**Nesting**

I so clearly remember scrubbing our apartment when I was almost due with Ava. Everything just could not be straight enough, dusted enough, swept and mopped enough. And don't even get my started on laundry - I was a maniac. I think I washed some of her outfits twice, maybe 3 times before she was even born. And, the end of this pregnancy is proving to be the same. I have been nuts about organizing, purging through stuff and just getting things ready in general. I have mopped my kitchen floor, sorted boxes in the basement {although, WHY?, I'm not sure}, washed baby clothes, scrubbed the bathroom, dusted, etc. Things are a little different this time around though. For some reason - ahem - things aren't staying clean and in their places. The dining room looks like someone is living there, AND, our last ladies church event is still waiting to be held as I still have ALL the decorations in boxes on the floor. Our bedroom may or may not have had a clothes bomb go off. The cute sunroom off the upstairs is slowly looking like a large windowed closet :/ (my least fave thing right now) and somehow every time I get toys put away - they end up back strewn across the floor. Not sure who is doing that! :)

But, with all that said. Nesting is in FULL swing here in this house. In the last 3 days I have been doing all I physically can - and I'm starting to see results. The nursery is practically ready for a new addition minus some curtains and raising the crib back up to the right height. I sorted through every diaper box of baby clothes of Ava's and transferred them ALL to plastic totes by size. Yes, obsessive. I now have perfectly organized baby girl clothes in multicolored bins and just waiting to be pulled out season by season. {sigh} Also, big sis' clothes that she is rapidly outgrowing are now being stockpiled in little sis' extra closet, too! No reason to wait and do that again in a few months!

Little Sis' closet has been stocked with all the amazing diaper deals I found over the winter in prep for her arrival. And I even was able to get some things up on hangers, organized in her "plastic dresser", etc. I just have one little Luvs box to sort through of baby toys, etc.

I have the changing table ready - minus a basket for blankets (and more dusting). Today I set up the bedside sleeper, which, a certain 2 year old thinks is for her personal climbing entertainment. I pulled out the ol' pump and got it ready, stocked the bottle cabinet so daddy can be a little more involved this time. Got the receiving blankets ready, folded baby towels, threw old stained things away and just went to town!


My ankles are MASSIVE and I can't seem to drink enough water, but otherwise I feel fine. 38 weeks this week! I'm secretly hoping for maybe a little earlier then May 17th baby - but, we'll take whatever. I mean, we ARE ready now! And for those of you that have been wondering... yes, Ava is doing great in her big girl room. I got everything done minus the dark pink stripes - which we'll do this summer. She loves being in there! The transition has been beautiful. I finished making her memo board {it's not perfect, but, special} and its the only thing up on the wall. I was given this beautiful dresser that I spray painted white - and, that's as far as we got before the move. More pics to come - but, here's a teaser!

FotoBooth Friday: Laundry Basket edition

I've never done a fotobooth Friday...but, so many of you do and they are adorable. Today I'll attempt one -

My daughter is exhausted today. She woke up early and has been a slug all morning - just lounging around. While I quick checked my email for something I found her like this on our bed. Hilarious.

Adorable. She makes me smile.

{and secretly wish I could curl up in a laundry basket}

When you listen to that "tiny" voice...

Heeding a call...
Listening to a prompt...

Call it what you will - but, I had one of those opportunities just today. A chance to listen to that sometimes whisper of a voice and find the full joy in doing so.

It was 11 o'clock and the countdown to lunch was on. I had been up early for one of my OB visits and was now on my way home with little girl chatting in the backseat. I had only mentioned the possibility of stopping by the church to see if "daddy had a few minutes to chat" when the same little girl insisted we stop. I paused. I was tired {but, what's new there?}, and still had lunch to pull together all before nap time. Sometimes these stops by daddy's work went just fine, sometimes they turn into a little mini-battle to get a certain little girl back OUT to our van. :) For some reason - I went for it. That little voice seemed to give a nod of approval - if voices nod.

We went in and chatted with some ladies for a few minutes. Daddy's meeting had already started so we wouldn't be able to see him afterall. We made our way to the library room and found a fun DVD to check out for later that day - and then it was time to head home. As we were leaving the fellowship hall some ladies were cleaning out a closet for one of our specialized ministries. I stopped by their table and made small talk - just connecting with some new faces. One of the new(er) faces asks me, "Do you need toothpaste?" as she extends a Walgreens bag to me. Hmmm... random. But, like a good young mother I said something witty like, "oh sure, saves me a trip down the road." To which the older lady smiled and agreed - pushing the bag into my hands. I didn't think much of it - but said thank you for the "toothpaste" and then grabbed up munchkin and headed out for the drive home.

Once everyone was loaded up I peeked into the bag just to see what exactly had just been given to me. To say I was blown away would be an understatement! I WAS SURPRISED and HUMBLED all at once by what I saw. 2 TUBES OF TOOTHPASTE, 4 TOOTHBRUSHES & 2 PACKS OF FLOSS!

It was like dental Christmas! I did a quick mental tally and figured out just what a real blessing this was. Wow! And all name brand items... All because I took the time to stop and listen to a little voice prompting that it might be nice to just "stop into the church". Now isn't our Jehovah Jireh a creative one? He sure blessed the socks off of this momma today.

It doesn't end there, either.

Upon arriving home and already feeling giddy about this blessing - I checked our mailbox. Inside it was a giant blue package from Similac - ya know, the baby formula company. They sent me two canisters of baby formula as I'm on some kind of mailing list. I just smiled. Not even surprised. And even though I'm planning to re-attempt nursing this baby... canisters of formula almost always come in handy, and they aren't cheap! The package also had several $5 off coupons for future purchases, etc. What a day of unexpected blessings and provisions!

I busted out our composition notebook that I keep to record every blessing we encounter and quickly wrote this all down. I can't wait for Ava to read this someday and see just how our God provides and cares for us... even for our teeth!

Dancing with my Father

This morning I started a new book. I finished up "One Thousand Gifts" and thought that surely I could squeeze in just one more book prior to baby girl making her appearance. I'm already so excited about Sally Clarkson's "Dancing with my Father". Seems to be right where I am right now on my journey - in many ways. I was excited to find this video this morning on YouTube and thought I'd share. A while back I won a copy of this book on a blog giveaway and can't believe its taken me this long to get to it...

So here's to Joy and pursuing God in a new way!
Anyone read this book? Any insights?

Easter Re-Cap

We started our Easter Prep about a week ago. This time last Monday Ava and I started making some Easter sugar cut-out cookies. I normally make my traditional Pecan Easter Bread - but, due to lack of energy... decided to stick with just cookies this year. We'll get back on the bread band wagon next year. :) Cookie making this year was a BLAST with this little girl! She really got into it and loved telling me about every design she was making.

We had tulip, butterfly, flower, cross, bunny, chick, egg and...strawberry shortcake cookies. She was so great at putting the sprinkles at just the right spot. And was so proud of each cookie she made! I loved listening to her chitter chatter the entire time - telling me all about it. It was such a fun bonding time for me and my little one. :) And of course the MOST FUN was getting to taste them afterwards -

What a fun memory made! The only problem was... once we got a taste of them - they didn't last long! {yay to mommy for making only a small batch of dough}

Easter Sunday we woke up and found these beautiful Tulips ready to be snipped and put in a vase on our kitchen table. We'd be waiting for them to bloom for several weeks. They are perfect! Another beautiful reminder of how special this holiday is for us as Believers. New Life!

My hubs was given the opportunity to baptize two teen guys during our first service. My eyes welled as I watched him dip the guys under - and hug them afterward. Amazing. Who would have even thought at the beginning of our romance that God would use us how He has been! We praise Him for saving these two teen guys and how He is already at work in their new lives! Humbling.

After the service we headed over to our big family dinner. No, really. MASSIVE amounts of family. Ava loves these times as she runs around with all of her cousins and laughs and just has a great time. We had a big meal, took pictures and had the annual candy hunt. :)

All the kiddos - the little ones, anyway. :) Next year we'll add another! And I know I'm biased but, man is this one especially darling...

HE IS RISEN! THANK YOU JESUS!

Pre-Easter Prep

I've committed to taking this weekend OFF and really trying to dig in and focus on the TRUE meaning of Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday. Something that, for me personally, all seems to become a commercial, last minute shopping for chocolate event. I hate that about myself. So I'm really seeking God on this one - to guide and direct my mind.

All the said - I wanted to share this last reminder of something I posted on last year. The cookie -teachable lesson about Jesus and the empty tomb on Easter morning. If you didn't get to see it last time - take a look! I know several of you said you tried it and loved it. I'm eager to try for myself!

Here's the link.
Happy Easter!

.:Comic Relief:.

I didn't realize it, but these coupons are good for one gallon of gas at most retailers.


I have seen them around, but until recently never took advantage of them, I never realized their actual worth.


You probably have one or two just lying around somewhere, now is the time to use them before they lose their value, and it's too late!!

Ok, Ok...
Admit it - it's painfully funny. Or, maybe just more painful? :) My grandma sent me this in an email yesterday and I didn't get it at first. Now I just giggle. {and groan thinking about its truth}

But, thought we could all use some comic relief around here. I know I sure could!