Life lately....

I am way behind on some blog posts, and the more I think about it, the more I agree that less is more - so enjoy the short, but sweet version of life these days!!!

Emma's getting very good at selfies....

And loves to snuggle torture Swerve.

Emma asked to take a picture with me, which never happens!!  It's an awful one of me, but I'll take it!

My sweet family surprised me with a birthday dinner last weekend since Merritt is due 2 days away from my actual day.  I felt really special....and any excuse to have salmon and cake, really it's a no brainer!

I am loving the cooler weather - finally!  Nothing beats a walk right around late afternoon when the sun is just setting and the air chills.  We are working on our bike riding skills....a true test in patience for me.

My friend, Brandi, asked for a bump pic, and I haven't really taken any.  So I asked Emma to take this while we were playing outside....not bad for a 4 year old!  (disclaimer - this sweater makes me look huge!)

The Jones' made it to town, so we met up with the Grimes' and had dinner at Top of the Hill for the Duke Caroline game.  What a blast getting to hang out with these friends!

We had a little excitement last week at our 37 week appointment where Merritt was caught red handed in the breech position.  They scheduled an external cephalic version for the very next day at 9am.  I don't want to go into much detail because it was much more intense, traumatic, stressful.... than I'd anticipated.  Let's just say, I am not doing that again.  I basically had to plan for an emergency c-section and was at the hospital for almost 5 hours.  The whole turning of the baby lasted an entirety of 90 seconds....but it was the most uncomfortable 90 seconds ever.  It was a success, so we are hoping Merritt stays head down.  At this point, if she flips back, we just schedule a c-section for next week.  What the what?  Where has 9 months gone??????

We went to Brent's F3 cookout Saturday and enjoyed the most beautiful day outside with friends!

Brent completed the F3D3 - basically torture.  6 days of 2 workouts a day.  As crazy as this is, I am sure am proud of my man and his commitment to this great community of Godly men.  Oh...and I just happen to adore their families too:)

I bribed Emma to wear one of my old dresses......and I can't wait to find a picture of me wearing it to show her.  These 2 pics were taken on a hard day for me - lots of discomfort and soreness from the version, and some hormones thrown in.....

But nothing a smoothie can't help....I may have been 3 times this week....stop judging....it's a carrot kale smoothie...so basically a salad, right?

I was stupid and agreed to sell at a church bazaar this week.  At 38 weeks, I must be committed into an insane asylum.  I am ready though, I think.   But not after a lot of tears, meltdowns, and yelling.  I don't think I have nearly enough pieces, but I can't do anything about it now.  My sanity is worth more. I won't ever plan anything for the last month again. EVER.

Here's a small sample of what I'll be selling.  If you're in Raleigh, it's Tuesday night from 6-8 and Wednesday from 10-2 at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, located in Five Points.  Part of the proceeds go to support the church:)  

That's life...for now.  Prayers that the soreness and discomfort from the version will go away quickly so I can have some normalcy before Merritt gets here!  And for my nerves....I am a hot mess of anxiety these days not knowing that life will be like in the next few weeks!!

Child of the Week!

Westminster does such a good job of making each child feel special - and last week was Emma's turn:)  The sweet teachers made sure to do it before I had baby, so Brent and I could participate.

We had a blast filling out the questions they sent home - of course, Emma had a bout 5 answers for each one:)

When she answered the one below, I probably melted into a pile....and I still do, honestly.  Maybe I am actually doing a good job at this mommy thing, after all!

On Tuesday, Brent came with me to drop her off to read a book to the class.  I was totally the cheesiest mom and took pics the whole time.  I loved being in her class and seeing how her day started.

Emma could not have been more proud of her dad.  She had been talking about this all week, and I'm not sure she stopped grinning the whole day!  Brent read one of Emma's faves - Miss Lina's Ballerinas.

We had been doing a lot of carpool with our friend, Abigail - and I LOVE doing it!  One more, we also got to pick up Jay....whom Emma secretly has a huge crush on I think:)  For Emma, it didn't get any better than this!!!

On Thursday, I came in to her class to share a hobby - beads!!  I picked up some pipe cleaners and beads and the kids all made bracelets.  I really did have the best time with them!  I just loved sharing this with them and getting to talk to the kids and her sweet teachers.  What a difference from daycare....I don't mean any disrespect, but so far the pre-school world rocks!!

Even the boys got into it and all the kids made more than one bracelet - SUCCESS!!

Emma's friends, Jane and Abigail really got into it...Jane was like a machine.  I think I may hire her to come help with my next jewelry show!

It was such a fun week to celebrate Emma, but more importantly, be a part of her life at school.  I am sappy and hormonal and irrational, but dang...what a privilege it was for me to do those things with her this week!!!

Squeezing it in...

I feel like my time with just Emma is coming to a close...and I know that in reality, it isn't (really), but I do feel a sense of urgency to spend quality time with her.  I know this is very normal...

Last week, we had 2 special outings.  For the past 4 years, it has been Emma and me.  She did all the errands with me, all the fun things, and we had each other.  We definitely got on each other's nerves, but she was my sidekick, and I loved it.  When I first found out I was pregnant, my heart broke thinking of how this would change.  Then I got over it some because Emma has been so excited about getting a sibling, and really has been sweet about already looking out for her little sister.  But now that I have less than 4 weeks left, I am getting nostalgic.

Last Tuesday was grey and cool, but we decided to take a Chickfila picnic to Jordan lake.  We were the only ones out there and really enjoyed eating and walking around and playing.

Then, Wednesday, I picked Emma up from school and it was too nice of a day not to go to Maple View Farms for ice cream.  We set up a blanket, share a banana split, watched the cows in the distance, and ran around chasing butterflies and picking weed flowers. 

I have so much anxiety about what the next few weeks and months will hold for us, and I am trying really hard to just focus on my attitude and stay positive.  I know the realities of having a newborn, but I am praying and pumping myself up that it will be great (positive thinking, right?!)  I can't go to worse case scenario because I know it won't help. 

I am so so thankful for this time I have had with Emma.  Making the decision to go part time 2 years ago, and now to stay at home, has been the BEST decision I could have ever made.  I say that hoping I am not offending anyone else or their decision to work or not.  I know it's not something everyone can do.  For us, it is a sacrifice...we are definitely more frugal!   I feel called to take care of my family on a daily basis.  I enjoy cooking, cleaning, running errands, playing with Emma, and doing all the mom and wife things that need to be done here.  I consider it a privilege, really.  I'm not good at managing several tasks at once (like working and being a mom), so I am much happier just doing one.  I was so scared of this change when I found out about baby 2....because it is HUGE.  Going from working to not working and staying at home all week long.  I second guessed myself and didn't think I could do it.  I still have doubts and know it will be challenging, but God's plan was so much better than mine in this.  I am learning to trust Him in this, and I truly feel like becoming a mother has made me a better person.  I needed to learn selflessness, and let go of control, and enjoy simple blessings.  I needed to see small joys in large messes, and learn to live with less things, and more laughter and love.  While the next few weeks are scary for me, I am excited to see what they hold.  This pregnancy has gone by so fast, and was much better than I expected it to be....so I know God will continue to bless the journey:)

Halloween

I won't lie...I'm not a huge fan of this "holiday."  I don't like dressing up very much (mainly because I can never come up with a creative and clever costume), and I don't like spending gobs of money on candy to just hand out (can I get a donation tax receipt, please??!!!)

Emma also changes her mind a million times about her costume, so I have to be ready for anything and everything.  I bought her a $5 Olivia costume (second hand), which she wore to school the Friday before....but the day of, she decided she wanted to be a fairy princess.  So I drug out the butterfly outfit she wears ALL THE TIME, made her a wand, slabbed some sparkles on her face, and we were done.  Brent was supposed to be off early to help -it's always a mad rush to get Emma ready, get dinner together, get the candy ready, make sure the pumpkins are lit and out, etc....  Then there's the dilemma of whether someone stays at your house while you take the kid trick or treating, or just leave the bowl unattended.....thankfully, my sweet parents have been coming over to help and they usually stay at our house while we hit a few houses.  We only take Emma to about 10 houses top.

I wanted  a good picture, but this is the best we could get....

This year felt more stressed than usual, probably because I made it that way, but we had fun and made it through!

Here are some pics of Emma and her friend from next door, Brooklyn.  Emma had been super excited about trick or treating with them, and asked about it all day.  I was glad the time had finally come:)

It's hard to believe that next year, we will have another little trick or treater!!

Life lately...

Not much new here....just realizing that these are my last few weeks with just Emma...and getting a bit sad:(  Sorry for the sap...

Last Sunday, Brent and some other F3 guys went to Snow Hill to deconstruct some houses that had been destroyed with the flooding from Hurricane Matthew.  We were beyond proud of our guy for spending his talents and time doing it, and enjoyed a girls' day.

Emma got dressed all by herself for church and packed her own purse (insert eye roll and sigh here...)

She even wanted to kiss the camera to send it to daddy...

Emma used to get up on her own and walk downstairs to find us.  But lately, she sits up and yells "MOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM" really loud and annoyingly.  This morning, she woke me up from a dead sleep, so I was not up and ready like I usually am.  She helped me "put my eyeballs in" (which is what we call putting my contacts in) and then pretended to be me:) 

We are having summer here again (sigh), so Emma and I went to the Botanical Gardens to walk around and explore.  I love this place and wish we went more often.  Now that it is finally cooler, I hope to.  It has trails and neat little outdoor nooks for kids, and just reminds me of childhood.  I used to play non-stop in the woods behind our house growing up that connect to the Bolin Creek Trail, so I have such fond memories of these kinds of spaces.

Here we are learning to fine art of shoveling.....this will come in handy given the fact that Brent will not have any boys to help him with yardwork.....

Emma spotted these cute (or creepy????) bird people and wanted a picture with them.

Then we found a good spot to sit and admire our giant leaves we had collected, and take some silly selfies.

I had not been feeling that great for the past few days - a ton of back pain that doesn't seem to go away, so we had to cut our trip short.  I am hoping that we can go back before Merritt gets here for some more fall hiking and exploring.  But, I do plan on taking both girls here a lot in the future:)

Friday, Brent took the day off so he could attend Emma's Halloween parade.  I was so excited to do this with them.  We had a bake sale (I even made something!), and watched the kiddos parade around in their costumes and then sing some songs with a witch together.

Emma was not feeling her ears, or the parade....but oh well.  Poor Ms. Messick had to hold her hand, and I think Emma's face sums it up her lack of enthusiasm.

She did perk up a bit when she saw us, though!

The kids sang "Puff the Magic Dragon" and Emma was belting it out.  It was such a neat moment for me because my dad used to play this for me on his guitar at night when I was growing up.  I was definitely that sappy, preggo fighting back tears.

Saturday night, my dear friend, Tommy, had a party celebrating his recent nuptials!  It was a BBQ at his in-laws house in downtown Rockingham.  It was absolutely gorgeous, and the weather was so perfect for it. Just my dad and I went, which was really nice to get away for a bit, especially since Brent had been gone so much lately on weekends.

Tommy's face cracks me up here, and I look like I ate a house....but anywho....

This is a bit more normal size...it was so good to see my ski family outside of lake life:)

While I was gone, Brent and Emma had a big night of painting pumpkins, carving, and pizza eating at Pop's!  I was glad for them to have that special time together.

Phew....that's what we've been up to....if you made it to the end, then great...no special prize, but have a great day anyway:)