Love of Space Bags!

This weekend has probably been one of the most productive weekends I've had as far as getting things ready for Mr.Baby.

We have purchased the fabric for his bedding and curtains. Houndstooth for the bumper pad, and red w/white polka dots for the dust ruffle & curtain valance! It's going to be so stinkin' cute!!!!!! I can't wait to see the finished product of everything, and I know my aunt will do a fantastic job of making everything!

His room has been officially cleaned out completely! Mom came today and helped me get pretty much my entire apartment organized!

**This happened while Thehubs & dad went to Atlanta for a Braves game. I think us ladies need a fun day after all our hard work. Well Mom did most of the hard work, but I feel like I helped a lot! :)**


We purchased a shelf for our storage room, and was able to put a lot more stuff out there that was in Mr.Baby's room. Space Bags were also bought, and with the first bag filled and vacuumed out, Mom & I both were in love! Those things are absolutely amazing!

Here's what we put in several bags:
*A complete queen bed-in-a-bag set
*2 pillows and several blankets
*My summer clothes all fit in 1 "large" bag
* Other random clothes of Thehubs (i.e. ski pants, work pants, etc.)

We've got to purchase some more, because I plan to put a ton of towels in one of them. We have towels that we use daily, and then a basket full of rolled-up-pretty towels for guests and stuff....then we've had 2 shelves in our laundry room full of extra towels that are never-ever used. Therefore, with Mr. Space Bag's help, we can condense the size and have lots more storage room in the laundry room!!! AMAZING!!!


All that's left to do is buy some furniture for the baby room, considering all that's left in there is Thehub's computer desk. I think I'm going to let him keep it in there unless it's too cluttered w/the other furniture.

Pictures will be coming soon of our newly organized apartment! Hoping to do some re-arranging in the living room tomorrow, and possibly paint our end table and coffee table black to match everything else, and make them look newer.

Needless to say, Thehub's honey-do list is going to be never ending for a very long time!!!

Love & delight

Psalm 119: 46-48

"I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees."

* statutes- a record of God's stated will and give guidance and instruction. The word sometimes refers to the Ten Commandments.

* commands- words from God with a special focus on God's authority.

* decrees- a synonym for law, but with an emphasis on civil and ritual ordinances.

I was reading through Psalm 119 this morning, and had to stop when I came to these verses. It caught me off guard a little bit that the psalmist said he delights in God's commands....he loves them.

I thought to myself, why in the world would you DELIGHT or LOVE commands? Isn't that what we're always trying to avoid?

So I asked myself, "Self, do you love God's commands?"

I had to respond with a big fat negative. There are so many things that I'm commanded to do from God's Word that I would dare to say I hate even.

For example:

- "Carry each other's burdens" - Gal 6:2

- "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths..." - Eph 4:29

- "Always giving thanks to God the father for everything..." - Eph 5:20

- "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord" - Eph 5:22

- "Do nothing out of selfish ambition" - Phil 2:3

- "Do not be anxious about anything..." - Phil 4:6

- "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business..." - 1 Thess 4:11

**Whew, that last one certainly goes against Facebook any other social networking site doesn't it!?!?**

I'll stop there. I found these verse simply by flipping through my Bible and scanning some of the underlined scriptures. As I typed each of these out, I began thinking that I often come up with some pretty lame excuses about why I don't do these things.

But forget about doing them....I'm just trying to learn to love and delight in them today.

I have a feeling that if I began loving God's commands, and lifting up my hands to them as the psalmist writes, then I'll be much more likely to follow through in living them out.

Will you join me in changing our hearts and attitudes towards the commands given to us in scripture?

Let's delight in them, and love them....lifting up our hands to them out of our love.

Mr.Baby update

So the THIRD trimester is here alas, and I can't believe how quickly these past several weeks have flown by! Just sitting here today, I've been thinking about how I never really knew all that pregnant women go through. hahaha The other day I had the thought that I think the nausea during the 1st trimester and constant exhaustion, among other "changes" in a prego body takes place over 9 months to seriously prepare you for being a mommy. It somehow makes you tougher.

Lately, I've been feeling extremely huge. Like I can't bend over, roll over or stand up without making some kind of grunting sound. It's pretty humorous actually because every time I do something, Thehubs asks what's wrong...and I'm like "oh, nothing just the usual." He's probably getting tired of me by now.

I just wanted to document some of the lovely "milestones" I've gotten too here lately.

1. Some of my maternity shirts are now too short for my big belly....is that bad? lol

2. My back hurts 24/7, despite my chiropractor adjustments.

3. My hips and inner thighs feel like I've ran a marathon and pulled about 10 muscles.

4. Apparently the tingling/numbness in my right let is called Sciatica. It began at 26 weeks, 2 days and has progressed since then. It's almost a constant thing now.

5. My feet and hands began swelling this past weekend (at 27 weeks)

6. My energy level is still high, but I've seen a slight decrease since the sciatica began, and now swelling just makes me not want to stand at all.

7. Mr.baby kicks CONSTANTLY....which is a good thing, I just wish sometimes I could watch him in there. I stare at my belly often as if I can see what's going on.

I think that's about all as far as pregnancy symptoms and "milestones".

I went to the doctor last week, and passed the glucose test. YAY!! I have now officially gained a total of 9 lbs, but don't let that fool you, I lost several pounds in the 1st trimester, and it's ALL been gained in the belly!!

As far as the baby room goes-- it's STILL a guest/junk/computer room. But I'm thinking just a few phone calls (thrift store pickup & ATT to re-route the cable wires) and a few hours of cleaning out should finish the job.

Then we'll make the purchase of the crib!

Baby showers are quickly approaching. I have my 1st one on September 18th in Bham, and my "big" one on October 2nd in the big WC. We have registered at Buy Buy Baby, and plan to register at Walmart....I'm thinking we'll have to do that this week considering invitations for both showers will be going out very very soon!

No pic of the new baby-hump (no longer baby bump) now, but I'll try and take one later this week. =)

Worry wart?

Have you ever read a very familiar scripture, one that you've known pretty much your entire life, and had the Holy Spirit renew it in your heart as if it were the 1st time you'd ever heard/read it?

Don't you love that feeling??

Well, a few months ago something happened in our lives that caused some significant worry for me. I'm talking about, losing sleep, all I can think about, crying often kind of worry. So I read Philippians 4, with the purpose of just focusing on the verse that says

"Do not be anxious about anything..."

But instead I read verses 2-9....which is exactly what God had in mind, I'm sure.

I meant to write then about what was revealed to me, but never did.

Last week, a friend had put "Philippians 4" as her Facebook status. It's been on my heart since then to actually read the chapter, as I had obviously forgotten what it says. So I sit down this morning determined to spend some time with Jesus instead of wasting it as I normally do, and I turn to that chapter.

Here are verses 4-9 for you...

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or heard from me, or seen in me-- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

So I've heard verse 6 many many times, as I'm sure you have as well. But I don't know that I ever remember having this entire passage come together as it has in my life over the past few months.

We are NOT to be anxious about ANYTHING- but instead present our requests (our desires) to the Lord.

Then Paul goes right on to write about our thoughts! Which is exactly where worry comes from!

If we only thought about the things that are true, noble, right, pure, etc. then I strongly believe our worries would not exist. We tend to worry about things that will probably never happen. I heard a quote one time (not sure where) that says this:

"90% of the things we worry about will never happen."

I have found that to be true SO many times in my life. Worries about finances, jobs, family members, safety, relationships, busy schedules, to-do lists......do they come from us thinking about what Paul instructs us to think about? I think not.

They come from the opposite!

We let our minds be held captive by the enemy, and oh how the worries begin. I have to remind myself of these verses often...meditating on what I'm instructed to do, which is to allow Christ to take captive my thoughts- chewing on scripture, not letting my mind run wild with worries.

The Christian life is hard, but it's supposed to be. If it were easy, everybody would do it!

=)

Giveaway

Cloth diaper giveaway!

Don't want or need cloth diapers? Well be a good sport and enter anyways and you could give them to ME!! =)

Yes, we're planning on using cloth diapers from the get-go of having the baby, and I've been doing all kinds of research on the best kind. Haven't heard of the kind that's being given away, but hey...they're FREE!!

Hop over to the Passionate homemaking blog and it's easy to enter!!

Good luck!

still laughing

So I was looking on Craigslist today at yard sales in the area because I'm determined to find some good furniture and stuff for the baby!

While looking, I about died from laughing when I came across this ad from the lovely town of Nauvoo....only in Nauvoo.

I'll list it word-for-word considering they apparently don't care about listing their address AND phone number for the entire world to see!

Here goes:

We are having a yard sale this week end 9 to 11 344 2nd street Nauvoo Al 2056975023 next week will be Nauvoo car show we will be selling cake, fried pies, ice cream,and drinks so will you are at the car show come by and pick up some thing good to eat, or drink

So.....apparently the only punctuation they know is the comma.

Don't forget about the yard sale AND car show this "week end"!!! Oh, and while, I mean "will" you're at the car show (which of COURSE you're going too, right!?!?!) you will have to get "some thing good to eat, or drink" (no period....because what's a period anyways??)

Oh, I could go on and on about other things that make me laugh, but maybe that's enough for now.

Well, Happy Thursday!!

Week 16

How far along: 16 weeks

Size of baby: 3-5oz, 4-5 inches (crown to rump)....bigger than a softball!

Total weight gain: Well as of my doctor's appointment last week, I've lost a total of 5lbs.

Maternity clothes: Pretty much wearing them all of the time. Gonna have to start looking for some pants that are bigger than the size 2s that were given to me...

Gender: Still waiting on June 21st...at 2pm to be exact!

Movement: I'm pretty sure I've felt some flutters here lately. At least I tell myself that it's the baby I'm feeling =)

Sleep: Still sleeping A LOT!!! However, my baby book says not to sleep on your back anymore, which sucks bc that's my favorite! I've tried to start changing that habit now, but I haven't been doing so well....

What I miss: Being able to ride a roller coaster or do other daring summer activities! I've really wanted to do something like that lately, and then realize I can't bc I'm prego!

Cravings: Cheese puffs! I was laying in bed one night and could taste them! Therefore I went out and bought some the next day!

Symptoms: Still some nausea, and my hips and lower back have also been killing me lately. My lovely chiropractor/family friend told me several weeks ago that I'd start experiencing some pain around this time due to my body beginning to stretch out and prepare for delivery over the next several months.

Food aversions: None really....

Milestones: Finding an "original" flavored toothpaste, which allows me to brush w/out gagging-on most days.