacked. I don't have the time to fix it right now, though. My apologies.

I am going to be making the switch to wordpress to host my blog pretty soon. As soon as I can make this blog a book (to keep all the memories), the change is going to happen. I am annoyed by this blog's interface and more than anything, I love wordpress's ability to password protect certain posts.

I fear there are too many eyes reading this blog that I don't want reading it, quite simply. Thus, I have been forced to censor myself all too often, which leads to not posting at all...which is lame.

I refuse to let the blog die. I just think it needs a new home where I can blog freely. The End.

i have a 5-month-old.

2011-04-18T15:13:00.002-05:00

Time flies when you're having fun! I can't believe this little peanut is five months old!

(Scroll down if you're looking for the Vera Bradley giveaway winner)

vera bradley giveaway winner!

2011-04-18T15:11:00.002-05:00

And the winner of the Zip ID Case is...

Kelly Sellers!

Email me your address at cassandrawebb82 at yahoo dot com and that little VB goodie will be on its way to you tomorrow!

Thanks for playing! :)

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:3Powered by RANDOM.ORG

giveaway, round 2.

2011-04-10T18:02:00.005-05:00

Ok, well, it appears my last giveaway was a bust. I saw some of your very valiant efforts on Facebook to participate, but I suppose your friends just weren't down with putting forth any work ;)

That being said, I am nixing the last giveaway and opting, instead, to make this one much easier.

Up for grabs? The Vera Bradley Zip ID Case in Symphony in Hue from last week.

These little lovelies retail for $12 and are perfect for your driver's license, military ID, or teacher badge. I always have one with me when I travel because who likes to carry around a big, bulky wallet when you're parasailing in the Caribbean? Not me!

What do you have to do? Just "like" my Backflip Photography Facebook page (see sidebar to get you there) and then come back and leave me a comment here saying you did so. That's all. Already a Backflip fan? Then, friend, your work is over. Just leave me a comment saying you're a fan. The End.

A winner will be chosen randomly and announced next Sunday, April 17th at 6 p.m. central time.

On a different note, since I DID clean out my closet, I have three other Vera Bradley items available for purchase. If you're into VB, I'm offering brand new bags with tags for a total steal. Click here to visit my store, Cassandra's Closet. Happy shopping!

i-finally-cleaned-my-closet-out giveaway!

2011-04-03T17:15:00.007-05:00

I have spent much of last week cleaning out all my drawers and my entire closet. It was a disaster!

As a result, I have given SEVEN leaf bags of clothes and shoes to Goodwill and am trying to sell some of my nicer items on Craigslist.

However, I thought a giveaway on my blog might be fun, too!

Up for grabs?

A never-used (see the tag?) Vera Bradley handbag in Symphony in Hue print (retails for $52). Yes, I am serious. If that's not good enough for you, I'll also throw in...

The bag's matching Zip ID Case, also never used (retails for $12).

Want to know how to win these goodies?

All I am asking you to do is get 5 of your Facebook friends to "Like" my Backflip Photography Facebook page. I have had 301 fans for over a year now and it's time to boost that number! I'm annoyed by it every time I log in, simply.

They must be NEW fans of the page. Please have your friends "like" the Backflip Photography Facebook page and then copy and paste this message as a comment on the page: "I'm a new fan of Backflip Photography thanks to (insert your name here)."

After you've recruited five new fans, please leave a comment on this post. I'll verify the new fans, and then select a winner at random using a random number generator based on the number of comments I receive.

Giveaway ends next Sunday (April 10, 2011) at 6 pm central time. Recruit via whatever means necessary. Blog about it, Facebook about it, Tweet about it, I don't care. Just get the word out.

The steps, in brief:

1. Get 5 (five) of your Facebook friends to "like" the Backflip Photography Facebook page. They must be new fans and they must post the following as a comment on the Backflip Photography Facebook page: "I'm a new fan of Backflip Photography thanks to (insert your name here)."

2. After you've recruited five new fans, leave a comment ON THIS POST letting me know you did so.

3. I'll verify and then a winner will be chosen at random and announced on this blog next Sunday!

Good luck and thank you in advance!

Note: Vera Bradley is NOT funding or supporting this contest in any way whatsoever. I just had way too many handbags in my closet and I'm feeling generous. That's all. :)

great giveaway at good life for less!

2011-03-27T22:14:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine pointed me to the Good Life for Less blog several months ago and I have been following Jill and her fashion escapades ever since!

She is offering a pretty awesome giveaway if we would all help her to reach 1,000 followers.

Check it out here and enter for your chance to win some great prizes!

getting my butt to payless.

2011-03-27T16:43:00.002-05:00

I usually don't get too excited about shoe commercials, but the latest Payless commercial caught my eye!

Isn't their new Nautical line adorable!?

I will definitely be making a trip to Payless this week while all these goodies are on sale. I am in LOVE with these sling backs. Must have them. They're not ridiculously high and shouldn't make my back hurt, but they are high enough to be cute, cute, cute.

The End.

rolling thunder.

2011-03-24T09:42:00.003-05:00

One reason I married my husband was because he didn't snore. I'm serious. Any time we tooks naps during the dating stage, I was always so pleased with him because he was a quiet sleeper, like me. No tossing and turning, no weird grunting, no heavy breathing, and definitely NO SNORING.

Well, fast forward six years later and ladies, I am married to a bonafied snoring machine.

And I'm not happy about it.

Does anyone else's husband snore? And what do you do about it?

Here lately, I am retreating to the guest futon. I try to sleep in our bedroom, but it never fails: I am always (ALWAYS) awoken by the sweet melody of rolling thunder. I then gather my pillows and head to the opposite side of the house. Every. Single. Night.

You might suggest ear plugs, right? But then how would I hear the baby on the monitor in the mornings?

Someone please help me. I am not a fan of sleeping in separate bedrooms, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

Help!

my FOUR-month-old.

2011-03-23T10:12:00.001-05:00

Stop growing, please.

giveaway winner!

2011-03-21T20:32:00.002-05:00

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max:

Result:

3Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations, Janet! You're the lucky winner of the $15 gift card/code for CSN stores!

Email me at cassandrawebb82 at yahoo dot com to claim your prize!

Thanks for participating, everyone!

my cup runneth over's first giveaway!

2011-03-15T16:15:00.005-05:00

The friendly folks at CSN stores want to offer one of my wonderful readers a $15 gift card!

Never heard of CSN? Well, they're an online network of over 200 sites that carry a multitude of varying products. Have a room makeover in your future? Then definitely check out their line of pendant lighting

Isn't this chandelier gorgeous?! I know of a certain little girl who's room would look AMAZING with this hanging from the ceiling! Sorry the image is so small. Visit the site and see it blown up. It's to die for!

Here's how to to win the $15 gift card code:

Simply follow the link and and then tell me via comment which product is your fave. A winner will be selected randomly using a random number generator.

Giveaway ends this Sunday, March 20 at 8:00pm central time.

Good luck!

P.S. Shipping is only available in the US and Canada.

can ya help a girl out?!

2011-03-07T16:17:00.002-06:00

I hosted a 31 Party on Friday evening and I am a mere $58 away from hitting our party goal of $500!

Desperate times call for desperate measures, so yes, I am blogging about how I need just a few more buyers to seal the deal.

If you're interested, please take a look at 31's online catalog here and shoot me an email at cassandrawebb82 at yahoo dot com for ordering details. I'll be best your friend. And you know you want a new handbag...or tote...or thermal lunch box for work...or personalized bloomers for your baby girl...or robot boxers for your son...or an organizer...or beach bag...or picnic blanket...or, well, you get the idea.

God answers big.

2011-03-02T20:49:00.004-06:00

I have been praying the prayer of Jabez everyday for the past 2 or 3 weeks. Don't know it? Here it go!

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain." So God granted him what he requested. --- I Chronicles 4:10 NKJV

And God granted ME what I requested. He totally outdid Himself, though, and now I am asking for discernment to understand all of these blessings and opportunities.

I know this is super vague, but it's not time to talk about freely online yet. It is all good. Very, very good.

So would you pray for me? That I would make sense out of what's been giving to me. That I would know the right path to take? Thanks :)

On a totally different note, my husband and I watched Invictus a few weeks ago. And that movie has stuck with me. Especially the poem for which the film is named, Invictus. Read this and I dare you to tell me you're not inspired!

INVICTUS

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

5k?!

2011-03-01T21:04:00.001-06:00

So, the latest news is that I am signed up to run a 5K this Saturday as part of the Little Rock Marathon. Husband is running the half marathon on Sunday (because he's crazy).

Have I trained, you ask?

Nope.

This should be interesting.

shellac manicure.

2011-02-23T08:24:00.003-06:00

So, despite The Pioneer Women's one-upping me on a post about Shellac, I decided to write about MY manicure anyway.

Husband got me a gift certificate to this hoity-toity salon in Little Rock. Instead of getting a spray tan, I opted to try a Shellac manicure. Apparently, it's the "new thing."

$55 dollars later, I had an amazing manicure that I LOVE.

Click here to learn more about Shellac.

Apparently, after posting about it on Facebook, I learned that other salons in my area offer the same service for way cheaper than $55. Thank goodness, too, because this gal cannot afford $55 manicures every two weeks.

I will say that Shellac is worth every penny you spend. It truly does last two weeks and makes your nails hard as...nails (?!)...cement. There is no chipping whatsoever. Next time you want to treat yourself, look into getting Shellac done. You will be VERY pleased! Make sure it's CND Shellac products!

Note: On the CND Shellac website, there is a link to search for salons in your area that offer the service. Call around and get the best price!

once you go shellac, you'll never go back.

2011-02-22T07:57:00.003-06:00

I finally felt inspired to write a blog post about the Shellac manicure I received almost two weeks ago. Then, I logged on and saw that The Pioneer Woman has a post about...her Shellac manicure.

Why do I feel like she's always one-upping me?

extinct.

2011-02-20T22:42:00.003-06:00

My blog is going the way of the dodo bird.

I just don't have much to write about these days other than baby stuff and I SO DON'T want my blog to become an "all-about-my-kid" blog. No offense if you have an "all-about-my-kid" blog, I just don't think that you'll find interesting what I find fascinating. Ya know?

I have debated getting rid of this blog (not without printing it all out first...or something) and then making the switch over to wordpress, where I can password protect certain posts. I think I'd be more apt to blog then. I tend to have lots of juicy things to write about now and again, but I refrain because I'm afraid of who might be reading this public blog.

It's a point of stress for me, this not-posting business. It makes me sad. I've had this thing since 2007. I would hate to see it die.

black and yellow black and yellow!

2011-02-05T22:15:00.002-06:00

Two words for tomorrow:

GO STEELERS!!!!!!!

old man winter.

2011-02-02T21:14:00.002-06:00

Can die any time.

Bring me some sunshine!!!

jenifer.

2011-01-30T16:15:00.008-06:00

One of my Phi Lamb sorority sisters passed away this Thursday after receiving a double lung transplant that just didn't "take." She had been battling cystic fibrosis since the age of two.

Not only was Jenifer in my sorority, but we also shared an apartment during my senior year of college. Although she and I lived two very separate lives during that time (I truly believe I was depressed that year and acted accordingly, which was NOT a good thing), a certain bond, I believe, still exists between two people who have ever shared a home.

I knew that most people with cystic fibrosis typically do not live lengthy lives. It saddened me when Jenifer would get sick. I felt helpless and guilty for my perfect health, which I took for granted.

I was so happy when Jenifer requested to be friends on Facebook a few months ago. This meant she was alive and well! I had lost touch with her after college, so it was so reassuring to see her again, even if it was over the computer. She married her college sweetheart, Tony - a truly wonderful guy. She went to physical therapy school. She was doing well. And that made me happy to see.

She truly did fight the good fight. My heart breaks to know that all her efforts to stay healthy just could not sustain her life. The Lord has called my precious friend home. It makes me so sad.

I was at church this morning and it felt like every, single song we sang was for Jenifer. Or maybe I just had her on my mind...

Either way, I heard this song for the first time today and oh, how it made me weep for her. I can only hope that she is basking in His glory, able to breathe freely in Heaven, as she so desperately wanted to do here on Earth.

I hope to share a Home with her again soon.

everything that matters.

2011-01-27T21:56:00.002-06:00

since my car won't start and i'm stuck at home anyway...

2011-01-27T12:52:00.002-06:00

I thought I'd blog.

And yes, our car won't start for whatever reason. I got me ready, the baby ready, the diaper bag ready, the grocery list ready only to walk out to the garage with baby in tow, crank the key, and nothing. I AM SO ANNOYED RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, rant over.

What I wanted to blog about was Vivian. Shocker, I know.

Two things:

1. A few days ago, I swore the child said the word "elephant." I know she didn't MEAN to say the word, but she said it...while looking at a toy elephant and immediately after I said the word. My kid's a genius. She repeats things I say often. It's amazing (whether it's all in my head or not doesn't matter). :)

2. No matter how fussy she is, if one sings her Stevie Nick's "Edge of Seventeen," the child smiles and coos like it's the best thing she's ever heard. Can you imagine? That song of all songs?! Listen and tell me that doesn't make you laugh.

a new venture.

2011-01-26T10:56:00.003-06:00

A friend of mine from high school has started his own t-shirt company, Sundown United.

I was asked (after I exclaimed I would be happy to join) to become an editor/contributing writer to the Sundown blog. My task? Write a once-a-month post about books/literature. Uhm, yes, please!

Since I already always have a book going, I consider this job a very easy one. Check out my first post here. My friend used his editing eye and added the photos that you see there. I am proud of myself for joining this movement and feel kind of like me again. I miss writing and being part of something bigger than myself.

Speaking of, I petitioned my old editor to see if she needed any help writing features and taking photos for her papers. And she does! Yay! I'll get back into that as soon as I get my first story assignment. It feels sooooo good to be doing something other than washing bottles. I love my Vivian more than I've ever loved anyone in my life, but the "dailiness" of taking care of her is mind-numbing. Everyday is Groundhog Day and I desperately NEED an outlet, lest I go insane.

So, yes. Sundown United and paper-writing. Sounds good to me.

a woman's work.

2011-01-23T19:10:00.005-06:00

Time for some venting: I am sooooo tired of always having to do everything around the house!!!!!! Am I the only one?!

No, I don't have a job So yes, I should do more around the house than my husband. I get that. But a little help would be nice!!!

And without being asked would be nicer. It's like that movie with Vince Vaughan and Jennifer Aniston: "I want you to WANT to wash the dishes." Seriously! Why can't men anticipate those needs? Like...if you don't wash the bottles the night before, guess what?! You won't have a clean one for the morning feeding!

If you feed the dog way too late in the day, guess what?! He'll have to go out at 3am!!!

I'm just annoyed at the moment. That's all. Ugh.

But really...does it not seem like a woman's work is NEVER done until her head hits the pillow?

vivian is two months old!

2011-01-18T17:54:00.002-06:00

And I love her.

what's going on.

2011-01-18T10:38:00.005-06:00

In case you were wondering, Jillian Michael's eating and workout plan definitely WORKS. I have lost 4.5 pounds in two weeks. Holla!

Thanks for the help in determining which photo is more "landscape-y." Photo A it is! I have one more portrait to take and then I'll send off my project and BE DONE with my coursework. Hallelujah! I can't wait for this stuff to be done!

I finished reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo last week. What a book! I really liked it until the end. The last 200 pages were grueling to get through. I doubt I'll continue the trilogy as I wasn't enamored with the first book. I am thinking about reading Bush's Decision Points next. Or the Hunger Games. I don't know.

We took Vivian to get her two-month shots yesterday. What an ordeal...for me. She was a champion. Husband said she reminded him of Lucy in the Chronicles of Narnia when Aslan tells her: "My dear, if you were any braver, you would be a lioness." (And of course that made me cry). We were so proud of our girl! She cried for a few seconds and then immediately fell asleep in my arms. She stayed asleep for about 5 hours, woke up to eat, then slept for 12 hours! Then another four. My poor baby! She seems to be herself again today, though. Smiles and coos galore :)

We have completely upgraded the entertainment tech in our living room. We donated all our old stuff (we were still living with college furniture and a college TV) and got a 55" 3D LED TV. Oh my, is it pretty! We also got some surround sound speakers and a Blu-Ray player. It was about time! I am proud of ourselves for living with our college stuff for so long, though. People would make fun of us when they came over because for some reason, a 27" Panasonic monster of a television was no longer "cool." ;) It feels good to pay for all this new, fancy stuff with cash. We can enjoy it more that way, you know? We tested out the 3D glasses and I was grinning like a little school girl. I can't wait to watch football on this television! We are blessed, indeed.

I am probably going to go back to freelancing here pretty soon, as well as saying I'm available for photo shoots again. I need to do something productive other than washing bottles everyday! I doubt getting a full-time job is in the cards for me just yet. I can't bear the idea of taking this little baby to day care. At least not yet. She's got to get a little bigger and more independent first. I know. I'm one of "those moms." It's ridiculous.

Ok, time to make my meal plan for the week.

help, please?

2011-01-13T17:15:00.004-06:00

I am so close to finishing my coursework with the NY Institute of Photography I can almost taste it. To say I will be glad when this is all over is an understatement.

Because I have a newborn and being adventurous is (slightly) on the back-burner these days, I was forced to shoot my "landscape" portrait close to home. There's not too much inspiration in these parts, but I did the best with what I had...and with a newborn in the backseat of the car.

So, which one of these photos says "landscape" the most to you?

Photo A or Photo B?

PHOTO A

PHOTO B

Please leave a comment with your selection! Thanks so much!

is it just me?

2011-01-12T10:37:00.001-06:00

Or does it seem like blogs are dying?

going to the gym.

2011-01-11T15:43:00.001-06:00

I am headed to the gym once Husband gets home.

I am so nervous.

It's been months.

And I don't want to go.

But I gotta.

I'm scared.

let's do this, jillian!

2011-01-06T10:43:00.002-06:00

Ok, I did it.

I finally signed up and paid for an account at jillianmichaels.com.

I don't get clearance from the doctor until Friday (hopefully), so I haven't started the workouts. I have started the eating better, though.

The recipes on the site are very different from what I'm used to eating - which is kinda the point. It took me FOREVER to grocery shop for all the ingredients because some of the foods were so foreign! I had no idea where to even find them. Who's ever eaten bok choy?!

So it's Day 2 and so far, so good. I am currently trying to eat a "Breakfast Parfait," which would be delicious if it were made with vanilla yogurt. Instead, it's made with plain, non-fat Greek yogurt which, my friends, is nasty. But alas, I need to broaden my food horizons. So if Jillian wants me to eat bok choy, I'll eat bok choy. I'll at least try everything once.

Here's to smaller clothes and a stomach that doesn't double as a pillow!

goings-on.

2010-12-28T09:14:00.004-06:00

I really do have the best husband, ever. Currently, he is snoozing away because he pulled the night shift last night. I was beyond tired yesterday and feeling I was coming down with a cold. Sweet husband took care of the baby all night last night without even being asked. I love him.
Speaking of which, he and I are doing The Love Dare together. January and February in Arkansas are usually quite gloomy and we tend to fall into a funk this time of year. What better way to avoid the funk than by purposely doing something that will strengthen our marriage? We are on Day 6 and it has already proven to be worth the time and effort.
Christmas this year was one of the best Christmases we've had in a long time. Husband's family was with us, as was my Mom. It was a wonderful day of opening presents, eating, relaxing, and just being together. I hope my Dad enjoyed seeing all of us together. Wish he could have been there.
Vivian is growing like a weed. I can't believe how big she is. She has already outgrown several outfits. It makes me so sad! I want my baby to stay little forever. Sleep through the night, yes. But stay little. Please?
She slept a consecutive six hours last night. I'll take it.
I can't wait to get my clearance from the doctor to start working out again. I am so over this pooch and these extra 20 pounds. I am thinking about creating an account at jillianmichaels.com. My problem is not the working out, it's the eating. I need a meal plan and a grocery list for healthy meals. NOW!
By the way, I am NOT reading Wicked. I haven't been reading that for awhile (I suppose I should change my sidebar). Instead, I have turned my attention to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It's a pretty interesting read; Wicked was not -- although the musical was fabulous.
I got a Kindle for Christmas. Love!
I also got a pair of Steve Madden boots that I've been eyeing for quite some time at Kendi Everyday. They fit, but just barely. I gained so much weight in my legs during my pregnancy. Boots aren't cute when they're squeezing the crap out of your calf muscles. Again, I can't wait to hit the gym. I am so ready to go shopping! I want to update my wardrobe/totally clean out my closet but I am in a holding pattern until this weight comes off. Maternity clothes are too big, my regular clothes are too small. It's so frustrating!
2010 has been quite a year and I have been thinking about that blog post for a while. So much has happened, both good and bad. I am ready for 2011. Aren't you?
I am hoping that Kmart has the Martha Stewart Christmas stuff on sale like they did last year. That's my exciting plan for the day.
My feet are cold.
I think I'm done now. Here's a photo of Vivi at bath time. Just for kicks.

a little narcissism for your monday.

2010-12-20T14:42:00.005-06:00

I apologize in advance for this post, but I just had to.

Thanks to my Medela breast pump, I have already lost 30 of the 50 (yes, FIFTY) pounds I gained during my pregnancy. I haven't eaten any differently (ok, maybe a little less since caring after a newborn is so time-consuming that one often forgets to eat), nor have I exercised. I won't get that clearance from the doctor until the first week of January.

Just saying...if you're wondering if breastfeeding DOES help you lose the weight, it does. Really. And you don't even have to do anything but sit there!

Don't believe me?

Here's the night I was induced compared to the day Vivian turned one month old.

See? Yay for breastfeeding! I still have 20 pounds to go - you might have noticed that lovely pooch still lingering above my waistband - and I wanted to lose about 15 pounds before I got pregnant, as well. I figure that will come off with time and with diet and exercise once I'm in the clear.

Note: Not that it matters, but we are not nursing. I pump every 3 to 4 hours and then she eats from a bottle. It has worked out so much better for us! Husband can help with those middle-of-the-night feedings and this house is just a much happier place to be now. No one tells you about the options you have. I know there is a huge debate over this (which is quite silly), but there are options, people. I wish someone had told me that you don't have to exclusively give formula or exclusively nurse. Nothing is exclusive with babies, y'all. You just gotta do what's best for you and your family. The End.

On a totally different note, Husband was asked to be Santa for his squadron's Christmas party. Here he is with Vivian when he returned home from the party. This kills me!

what day is it?

2010-12-10T10:39:00.004-06:00

I couldn't tell you.

In case you were wondering, I am still alive. I have been inundated with newborn madness for the past couple weeks that I'm lucky to get a shower. Forget blogging!

These last few weeks have been really intense as we are trying to figure out our schedule. I liked the book Babywise and all, and it seems to be really working in terms of maintaining some sort of serenity in this house, but it is incredibly labor-intensive!! I am exhausted. Is any of this even making sense?

I don't know.

Huh?

whip it!

2010-12-02T10:55:00.003-06:00

During some quiet time last night, I was able to watch a movie: Whip It.

I loved it! That movie is very Juno-like, as it stars Ellen Page and has the same sort of humor, which I love.

But more important than that, it's about the roller derby scene in Austin. I was enchanted!!

I could really (really) see myself enjoying the roller derby -- as a participant, not just an on-looker. I Googled "central Arkansas roller derby" and lo and behold! There are teams everywhere! Even in my little town!

There is a holiday expo "tournament" taking place on December 11 only 10 miles from my house and I have full intentions of going to check this whole roller derby thing out. I like the fact that the admission costs are going to benefit a local food pantry, too.

Think I could hack it?!

the birth story.

2010-11-28T19:39:00.008-06:00

Ay. Where to begin?

I guess at the beginning...

We scheduled the induction at my 38-week appointment. Why did we schedule an induction? Because I was tired of being pregnant. Because I wanted her here sooner than later. Because my back was really starting to hurt. Because I wanted her here. Because I wanted her here for Thanksgiving. Because I had nary a contraction and knew that if we didn't evict her, I would stay pregnant forever. Because I'm a super-planner and liked the idea of knowing when she'd get here. The End.

We were scheduled to go in at 8pm on Tuesday, November 16th. This is us before heading out to grab a quick bite to eat before heading to the hospital. I was SWOLLEN! Holy moly! I wish I had known that shirt was see-through. Classy.

The last belly picture. Kind of sad.

We arrived at the hospital and were checked in immediately. I was so surprised at the efficiency of the hospital staff. I was prepared to wait for a couple hours. In fact, I was hoping to wait. I was extremely nervous and scared at this point. I was going to have a baby. It all suddenly became real. And I was frightened.

I was asked to change into my robe and was immediately given my IV. I was most apprehensive about this process and the epidural. It's not that I am "afraid" of needles. I just don't like the idea of a needle staying inside my body for hours and hours. Of course, the nurse couldn't find a good vein in my hand so she had to bring in a second nurse who, luckily, found a good vein in my wrist. I gag to even recall it!

I was then pumped up with liquid and penicillin, which burns when it enters your veins, by the way. I had to have the penicillin because I tested positive for some bacteria at my last doctor's appointment. Sexy, I know.

The rest of that night is sort of a blur. We tried to sleep, but that wasn't happening. The baby monitor and contraction monitor that they strapped (so tightly) to my stomach was constantly slipping off and nurses were coming into the room every 5 minutes, it seemed, to re-adjust me. Talk about annoying! Those monitors were the worst!!! They were hurting my stomach and causing me to have to pee. (Fun is having to walk your half-naked self and your IV tower on wheels to the bathroom every hour)! Ugh! It was a nightmare. I could tell the nurses were getting annoyed with me, but what could I do?! I had to go!!

I was also given those tablets that thinned my cervix. I was given one as soon as we got there. (Fun is also having a doctor insert a tablet into your tunneling and no, she does not do it gently)! It was doing the job, but I required a second one four hours later. Backtrack: When we got to the hospital, I was only 1cm dilated and still thick. I told you this baby had NO PLANS of evacuating any time soon.

At 5am, the anesthesiologist came in and said we could now do my epidural since I was about 3-4 cm dilated. Yay! Not really, I was scared out of my mind. I think this is when they also started the Pitocin.

She got everything prepped and Aaron had to leave the room. I was so scared, I was trembling! Thankfully, the nurse was amazing and held my hands through it all. She tried to distract me by talking about her kids and asking how Aaron and I met, etc. The anesthesiologist discovered that I had scoliosis (oh boy) and became worried that the epidural may not work and she would have to re-do it. Noooooooo!!!! A few minutes after it was administered, my left side became completely numb and tingly. My right side, however, not so much. Should we have tried to re-do the epidural? Probably. Did I want to go through that again? Absolutely not. I lied to myself and said it would be okay if we didn't re-do the epidural...that would turn out to be a big mistake.

The epidural, for what it was worth, did work and I was able to sleep through my contractions from about 7am to 11:30am. The doctor kept coming in and out to check on my progress. I was dilating verrrrrrrrrry slowly. Then, around 1pm or so the worst pain of my life rocked my entire abdomen, pelvic region, and legs. I was having major contractions and I was feeling ALL OF THEM. I pushed the "more epidural medicine" button several times, but to no avail. The anesthesiologist was called in and he gave me a dosage of something (??) that didn't help much whatsoever. It was go time and I was in severe pain. My epidural, apparently, had run out.

This was so not the plan.

Words cannot describe the pain I went through for the next three hours. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced. My mom was there with the cold, wet rag on my face and my husband was there coaching me through each contraction, which lasted 45 seconds and occurred every minute. Do the math. That equals only 15 seconds of rest in-between. This went on for two hours. There was a moment when I completely broke down and said I couldn't do it. I just couldn't keep doing what I was doing. But by the grace of God (yes, I prayed), I was able to push through it. It felt like my butt was being split in two. Sorry, but that's the only way I can describe it. I could literally feel my baby getting lower and pushing on my rectum. My goodness, it was unbearable.

Finally, the doctor came in, checked me, and said it was time to push. Hallelujah!!!! I began pushing at around 3:55pm. I was told that the harder I pushed, the faster she would come. I pushed like it was my job. I kept chanting in my mind, "Do work! Do work!" I thought about all those brutal Crossfit workouts I had survived. I thought about all the miles I have run. I thought about the hard times I have pushed through. And I pushed like the dickens!

My doctor told me I would soon be feeling "the ring of fire" as my baby's head was on its way out. Ring of fire, indeed! That was the most painful part. But I kept pushing!! And at 4:19 pm, my baby girl was born. (I tear up as I write this, remembering what a relief it was).

The doctor placed this perfect, little baby on my chest and I cried and cried. I looked at my husband, who also had tears in his eyes. The doctor asked him if he wanted to cut the cord and he did! (I also forgot to mention that when she asked him if he wanted to "see the head," he said yes. This is worth mentioning because our plan going into this was that he would have no business or interest "down there." Funny how that changes when it's your kid).

She was perfect. And my whole demeanor changed once she was out. The pain was gone. In its place was a sense of euphoria. I felt drunk. And it was wonderful. They took the baby away to do all those things they do to babies while I got stitched up (I tore and required two sutures). Husband busied himself with taking photos (which are excellent, by the way, and can be seen on Facebook if we're friends). Twenty hours of labor produced the most beautiful, healthy baby girl.

Was it worth it? Yes. Would I do it again? Yes, but not ANYTIME soon!

So, with some minor details missing from the story because I'm tired and just can't remember, that is how Vivian Elise Webb made her way into this world. She weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces and was 20 inches long. She has a full head of dark brown hair and blue eyes and the longest eyelashes I've ever seen on a newborn.

In case anyone was wondering, here is how we chose her name:

Vivian was my grandmother's name. She was my mom's mom, who passed away before I was born. She and her husband (my grandpa) were killed in a car accident. Now that my Dad is gone, I wanted to continue some sort of family legacy. Plus, I think the name is Vivian is beautiful and I love what it means: "Full of life, vibrant"

Elise is just a beautiful name that I've always loved and thought elegant. I looked it up and knew immediately that it would be her middle name. It means: "Consecrated to God"

A full of life, vibrant child who is given entirely to our Savior. Sounds perfect to me :)

Sidenote: I always wanted to name my first daughter Charlotte. But then I married a man whose last name is Webb. And that would just be mean.

How has life been since she was born? I couldn't tell you. It's been a fog! I am still in quite some pain and know that I am not entirely in my right mind yet. Ask me again in a few weeks :)

We do love our little girl, though. That I know for sure.

she's here!

2010-11-24T20:04:00.004-06:00

Vivian Elise Webb is here and we could not be more thrilled...or tired.

I have full intentions of writing the birth story on here as soon as I have some time. With the holidays in full swing and relatives visiting (and oh yeah, a newborn to take care of), the blog has been put on the back-burner.

But I will update, I promise.

I will say this, though. Twenty hours of labor and an epidural that ran out during the last three (and most difficult) hours of said labor was all worth it in the end. I love this little girl more than I ever thought possible. I officially "get it" now.

My cup truly does runneth over.

it's go time (almost).

2010-11-16T17:18:00.003-06:00

We are headed to the hospital in about two hours or so.

I am so ready to get this process started. I am feeling quite anxious, which makes me tired, which makes me grouchy. Not fun.

We will have updates on Facebook, so check there if you're so inclined.

Please pray that this goes smoothly, that she's healthy, that Daddy doesn't pass out, and that it takes two hours. HAHA. Ok, I know that last request is unrealistic, but a speedy labor would be nice :)

Here goes everything!

eviction notice.

2010-11-12T17:38:00.008-06:00

I had my 38-week appointment today. I am just barely 1cm dilated (and that's being generous).

After much contemplation (this has been going on for weeks, I just haven't said anything), we have decided to induce next Wednesday!

Uhm, holy crap. That's 5 days from now!

But it is surely time and Baby Girl will be just fine. My doctor has reassured me that it is entirely safe (even though there is a higher risk for a C-Section) and I am fully on board. I have a peace about it and know that everything will be okay.

We'll actually check into the hospital Tuesday evening and hope to deliver on Wednesday sometime. I know it will be a long process (probably), but I am ready to get the ball rolling.

I'm not worried about pain or how "miserable" this process might be. I'm a pretty tough cookie. Hello, back surgery. I would rather experience a day or two of misery than to deal with all this anxiety I am currently feeling. I am not good at waiting and anticipation, although it can be nice sometimes, is also a thorn in my side. I am just ready to start this process.

Plus, I am getting very uncomfortable and tensions are high in this house, as no one is sleeping well and things are just at the boiling point. Something's gotta give. And since we can't give her back, she might as well come on out and join the party.

I also like the idea of having my bags packed just the way I want them to be packed. I'm sort of a planner, if you couldn't tell by now.

So, I will have a baby next week.

And along with my Daddy passing away, that is the most monumental thing I have ever typed on this blog...or shall experience.

enjoying last-minute "adult time."

2010-11-12T10:22:00.004-06:00

Husband and I have spent the last week or so trying to enjoy what little time remains of just "him and me." I have to admit, it makes me a tad sad when I think that there will never be just "him and me" anymore. I know the addition of Baby Girl will be amazing, but still...I mourn (just slightly) the loss of who we used to be.

With that being said, I thought I'd update on the "adult" things we have enjoyed lately.

First, dinner at Ashley's in Little Rock. This is not a kid-friendly place, nor is it cheap. We enjoyed the most delicious filet in the most beautiful atmosphere. There was nary a screaming child or Cheerio on the floor. It was wonderful.

Wicked at Robinson Center Music Hall. What a show! We had amazing seats! The costumes were amazing, the sets were amazing, the talent was amazing. I laughed, I cried, I held my husband's hand. It was wonderful.

A one-night stay at the Rosement Inn Bed and Breakfast. Why? Because I wanted a night of no cooking, no dog to tend to, no cleaning. I wanted to be pampered. I wanted someone to make my breakfast. And most importantly, I wanted to bathe in a garden tub, dang it. And that I did. We stayed in the St. Clair room. It was beautiful. My only complaint was that the inn keeper had the heat on WAY TOO HIGH for this pregnant lady. I had to open windows in the morning to let some air in, but other than that, everything about the inn was amazing. She served us a fantastic breakfast the following morning and my bath the night before was worth every penny we paid. We ate breakfast then came back to the room and snoozed...in perfect silence. The only sound we could hear was the air blowing through the windows. Husband read on his Kindle in the sun room, I slept cozily on the over-sized Q ueen bed. We did this until 11:30 when it was time to head out for my doctor's appointment. It was everything I wanted it to be.

Note: The sheets on our bed felt like cream. I dug around for the tags and discovered that they were made by The Comphy Co. Guess what I'm asking for for Christmas this year? :)

Last night, we saw Morning Glory. It wasn't the best movie ever, but I did enjoy it. I wanted one last in-theatre movie before bebe arrives. I don't imagine we'll be attending movies in the theatre for quite some time. My popcorn and Coke were delicious and it was a pleasure to watch a movie with no interruptions. I'm telling you, I'm soaking all of this in.

I also indulged in a "me" day yesterday before the movie. I went to Starbucks, I got a pedicure and manicure, I read a book while eating lunch alone, and I did some shopping. By then my feet had swollen so badly that I had to call it a day. It was lovely, enjoying the pleasure of my own company.

We don't have any plans for this evening, but we do plan to attend a couple's game night on Saturday. Then, my mom comes into town on Sunday.

It is sad to think that these quiet times are soon ending. But I am positive that it will all be worth it.

38 weeks.

2010-11-09T16:42:00.002-06:00

Nicole, here's a photo, just for you - taken this afternoon.

38 weeks and counting...

the home stretch sucks.

2010-11-08T11:35:00.005-06:00

I don't like to complain about being pregnant because I know so many people who either can't get pregnant, have lost babies, or something else that makes my petty complaints seem, well, petty. So I will start this post by apologizing in advance and admitting that yes, I need to get over it. There are far worse things. I know this.

But we are in week 38 now and I just have to say...

I WANT THIS BABY OUT!

Is it really true that the last few weeks are the worst? I keep hearing people say that and I really want to believe it to sort of validate my feelings about the last couple of days.

I feel engorged, heavy, fat, enormous, tired, ugly, anxious, hormonal, nervous, ill-equipped, inconsequential...need I go on? My scale proved to me this morning that I am, indeed, as large as I feel. I don't know why I have gained so much weight in one week (4 pounds). Could it be water-retention? Baby? I have no idea. But it does NOT feel good.

Please tell me all these feelings are natural. I haven't really felt "bad" about being pregnant up until now. I am, quite simply, over it.

And that is all.

enter the baby webb online pool!

2010-11-01T11:49:00.002-05:00

Just for fun, go here to enter the Baby Webb Online Pool. Winner will receive something amazing...although we don't know what that prize is just yet :)

halloween 2010.

2010-11-01T10:39:00.003-05:00

We kept it pretty simple this year and attended a friend's house party. We went as Juno and Bleeker from the movie Juno. It was the easiest costume to put together, although procuring a gold headband and some gold wristbands was downright impossible.

My husband is such a good sport for dressing up with me. I love him.

And yes, I realize I do look like a "freakin' planet" in this photo. Juno wears lots of layers. ;)

Our inspiration: Not too bad for putting this together 2 hours before the party started...

my goodness!

2010-10-28T12:56:00.000-05:00

inside the God box.

2010-10-25T22:48:00.002-05:00

It takes a lot for me to be moved by a particular piece of writing. I have only cried while reading one, maybe two books my entire lifetime. So, when I read this article and felt tears in my eyes, I knew I just had to share.

Take 10 minutes out of your day and read this. You will be glad you did.

on becoming babywise: a review

2010-10-25T10:19:00.003-05:00

I finished On Becoming Babywise last night. I can't tell you how excited I am to move on to a completely non-baby-related book now. I'm thinking Wicked is up next since we're seeing the Broadway musical next week!

Anyhow, I liked Babywise. I thought it offered a lot of good tips and I appreciated how it lays out a schedule to follow. However, it contradicts a lot of advice from Happiest Baby on the Block, so what's a gal to do? I guess try both strategies and see what works?!

The only "complaint" or issue I have with Babywise is this: They advocate waking up a sleeping baby in order to nurse if she has gone 5 hours at night without a feeding. That, to me, seems ridiculous. I know I'm no expert, but why would you ever, ever, ever, wake up a sleeping baby? That's like waking up a sleeping lion! Why fix what's not broken? Does anyone have any insight concerning this issue?

I leave you with this: To wake up a baby to nurse at night or not? That is the question.

34 weeks.

2010-10-17T13:34:00.003-05:00

This was taken right before I headed out for my baby shower yesterday afternoon. The shower was wonderful! I was overwhelmed with how many people showed up to show their support for Baby Girl and me.

We just need a few more items (i.e. one last Babies R Us run, thank God) and I think we are good to go! I am ready to just kick my swollen feet up and wait the rest of this pregnancy out!

what is it about a boy and his daddy?

2010-10-13T12:35:00.002-05:00

books, books, and more books!

2010-10-12T11:25:00.005-05:00

After yesterday's marathon post, I am not inclined to write a review of each of these books. That just sounds exhausting! But here are the last couple books I've read, with just a few notes on each.

Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy was a very light read. I read half of it one night in bed and finished it the following night. Overall, it was enjoyable, but certainly not refined literature. She is often crass in her account (big surprise there) and I question the validity of some things she claims really happened to her during her pregnancy. It was fun, but definitely in the "to be donated" pile.

The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp, unlike McCarthy's book, was very helpful and eye-opening. Husband and I watched a video seminar of Karp's at a parenting/childbirth class we attended. Our jaws dropped when we saw him use the 5 S's to soothe fussy babies. We immediately got our hands on this book (thanks to a dear friend who let me borrow her copy) and consumed every piece of information we could. I am not naive enough to believe that the 5 S's are a cure-all, but what a wealth of knowledge this book is to fall back on! I feel much more secure in knowing I at least have something I can use when Baby is being difficult.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin was my Book Club's pick for the month of October. This was the first book I read on our new Kindle 3, which was an experience on its own. About the Kindle: I didn't think I would like it...but I do. There are aspects of a real book that I miss, though. I think I liked reading this book on the Kindle because I do most of my reading at nighttime in bed. The Kindle is so light-weight and with my inability to get comfortable these days, I found the Kindle more maneuverable/easy to hold. It doesn't take the place of paper, though. And I'm not a fan of how expensive downloads are when I am so used to getting my books for free off paperbackswap.com.

Anyway, Three Cups of Tea started out great and I sort of lost interest in it about halfway through. I find it funny that Greg Mortenson is listed as an author because, to me, it seemed like Relin did all the grunt work. It's a good story, but after reading Say You're One of Them, I just am "over" reading about poor, struggling countries and we how we should help. Isn't that awful?

I enjoyed the book and don't regret paying 12 e-dollars for the Kindle download. It's just not the best book I've ever read, that's for sure.

Say You're One of Them by Uwen Akpan is the worst book I've read. Seriously. I HATED THIS BOOK. What's more unfortunate is that I am the one who chose it for September's Book Club! It has rave reviews and was featured on Oprah as one of the best books for 2009. This book is a prime example of how you cannot pick a book based on its cover. The cover causes one to believe that this book is phenomenal, gripping, poignant - a story of hope. Quite the contrary! This book read like the movie Precious, but in Kenya.

It was depressing. By the time I finished this book, I seriously wanted to crawl into a corner and cry. Nothing about this book inspired me; it just made me sad. Tack on that the language was also very difficult to decipher and you've got a recipe for disaster. I TRUDGED through this book only because it was our choice for Book Club...and guess what? I was the ONLY member who read it all the way through. Yes, it's that bad.

I don't know why I don't see what others see in this book. But I don't and I am SO GLAD this one is behind me.

I have now moved on to yet another baby book (see side bar). Husband and I are very passionate about learning all we can before Baby arrives. We've found it frustrating that books and experts often offer conflicting suggestions, but we are taking it all in and processing all the information in order to make the most informed choices for our little one. I suppose that's all one can really do, right? On Becoming Babywise was recommended to us by a friend whose baby was born at 28 weeks. So far, it seems to contradict some of what Happiest Baby on the Block advises, but that's okay. Knowledge is power :)

With that, it is time to do something productive with my day.

introducing the third trimester starting lineup!

2010-10-11T17:12:00.017-05:00

I am now 34 weeks along. Just that statement alone baffles me. In six short weeks (give or take), our little girl will be here. It's just insanity!

This last trimester has proven to be a doozy so far (and I hear it only gets "better"). I feel like I am carrying around a bowling bowl even though, according to my books, she only weighs about 4.5 pounds. Some days, it feels like I am carrying around a sack of potatoes. Needless to say, there has emerged certain daily "complications" that I have been able to somewhat appease with what I now present to you: The Third Trimester Starting Lineup!

Note: If you are offended by the God-honest truth and Mother Nature, discontinue reading at this point.

The first member of our starting lineup is Prenatal Vitamin. He has proven to be quite stinky over the past 8 or so months, but beneficial for those days where neither vegetable, fruit, nor mineral has entered my mouth. I thank Prenatal Vitamin for giving my baby the nutrients she needs because I know she's not getting any from that big bowl of ice cream...or bag of Cheetos...or pizza...

Prenatal Vitamin appears only at night, before bedtime, because as I mentioned, its smell is quite nauseating and its side effects less than pleasant.

Next on our list of star players is Stool Softener. Who says pregnancy ain't sexy? My doctor recommended Colace at one of my first visits. I wasn't having any "troubles down under" until - you guessed it - this third trimester. On a day that felt like I was a.) Passing boulders and b.) Quite convinced that I would give birth to my child on the toilet, I decided it was time to purchase Stool Softener. I started with just one dose a day, but that wasn't cutting it. I asked my doctor at my last visit if too much of this stuff was a bad thing. She said, "Girl, I took it five times a day. You do NOT want hemorrhoids. They're the gift that keeps on giving." With those wise words, I now take Stool Softener when I first wake up, after lunch, at dinnertime, and again before bed. That is JUST now getting the job done. Of all things, I DO NOT want hemorrhoids. Stool softener is a key player on this team, y'all. He might even be the MVP at this point.

Because this baby has seemed huge since its inception (conception?) and because I had back freaking surgery in January (yeah, remember that?!), my back has taken a beating during this last trimester. I went this whole time without any back pain, but alas, it was too good to be true. I now have employed Acetaminophen (also known as Tylenol) to be a starter on my team of daily necessities. I try to limit the amount I take, but find myself dropping at least two of these bad boys on a daily basis. Surprisingly, it works. In fact, I could use some right now...

Next up is Antacid. He usually isn't needed until bedtime. In fact, he usually only makes his appearance in the wee hours of the morning when I wake up from nausea, thinking, "What the hell is in my throat?!" or "Why does my heart feel like it's about to explode?!" Taken quickly, Antacid usually solves the problem. I couple Antacid with propping my pillows upward to help ease the pain of heartburn and indigestion. Of course, this only works for an hour or two as propping pillows upward is killer on my neck. Neck comfort is sacrificed at this point, y'all. Why are there two tablets on top of the bottle, by the way? Those are strategically placed there each night so as not to disturb my peacefully-sleeping husband with the rattlerattlerattle of the bottle. This way, I just reach over in the dark for my tablets, which have been mocking me all night, knowing they are needed despite my protest, and the entire process makes zero sound. I really am too kind, aren't I?

Oh yes, there's more. A few weeks ago, as some of you may remember, my boobs started leaking at night. This was a revelation to me, as I thought that only happened once the baby was on the OUTSIDE of one's person. Apparently, leaky breasts are quite normal at this stage in the game. Again, the sexiness knows no end. Because of this startling revelation, I was forced to employ Nursing Pads. She is a great helper and always there when I need her. At times she is excessive, but failing to not put her in the game yields unfavorable results in the middle of the night/morning when there is, well, you know, all over the place and I have to wash my sheets...yet again. And at $10 a pop, she was an expensive recruit. But she is needed. This is undeniable.

Have I mentioned that this is a DAILY routine?! There's more. Because of my back surgery in January and because my doctor is seriously amazing, I purchased Prenatal Cradle a few months ago at her urging. Best $15 spent all pregnancy. Prenatal Cradle is a very strong elastic belt that is worn below the belly and literally "cradles" the weight, thus relieving back pain. Prenatal Cradle does housework with me, attends photo shoots, Walmart, and all other third-trimester activities that involve much walking and/or standing. Prenatal Cradle is a life-saver and I could kiss my doctor for suggesting I purchase it.

The next players are controversial. I am not sure if their heads are really in the game. They were recruited at the very beginning of this pregnancy, but unfortunately, haven't come through as much as I had hoped. However, I can't afford to forfeit them, either. Because who knows where I would be without them? They have not prevented stretch marks from forming on the sides of my hips (which is an odd place, I think) or on the inside of my thighs. But there is nary a stretch mark on my stomach or leaky boobs, so perhaps they are doing their job, after all? I will keep them on my team until the game is over, but I know that they aren't guaranteed to prevent more from coming. I purchased some Bio Oil this afternoon and will incorporate that, as well. Unfortunately, everything I've read indicates that stretch marks are going to appear no matter what I do...which is just so...encouraging, isn't it? Ah, well. If more appear, then more appear. I guess that's why God invented laser surgery...

The next one is a new player to the team. Gold Bond wasn't introduced until a few days ago. Much needed and much appreciated, Gold Bond helps reduce the certain chafing that has occurred down under. Seamless underwear has also helped. I'm telling you, the millions of ways to feel attractive and womanly whilst pregnant just know no end.

The next three (and final) players are crucial to my overall daily survival. Noodle Pillow helps support my back at night, despite Husband's annoyance that it takes up too much room in our bed. Uhm, get over it.

Toilet Paper is always there for reasons you might not assume - no, it's not because I'm on the toilet all the time. I actually have used rolls and rolls of TP for my nasal congestion. Each day, since about month 4, I have woken up with a bloody/congested nose that actually blocks my airways and causes me to grunt/snore/breathe like a fat kid. Each morning starts off with a hefty blow into Toilet Paper. And then I can breathe again and continue my day. And for Toilet Paper, I am thankful.

Finally, Water is also very vital to my being able to function. If I do not take in enough liquids, I feel very sluggish and dehydrated and downright lousy. I crave ice-cold water with lemon (which is the healthiest craving I've ever had in my life) and it really does my body good.

If you think that was exhausting to read, imagine how exhausting it is to employ! Every. Single. Day.

Despite my starting lineup, this pregnancy has still been pretty easy compared to others' who haven't had it as good. I am thankful that baby is healthy and huge and that there haven't been any major complications.

Six more weeks...six more weeks...I think I can, I think I can...

just for you, mv!

2010-10-08T00:20:00.004-05:00

A dear friend has requested a ~~boulder~~ belly photo on the blog since she doesn't have a Facebook account. So, here it is! This was taken Thursday, October 7, 2010.

33 weeks!

Note: It's very awkward to hold a heavy camera whilst taking a photo of oneself in the bathroom mirror. There was probably an easier way of doing this...

a mover and shaker!

2010-10-07T11:04:00.003-05:00

This is just for fun, excuse the silliness of it all.

Please also excuse the hideous print of those pajamas I am wearing (they're Vera Wang, which I thought meant they were cute by default, but really, they're quite ugly). Also pay no mind to Biggest Loser playing in the background...something about heart attacks and whatnot. Haha!

Here's my little mover and shaker. The movements might appear subtle on the video, but they sure don't FEEL subtle in reality. Watch closely.

P.S. This is my favorite part of pregnancy, easily.

mama got a new lens!

2010-10-04T17:18:00.003-05:00

And she loves it!

Finally, a 50mm is in my possession! It really changes the whole dynamic of a photo shoot...or something. I just love the clarity, depth of field, bokeh, everything. Best $99.99 I've spent in a long time!

ain't no rest for the weary.

2010-10-01T03:35:00.006-05:00

So...it's 3:35 am and I'm blogging. Why, you ask?

Because between the dog (that I want to kick really badly at this point), a snoring husband, heartburn, a headache that has started coming every night as soon as I turn off the light, and a bedroom that is stifling hot, I am wide awake.

The dog picks and chooses when he wants to let us actually sleep the whole night through. Tonight was not one of those nights.

Husband, bless his heart, has started snoring in the last year or two. It's pretty subtle but enough to wake me out of my sleep. Fortunately, if I ask him really nicely to turn over and lay on his side, he usually does without complaint. Not his fault, but definitely a factor in why I am blogging at 3:38am.

Heartburn has been standard for the last couple months. Nothing a few Tums can't fix. I pop those things like candy these days.

The headache has me baffled, though. I don't have a headache all day. I drink plenty of water. I lay in bed and read and my head feels fine. Then, as soon as I turn off the light and get "comfy," BAM! Headache. It feels like all the blood rushes to my head, really. Perhaps I need a new pillow? My pillow has always been amazing. Why now?! I have tried adding another pillow to sort of prop my head up in order to keep that blood-rushing-to-my-brain feeling at bay, but my neck can only tolerate that position for so long. It's awful! This has been going on every night for the past 3 or 4 nights. What the heck?! Two Tylenols, please.

And the bedroom being warm - well, that's always been the case. The part of the house in which we DON'T sleep is the most cool and comfortable. And of course, it's also the most warm and cozy during the winter. Ugggh.

So, here I am. At 3:42 am, blogging. Not sure if I should go back in the bedroom and give sleep another shot, or if I should attempt sleeping on the guest bedroom futon. Neither option is sure to succeed.

I have always been a pretty terrible sleeper. Every, little sound wakes me up. Before I was pregnant, I often (as in, every night) took some sort of sleep aid, usually melatonin. So this not sleeping thing isn't new. It's just more frequent now and comes with many more "perks."

What's interesting, though, is that last weekend, Husband fell asleep on the couch and the dog stayed outside. I slept alone in our bedroom and wouldn't you know - slept like a baby. I wasn't hot, I didn't get woken up (except to pee) and I woke up feeling refreshed the next morning.

I think I know who the guilty culprits are...maybe THEY should be the ones to sleep on the futon!

The baby wakes me up in the middle of the night sometimes with her kicking. But that doesn't bother me. That's my favorite part about being pregnant. In fact, she's the only one NOT driving me crazy these last few nights!

Ugh. Good night...or is it good morning?!

kindle cover.

2010-09-28T09:14:00.003-05:00

Once pay day gets here (it really needs to get here, by the way - I still haven't figured out how I am paying for my eyebrow wax this afternoon), I am going to try my hand at making one of these. Or one of these, but with a way cuter fabric.

I tried making one last night without a guide (you know, just using my noggin), and it was a disaster. I guess I am one of those "visual learners" after all.

On a different note, I am enjoying my Kindle Wi-Fi more than I thought I would. Now that I have gotten a bit more used to it, it's actually fun to use! Nothing will change my love for real books, though. It's just not going to happen.

Speaking of books, I have finished two between my last review and now and have started on a third - see the new book on the side bar? Yay!

I'll have those reviews up soon...I hope.

the little one's nursery.

2010-09-24T15:49:00.005-05:00

It has definitely been a labor of love, but my girl's nursery is finally complete! There are few, very small, ticky things we need to finalize, but if they don't get done, I think I'll live.

Here are a few shots. However, you can see more on Facebook by clicking here.

The view from the door:

View from one of the closets:

And I just love how it looks with the lights off, sun shining in through the window. It's very peaceful.

kitchenware, anyone?

2010-09-22T09:53:00.002-05:00

Holla if you're interested or know of anyone who might be!

Click here for my craigslist ad.

Here are better pictures of what's up for grabs.

my body is not my own.

2010-09-19T10:18:00.003-05:00

I can't exercise the way I want to or sleep the way I want to. I can't clean the house without feeling like I just ran a marathon. I have been forced to wear a "prenatal cradle" around the house to keep the weight off of my lower back. I can't wear my engagement ring anymore. I can barely shave my legs.

But I can do this.

Click if you dare.

pregnancy brain.

2010-09-15T09:45:00.002-05:00

All my posts lately have been about baby stuff and/or pregnancy stuff. I'm sorry! It's just, well, all that's on my mind these days. It's all I do. I am a Type A Planner and everything needs to be just so before she arrives. So, I'm sorry.

With that being said, I thought I would rattle off a few funnies that have happened in the past month or so regarding my "pregnancy brain." As an avid planner (some might say borderline OCD), the absentmindedness that comes with being pregnant is a real point of stress for me...for about 2 seconds...and then I just laugh because it can't be helped.

In the last month or so:

I couldn't find my iPhone. I looked high and low. I looked everywhere in the house. I resigned myself to the fact that I probably left it somewhere and Husband would be annoyed that we needed to buy a new one. But wait. I found it...in the pantry...next to the Triscuits. Huh?!
We went to Babies R Us with a $150 gift card that we had intentions of using for baby's mattress, diaper changer, and other accessories. I must have said the words "Gift Card" at least 15 times while we were perusing the aisles. "We can get that with the gift card." "The gift card will pay for this!" "Let's put this towards the gift card." You get the idea. We get to the register, the guy scans all my items (which of course, hit just under $150 because, after all, I was going to use the gift card). I pay with my debit card. Huh?!?! Luckily, I was able to just return everything 5 minutes later, buy it all back and yes, pay with my gift card.
We went to the movies. I always bring a sweater because I'm an "always bring a sweater" kind of gal. It was a grandpa sweater from Old Navy, which I loved. I left it at the theatre. I will never see it again. Goodbye, grandpa sweater.
There was something else. I know that because there were 4 things that stood out as crazy behavior. But, of course, I can't remember what that 4th thing was.

Christmas Card Sessions (or otherwise known as I-NEED-FAMILY-PORTRAITS NOW!! Sessions)

2010-09-14T22:43:00.004-05:00

Can you believe it’s that time again? Fall is soon approaching and with the wonderful season comes all those fabulous holidays, including Christmas!

In the spirit of the season, Backflip Photography is offering “Christmas Card Sessions” to get you ready for those important family and friends touch-points.

Here are the details:

For $65 (yes, that’s it!) you will receive a one-hour photo session at the location of your choice, 10-12 edited images/different poses on CD, all images taken at the shoot on CD, and a photo release form which will legally allow you to make all the prints you want for those greeting cards!

Sessions must be booked and take place before November 15, 2010 as yours truly is expecting a baby on Thanksgiving Day!

Book now as slots are already filling up fast! You don’t want to miss out on this great deal and definitely don't want to regret not getting those pictures done like you did last year ;)

Please note that the 15% off active military discount does not apply and that other packages are still available during this time.

To book your session, please email Cassandra at backflip_pix@yahoo.com or leave a comment on the Backflip Photography Facebook page.

Happy Fall, y'all!

research project: pack n play (UPDATED)

2010-09-13T23:25:00.004-05:00

Update: I ask and their Pack n Play didn't come with the bassinet kit. Boo! Oh, how I so wanted a like-new Pack n Play for $20. Back to the drawing board (also known as craigslist). Thanks for the info, everyone! It was much appreciated!

Quick! Mom advice needed!

We want to get a Pack n Play for the baby and Husband's cousin is willing to sell us her like-new Pack n Play for $20! The only problem is I am not sure if it's what we really want, based on this picture.

Does anyone have any thorough Pack n Play knowledge they can impart? I don't want to have to bend down that far to put her to sleep, nor do I want her that low to the ground when she's so brand new! Basically, I want to know if this particular Pack n Play has the parts to make it look and function more like this one:

Can anyone tell if her particular Pack n Play does that? Or is her's just a basic, more "play pen" like model? Do all Pack n Plays have the adjustable bassinet feature?

I'm overwhelmed.

adventures in registering.

2010-09-10T07:26:00.004-05:00

I hate Babies R Us. I hate that store with the passion of the fires of a thousand hells. Ok, that's probably too much, but I DO NOT LIKE THAT STORE.

To be fair, other Babies R Us stores in other cities in other states might be wonderful. Just not mine.

With that being said, my Mom and I tackled my baby registry yesterday. We set out in good spirits. We sat down at the desk and created the account with one of the representatives. We were advised to save the "infant feeding" section for last because "it can be overwhelming." Fair enough. We got the scanner gun and off we went!

At first, it was fun. A LOT OF FUN! Blankets, sheets, toys, bibs, decor, etc. I am loving this, I thought.

Then it was time for the infant feeding section. Dun dun dun!

By then, two hours had passed and I was getting hungry (which these days translates into "mega cranky"). I stared in awe at the wall of bottles and nipples and suddenly felt very overwhelmed. The following is an account of my thoughts at this point:

Which brand of bottle should I get? Do these things REALLY help reduce colic? Slow nipple? Fast? Medium? Huh?! How much is a breast pump? $300!??! You've got to be kidding me! Why do I need a boppy pillow FOR MY boppy pillow? There are different sizes of pacifiers?! Does my child really need all this?! What about the babies in Africa? They survive just fine without "slow" flowing nipples. All this baby stuff is just a marketing ploy. Why does a breast pump cost $300?!?

I was exhausted! I don't even remember what bottles I scanned or what nipples or anything. I had had enough! We decided it was time to call it quits at Babies R Us and get some lunch. Best decision, ever.

We gave back our scanner gun and got the registry printed out. Other than the "infant feeding" section, it was a success.

We had a lovely lunch at Cracker Barrel (mmm, macaroni and cheese) before heading to Target. We created the account and got the scanner gun. This time, registering was a LOT easier. In fact, it was underwhelming. It only took about 30 minutes (thank God) because our baby section at Target is quite small...and that was a welcome change!

Five hours later, Baby Girl Webb was officially registered. It was a successful day, but I am so glad that is over!

Just so you know, I still hate Babies R Us and I still want to know why a breast pump costs $300.

homecoming.

2010-09-08T10:22:00.005-05:00

I had the pleasure of taking photos for one of our squadron family member's deployment homecoming. These are always special days full of anticipation, nerves, and pure bliss.

While we were waiting in the lounge for the plane to touch down, a little girl wearing a blue dress and Mary Janes walked up to me and asked if I would watch her "jump two squares at a time" (the floor of the lounge was tiled with alternating black and white squares). I didn't know this little girl from Adam, but I said, "Sure! I'll watch."

The little girl proceeded to clumsily jump over the squares. With much fascination, I exclaimed, "Wow! That's pretty impressive! I know I couldn't jump two squares two at a time!" She grinned from ear to ear.

She then explained to me that her Daddy was coming home today.

I replied, "He is?! That's wonderful! Are you happy to see him?"

She nodded yes and then told me again: "My Daddy's coming home today!"

I smiled and asked, "Who's your Dad?" Foolishly thinking, of course, that she would tell me his name and that I would recognize it and immediately know whose child this was.

She looked at me like I was the strangest person she had ever met before exclaiming, "He's Daddy!"

Of course he is, sweet baby.

She then skipped away and proceeded to jump over more squares.

Here's a straight-out-of-the-camera shot (unedited) from yesterday's homecoming. My favorite part of this shot is his hands. Holding her so tightly! *Sigh. These are the best days.

i like the sound of that.

2010-09-03T11:01:00.002-05:00

Lately, I find myself perusing this website...a lot.

I know now is not the time to seriously delve into this wild-hair-idea, but someday, maybe.

Cassandra L. Webb, Esq.

I like the sound of that.

toby boy.

2010-09-01T10:02:00.003-05:00

It's another sad day.

My mom's sweet dog, Toby, died last night.

We got him when I was 13 - which made Toby 105 years old. That's pretty darn old. He was a beautiful Golden Retriever and we are surprised that he even lived that long to begin with. It doesn't take away, however, the sadness surrounding his passing.

He lived in Texas with my mom so she has a stronger connection to him than I do, obviously. The poor guy, he was just so old. It was his time.

We are sad today and will miss him. He was such a sweet dog.

A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A water log stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if your rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary? -- John Grogan

a pregnancy survey.

2010-08-29T19:20:00.006-05:00

***** Scroll down to see new pictures of the nursery!

For now, I stole this from a friend's blog. Hope she doesn't mind!

*When is your due date? November 24, 2010 - the day before Thanksgiving!

*What week are you in? 28th week

*Have you had an ultrasound? One sonogram and one ultrasound. She's perfectly healthy - we are blessed!

*Do you know the gender of your baby? Team Pink

*Do you have a name picked out? What? Yes, but we're not sharing just yet.

*Is the child being named after someone? Yes, she is.

*Who is going to be with you during delivery? I hope my husband is there! And the doctor. That would be good.

*Natural or medicated childbirth? Medicated, please.

*How are you feeling right about now? Very heavy, but healthy. I seldom feel sick or weak. I feel like a walking boulder, but that's okay. It is definitely motivation to NEVER be this large without being pregnant. I hate how everything hurts and gets me winded. Having to catch your breath after unloading the dishwasher? Not normal.

*What was the first thing you bought for baby? Some cute outfits from a consignment shop.

*Do you feel you are ready to have a baby? Uhm, no. Are you ever ready!?

*Are you excited or scared about delivery? I wouldn't say I'm excited, but I'm definitely not scared. I have an extremely high tolerance for pain and after back surgery, I'm not sure much can phase me. I am not looking forward to the physical stuff that comes after the baby has arrived. Ew.

*Any food cravings? Ice water with lemon, tea, sweets, peanut butter and jelly, noodles

*Anything you loved before that you absolutely cannot eat anymore? Unfortunately, fresh vegetables and lean meats. Why can't I abhor cookies?!

* Anything else you'd like to share or vent about? No venting here. I am extremely happy. I feel overwhelmingly blessed and thankful each and every day that I have had a textbook pregnancy (so far) and that getting pregnant was a very simple thing for us. We are very fortunate.

nursery progress.

2010-08-29T18:51:00.003-05:00

We FINALLY finished painting baby girl's nursery today. It was quite the chore, but I think well worth the time and effort. Being 7 months pregnant, I consider painting her room a real labor of love.

The paint color we used is called "Cookie Crumbs." We went with a neutral (some might say boring) color because we like things clean and polished at the Webb house. Plus, with the bedding we have chosen, it sort of demands a neutral wall.

Here are some before and after photos:

BEFORE (This room was our home office)

AFTER

Clean, crisp, neutral. And it reminds me of cookie batter. What's not to like? :)

my window.

2010-08-28T09:33:00.003-05:00

You know how they (whoever "they" are) always say that when a door closes, a window opens? Or something to that degree?

Well, I got a job doing some freelance writing and photography (!!!) for several newspapers in my area.

My first assignment is this morning. I get to write a feature AND shoot the photos! I am beyond thrilled and thankful.

Can't nobody hold me down ;)

because every little girl needs bird knobs...

2010-08-27T12:27:00.005-05:00

I just purchased these hand-painted and distressed knobs from etsy. They will replace the hideous gold (!!!) knobs that are currently on the cabinets under the window in the nursery.

Aren't they just whimsical? Here's the link, as they come in a whole bunch of different colors.

Yay for nursery decorating!

P.S. I had my 28 week appointment today. Baby Girl is doing fantastic and my belly is measuring just as it should. I had to drink Glucola this morning - which was awful. It made me feel terrible about 15 minutes after I drank it, but then I felt just fine after about 45 minutes. I am hoping that means my sugar levels (or whatever) work just as they should. Because having gestational diabetes would suck. I can't believe she'll be here so soon. INSANE!!!

pick my outfits...'cuz I don't wanna!

2010-08-25T13:42:00.003-05:00

I've noticed that since I've gotten (a little) older and have spent more time at home than in the career field, I have let my fashion sense go the way of the dodo bird.

Every now and then, I get dressed up, but most days, I wear a tank top and pj pants. If I go out to run errands, I usually swap the pj pants for jeans or shorts. Ugh.

I used to dress super-trendy, Bohemian even. Nowadays, well, "trendy" escapes me.

I would LOVE to find a website that would generate an outfit for me on a daily basis, so that even on my Walmart runs, I can feel confident. I googled and googled, but found nothing. Does anyone know of a website that creates outfits for you?? I don't want to upload a photo of myself and a photo of every, single piece of clothing I have in my closet. I just want someone to send me an email or post on their blog an outfit for the day. That's all. So that I can get an idea of what's considered fashion-forward. If I don't have all the pieces in my own closet, that's ok. At least I would have some sort of general reference.

I miss my fashionista days! And I want them back! But I don't want to have to think about it every morning...ha.

Anyone know of such a magical site?

the rice crispy treat graduates.

2010-08-20T09:35:00.001-05:00

Click on the "crafts and grub" page for a new, yummy (and easy) recipe!

Enjoy!

dirty laundry.

2010-08-18T13:14:00.003-05:00

Click here to read my latest private post. If you don't have the new password, leave a comment with your email address.

baby bedding acquired!

2010-08-16T08:37:00.005-05:00

I promise, one day I will write a post that is entirely non-baby-related. For now, you must read about baby bedding. Sorry.

I found a great deal on Baby Girl's bedding at bunksnstuff.com. Here is it, revealed in all its glory!

Now before you get all judgmental on me, her nursery will NOT be this busy. Talk about wall decal overload! I do love the bird house, though.

I ordered the crib set last night, as well as the lamp with matching shade. I nixed the mobile, rug, decorative pillows, and wall decor in favor of other (cheaper) alternatives later. And seriously, what baby needs a decorative pillow?!

I plan on making my own wall decor and room accents with this fabric set I found on etsy (of course). Isn't it ADORABLE?! I think the colors compliment each other nicely. I have no intentions of going crazy with the butterflies, but I do think this bedding coupled with the Freebird fabric makes for a classy, clean, sans pink baby girl nursery.

I REALLY want to make one of these out of that Freebird fabric, but will a quilt seriously be used? I mean, let's get real. Other than draping it over our glider, I doubt the functionality of a quilt like this. But it's just SO! DARN! CUTE! I might have to make one anyway, just to keep my hands busy or to say I did it. Because I'm totally like that.

We plan on painting the walls a beige/cookie color and we are keeping the drapes we currently have in our office/nursery, which are a beautiful chocolate brown and made of very thick material. They keep the room cool and dark, which, I think, creates a perfect environment for a little one.

I can't wait to get started! There is so much to do!

private eyes.

2010-08-12T00:14:00.003-05:00

The password for my other blog has changed. If you would like access, please comment with your email address and I'll send you the new password that you will have to use in order to continue reading.

On another note, read post below for a great summertime treat!

"isn't it refreshing?!"

2010-08-11T23:52:00.003-05:00

Tonight was Taco Night at the Webb house. I made tacos (duh), cheese dip with Rotel and since I can't have any margaritas, I chose to make these drinks instead.

Oh. My. Word.

If you're a fan of lemonade, you will LOVE these slushies! They are super easy to make and yes, quite refreshing when the heat index is 115!!

Do not substitute Simply Lemonade for another version. I don't think you'll get the same results. Make this drink tomorrow. You will not be disappointed. Yum!!

P.S. I didn't add any sugar because I LOVE my drinks on the more tart side. I didn't think it needed any sugar, but if you prefer sweet over sour, go for it!

25 weeks!

2010-08-08T19:47:00.002-05:00

"ok, i gotta admit it. this is pretty darn cute."

2010-08-08T11:04:00.008-05:00

Arkansas doesn't have too many neat and interesting things to do (no offense if you're from here). However, when you DO find a neat and interesting thing to do, it is seriously awesome! One of these things is the Rhea Lana Consignment Sale. I never had a need to attend - until now!

I went last week and my goodness, it was overwhelming! Aside from sweating buckets (hey, it was over 100 degrees outside), I really enjoyed myself and came home with two huge TJMaxx totes full of items for our girl.

I spent $203 dollars. I wanted to stay under $200, but what's an extra three bucks? That extra three bucks got me a 6-pack of Carter onesies! I'd say it was worth it.

Check out below what $203 got me. I thought I did pretty well, especially since about 90% of these items are all brand name. Does Baby Gap not have the cutest stuff, or what?!

I couldn't believe that one outfit from Gymboree was originally priced $37. Seriously?! Who would pay that for a 0-3 month outfit?!

See that little sweater on the top left of the couch? That's the one my Husband picked up and said, "Ok, I gotta admit. This is pretty darn cute." It made me happy :)

I LOVE this little top from Old Navy. I can see her wearing it with jeans or these denim bloomers my mom-in-law bought for us. So cute!

And here's a little, hand-made stuffed owl that I HAD to buy for her nursery. We are not going pink (clearly). I just love this little guy!

Everyone was right - buying for girls is fun! Next paycheck? Bedding!

our girl.

2010-08-03T22:23:00.005-05:00

There is another post below this one, but this one is way more exciting.

Here's our girl at 23 weeks (even though the photo says 22 weeks).

Her profile. She was making the cutest kissy face! She was really eating/swallowing, but it was adorable. At this point in the ultrasound, she was kicking her feet above her head and playing with her toes. I about died, it was so cute.

She has a big, healthy belly - which we love. And I am quite fond of that little nose, too.

One of her feet!

Here, the tech switched us over to 3D to get a good look at her face. She has her hand on her head. I think she has a beautiful mouth. I also think she looks just like my husband in this photo. His response? "Poor kid!" Her nose isn't as large as this photo makes it appear. It was sort of morphed when the frame was frozen to capture the image. We would love her even if she did have a huge honker...but she doesn't :)

We hope to get those 3D or 4D or whatever photos taken in a few weeks. By then, she will have more fat on her bones and will look more like a baby instead of the cutest alien you've ever seen.

We love her.

for the record...

2010-08-03T20:57:00.002-05:00

I hate blogger. I hate that it changed. I hate that I lost my previous template (that I paid for!!!!) simply because I was testing the waters of this new "Design" thing they've got going on.

I'm a little furious.

I am on to try out this "Pages" idea, though. Be patient.

As you can see, I have added back the "crafts and grub" tab, as well as the "bookin' it" tab. I don't think I'm a fan of this at all. Ugh! There are two new posts, or pages, within the tabs - because that totally makes sense *side eye*

I'm going to go rip my hair out now. Enjoy reading?