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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Nordstrom Sale

The anniversary sale is something I look forward to every summer! When else can you get the brand new stuff on sale and a lot of time, brands that rarely go on sale?!

I even planned on this at the beginning of the year when thinking about our budget with me staying at home, ha! Well...I stayed a bit under my budget. I was a little disappointed with the sale selection this year...but I did find some things I just couldn't live without ;) I have a lot of fun shopping for Hunter during the sale, too!

Did you participate? Find anything you are thrilled about?? These are the things that I splurged on this year...

Monday, July 30, 2012

A Trip to the Ocean

A couple weekends ago, we had our timeshare at the ocean. With only a few days notice, Jesse was sent on a trip through the Pacific, and I thought our ocean plans were going to fall through. But...then I was feeling a bit adventurous and decided to take the trip with Hunter and the dogs. I was a little nervous being well into my third trimester and battling a toddler and two big dogs, but it worked out great. We headed out on Friday evening and spent the night watching movies and relaxing. We both stayed up past our bedtime and slept in rather late, too.


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In the morning, we headed out to breakfast. Hunter ate the crap out of some pancakes and bacon, while I sat and enjoyed my oatmeal and coffee. Later in the morning, my parents, brother, and sister in law showed up to spend the day with us. We had a great time playing on the beach. Hunter built sand castles, ran around with the dogs, and had fun finding dead crabs. Ick.


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Uploaded from the Photobucket iPhone App



I don't think the dogs are happier anywhere else than being free to run on the beach. They had a great time. It was Lucy's first time out there and I think Henry enjoyed the company.


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Later we went into town and got some salt water taffy (because, duh!) and then had dinner before my family left. Hunter and I spent another relaxing evening in the condo watching movies and eating taffy (duh).

The next morning we made multiple trips out to the ocean through the walking trail in the back of the condo, with the dogs. I wasn't feeling very capable of handling walking both dogs and watching Hunter, so I had to take them out one at a time throughout the morning and early afternoon.

What is a trip to the ocean without getting ice cream, right?? So, I took Hunter after lunch to a ice cream shop in Ocean Shores. He insisted on wanting "pink" ice cream.


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After ice cream, we met up with my dad's family that came out to spend the rest of the week at the condo. We made another trip out to the beach with the dogs and then went out for a yummy fish and chip dinner.

It was a great weekend and I'm so glad I decided to go, even though Jesse wasn't able to join us. It was some much needed time with Hunter before we add another little boy into the mix. Precious memories were made and you can't replace those :)


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32+ Weeks




Weight Gain: 29 pounds 

Stretch Marks: Same ones. 

Movement: Mostly in the evenings. I can tell this baby is growing because the kicks and turns are getting so strong!

Cravings: Fruit and sweets. This is all that sounds good lately. 

Sleep: Pretty good actually, once I get comfortable. 

Best moment this week: Spending the weekend at the ocean. 

Gender: Boy!

Labor signs: Lots of Braxton Hicks contractions :(

Maternity clothes: Yes.  

What I miss: Feeling better. Not gonna lie, I just don't feel so great lately. I ache a lot. 

What I'm looking forward to: Getting closer and closer to holding this little guy!

Uploaded from the Photobucket iPhone App

Monday, July 16, 2012

30 Weeks...a bit late.


Weight Gain: 27 pounds 

Stretch Marks: No new ones. 

Movement: All the time, this little guy is getting bigger and stronger!

Cravings: Not a whole lot. My appetite is actually really slowing down and it's hard for me to eat three full meals. 

Sleep: Ugh, back to waking up a couple times in the middle of the night and just laying there restless. 

Best moment this week: Seeing my fearless little man at swim lessons!

Gender: Boy!

Labor signs: Not really, but the contractions are getting stronger and at times are a bit painful. 

Maternity clothes: Yes.  

What I miss: Being able to bend over and not feel like it's such a chore. 

What I'm looking forward to: Seeing this baby!! I can't believe I'm only ten weeks away from my due date!!!

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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Crabbing


Crabbing from Erie on Vimeo.


Here is a video that one of Jesse's buddies made of a couple days last week that Jesse took them out crabbing. Hunter even went out with the guys one day. They had a blast.

Monday, July 9, 2012

A Time to Sew 3:7

I did it, I opened my Etsy shop! I've gotten a lot of response to my blankets and burp cloths on Facebook and Instagram and have even sold quite a few of them, so I decided that it was time to open up shop! :)

I got back in the swing of things early last week and was having so much fun sewing. I really do love to see a couple pieces of fabric turn into a perfect gift for a baby or toddler! The blankets are just so darn soft that I'm thinking of making a big one for myself.

But anyways, I decided to name my shop, A Time to Sew 3:7. I got the idea from Ecclesiates 3:7. The chapter talks about different seasons in life and how there is a time for everything. In verse seven, it mentions "A time to sew". So there you have it!




So anyways, I don't have a lot in my shop at the moment because I can't seem to keep things on hand (I'm not complaining!). But...I have a ton of fabric that I ordered that should be here at some point this week. Hopefully I can spend a couple days creating cute blankets and matching burp cloths and get them up on the shop.

Here are a couple of the blankets that I've made and sold this week:





Anyways... thought I would show some of the fabrics that I have on order that aren't claimed yet, just any case any of them catch your eye and you have to have a blanket made with it! :) I can do pretty much any color minky, chenille, or a super soft fleece on the backside.



 


So come check out my shop sometime and feel free to e-mail me if you want me to make you a blanket with any of the above fabrics. I always love doing custom orders, so if you have something in mind that you don't see, you can search www.fabric.com and send me a link to the fabric that you want; I will order it and get it made for you!



Sunday, July 8, 2012

It's Been 6+ Months



I guess that time frame could apply to a couple things considering that I found out I was pregnant a week after my last day of working. But this post isn't about being pregnant, it's about being a stay at home mom and reflecting on what changes that has brought. 

When I even start to look back on the last six months, I begin to get a bit teary eyed...because it has been one of the best times of my life and I feel more than blessed to have this oppurtunity. When I quit my job at the beginning of the year, I was fully expecting to miss some aspects of working; having a career, interacting with co-workers, being productive in an environment outside of home, the money etc. I couldn't of been more wrong. In all honesty, I don't miss it in the very least; not even a tiny bit. 

I've tried to ponder why this is. And the best I can use to describe it is the bond I have strengthened with Hunter, the freedom I have been given, and also being able to be able to dedicate 100% of me to my family. Please do not take these things as me saying that staying at home makes someone a better parent than a working one, but for me, personally, it does make me a better mom. Everyone is different,  and this is where I shine. 

Since staying at home with him, I absolutely love that I am with him so much and that I am constantly there to shape him into becoming a child of faith and eventually a man of God. Anything new characteristic that I see in him, bad or good, I can immediately reinforce or try to change immediately. Hunter is my buddy, my right hand man. I love this kid more than I ever knew I could. Sure I have my days, when I count the minutes until Jesse gets home because I'm about to pull my hair out with frustration from dealing with a stubborn toddler, but more often I can't wait to spend day after day with him and am just counting down the time until Jesse can come home and hang out with this awesome little guy, too. 

The freedom aspect of not working is HUGE when living in a military family. Jesse goes on trips for 3 days or 2 weeks or 4 months. The days of the week he works or is gone, is not Monday through Friday. It is so nice to spend any day of the week with him that he has off from work. He likely will have training in the near future for a few weeks at a time and we now have to ability, when his work allows it, to pack up our family and all go to wherever he is going stateside. There's been talk of three weeks in Vegas later in the year and my first response is, "Sure, we'll just pack up the kids and come with," So nice!

My role in our family has always been being the rock that is constant. Jesse comes and goes for his job (and hobbies, ugh), and I've always had to be the one that can be home to take care of the bills, the dogs, the chores, etc. I'm used to that. What has really changed is finding joy in doing those things. Before they were tasks to do on my own while working a full time job as well, it was so stressful at times! Now, those duties are just the things I do during the week. I take pride in those things and I don't feel like I have to sacrifice all my quality time with Hunter to be able to get those things done. 

I do get a lot of common questions about being a working mom turned stay at home mom. 

People ask a lot if I miss the money. Yes and no, but mostly no. It was nice to make big purchases and now that we would be able to replenish our savings in a short amount of time. But...I'm finding that buying things was just filling a void. I'm perfectly content living more on a budget now and watching what we spend. We feel very blessed to be debt free, which gives us some ability not to count every penny and to do fun things as a family. 

Do I feel like I'm losing a piece of myself in "just being a mom"? Haha, not in the least! I love it and I feel like I am finding out who I am as a person in this stage of my life way more than I did as being an employee to a company. I have time to find out what my interests are and how I want to use that time. 

Do I get bored? I thought I would, but that couldn't be further from reality. I honestly don't remember the last time I've felted bored, it's been years! When I feel like doing something, I go do it. When I want to just stay at home and relax, I do that. It's awesome. Some weeks I get into cooking or baking or sewing or taking Hunter on outdoor activities or indoor activities or craft projects, etc. We just do what we want on any given day. Lately it has been more sewing and baking. So domestic, huh?

How do I do things for me when I'm with Hunter all the time?  I just choose to do these things either while Hunter is napping, with Jesse, or I involve him as much as I can in the project I'm working on. For example, this week Hunter has made cupcakes, a fruit salad, and been my helping when sewing. With the cupcakes, I got him a stool and he helped me mix, measure, and pour all the ingredients, he did the same with a fruit salad. And with sewing, I've started feeling comfortable with handing him the pins as I take them out of the fabric and then he sticks them in the "tomato" and then pulls them out as I need more. He loves it. 

This gig has blown my expectations out of the water. It's not for everyone, but I now know, we made the best decision for our family and I wouldn't want to be living any other way. Especially since summer has hit the Pacific Northwest, I feel like I couldn't be doing a better job in the world. It's amazing and I am SO thankful to be doing what I am doing. 

Saturday, July 7, 2012

29 Weeks




Weight Gain: 26 pounds 

Stretch Marks: No new ones. 

Movement: All the time. 

Cravings: Lots and lots of fruit. Back to the cooked food doesn't sound good. 

Sleep: Once I get comfortable, I've been out of the night! Even after eight or nine hours of sleep though, I still feel groggy and my body is tired. My maternity pillow is my BFF. If you are pregnant and don't have one, get one! I have one similar to this.

Best moment this week: Spending time with family and friends. 

Gender: Boy!

Labor signs: Still small contractions when I over do it. My body is really starting to slow down and does not want to function the same. I get tired easily and my body aches. 

Maternity clothes: Yes.  

What I miss: Energy and not hurting. 

What I'm looking forward to: The weekend. We are having friends over for a BBQ and poker tonight. My parents are coming out to spend a day in the sun with us tomorrow and then some more friends over tomorrow night for dinner. And...Hunter starts swim lessons on Monday!









Sunday, July 1, 2012

28 Weeks



Weight Gain: 24 pounds 

Stretch Marks: Same ole ones.

Movement: All the time. I like playing the game when I poke him and he kicks me back :)

Cravings: Still lots and lots of fruit. Mostly grapes, nectarines, and cherries. 

Sleep: Starting to get uncomfortable. I tend to toss and turn a lot of the night these days. 

Best moment this week: Spending a few days with friends that were up from California and finding out that one of my favorite friends is having a boy, too! 

Gender: Boy!

Labor signs: Still feeling small contractions. I am definitely getting to the uncomfortable part of third trimester quickly. I get tired easily and just feel sluggish. 

Maternity clothes: Yup. 

What I miss: Not feeling like a whale. Just being honest. 

What I'm looking forward to: Family time. Jesse has been in Germany this week, so I am excited for him to get back and be able to spend most of the holiday week with our family. 

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Jesse is active duty Air Force and is originally from southern Minnesota. He has also managed to become a follower of just about every hobby known to man (which drives his wife crazy!).



Henry was born on July 4, 2007. His hobbies include playing with his squeaker toys, barking a little girls, dock jumping, going to the dog park, and being spoiled rotten by his grandparents.

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