Happy Birthday, Bloggity Blog

A year ago today, I wrote this very lame post. I didn't really know what direction I wanted to take this blog (still kind of don't), but I wanted to write about the random nonsense that creeps into my mind along with some meaningful stuff too. I hope that I have accomplished that. In a year, I have grown from zero followers to 150 (woohoo!), I have encouraged others and been encouraged, I have admitted some weaknesses that made me feel vulnerable, I have gotten personal, I have met new friends, I have offended the mean internet lady,  and I hope I have made you laugh. This blog continues to be a creative outlet for me to not only share my thoughts, but also hone my writing. Thank you for reading and commenting and being apart of this little corner of the internet. Cheers!

To celebrate, I took the blog to the beach. It's having a lovely time. See for yourself. The blog really knows how to kick up its feet and relax.

22 1/2 Weeks

I had every intention of posting this on Sunday night like usual, but I totally forgot. We're on vacation. I brought along my computer and planned on being online as often as I am at home, but you know what? Vacations are way better when you're unplugged. I have needed to be unplugged this week. It's been nice soaking up my family (in addition to some sun) with no interruptions from emails, Skype, and other internet shenanigans that I frequently enjoy.

I have a problem with overindulging on vacation. I don't mean to, but when most meals are eaten out it's hard to watch portions and maintain self-control. For me, at least. I have no idea what I weigh, but I feel about the same. We have only eaten out twice and I had salads both times so hopefully I don't bring home an extra 5 lbs like I usually do when we vacation. Although yesterday we had gelato twice (don't judge, it was anniversary gelato) and I'm thinking that was probably not a good idea. Oh well. For the duration of our stay, I'll limit my intake to once a day.

Stats


Weight gain: I weighed before we left and I gained another pound from the last weigh in at the doctor. This puts me at 15 lbs total. Meh.
Stretch marks: None.
Movement: Penelope is a wild girl! She has really started kicking and rolling with a vengeance. I love it.
Cravings: Salads still. And gelato. Lots and lots of gelato.
Sleep: Much better this week. Salty air is good for you. I think...
Best moment this week: Being at the beach without having to suck anything in. Although I am paranoid that people don't realize I'm pregnant, but instead think I'm fat. Hmmm.
Gender: Girl!!!
Labor signs: None.
Belly button: In, but shallow.
What I miss: Corona with lime. We're not big drinkers, but there is something about the beach that makes me want a cold beer. Just a tiny little sip.
What I'm looking forward to: Sharing some big news with you guys when I return home. It's big. Bigger than having a baby big. Well, maybe as big as having a new baby, but big nonetheless.
Weekly wisdom: Even if everyone thinks you have a pot belly instead of a baby bump, there is always someone on the beach who has a bigger one than you.
Milestones: I have tan lines. This lilly white skin is starting to brown a wee bit.

A photo taken before all of the gelato this town has to offer was consumed.

I look kind of weird in that photo. Nothing a little lot of gelato can't fix. I will get right on that...

First Comes Love

We started out as friends.

Then we dated.

We fell in love.

We got engaged.

And married.

We went on an Hawaiian honeymoon.

We made a baby. Times 2.

And after 3 years, we're still in love. Happy anniversary to my sweet husband who can always make me laugh.

Ready, Set, Go

Our bed is piled high with stacks of clean clothes, colorful sandals, bathing suits and coverups. The bathrooms are clean, clean sheets on the beds, laundry complete. The kitchen is empty, snacks made, and sandwiches packed in plastic baggies. The car is loaded, DVD player installed, gas tank full.

We are going on a trip.

We leave tomorrow morning for the beach. JD says I'm not allowed to bring my computer, but I'm sneaking it anyway. He relaxes by watching TV (for hours and hours and hours) and I relax on the internet. Hopefully, I won't get in too much trouble...

I am not entirely sure that our condo has internet service so I may or may not be posting. I do promise to think of each and every one of you as I bask in the Florida sun and eat my little heart out on hush puppies. Mmmm, hush puppies.

You Like Free Stuff, Right?

I am hosting a giveaway from my humble little Etsy shop over at Just Another Manic Momday. If you want to win a handmade goodie made from my nimble, little fingers then head over to Amy's blog and enter the giveaway.

Golf Is Good For Marriages

JD's job requires a lot of his time. We have sacrificed family dinners, nigh-night kisses, matrimonial co-sleeping, and much, much more in trade for our income. It's been like this since we've been married so I'm not complaining; it is what it is. This is our life. But the great thing about missing out on so much day to day daddy time is that he gets tons of vacation time. Tons. So just when I start to ask who the strange man crawling in my bed at 6 am is, he takes 3 weeks off and we get reacquainted. Don't worry, the strange man is always JD. Phew.


JD has been off of work since Tuesday. This is the start of a 3 week hiatus for him. So far, we have had a spat everyday since he's been off. Nothing major or serious, just little annoyances that lead to someone (me) stomping off saying things like "this is going to be a long 3 weeks" while someone (JD) says things like "don't remind me." We always make up with hugs and kisses and laugh about how we weren't really that mad about whatever annoyed us in the first place. But it keeps happening. It really is going to be a long 3 weeks...


JD and I are a really good, strong couple. We are supportive and sensitive to each other's needs. We are sarcastic and really great comedians together. We connect, we challenge, we compromise, we talk things out, we want to last the long haul. But we also can experience too much togetherness. Being together is great (when JD has things to do like work), but when there is extended togetherness with no real plans to feel purposed about our days, we butt heads. This is what has been happening for the last 2 days: too much un-purposed togetherness.

You're probably saying, "that's the point of togetherness: to be together with no real agenda except being together." I agree, but our personalities require a little more separateness to mesh in matrimonial harmony. Or at least a hobby. You know it's too much togetherness when the wife is suggesting that the husband goes golfing. 


I am mostly teasing about being together too much. I love having him home at night on the same schedule as us. We drink coffee together in the mornings, we have lunch dates at actual restaurants, we have outside playtime before baths at night, and we both give nigh-night kisses to Beatrice before we settle into our nests on the couch for our nightly marathon of every crime/military/law enforcement show on TV. Watched simultaneously in typical man channel surfing fashion, no less. I love having my husband home. I love having someone to eat meals with and talk to at night.  I just wish he would go golfing every now and then. 

God House

I've written a little about the way I was raised before. I come from a home that was very heavily anchored in the Christian faith. From as long as I can remember, God was the center of our lives. When we had a financial need, we prayed. When we were sick, we prayed. When we needed guidance, we prayed. When the rain drenched the parched, crunchy grass, we thanked God. When we found a parking spot close to the door, we thanked God. When we were blessed in any way, we thanked God. Get the picture? From early on, I knew how to take all things to Jesus in prayer.

When I found out we were going to be parents, the most important thing I wanted to gift my children with was a God house. I wanted them to grow up knowing how to pray for the big things and the small. I wanted them to be friends with God. I wanted them to see their parents trust and seek God for the things that we needed/encountered in our lives and have that same sense of it'll-be-okay-ness that I did because God was in control. I wanted to raise my children in the admonition of the Lord (Deut. 6:4-7).

When Beatrice was first born, I started reading the Bible to her while I nursed her (smart phones are so handy). I felt pretty silly at first since she was basically asleep the whole time, but the point was to get in the habit of reading God's Word to her. I have done the same with prayer. We pray before nap/bedtime, we pray before mealtimes, we pray when she gets a boo boo, we pray for obedience when she struggles, we pray for mommy to have patience and wisdom when she struggles with obedience. We pray for all things around here. We watch Veggie Tales and limit the amount of secular books she has access to. We tell her that God made her and loves her more than we ever could. We praise Jesus in the car. We have created a God house. And I think it's working.

Beatrice has read enough books and seen enough pictures of Jesus that she knows he has long hair and a beard. And that he lives in the sky with God. And that he works at Toys R Us. Wait, what?! It seems as though we have immersed her in Jesus so much that whenever we see a long-haired, bearded man, she hollers "Cheese-suss!" True story. And while there are obviously some kinks to be worked out with who the Son of God really is (NOT the guy at Toys R Us), I can't help but feel that we're on the right track. Every time we sit at the table she says, "pray mama, amen!" When we rock a tiny bit before bedtime, she says, "pray mama." She has come to expect that we're gonna pray, no matter what.

I look forward to the day when my little tot can say her own prayers to God (as a child, I once asked my church for prayers for my sick teacher who had a horse in her throat). I can't wait to stifle the giggles at the precious things she talks to God about from her innocent heart. And I can't wait to watch her pray for me when I get a boo boo or have a bad day, because then I'll know that despite all of my failures as a mom, I will have at least given my children an anchor in their faith that comes from living in a God house.