Thanksgiving

I'd love write a beautiful and meaning post here because Thanksgiving is such a special holiday and time of year but time is short with the little ones and I'm in the middle of baking for tomorrow.

Instead, a quick list of things I'm thankful for

• God's grace and all the blessings He has given me

• My wonderful, loving, hardworking husband.  God has truly blessed me with my husband and I love him SO very much!!

• Our precious girls.  Being a mother is such an incredible gift and responsibilty and I'm so thankful for my girls.

• Our home.  It's nothing fancy and in need of repairs...but it's our home where we have shelter and love and make our family memories.  I love it!

• Our health.

• Our struggles and our challenges.  While it would be nice to have the perfect little life, each struggle and obstacle is given to us from God.  I'm so grateful that He is working in my life to bring me closer to him, to make me a better Christian, wife, mother, friend.  I'm grateful that He causes me to evaluate my heart.  I'm so very grateful to know that He will never give me anything I cannot handle.

• Our families.  We are so blessed to have amazing families that love us and are always there for us.

•  Food on our table.

I hope you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving!!!!  From our family to yours...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

photo courtesy of J. Messer Photography

GIVEAWAY!!!!!

I love love love giveaways in blogland...even though I've yet to win one.  This is one I would LOVE to win!!!  Go check it out at the TomKat Studio because not only could you win a Silhouette machine...but her blog is AMAZING!!

Silhouette Machine Giveaway

 

It seems like EVERYONE I know is running 5ks, marathons, triathlons, etc.  Literally...everyone.  Even my own sister has done many runs, including the New York City Marathon!  So while I was pregnant with Sweet T, I decided that I too would start running.  Figured it would be a great way to get back in shape and it helps raise money for many great causes.  Win-win

The run I selected was the Race for the Cure 5k.  I had Sweet T in June and the race was in October.  I had plenty of time to train.  Did I train?  Nope.  Did I run/walk it?  Nope.  We had a terrible heat wave that lasted pretty much all summer and it was difficult to get out there and run with a 2 year old and a newborn.  Those were my excuses.  Pretty lame.

Then a couple of weeks ago, while visiting my family in Hot-lanta, my niece and nephews (all under 10) participated in a neighborhood duathlon to raise money for a neighbor struggling with cancer.  I was SO proud of them for being a part of that event and it was just the motivation I needed to get off my butt and start running.

With a little less than 4 weeks to prepare, I signed up for the Jingle Bell Run!  I just might be crazy!!!  I've never run, much less WALKED, a 5k and here I am trying to do it in less than a  month.  I'm totally pumped though!  My first week I walked 1.5 miles 3 times.  Then today I walked 5k!!!!!!!!!  It took me an hour but I did it!!!  I'm having to train while pushing both my girls in the double stroller so that's approx 70lbs.  I'm hoping that will help me come race day since I don't have as much time to prepare as I'd like.

I'm a little nervous and a lot excited about my first 5k.  I hope it's just the first of many!!

Fitted Crib Sheet Tutorial

My poor little blog...it is so neglected these days.  I don't know if I have any followers anymore but if I do and you or someone you know has a crib, you will LOVE this tutorial!!!

Sweet T's room gets kinda chilly during the cold month(s) and I don't trust space heaters so I decided to stock up on flannel sheets.  From the minimal online research I've done, flannel sheets start at around $12.  At $12 a pop, stocking up is not in the budget.  So off to Google I went to see if I could find a tutorial.

Here is the tutorial I used for my first sheet, from Vanilla Joy.  She even includes a video on sewing elastic and how to FOLD A FITTED SHEET!!!  I was pretty excited to learn how to fold a fitted sheet!!!  :o)

Here's another great tutorial that I'm going to try.  It uses more elastic and I like the look better.

My first sheet is 95% complete.  I just have to finish sewing in the last 3 elastic pieces...then I'll take some pictures!!!  But for s sneak peek, here are pics of the fabric I'm using

LOVE these prints! 

So I spent about $14 on my fabric & elastic and I'll be able to get 2 sheets with that!!  The fabric is from Jo-Ann's and it was 40% off!!! 

I'm so not stopping here!  I plan on making many more fun sheets for Sweet T's bed!!

If you make a sheet, I'd love to see it!!  Happy sewing!!!

It's been 2 months already!?!

So it's been a little over 2 months since Sweet T was born.  It does not seem possible!  The time is just flying by!  Having 2 kids hasn't been nearly as scary as I thought it would be.  Don't get me wrong...we definitely have our difficult days but for the most part, it's been great!

Doodlebug continues to be great with her sister...this may change once Sweet T can get her toys! LOL  Sweet T is doing well.  We think she may have a little colic though so that's made for some difficult evenings & nursing sessions but from the horror stories I've heard from some parents...I'm not going to complain!

She's definitely all smiles here lately which is my absolute favorite!  She has the most beautiful and precious smile!  Doodlebug was 3 months when she had her first belly laugh...so hopefully were just a month shy of hearing Sweet T's laugh!  I cannot wait!!

Doodlebug is talking up a storm!  It's so much fun!  I love being able to have little conversations with her and know what's on her mind.  She's also loving her My Little Ponies and she'll organize them in rows and take them on shopping trips!  She's also started bringing a purse with her on our errands and she'll pack it with items similar to mine!  She is so much fun!

In addition to being busy with the girls, I'm also trying to start a photography business.  I used to second shoot weddings but quit when I got pregnant with Doodlebug.  (18 weeks of severe nausea drains you a little)  I LOVE second shooting and hope to start doing that again on a regular basis.  I'm also hoping to offer bridal and engagement sessions.  With the girls and the extreme heat...it's moving a little slower than I'd like but I'll get there  :o)

On top of photography, I'm still smocking and have 3 dresses I'm working on right now.  I'm also trying to learn to crochet and from the little bit I've worked on so far, I LOVE it!  And of course I'm always working on home improvement projects...slowly trying to turn our house into a home!

So all that to say...life in the Southern home is very busy!!  Here's a couple of recent pictures

She's here!!!

Our youngest daughter, Sweet T, was born June 9th at 7:14am!  She is an absolute doll!!!  So far Doodlebug LOVES her little sister and has been amazing with the transition.  She loves to help, give hugs and kisses.  She also loves to hold her sister...it's so cute, she'll hold her arms out and say, "Holt" which is how she says hold.

We are so grateful to God for this precious blessing!!


Here are a couple of pictures of Sweet T. Copyright of the AMAZING Stephanie Fisher

We're meeting our daughter today!!!

On October 5, 2009 I woke up and decided to take a pregnancy test.  I knew I was testing a couple days early but thanks to the wonderfulness that is the dollar store pregnancy tests, I tried it anyway.  Nothing showed up at first so I went to get Kenley.  We came back a couple minutes later and there was the faintest little *pregnant* line.

Jonathan was still sleeping and I remember I threw open the door and hollered "Oh my gosh I think we're pregnant!"  We both stared at the test and knew we saw a line but it wasn't very dark so we weren't 100% convinced...so naturally I took another one.  There was that line again.  We couldn't believe it!  I was 3 wks and 5 days.

Fast forward to today.  It's been a long road since October 5th.  I can't believe that in a few short hours (section is scheduled for 7:00am) we will finally meet our newest family member.  It's so surreal.  It's so exciting and scary and overwhelming.  I think I got 2 hours of sleep last night b/c I'm just so excited to hold her and kiss her sweet face!!