Friday Favorites || November Happenings

I hope your Friday is off to a good start!
 This week has seemed to have been a long one for some reason...
 (though, not in a bad way!)
Here are a few fun things from our week:

one. Santa visit✔️

I'm the girl who either does things super early, or absolute last minute.  The years when I wait to get Santa pictures last minute...never result in a picture at all.  SO-the wonderful fast pass happened!  And I was actually on time this year:). I love the Santa at West Town because he is the same every year & so so s w e e t (you can see your kids grow each year with the same sweet Santa❤️).  With the fast pass, we got to have about 20 minutes with Santa all to ourselves.  The boys talked to him and then the digital package let me get images of all three babes with their own picture with Santa, along with one together.  It was a perfect evening!  Even if they did have to wear their "church clothes."

*I'm saving the good ones for my photo challenge & maybe Christmas card...haven't decided!😉

two. first post partum workout

I don't have my actual post partum appointment until the beginning of December, but I have listened to my body & took it easy long enough.  I feel like it would do me some good to work up a sweat-know what I mean?  This marks week one of working out post partum!  Baker wasn't thrilled at first, as she was on the bean bag/mamaroo watching, but when I could hold her while doing a rep of something safe I did-& she was entertained to say the least😂. I didn't hear a whimper out of her after that-I think she was waiting to see just what crazy move we'd do next.

My motto with this last baby-NO EXCUSES! Haha:).

three. first outing solo with all three!

 chick-fil-a + pj's and breakfast with Santa

Sadly, Cade had to work this past Saturday, so he didn't get to tag along for our morning at the mall with pj's, free chickfila, making ornaments, & attempting to sit in Santa's lap (hello, fast pass-bye bye standing in line all day as my boys attempt to rock climb the tinsel lit backdrop!)  I have a feeling he would have talked me out of it if he had been home anyway, LOL.  He has a way of doing that!  He's more of a homebody than I am.  I will say, with our history of him working off, I've never been one to hesitate doing things by myself.  It was a way of life for so long, so I guess that's a blessing-right?
  

We had a fun morning up until our cue to leave.  What might that have been you ask?  

The boys ran over a women's leg & almost backed over a toddler in a little tykes car at the playground...

✌🏻

 

 All you could see was her bow😂

 I even got to take lots of pics!  I was amazed.

four.  Baker's new born pics

We finally purchased them!  So excited to start working on picture walls in the new year!

This is one of my favorites & I know it will have to be humungous to do it justice!

five. stockings

Hello, my name is Cassidy, and I have the worst luck with stockings e v e r.  Wouldn't you know, that when I went to order Baker's stocking back in October...I would find that they quit making the one we all have.  Back to square one.  In years past, I had the same thing happen another time with Conley...& the year after mice ate a hole in our new ones🙈. Thankfully, in walked, or should I say popped (bc I found on the www) the most adorable stockings ever!  And to make it flow, of couuurrrse, I had to get one to match.  And then there is C (my sis who works/does classes online who so graciously helps us with kiddos, too!) who is cooped up at our house right up until Christmas week, so I felt like we owed her one, too!

Just FYI: I wanted to get these embroidered & most everyone I talked to didn't think it possible. I contacted SewFrancie & she was on it-got it done in less than a week, EVEN though I had to ship it to Texas (She is in Knoxville, too-just back & forth).  SO.  If you have what seems like an impossible embroidery/monogram task-she's your girl!

Linking up with High Five for Friday hosted by hosted by Tif @ Bright On A Budget, Becky @ BYBMG, and Della Devoted today!

Happy Friday, friends!

Friday Favorites || Thankful Hearts & Thoughts

I love November.

I love how the leaves seem to hit their darkest hues, the air in the South is finally dependably cooling off (most of the time), people seem uplifted knowing that a slower season is ahead as long as we can make it to that break or that day off, and, what seems to be the hottest topic of the month on social media... the fact that it's acceptable (by some) to start slipping in bits & pieces of decorations that make the holidays feel like the "holidays."  Not to adopt the secular traditions as what makes this time of year special, but to set the mood of times past (in my humble opinion!).

The reason I adore all the decorations from Halloween, fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas so much...is simply because they remind me of all the past celebrations & traditions I will always hold close to my heart.  They aren't what make Christmas, Thanksgiving, or "fall," but they are a sweet memory I always like to have around as we celebrate the true spiritual meaning behind each.

Oh, the things I have to be thankful for.  It drains my heart to think that there will never be a way to tell God just how wonderful He has been to me.  How much I appreciate Him.  Of course He knows what He has done for me, but I feel so overwhelmed of even where to begin most days that it hinders my prayer life.  I think Satan has used this on me since becoming a mama.  I hit a season in 2017 where I ignored all of that & just decided I would talk to God no matter how insignificant it seemed or silly I sounded.  Believing that He cared what I told Him no matter whether I spoke with perfectly put together prayers or not.  I decided I would talk to Him like a friend, like a daddy.  

Tell Him everything!

I have no trouble doing that with others.  

Why in the w o r l d would I not do it with the person who loves me most?

I've got to get back to that! 

I've been so busy with learning how to be a mom to three, balancing work, house things, a second to myself to breathe & rest (recovery is not the easiest when you are already a mom & then there is mastitis that showed it's ugly face this week😫)-that this area of my life & my marriage feels like it has suffered.  I have GOT to pay special attention to these areas I'm feeling weaker in.

Me in my natural state😬

 That has been my prayer this month.  No matter how small of an effort I make toward that goal, I want to grow back to that each day.  There are tons of more important prayer request I know, but I would SO appreciate it if you would pray for me & my prayer life if you happen to think about it.  ❤️

Favorites this week...

thankful moments

Again, not to sound like a broken record...but I don't think I've had enough time to myself to process my life lately.  I continuously marvel at God's goodness in my life day to day-moment to moment, but I never have time to be thankful.  About two weekends ago, I did.  As I stared outside at all the leaves falling down & had been holding Baker all morning I processed everything.  Her little head laying on my shoulder... she was so sweet, so peaceful, and content.  Tears started flowing.  Pouring.  I just kept thanking God over and over for not only my daughter, but my family and all he had done for me.  I crave moments like that when I can truly feel and find what my heart so badly wants to say when I see God's goodness. 

My thankful & answered prayer picture.  It's like a piece of art to me not to sound corny.  But, it is captured in this picture.  I will treasure it always.

calendar planning

There are some fun things around Knoxville coming for Christmas.  We missed all the Fall things afraid Baker would make her appearance.  I made a calendar for the refrigerator to remind of us a few special things to plan for.   

the sister studio gift guide

I say this every year, but given this Baker's first Christmas...I really mean it.  I want my Christmas shopping done EARLY!  My fave fashion blogger is putting out a gift guide every Sunday full of amazing gift ideas for those of us (ah-hem 🙋🏻‍♀️ who are t e r r I b l e gift givers).  I find these SO helpful and figured it would keep me on pace in getting done in enough time to just enjoy the season.

check it out here or sign up for her mailing list (like I did!)

helllllllo chestnut praline.
I see you & your sweet frothy goodness in that fresh off the press Christmas cup.  Word is, my pumpkin sweet cream cold brew is not going to be stocked after this week.  There is nothing like a little pick me up like a good (but expensive coffee).  I know-it's a luxury I just don't want to give up.  

tree is going UP!

Twas the season for a new tree this year.  Our other one had had a slashed wire & lights that were out for about three years-it was time.  not sure about the flock, but it sure is a beautiful sight.  The boys loved decorating it-even though it took us an entire week.
🤱🏻🤱🏻🤱🏻
SIDE NOTE*One thing I learned this year: TINSEL transforms a tree!


All the Inspo from this pic!  It reminds me of the Rockefeller tree in NYC😍

P.S.  It SNOWED this week in East Tennessee!
A true miracle...We l o v e d every flurry & are hoping for many more this winter-but next time...Knox Co schools need to have a heart & give the kids & staff a much deserved snow day!
Cam was all kinds of sad he couldn't enjoy the fresh morning snow!


Have a great weekend❤️

Friday Favorites ||. Keep Calm + Carry On

Literally.  Keep Calm.  And Carry On.

I begrudgingly went to the doc today 

(these five minute dr visits are getting a bit taxing, not going to lie) 

& much to my surprise...

I left with her saying-"let's get this show on the road."

Wait, what?

To recap, basically if I haven't went on my own before October 11, I will be induced on that day!

My due date is October 18, but no one has ever believed I would make it to that day.

They were even open to scheduling next week-since the boys both came naturally at 38 weeks.

But yikes!  Me...not so much.  

I'm literally freaking out over wrapping my head around the fact that it is already time for her to be here.  My last baby.  I am so ready, but all at the same time I am so NOT ready.

Her nursery isn't ready, I don't have my hospital bag packed, I haven't scheduled newborn pictures.
blah blah blah blah blah
 The list is never ending because I choose for it to be.  I have never been such a nesting freak in all my life (and I'm a nesting freak without being pregnant).   I am driving myself & I'm sure my husband, b o n k e r s over things that really don't matter.  I don't think I've ever been this bad wanting everything to be "perfect."

I am saying this in all seriousness. 

It's like Satan is trying to steal my joy, the joy of this moment I've dreamed of for so long & taking my focus off of what really matters.  I know that I am too blessed for this nonsense!  

We've been so i n c r e d i b l y blessed with help in doing what we have done.  I don't want to overlook any of that!

But no matter what I do, no matter how hard I try-

it's like I keep taking things in to my own hands & out of God's & I'm back at square one.  I always hesitate when I share my heart, because, who wants to hear about some silly little insignificant crisis such as this?  I know there are WAY more important issues in other people's lives going on, but this is all the result of my worrisome/never (lightyears away from) perfect but always chasing perfect self.  

Read more about that girl here.  It's actually my testimony.

Let's just be honest.
This world bombards us with all the media outlets: emails, "pins," how to's, checklists, notifications of all the things we need to have done before X.  In my case, at the moment-it's "what needs to be done before baby comes."  It's like they want us to believe that a baby can't nor has never came in to this world without everything in place.  Well, when it boils down to it- that baby has made it nine whole months with nothing but it's mama and God's grace.

As I was sneaking out of Cam's room tonight after getting him to sleep-I looked back one last time as I usually do before pulling his door to & knew I had to come back to snag a picture of the moment.  Yes, of course because -how a d o r a b l e are these two??  But, mostly because I had a moment.  There laid my first born, in a room with all decorations laying on the floor-no paint-a floor full of t-shirts he had earlier slung all over the floor in search for the perfect match...

clean, clothed, healthy, safe, fed, happy, snug as a bug in a rug, sleeping in his own room with his furry best friend.  All was right in his world, & for good reason.

All IS right in his world right now.

And it is in mine, too.

There will be days to come when I'm sure it won't be, but now?

Now IS perfect.

It's not about what we have, but WHO we have & what we do with our time on earth.

I have a brother who I've almost lost a burden for.  I'll just be honest.  Isn't that the most terrible thing I could ever say?  But it's true.  When I allow trivial things to take over, that's what happens.

I'm blindfolded to what really matters.

And here I am worrying over everything being in its place.  I am ashamed, friends.

 Placing too much emphasis on all the wrong things.

Just had to pour my heart out, would you believe I can't sleep?

If you're still reading at this point, I guess what I want to say is-

whether our girl comes by the end of this day, or on October 11th.

I am ready.  Ready without a "finished nursery."  Ready without a hospital bag or all the things I think we "need" before she comes into our world.  Ready without a newborn shoot booked.  

I am ready when God sends her to us.  She is what matters.  Our family is what matters.

How can I not be ready?

And that is all the Friday favorites this mama has today.

Blah.  I'm sure I'll want to delete right after I put publish, but I'm vowing to leave it.

Real life, real feelings, real flaws.  Yep, I even want to remember this part of my story.

Word vomit.  I'm good at that when I blog🙃

XO

When I get so caught up in this world, this song always starts humming in my head & reminds me number one: of how blessed I am, and number two: this earth isn't my home.

Can't help but cry like a baby everytime❤️

This is my temporary home, it's not where I belong Windows and roomsthat I'm passing through This is just a stop on the way to where I'm going...

High Five for Friday || One More Day Til' Fall!

One more day until it is o f f i c i a l l y fall.

Crunchy leaves, a cool nice breeze (🤞🏻) crockpot meals, porches full of pumpkins & mums, & our super cool neighbors yard full of fall + Halloween trinkets are in the near future!

Oh, and have I mentioned our baby girl!?

Only every time I post, right? 🙃

I just can't wrap my head around that!  Is that weird?

I feel her move, I feel that my body is getting too small for her ever growing baby rolls-

but it still is not real that I am going to have a daughter!

I've went through having a baby twice & you'd think that I'd be a pro or unfazed by this, but then again, life is never the same after a baby.  

One, two, OR three...

A few highlights from this week in September 2019:

one.  hospital ready

well, for baby girl anyway!  I still haven't ordered the things IIIII need, but all that cute personalized stuff has to be ordered asap.  I've about had a panic attack waiting this late... #budget + obsessive compulsive disorder (doing everything at once - I have no patience!). Silly, of course!

But when these pregnancy nesting hormones kick in, that's what happens.  Worrying over nothing.

I ordered this sweet little outfit with her name and bow & then a blanket and bow with her name on it in the prettiest fall color!  I can't wait to see them on her!  And put them in her bag (can't decide if it will work for a diaper bag or not) that matches her brothers...going to pick that up today!

Thank goodness for rush orders🤗

coming home outfit

two.  what a deal!

I've been wanting to try this shapetape f o r e v e r and granted this may be a tired mom's best investment and accessory- I couldn't pass this deal up-especially since I've been out of concealer for about two weeks!  

Gimme all the concealer, hats, leggings, and tunics for post partum.  Gotta love QVC.  This deal is going on through the rest of September!

three. Friday + Sams pick up

Need I say more?  

I don't have any kids until 10:30 am on Friday's so I take that opportunity to grab a coffee to go & pick up our groceries after I drop Camster off.  Loving this little routine:). Cam has grown so super attached to Tepp, that she has to drop him off and pick him up from school.  We've created a monster.    When B gets here she may have to figure out another system!  Ha!  On Friday mornings, naturally she always goes with me-so the Sam's people adore her + know her by name.  She working on a regular pup cup from Starbucks too...

four.  October parties are the BEST parties🤗

Conley's little birthday party cannot be put on the back burner with our new babe:)

He & I have been brainstorming lately.  

I think I may have him talked into another Halloween-y party...

he initially wanted a "share-a-gini party" if you are familiar with The Sharer fam...

LOL.  I was all about that but I felt like it would be more expensive and harder to find a person to make a Lamborgini cake for a 3/4 year old...

Also, he changes his mind with the blowing of the wind-he basically just wants purple-blue boy stuff.

five. new precious memories

we had our maternity pics on Saturday & Denise never disappoints!

she is my favorite photographer.  hands down.

she doesn't make us pose.  she just snaps-and in snapping she gets the BEST shots!

I can't wait to make more gallery walls😍

Happy weekending, friends!
27 days or less from baby:)