Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween!!!

This Halloween we did an under the sea theme! Grace is a mermaid, Madison is an octopus and Ivy is a lobster! I love dressing the girls up in Halloween costumes. It gets more fun every year!!! Couldn't you just die over the cuteness because I could.
This years selection of Halloween candy for the kiddos (and myself).
My little octopus. I've mentioned before how much Madison loves wearing sweaters and she didn't seem to mind the costume. In fact, I'm pretty sure she's actually enjoying wearing it!
 Cute little ghost I have by my front porch to greet all of my trick-or-treaters!
Grace as my little mermaid! Grace is not a fan of her costume this year. She told me she feels stupid but I told her she looks adorable!!!!
In keeping of the Halloween spirit, we ordered a Papa Murphy's jack-o-lantern pizza for lunch today. We're polishing off the leftovers for dinner tonight!
My nephew, Landon, went as spiderman (again) this year!
Ivy cracking me up in her lobster costume!!
My little pumpkins! This is what we had on all morning and afternoon leading up to tonight's under the sea costumes. They've been adorable all day! Now it's time to bark at trick-or-treaters. Happy Halloween everyone!!!!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Down Came The Rain

It has been such a rainy day here in NWA. The kind of day where you don't want to leave the house!
My family went home today after working up here earlier this week. Mom made a big pot of chicken spaghetti and I fully intend on eating the leftovers for dinner tonight. Food tastes better when your Momma makes it doesn't it?
Speaking of food, I had a major fatty moment today. I went to Sonic to get a diet cherry limeade and ended up leaving there with an additional burger and fries!! At 3:00 in the afternoon. Feel free to judge me for that because my husband totally did. Although he did help me eat half of it. Does it make a difference if I tell you my lunch was merely a few slices of ham, a little bit of corn and some peas? No? Moving along....
I'm excited for Halloween tomorrow! The girls have their costumes ready and they can't wait to bark at the trick-or-treaters. I have lots of candy and I hope I get rid of all of it. I've eaten entirely too many pieces already.
It's time for me to curl up on the sofa in front of the fire and attempt to not fall asleep before 9:30. It's a struggle these days! Until tomorrow....

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Kappa Kappa Gamma

My sorority house had a major renovation and on Saturday they had a dedication and open house. I was excited to get a chance to see it so Jax and I drove down to Fayetteville to browse through our former home together. I've been hearing how amazing the new house is and I figured it would be but words cannot describe how truly magnificent it is! I was blown away by the beauty of it! Every single detail was perfectly thought out and whoever designed it has impeccable taste.
The house is huge! It's now the largest in the nation. It's quite different from when I lived in it and a part of me is sad about that but the new house is so incredible and I'm very excited for the girls that get to live in it now and for Kappa as a whole. 
While we were there I ran into a couple of my pledge sisters and good friends, Rebecca and Clare. It's hard to believe we were pledges 10 years ago because it seems like yesterday!!
I found one of my composites! I also found one of my Mom's (she's a Kappa too!) just around the corner from this one. 
I had a great time getting to see the new house. It made me very nostalgic! My college years were the best time of my life and Kappa was such a huge part of that happiness. I would give anything if I could go back for a day!! I'm very grateful to be a part of such a wonderful sorority and I'm so excited for the beautiful new house!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Spurlock Spooktacular

I had a busy and fun weekend! On Saturday night my neighbors threw their annual Spurlock Spooktacular Halloween party. This year they decided to have a theme--Famous Scandals. Scott and I always have the hardest time coming up with a costume that we can both agree on. Do any other couples out there struggle? We could win an award for it.
On Friday we drove to Fayetteville because they seem to have better Halloween costume stores than we do up here. After a lot of debating we took a break and decided to nail down an idea over chicken wings at Buffalo Wild Wings. We both agreed Tiger Woods and his wife seemed like a legit scandal. It was kind of annoying that we drove all the way to Fayetteville to figure that out but oh well. We went to Academy to find our costumes. Mine was pretty simple and didn't really involve much but I didn't really care. Comfort was key for me. I thought we turned out pretty cute and I'm really digging my new Nike hat. I think I'll get a lot of use out of it!
Jax and Craig were there, of course. So excited that my friends are now my neighbors! Another friend of mine, Ashley, came along for the ride and I'm so glad she did! I'm trying to talk her into buying a house in my neighborhood too. She just relocated up here after being gone for a couple of years.
We had a great time! I do love a good costume party and the Spurlocks always throw a fun one!

Friday, October 25, 2013

16 Weeks

Another week down! I'm really starting to enjoy my pregnancy now. I mean, I've always enjoyed it even when I felt bad because it's just such a neat experience. However, now that I'm starting to feel good it's even more enjoyable! I've really started to notice some changes in me this week and I know this is only the beginning. It's a little scary but a lot exciting!

Size of Baby: 3 1/2 ounces and 4 1/2 inches long or about the length of an avocado (head to rump).

How I'm Feeling: Wonderful! I finally feel like my old self. I did get sick on Monday thanks to grocery shopping at Walmart. I have no idea why that makes me so sick. Other than that one little moment I've felt great. No more nausea and my appetite is 100% normal again. It feels so good!

Cravings: No cravings. Now that my appetite is back to normal I'm not craving sweets like I used to either. I also can't eat as big of a portion of food as I used to. I get fuller much faster. I hear a lot of woman say that. There's something in your stomach taking up space so you don't have as much room for food I guess!

Clothes: Again, I'm still in all of my regular clothes. A lot of women have told me they couldn't wait to get into maternity clothes but I'm in no hurry. From what I've seen, there's not a lot of cute options to choose from and I also don't like the fact that I'll spend money on something I'll only wear for a short amount of time. Thankfully the style of clothes these days works great for pregnancy. I've always been a fan of loose, breezy and comfortable tops and dresses so I'm taking them with me as far into this journey as possible!

Movement: Yes, I'm fairly certain I've felt the baby move a few times. It's so subtle so it's easy to miss it but I'm pretty positive those tiny little flutters is my baby! I don't feel it every day and usually it happens quickly and I realize afterwards what it was. I always thought it would be a big moment like they do in the movies where you gasp and hold your belly after feeling this big baby kick for the first time but it's not.

Changes in Me: I feel like I've grown a little more this week than I usually do. I've had a lot of round ligament pain and can literally feel my stomach stretching. I sneeze all the time now and have since the beginning of this pregnancy. It's kind of weird but apparently normal. Occasionally when I sneeze it hurts so bad. It only lasts a few seconds but I can't move or speak because of the pain. Also, I sometimes find myself in an uncomfortable position when I'm laying in bed and I have to re-adjust. I always think that's strange since it's not like I have this big belly getting in the way or anything.

Baby Purchases: We ordered wood swatches for our crib and they came in this week! We love the cribs from Restoration Hardware and have narrowed it down to a couple from there. I wanted to order some swatches first before we picked our crib and I'm glad we did. Some of the colors don't look like I thought they would.


Favorite Moment This Week: I'm trying really hard not to get stretch marks and even though I don't have much of a belly I'm already going to extreme measure to try to prevent them. I may have gotten a little out of hand with some lotion one night this week and the look on Scott's face when he saw me was priceless. I was more greasy than a slice of Dominos pizza.

Looking Forward To: Seeing my family early next week. Mom, Dad and Grammy are coming up for a work event. I haven't seen my Grammy in 3 months so we have a lot to catch up on!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Baby Bags

The time is near for me to make a very important baby purchase. The diaper bag.
Actually they call them baby bags over at Neiman Marcus and I must admit I like that better than diaper bags. For years now I assumed I would just go without a baby bag and stuff a few diapers in my purse instead. But once my best friend had a baby I realized that probably isn't the most practical idea. It turns out babies need a lot more than a couple of diapers and a travel sized pouch of wipes when you leave the house with them. So now I'm stuck trying to find a chic diaper bag that I won't mind toting around with me. I'm VERY picky with my handbags. I don't own many because I rarely find one I like. I thought the baby bag hunt would be a major struggle but luckily there are a few designers out there who were oh-so-kind to keep mothers in mind when designing a couple of their totes.


1.) Marc by Marc Jacobs Preppy Nylon Eliz-A-Baby Diaper Bag in Black
2.) Marc by Marc Jacobs Preppy Nylon Eliz-A-Baby Diaper Bag in Rootbeer
3.) Rebecca Minkoff Knocked Up Leather Diaper Bag
4.) Rebecca Minkoff Knocked Up Nylon Diaper Bag
5.) Burberry Beat Check Diaper Tote Bag

I've basically chosen 3 different bags with minor differences. Black or camel, nylon or leather. I pretty much like them all equally with the Burberry taking a slight lead. They're all very similar on the inside with the amount of pockets, etc. I assume this baby bag will take the place of my handbag and I'll carry my wallet and car keys in it instead. Exactly how long do you typically carry a diaper bag? I literally have no clue. Just curious.
So which of the five shall I choose? I've been searching for a while now and these are definitely my top picks. Maybe someone who loves me very much will surprise me with one for Christmas!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Sweats + Sparkle

I've always been a big fan of sweatshirts with jewels. I don't know why. Something about the comfort + the pretty. I've never found one that was just right for me (for just the right price at least) until I stumbled upon this one from Loft.
I snatched it up right away and have been enjoying wearing it as the weather has gotten cooler. I've been pairing it with my favorite skinnies and gray booties. It's simple and fun and I have a feeling I'll get a lot of use out of my new favorite sweatshirt! I saw a very similar look on Pinterest a few days ago while I was browsing---A sweatshirt paired with a statement necklace. Super cute. Check out the look on my style board here.
While cruising around in my bedazzled sweatshirt I picked up a couple of crates of white pansies for my front yard beds. I'm also going to plant tulip bulbs. They'll be so pretty in the spring! My neighbor across the street had tons of tulips last year and they were gorgeous. I enjoyed them so much and told myself I had to plant my own tulips to enjoy as well!
The little nuggets got groomed today! Ivy always prances around the house when she gets home from the groomer. It makes me laugh. I love these two munchkins.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Boo!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was great until Saturday night when I came down with a little cold. I woke up yesterday feeling pretty yuck and laid in bed all day long. Today I'm just so, so. I got a flu shot on Thursday and I'm fairly certain it gave me this cold. I'm not really a fan of the flu shot but I got it this year since I'm pregnant. I'm regretting it now. Anti flu shot is like, my one hippie thing.
In happier news, the trees that we planted in our backyard this spring are starting to turn bright red and they're so beautiful! I have a perfect view of them when I'm sitting on my sofa and I love staring at them.
Scott and I got Boo'ed last night. It's this thing my neighborhood does. Someone leaves candy and this sign on your door and you have to do the same to 2 other neighbors. It's fun! I need to run to Target and get some candy and cute sacks so I can keep the Boo going! That's about all that I have on my agenda for the day. I'm trying to lay low until I feel better.
Until tomorrow....

Friday, October 18, 2013

15 Weeks

Fifteen weeks pregnant today! The weeks seem to be flying by at this point. Here's this weeks update.


Size of Baby: 2 1/2 ounces and 4 inches long or about the size of an apple.

How I'm Feeling: Feeling much better. I have a little nausea here and there and managed to go 5 whole days without getting sick (I back tracked a little bit on Wednesday) but I think the morning sickness is on it's way out!

Cravings: Still no cravings unless you count tea. I want tea all day, every day but I was like that before I got pregnant too. My appetite is much better than it has been and I may actually be able to stomach eating our usual, grilled chicken and vegetables for dinner. We're going to try it next week.

Clothes: I'm still in all of my regular clothes and don't see that changing any time soon. When I first got pregnant I assumed I'd have to move to maternity pants by the beginning of November (since I'll be 5 months at that point) but I think I've still got a while before I'll have to do that.
Movement: Still no movement yet. Everything I read says you usually don't feel anything until between 16-22 weeks. Like I said last week, I'm so ready to feel the baby move! It has to be the coolest feeling ever!!!

Changes in Me: I've gained half a pound. Since I'm starting to feel better now I'm sure the scale will start moving up instead of going down. I can't help but wonder how much I'm going to gain within the next 25 weeks.

Baby Purchases: I purchased one little outfit from Baby Gap that I've had my eyes on for a while. I love baby clothes from the Gap. It's my favorite store and I plan on doing a lot of shopping there! My friend and neighbor, Nikki, bought me a bunch of diapers and baby wipes in exchange for giving her girls a haircut. It's my first set of diapers to own. I'd almost like to start slowly stocking up on them now but I have no idea what kind to get. If any of you mom's out there want to share what diapers you prefer and why I'd certainly appreciate it!

Favorite Moment This Week: Checking in on the little one and hearing the heartbeat. It's always comforting knowing everything is still going good in there!

Looking Forward To: A nice relaxing weekend with my husband. We don't have anything on the agenda. It's very chilly up here today so curling up on the sofa and turning on our fireplace for the first time this weekend seems simply amazing!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Tastes Like Fall

Today has been a good day! I started my morning out with Scott at the doctors office checking on our sweet little baby.
Doctor visits have become my favorite day of the month these days. I always look forward to going and schedule my appointments early in the morning. I would be impatient all day if they were in the afternoon! Everything seemed great today and I'm very grateful for that!
After my appointment I ran a few errands then placed a to-go order at McAlisters. I got my food and was walking to my car with it when I noticed it seemed like I had a lot in my sack. I checked my food order and not only did I have my yummy chicken spud and tortilla soup but I also had a whole extra french dip which just so happens to be one of my favorite sandwiches from there. At first I thought I'd hit the jackpot and couldn't believe the luck I landed upon. But then I was like "no you need to go back in and tell them they gave you an extra sandwich because it's kind of like stealing if you don't." So I did. Dang conscience. I thought about how yummy that sandwich would have been my entire drive home.
Later in the afternoon my neighbor, Aimee, and I ran around town together then stopped by Bliss for a cupcake. I had their pumpkin spice for the first time. Every bite tasted like fall. It was delicious!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Blue or Pink?

A lot of people ask me if I think I'm having a boy or a girl. Today I thought I would do a post on all of those old wives tales and let you all make a guess for yourself. So what do you think--Blue or Pink??

1.) Carrying high or low? I really have no idea. I think high but Scott thinks low? Okay so I've failed on the first question. Pink or Blue

2.) Craving sweet or salty? Sweet all the way. Pink

3.) Chinese Gender Predictor? Blue

4.) Morning Sickness? Umm....yes. Pink

5.) Complexion? I've always been lucky to have really clear skin. A few days before I found out I was pregnant I noticed a little blemish and thought to myself "that's weird I wonder if I'm pregnant." (And that was as much thought as I put into that.) My nice clear skin is not so nice and clear anymore. I always have one or two pimples which is super annoying to me although it's starting to go away so I'm hoping I'm done with that little first trimester symptom. Pink

6.) Dreams? I've only had two baby dreams since I've been pregnant. They both happened early on and in the same week. In both of my dreams I was in the doctors office doing an ultrasound and my doctor told me it was a boy. Supposedly you dream the opposite of what you're having. Pink

7.) Heartbeat? If the heartbeat is under 140 beats per minute it's a boy and over 140 it's a girl. We've heard the heartbeat 3 times now. The first time it was 120, the second time 161, and the last visit it was at 148. I guess I'll pick the best of 2/3? Pink

8.) Has Scott gained any weight? I asked him for permission to put this on here because the answer is yes! He blames me because we haven't been eating very healthy for nearly four months now. Oops! Pink

9.) Sleep on your left or right side? I've always slept on my right. Pink

10.) Headaches? Yes. I get headaches quite a bit. Blue

11.) Baby Names? Supposedly if you can only think of specific names for a boy or girl you will have that particular baby. Scott and I have had a boy name picked out for about 3 years now. We've gone through a baby book with 100,000 names and still came up empty handed for a girl name. Blue

12.) Mood Swings? None for me. Blue

13.) Feet? If your feet suddenly get cold during pregnancy you're having a boy. If they stay the same it's a girl. Pink

14.) Craving more fruit or cheese? Fruit. Pink

15.) What do I think? Apparently 71% of the time the mother correctly predicts what she is having. I've always imagined I would have a girl first. Pink

After reading all of these old wives tales/gender predictions what do you think Baby Johnson is? Will I be buying a lot of blue or pink?

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Back to Jamaica Mon

I've been on the hunt for some new boots. I really wanted a new pair of tall boots and I searched all over town one day for some. I came up empty handed. Tall boots are hard because they have to be just right. I decided instead that I would purchase another pair of booties. I bought some super cute ones last year and wore them all the time. I wanted some black ones this time around and while I was shopping last Saturday I found these Sam Edelman booties.
They're very simple and there's really not a lot to them but they work. I wanted a low heel so I could wear them all day without my feet hurting and so far these are really comfortable.

Scott and I are super excited because we booked a return trip to Jamaica today!! If you were reading my blog in January you may remember that Scott and I went on an anniversary trip to Jamaica. The resort we were staying at had a talent show for the guests and I won! The prize was a free, 5 night all-inclusive trip back!!! We had to book the trip before the year was up and we were initially hoping to go in mid November but the resort was booked so we're going in early December.
We're so pumped! I kind of wish they would have extended the booking time so we could just go back for our anniversary in January but when you've got a free trip on your hands there's really not much to complain about. I absolutely love to travel and I think the beach is my favorite way to do it so I can't wait!!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Busted

I had a great weekend! It was nice having Kyle and Jenn up to visit. We ate at Table Mesa on Friday night and it was delicious as always. I was a bad Razorback fan on Saturday and didn't even watch the game. Instead I shopped around town and ate lunch with Jaclyn. I did make it back for the last half and it was slightly embarrassing. I'm hoping next season will be better. I have faith in our coaching staff! Kyle and Jenn did go to the game and I sent him a text during the fourth quarter asking him if he would mind popping in Ricks and getting me a couple of cookies. They were calling my name!!! Not only did he pop in there for me but he also brought back like a zillion of them! My sweet tooth will be set for a week. He definitely won brother of the day for that sweet little gesture!
The rest of our weekend didn't consist of much. We ate lunch at Penguin Ed's on Sunday before Kyle and Jenn left town. I love eating there. They have the best salad. I wish they would put a location up here in Rogers/Bentonville. After lunch Scott and I didn't have anything else to do the rest of the day so we came home and watched Zero Dark Thirty. We've seen it before but it's such a great movie. If you haven't watched it yet you definitely should!
My Monday is starting out great so far! I went to the gym this morning then to Walmart to grocery shop for the week. For the first time in months I was actually able to enjoy myself and didn't get sick. I'm starting to get really hungry between meals so I picked out some healthy snacks that will hopefully tide me over. When I came home I set all of my sacks on the floor to unload. I noticed Ivy snooping through the sacks which wasn't odd. She and Madison usually do that when I get home from the grocery store in hopes they'll discover a special treat for them. Then I suddenly noticed Ivy take off for my bedroom and I knew something fishy was going on so I followed her and found this.
This is her BUSTED face and it makes me laugh out loud every time I look at it. The little thief stole my apple! She'd already started chewing on it so I just let her have it. Of course Madison wanted some too so I cut it in fours and between the two of them they ate the entire thing! Never a dull moment in my house with Ivy and Madison.

Friday, October 11, 2013

14 Weeks

I'm going to start blogging about my pregnancy every Friday if that's okay with you guys! Friday is the day I change weeks so that's why I've picked that day. I've been taking bump photos every other week so far and it's fun to look back on them. I don't ever think I've grown much until I start comparing and then it's super obvious that yes, indeed, I am growing.
I had such a big little bump on Tuesday but it disappeared the next day! I'm so confused. Isn't that backwards? I'm hoping it will come back soon because I kind of liked it!!

Size of Baby: 1.5 ounces and 3.5 inches long or about the size of a lemon.

How I'm Feeling: Still nauseous, still throwing up. I am starting to get my energy back and it feels wonderful! I still take naps occasionally but I'm no longer sleeping my life away like I have been.

Cravings: I wouldn't really say I have cravings for anything specific. I have turned into a sweets eater. I've always been a salty kind of girl so that's different but there's nothing in particular that I typically just crave.

Clothes: I still fit in all of my normal clothes perfectly. I feel like it will be a crazy day when I can no longer button my jeans but for now I'm good!

Movement: I haven't felt the baby move yet. I can't wait for that to happen. I thought I may have felt something during yoga today....like little bubbles in my stomach popping. But maybe it was hunger pains. It's still early but I'm trying really hard to feel something.

Changes in Me: My belly has started to pooch and my hair is growing at lightening speed but other than that everything else feels pretty normal.

Baby Purchases: Yes. All the time. I can't help myself. I've completely cleared out the baby's closet and it's slowly getting stocked with precious little items. I recently purchased some Aden and Anais swaddle blankets because it was a cute pattern that I had never seen before and I couldn't pass it up. Mom brought back the sweetest little grey bunny that she purchased from Harrods while she was in London and some neighbors have given us a couple of books to get the little one's library started! I've bought really pretty cream, velvet slimline baby hangers and they may or may not already have tiny little clothes dangling from them. Scott took a photo of me making my very first baby purchase from The Toggery when we went down for the Little Rock game--a Razorback burp cloth!

Favorite Moment This Week: Finally announcing the big news! It was so easy to keep it a secret at first but the last week or two I was getting really anxious to share with everyone.

Looking Forward To: My appointment next Thursday to check on my sweet baby. And not being sick anymore. Every day I wake up and think "maybe this is the day!" Praying I'm not going to be like my Grammy who was sick her whole entire pregnancy.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

A Day Of Nothing

Today was a day of nothing. I've had a lot of these the last few months. I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed around 7:00 after an awesome sleep that wasn't disturbed by middle of the night bathroom breaks. I hit the ground running but by 11:30 I was exhausted so the girls and I crawled in bed and took a nap until 2:45.
I'm glad that Ivy and Madison enjoy taking naps with me. They're both really good cuddle partners!

When you sleep all day you don't have much to talk about hence the lack of blogging since August. I've had so much energy the last week and thought I'd turned a corner. I'm sure some days I'm just going to be really tired though. I'm excited that tomorrow is Friday and the start of the weekend! My brother and sister-in-law are coming up for the game and staying with us. We're eating at Table Mesa tomorrow for dinner. Yum, so good. Scott and I aren't planning on going to the game. We'll probably just watch it in the comfort of our home! That's about all our weekend is going to consist of. Sounds like a pretty good one if you ask me! Until tomorrow....

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Gone Shopping

Today has been such a beautiful day! I love this weather. It could stand to be a couple of degrees cooler if you ask me but I'm not really complaining. We'll get there. I started this lovely day with a delicious breakfast and my favorite morning shows.
I love oatmeal but I don't enjoy eating it plain. I like to load tons of strawberries, blueberries or both on top. It's so yummy that way! After breakfast and the Kelly & Michael host chat, I threw on my workout clothes and hit the gym. I'm trying to keep up my workouts as best as I can these days. When I first found out I was pregnant, and before I started getting hit with morning sickness, I was really diligent with my workouts and didn't miss a day. Now I'm lucky if I make it to the gym two times a week. I've been walking around my neighborhood at night quite a bit but I would rather keep up a little bit more rigorous workout regime if I can. I'm hoping that any day now I'm going to start feeling better and I'll be able to get back into my normal workout routine and hit the gym more often.
One I got home from the gym, I got ready for my weekly lunch date with Jaclyn at McAlisters. While I was getting dressed these two snooped through the bathroom trash can and found the end of a toilet paper roll. It was really exciting and kept them entertained for a full 45 minutes. It's the simple things in life....
After lunch I hit the town on the hunt for some Piko Tops. There's a super cute store in Bentonville called Belle Boutique. I popped in there for the first time today and they had such cute clothes! Most of the cute boutiques are in Fayetteville so this is an exciting new revelation. To my delight they had a rainbow of Pikos. I settled on these 3 colors and I love them! They're my first ones to ever have. I know, I know---what's taken me so long? I dunno but I'm pretty sure these are going to become a wardrobe staple. I may have to go back soon and get some more colors. 
Another wardrobe staple of mine are these leggings. I've blogged about how much I love them before. They are so comfortable. I will say they don't look that cute on the hanger but they're awesome. I went to Dillards yesterday and got quite a few new ones and I'm very excited about them. My Mom was wearing some that looked like jeans the other day and I really thought they were jeans until she told me they were leggings. If you haven't bought any you totally should!! I'm obsessed with them. Yet again, I'm sure these will be all I wear during the coming winter months and my new Piko tops will be super cute with them! Successful day of shopping, check!

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Pumpkins, Sweaters and Bumps

I've been going for a lot of walks in my neighborhood and I've noticed almost every single one of my neighbors has some sort of festive fall decor on their porch. I put up my fall wreath but that didn't feel like enough so on Sunday Scott went with me to the pumpkin patch and we grabbed a few pumpkins to set beside our front door. It's pretty simple but I think it turned out cute and now I don't feel like such a autumn scrooge around here.
It was so nice and cool over the weekend and that made me happy happy happy. Cold weather means it's sweater time for my little girls!! I got them out for the first time this year and it made me so happy because they look SOOO cute! I know it's a touch ridiculous but I can't help myself. It's so fun.
I promise that this won't turn into a blog where all I can talk about is being pregnant but I want to document as much as I can so I can look back and remember. I've already forgotten some things that have happened over the last few months and I'm annoyed at myself for not writing it down somewhere.
I woke up yesterday and my pooch magically turned into a bump! Scott and I were so surprised. My Mom drove up yesterday to pick up Grace and stay for a night. The last time I saw her, 2 weeks ago, there was not even a little bit of anything there. The first thing Mom said when she saw me was "Woah! You have a bump!!"
I wake up in the morning with a still semi flat stomach but the second I put a bite of food in my mouth my stomach gets so big. Especially yesterday. So crazy!
See what's in my photo with me? It's my best friend, McAlisters tea. As of a week and a half ago we've been reunited again. I didn't realize how much I loved that tea (or how much of it I drank) until I had to give it up for a few months. I missed it so bad. Some people drink caffeine all through pregnancy and you're "technically" allowed a small amount of it a day but it scared me so I didn't have a drop. Now that I'm in my 2nd trimester my tea and I are back to being BFF's except not like it was before. I allow myself maybe 2 a week and that's it. It makes me happy!

Monday, October 7, 2013

All About Baby

We're having a baby! Scott and I are so excited. All I've ever wanted is to be a wife and mother and I feel so blessed that my dreams are coming true! Thank you to everyone for all of the well wishes and congratulations! A lot of people have had so many questions for me over the weekend so I thought I'd take the opportunity to answer them all on here.
When are you due? The official due date is April 11. When my doctor told me that was my due date I got goosebumps. April 11 is the day my precious dog, Holly, died. I feel like my due date is extra special and that Holly had a little something to do with it!

How are you feeling? Miserable! Haha. I've been so, so sick. I felt great until week 6. It started out with just a little nausea here and there. By week 8 I had full blown nausea. Week 9 rolled around and I was puking 'round the clock. By week 12 it started easing up a tad but I'm still running to the toilet with my hand over my mouth just like they do in the movies. My doctor prescribed me some Zofran but it didn't make one tiny little difference. The ultimate low was when Scott and I were driving home from the grocery store (the grocery store makes me so sick for some reason...I avoid it as best as I can) and I had to throw some of the groceries onto the floor so I could use the plastic sack to hurl into. Yeah, it hasn't been pretty. I've also slept my life away the last few months. I love to sleep so I'm not really complaining but it's pretty impressive how exhausted I've been. As of a few days ago I've finally started to get some energy back and I'm oh so grateful for that. I'm tired of constantly feeling sluggish.

When did you find out? July 30. It was just a regular Tuesday. I was out running errands all day and for my last stop I went to Fresh Market to get a delicious meal to cook for us and a bottle of wine. I got home around 3:00 and just had this feeling I should take a pregnancy test before I drank any wine that evening. While I was unwrapping the box of tests I remember thinking I was being so wasteful because it was way too early to take it (3 weeks, 4 days) and I just knew it would say no. I watched that first pink line pop up and then I started to see a little shadow emerge right next to it. I frantically grabbed the test and watched the second line get darker and darker before my eyes! I sat on the floor of my bathroom and said "oh my gosh" a million times while I was shaking, crying and laughing. I would give anything to have a video of me in that moment!

How did you tell Scott? I always envisioned I would tell Scott in such a cute and fun way. I only had 2 hours to think of something and one of those hours had already passed because I'd sat on the sofa in my living room in pure silence trying to wrap my head around the fact that I was pregnant. My doctor is actually my friend and neighbor so right when I got the positive I texted her. I'm so glad I did because she told me my due date right away and I love that I knew that just minutes after I found out. Since April 11 is an important date around here I decided I would just go with that. When Scott (finally) got home I simply asked him if we had any plans for April 11. He said "why is something going on with Holly?" and I said "No I actually thought we'd have a baby that day!"

Have you had any cravings? Food has been such a struggle. I've never eaten so unhealthy in my entire life. I always eat a well balanced breakfast with a lot of fruit because I typically feel pretty good in the morning but other than that my diet has been horrible. TCBY usually always sounds good and I'm really into SweeTarts but other than that food is usually not appealing. I'm hoping I'll get my normal appetite back any day now.

Do you think it's a boy or a girl? I'll do a post with all of those old wives tales that supposedly tell you whether you're having a girl or a boy and let you all make a guess for yourself!

Are you fat yet? Before you are appalled by that question let me clarify and say my 8 year old nephew is the only person who's asked me that. It was Landon's immediate response when I told him I was going to have a baby and it made me laugh so hard. Like I told him---I'm working on it! I weighed yesterday and I'm negative 6.5 pounds because I've been so sick but I finally started to notice a bump the day after I hit 12 weeks. That Saturday I noticed a little pooch but didn't really think much of it. Then on Sunday I was like "woah okay there it is!" I guess it's true what people say--it really does just pop out over night.

Favorite moment so far? I love, love getting to see my sweet baby on the ultrasound! The first ultrasound we had didn't involve much other than hearing the heartbeat which was such a huge relief, obviously. The baby was so tiny and wasn't moving at that point but it was still so neat getting to see. However at our second ultrasound that little angel was kicking it's arms and legs and it was the most amazing thing I'd ever witnessed! We got to see the little one again last Thursday and the little profile was so clear and beautiful! I could watch that screen for hours and hours and never get tired of staring at that precious baby!

Are you just so excited?! I'm beyond excited!! I can't believe I'm here at this place in my life. It's something you always think about, dream about and wonder when it will happen. I've loved mine and Scott's alone time these last (almost) 5 years and wouldn't change anything about it. We've had so much fun and done everything we wanted to do before we had kids. Now we're in this next life stage and it's been amazing so far! Even though I've felt so yuck and been so sick I wouldn't trade it for anything. Scott and I are both so happy and feel so humbled and blessed that God has given us this amazing gift.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Coming Soon!!!


Thursday, October 3, 2013

HBD BRAD

Tonight I went to a surprise 30th birthday party for my good friend, Brad!
A lot of us gathered for dinner and drinks at Basils (my fav) this evening and it was so fun! Brad was definitely surprised and I'm pretty sure everyone had a great time!! We just got home and I was so certain it was 1 a.m. but it's just 10:00. I mean, hello grandma!
I had such a great evening with my friends and I'm glad we were able to pull off a birthday surprise! Happy 30th Brad!!!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Chocolate Chip Pie

Tonight I decided to do a little baking in the Johnson house. I never bake sweets but it seemed like a good idea to pull out one of my favorite pie recipes and indulge! This pie is so, so easy to make. My Mom has made it for as long as I can remember. I call it Chocolate Chip Pie although in my recipe book it's technically called Kentucky Derby Pie.

2 eggs, beaten
1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of flour
1 stick of melted butter
6 oz of chocolate chips
1 cup of pecans (optional...I usually never add that part)

Mix well in order given. Pour into raw pie crust shell. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
I topped it with ice cream tonight and it was delicious!

The nice thing about this pie is you are likely to already have most of the ingredients that are required. And seriously, you just mix it in a bowl and that's that. It takes about 5 minutes to make. If you're in the mood to bake a warm pie for your family give this recipe a shot! I promise you'll love it!!!

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

october.

It's October! AKA my favorite month of the year. I think October is a lot of people's favorite month huh? It's just such a lovely time! I feel like I should go to Starbucks and get a Pumpkin Spiced Latte to celebrate except I don't like coffee so that kind of stinks. I have had the PSL before and I know if I was a coffee lover I would be all over that every day. I wish Starbucks sold the fake gas station cappuccinos that I love so much. They're my fav.
It feels a little premature since it's kind of hot today but I decided (since it's October now) to go on ahead and put out my fall wreath and door mat! I should probably go buy a few pumpkins to put beside the door too huh? Be extra festive. I may put that on my to-do list....
And speaking of pumpkins....I got my 3 little pumpkins a new pumpkin toy today! I figured they were excited about October too. I mean, could you not die for this photo. How cute are these three?!!!