Six, Seven, & Eight!

 

 

Wow, another blog back to back! This is my little Jude update. He is on track and looking good! I have a feeling he'll come a little early, but we shall see what happens! Otherwise I have about 5 more weeks to go, which saying out loud sounds CRAZY! We are pretty much ready though. I've got Jude's diaper bag ready and I've almost got my suitcase packed and ready. Saturday we're getting help with the installation of our car seats and hopefully going to get our stroller. His room is ALMOST done. The main thing that I need to get is his little changing pad and cover. The decorations are almost complete too! I have one more panel to make to cover up the huge ugly mirror on the closet and I'd like to make a decorative pillow (I want to make a blanket too, but that's going to have to wait!). Overall his room is pretty organized and freaking ADORABLE! I love bright and colorful spaces! I've been inspired by about 4 of these craft ideas for Jude's room. It's my own twist on fun ideas I found on pinterest. Hopefully I can post some pictures of his room soon!

 

Since I never have time to blog I've some how managed to catch up enough to at least share my 6, 7, and 8 month pictures all taken by my awesome husband, Chris! If you missed out on 5 months just click to see! It's amazing how much he grew from that point. Before 5 months I didn't even really show at all.

 

 

Now I feel like it's a waiting game. We are ready to meet Jude and we know are family and friends are ready to meet Jude too!

Crafty: Christmas Gifts

Paper gift boxes

I love, love, love, love making homemade gifts for family & friends. Chris & I worked hard to make these gifts very personal for each person they were going to.

Here's a few of this years Christmas gifts:

Mom had been wanting a updated picture of Me & Kevin, so Chris snapped a few shots of us over Thanksgiving. This canvas project was actually really easy. I liked how it turned out.

Photo on Canvas

This was one of Chris' stocking stuffers. I had a lot of fun making this for him! This one actually only has 51 reasons, because I accidentally left one out!!!

52 Reasons I Love You

I made this for my father-n-law. We knew he loved licorice so we filled it with these little round pieces of licorice that I bought from World Market. He loved it!

(For Father-n-law)

We made these picture candle holders for my mother-n-law and my mema. The way the tutorial said to do it didn't quite turn out. We actually just got the images printed onto a transparency. I love the way they turned out! I'd like to make more of these in the future.

Picture candle holders

I had so much fun making Emma's gift! Hopefully this will last her for a few years!

Hopscotch mat

I made these ornaments with our wedding invitations. We still have so many leftover invitations that I wanted to recycle them instead of just throwing them away. This is my second project with our invitations. I gave these to all of my bridesmaids (Note: if you haven't received one yet you have one coming your way!)! I used the homemade boxes in the very first image to put them in.

Wedding invitation ornament

It only seems appropriate to share this box next since it's the first creation from my invitations. It's not perfect, but it worked out great for Kerri's gift! I'll probably make a few more of these little boxes.  I even thought it was clever to just "tie a knot" instead of a bow in the ribbon. Get it?

I loved how these mini Polaroid magnets turned out! I didn't use the same backing as the link below used, but they still turned out great. I actually just remembered that I used our wedding invitation for the backing! I guess that means I've found 3 ways to use them so far :)

Mini Polaroid magnets

I made a few other gifts this year, but I forgot to take pictures of everything. I hope next year to be just as crafty, but maybe get an earlier start on it so I don't feel so rushed!

New Change: New Years (a little belated!)

(We're such rebels...except for Matt, because he's eating healthy!)

I can always count on spending time with Matt & Kay on New Years. They are not even my "fall back" they are usually my "go to!" Unfortunately, my dear husband couldn't join us, because he had to work. We were really lazy and just watched a (bad) movie and hung out.

The next day we watched the UNC game, played chicken foot (feet?), and made banana splits! It was quite a low key New Years, but I was in good company!

I started off my New Year with some of my best friends! I didn't really make resolutions, but I do have a few goals that I hope to meet this year. Here's my 2012 list:

 

Finish meeting my weight lose/health goals: I'm very proud to say that I lost a lot of weight in 2011 that I had put on in the last few years. I'm really only a few pounds away from meeting that goal. My main goal this year is to continue to eat healthy and get fit.

Pass my Praxis Math test & apply to ECU's distant education program

Read more: If you have any good recommendations or would like to share a book with me on my kindle I'd love to hear from you!

Be more crafty: I crafted a lot in 2011, but I hope to craft something new in 2012. Maybe a new skirt is in my future!

 

Budget & keep up with receipts

Visit my friend in Utah

Save some money

Backup up documents/pictures on computer & Burn VHS videos to dvds: I've been avoiding this one for way too long!

Enjoy the beach more

Celebrate Maria's 30th Birthday in a BIG way!

Take pictures with film: Now I just need to buy that film camera that I'm eying.

Be more faithful in prayer

Purge more!

Give more (unselfishly)

Try new recipes

Go somewhere for our Anniversary

Write more letters to family and friends

Get on facebook less

Appreciate family and friends more

I have plenty to do this year! I should probably get off the computer and start on my list ;)

Friend Post: Brian, Audrey, & Asher

Brian lucked out, because I can't find any pre-scanned pictures of him from our youth group days! I've known Brian since I was a teenager. I started going to South Rocky Mount Church of God with my close friend Amy around this time. I was heavily involved with the youth group. This is where I got to know Brian. I was pretty close to his whole family. His sister Karen was best friends with Amanda (Amy's sister). I always thought it was cool that they both had best friends that were named Karen! I was very close to Kristi. I miss that relationship a lot! Brian and I kept in touch while we were in college. I remember in one email he wrote about how we (as in us and the rest of our close group) just had that type of relationship that would always be close. Those weren't the exact words, but it was something like that. Those type of friendships are long lasting and you don't have to talk all the time to feel like you're close. There's so many good things to say about Brian. All the girls thought a lot of Brian and just knew that one day he'd make a good husband to somebody.

That one day came along, when I lived in Colorado, a few years ago! He married Audrey. Audrey is someone with a very sweet and soft voice, but she has this very fun and silly side too! I am so grateful that I have been able to get to know her better. We have also formed a friendship and I just love being around her. It's good to have those friends that you can talk to and you know they understand some of what you've been through. She is a very special person in my life.

I wanted to share a little bit about their life story. There are so many more in between details to be shared, but this is an extremely short version of what they've been dealing with recently. A little over a year ago they had their first son, Zachary. They took him home from the hospital and days later he passed away.  A few months ago baby number two came along. His name is Asher. I offered them a free photo session before he was born. That day I intended on spending a couple of hours at their house, but I believe it may have turned into 4 or more! I had such a fun time hanging out with them and taking pictures of Asher and their family. I am so glad I can share this with them! I loved meeting Asher and I can't wait for my next visit!