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:)

FriYAY Favs on Saturday || oh EeEe oh Pregnant in September

Is it comprehensible (is that a word?) that we only have approximately f i v e weekends left as a family of four?  Until we have a little GIRL in our family?

I really just can't comprehend that.

It's so surreal.

And while I don't want to rush this pregnancy (my last) at ALL, my body is growing tired & feeling the struggles of carrying the extra weight.  It's funny how I've forgotten how those last weeks feel, & now that I'm here, once again, though I don't want to rush the feeling of those sweet kicks or just the fact that she is safe in my belly as close as she'll ever be to me-

I'm so ready to meet her & walk without a waddle😜

In preparation, I foresee all the decorating for fall, organizing, cleaning, baking, & nesting we can possibly squeeze into the next few weeks.

Favorites of the week:
---

one.  the belly shelf

it never feels as cute as I imagine it will be, but if there is one awesome thing
about being pregnant it's the belly shelf.

two.  you've got mail
I have to watch this movie every fall.  I've loved it since I was a little girl❤️

“Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

Cade was SO kind-that the only night of the week that football wasn't on-he agreed to endure it with me during our evening "big people time."

three.  baby e s s e n t i a l : free pump!  thanks insurance
not to bore you-BUT...

this is a big deal for an expecting mom!  thankful x a million over here that insurance helps cover pumps.  if you are expecting & plan on nursing-don't go out & buy one!  check your insurance!  this one wasn't "free" but way over half the price it is at the store.  I've wanted this one since the beginning.  I'll be able to pump & have both hands🙌🏻

When it arrived, Conley said "wook, mom!  a package for me!"

You can imagine his snickering/disappointment when he opened it.😂
especially since he's always been "obsessed with boobs."  That sounds terrible, huh?  lol.  

four.  cam's football pics

I love him.

except when he's a smart aleck.

of course I'm lying. even then.

the end.
we get the rest of his pictures at practice Tuesday!  

five.  new hair, who dis?

ok, not really, but fresh hair.  

I haven't had it done since May so-not having to blow dry curl/straighten it myself & having that fresh salon feel is one of the greatest luxuries!🤪

not to mention have a little help before family/maternity pictures!

before: frizzy fro of hay

after:

also me: once every 4 months...

I hope you all have a great weekend!
35 days or less & counting until baby B!
XO

34/35 Weeks

September goals...stay pregnant :)

How far along?  34 weeks 5 days
Total Weight Gain: 25 lbs
What to wear: If I can't wear a dress or leggings, I'm not going.
Movement:  Homegirl is doing a Jillian Michael workout video in there 99% of the time.  It's the one way I can tell I'm not going into labor when I have contractions/Braxton Hicks.  And I have them A LOT.  More than I ever remember with my boys.
Sleep: Meh.  I literally wake up 32,323 times a night to pee 1/4 of a tsp.
Best moment this week:  Gosh, so much has happened!  I ordered her going home outfit bow!  I've got to order her 2 outfits for the hospital.  I keep putting it off & I'm afraid she's going to come before they will be able to be shipped at this point.  In more serious news, at the doctor last Thursday, after a very difficult Tuesday at work, I came to the realization that it was time to say goodbye earlier than expected to my working days (MT) in Sevierville.  While I am currently trucking along keeping baby cooking, with my history it was just time to listen to my body and know that I needed to slow down.
Miss anything?  Being able to breathe.  I lose my breath constantly.  It makes me want something carbonated to drink.  And I feel like this:

Cravings:  ICE!  And burgers.  Get in my belly.  All of that probably means my iron is still low-getting that checked tomorrow:)

Gender: Sweet baby girl
Looking forward to:  Maternity pics this weekend:)  I never like "taking" the pics, but I love getting them back & having them to forever look back on this sweet time of life🤗. I also can't wait to snuggle, love on, SEE her for the first time!