Diaper Baggin' It

Instead of shopping for a new purse these days, I have been browsing for a new diaper bag. I am trying to find one that looks like a purse, so I can just carry one bag for everything...is that possible? Maybe it will be so jammed packed with baby gear, I will need another bag just for my stuff anyway. These are some of the cute options I have found so far: this Kalencom Midi tote marked down to $60. Hmmm, so many options...what's a girl to do?

Or maybe this OiOi giraffe bag...it's only $160...definitely too high for a diaper bag, but it is cute.

This diaper bag may just make its way onto my birthday wish list. It's cute and stylish, and doesn't necessarily look like a diaper bag. Plus, it's huge; it will hold all of Eli's diapers, wipes, bottles, toys, clothes, and everything else I could possibly need. From poutbaby.com, and marked down from $180 to $60....sounds like it's calling my name!

Gettin' Nesty

Here's a real-life nursery with some of the same ideas...zebra rug, darker walls, etc. I don't think we'll go that dark on the walls, but the furniture will be similar...white-washed crib and dresser. If only I could find that darn zebra rug...it was at Target, but again, it's now sold out.
I love this nursery from Pottery Barn. I think we'll do the walls a similar color, and I have looked for the rug, but it seems to be gone...and I can easily picture myself curled up in that chair with sweet baby Eli in the early morning hours.

19 weeks

Here I am at 19 weeks with two lovely ladies from our small group at church. Holly just had Miles last night, so I can't wait to go meet him, and Ulla is due in January. God is blessing our group with lots of beautiful, healthy babies!!

July Recap...a little late.

A little out of order, but here is Elizabeth, Katie and I at Elizabeth's wedding. I have know Liz since we were 2 years old, and Katie since I was about 9! I couldn't imagine weddings without these two girls in them!
Here we are Aug. 2 at Baby O's first bday party. It's hard to believe she is already a year old...I know her momma can hardly believe it either. Matthew is holding Baby Z. Baby Z was born at 23 weeks, and look how great he is doing and how big he is now!! Such evidence of God working. Matthew and I had just found out we were expecting that week, and I thought he might need some practice holding sweet babies!!
Here is party girl O. Her momma found her the cutest b-day hat, and you can tell she is enjoying her b-day cupcake!
Here's beautiful bride Christa. She and Michael got married on July 25 in downtown Nashville, on the Shelby Street walking bridge. The wedding was perfect, and she looked gorgeous!!
Here we are at Christa's dinner rehearsal. I was feeling a little sick here, but didn't know I was pregnant. I would take the test that next Tuesday and found out!


Here's Matthew's little sister Leah and her groom Luke. There wedding was the last of the three...Aug. 1st. The wedding was perfect, and Leah looked gorgeous, of course. I was feeling very sick this night, and hardly took any pictures. This one is a little blurry, but the lighting is better than the others I took. I'll have to get better about taking pictures now that I'm planning on actually updating this little blog.

July...Really??!!

Has it really been since July when I posted last? What happened to the summer? Well, let's see. I had three amazing weddings to be in at the end of July. First, the beautiful bride Elizabeth led the way. Second, stunning Christa followed. Third, gorgeous Leah, my sister-in-law. I need to find some pictures from my camera and post from the weddings, b/c all three were really amazing in their own ways, and so much fun.
While at Christa's, I felt a little sick. Then came Leah's, and I was full-blown sick. Why, you ask? I'M PREGNANT!! We were a little surprised, but not too much, b/c we had been sort of planning it for the summer, and then there it was. A stick that told me so!! Now, I am starting my 20th week, and feeling SO MUCH better. Who knew pregnancy could make you that sick, 24 hours a day?
We found out this past week that we are having a little boy, and couldn't be happier. We would have been happy either way, but are just so excited to know what he is! I already went out and bought some clothes, and know I am going to have a hard time waiting for my showers before I buy more precious things for our baby boy! We are nailing down a name, and as soon as it's official, I'm getting something monogrammed. So really...where did July, Aug, Sept, and Oct. go? I guess to working and growing a baby!

Beachy bummer.

Well we're back...and nope, vacation actually didn't last this long. Well, technically, I'm on vacation all summer, but the husband's vaca officially ended last week. We went to Savannah for the fourth and had a great time. The houses were beautiful and the food was delicious. The fireworks were a little lacking, but still wonderful. We headed over to Tybee Island on Sunday night and took the pups to the dog bark, where they met all sorts of fun, barking, peeing, pooping, friends. Our stay left us much to be desired though. It rained, and when I say rained, I mean torrential downpours, the WHOLE time. So, what did we do? Well, if possible, we sat in the clouds on the beach. If the monsoons stopped us from doing that, we headed to the local friendly Walmart and picked us up some playing cards and dominoes. Yep, for three rainy nights and days, we played War and Dominoes on the back deck of the house we stayed in. The dogs started getting a little stir crazy and so did we. As soon as we checked the weather and were determined weather in Tennessee would be 100% better, we packed up and headed home early. We hung out at home, went to the pool, and just enjoyed our little "stay-cation". So, we're back in business...you can't win them all.

How could we not?

How could we say no to these faces? They are begging for a car ride with the wind in their hair and long plays in the dog parks. They NEED to come with us. Don't you just love how Boone blends in with the floor? This camera makes them both look orange, but he really is more of a redhead. This trip should be fun...or interesting.

Let Freedom Ring.

Tybee Island beach house...


So, here it is. We're off to Savannah, Georgia. The husband and I have never been and we've always heard how fantastic it is, so we're off! We're staying in Savannah for the first two nights, and watching the fireworks at River Street from the front porch of the house we're staying in. I can't wait to eat myself silly, see the beautiful homes, and of course, shop. I'm hoping I can stuff myself full of Paula Deen's southern fried food and walk it all off...we'll see. After the weekend's over, we're traveling all 20 miles over to Tybee Island and staying there in a beach house for th rest of the week. After much hemming and hawing ( is that how you say it?), we're going to take the children. Yep, the puppies are coming with us. Poor old Rivers the fat cat is staying home. Don't worry though, the lucky brother-in-law to be gets to take care of him. We just finally decided we'd rather take the pups than put the burden off on other people. They can be a handful sometimes. Plus, Tybee has 2, count them 2 dog parks for the hairy kiddos. They can run until they're pooped out. AND, our house is on a tidal creek with dock, so they don't know it yet, but they're going to learn how to swim. So, wish us luck, all you 0 readers, and don't miss me too much. I'll be back in action next week. I know you'll be counting the hours until I come home.

Ohhhh Craig.

Craig is the best, ain't he? He offers me superb furniture finds for cheap, and let's me fix them up!! For instance, I LOVE the shape of the barrel-back chairs. Guess the price...go ahead, guess. You give up? 20 bucks a piece!! Yep, and I am going to visit them tomorrow and h0pefully bring them home with me. I'm thinking of painting them white and giving them an awesome linen-y fabric re-do...whattya think? The dresser above is lovely too. Just look at those little casters to roll all around my house. I need that dresser. The seller says to make an offer...hmmm, how about 20 bucks? Think that would do it? I'm calling tomorrow, so please, please, please say yes.

Thrift store paradise.

Since I'm a teacher, I have the WHOLE summer off to do as I please. And since it has rained just about every afternoon for the past two weeks, what else is a girl to do? That's right--shop. And where is my favorite place to shop? The local Goodwill. I am in love with it...there's a challenge to see what junk I can find and make pretty again. I have also fallen in love with spray paint. So far, my talent only stretches as far and white and black, but I'm going to expand soon. I had this old blue chair that my grandmother gave me as part of a bedroom set. The whole set is actually in our guest bedroom waiting to be revamped and made lovely. I'm sure it was gorgeous when my sweet stylish grandmother had is hand-painted in the 1950's, but these lovely pieces have seen their hayday. SO, I thought I would start with the chair and see how it went before I went on to the bigger pieces of furniture. So far? So good. The chair went to a stylish glossy black in no time and now it holds towels and other goodies for our guests when they arrive!
Up next from the local Goodwill were two brassy dingy ugly magazine racks. I just whipped out my semi-gloss white spray paint and ooh-la-la...white, crisp, clean magazine racks for each bathroom. Bathroom? Yep, we read everywhere.

Bare walls...

We have a couple ( in which I mean almost all) bare walls in our house...but I want some fun and different prints to put up...so, etsy it is! I could spend hours just perusing the art section, looking for artwork to fill my house. These three I have had my eye on FOREVER...but I'm still waiting...I need more actual furniture to sit on first...like dining room chairs and living room chairs...I think my guests might appreciate those a little more!

I want it all...

Unfortunately, these have been in my files so long, I don't remember where I got them from...but I'm in love with them...a mix of modern and traditional, a fun work office, serene bedroom, and beautiful falling drapes....come to my house please.

Home sweet home...

Why the title?? Because we are making THIS home....our HOME. Hopefully, I can figure out to fix up our home with the least amount of money possible...without it looking like a dump. That's where YOU come in....(yes I know, there's no "you" yet)...but you will....you can comment and help me make decisions on my home decor and fixer-uppers! Great, let's get started!