Being Mrs. Gentry

Weekending: Fort Worth Stock Show

2012-01-30T05:00:00.000-06:00

Last Friday, we took in Cowtown's most illustrious event, the Fort Worth Stock Show. The joke around town is that the weather always takes a bad turn during the Stock Show, so it was no surprise when it came a 24-hour gully washer here earlier last week. And we are most grateful for it. Fortunately for us, Friday was a beautiful day to see the animals {and the red velvet funnel cake--worth every calorie.}

Jack got his very first pair of cowboy boots for Christmas from his great-grandparents, and I couldn't wait to put them on him. They also gave him a darling little pearl snap shirt. I nearly died when we opened it because it's so precious. (Cowboys can be precious until they are old enough to tell you not to call them that, right?) But that day he wore his Carhartt gear since we were heading to the farm after.

Clearly, my baby might need to go wander in the woods?

How does the {insert every barnyard animal under the sun} sound?
We spent Friday night and all day Saturday with my parents. My mom and I ran to Dallas Saturday morning for a quick round of shopping before we gathered with my dad's family to celebrate my grandmother's birthday. One stop we made was the Gilt City Warehouse Sale, which was kind of a madhouse.

I spent Sunday hopping from one place to the next, it seems, with church, housework, and other social commitments. That's just the way it is some Sundays, but I'm sure the next Lord's day will be much more restful. I try very hard to put away my list of "to-do's" on that day, simply so it's not treated as just one more day in the week. I mean, one of the first ten commandments God gave us was to keep it holy. Rest. Keep the day dedicated to the Lord. That being said, I did just enough laundry done that we'll make it until Friday and grabbed some groceries to get us through.

It's so fun on Sunday night after a busy weekend to visit Downton. I love Lady Mary more each week, but she is especially endearing herself this episode. I'm also wondering, "Where on earth are Daisy's parent's?!?"

I hope you have a great week!

Friday Favorites: Amazing Cleaning Products

2012-01-27T05:00:00.000-06:00

Since it's not all sunshine and Kate Spade bangles around here, I thought I'd share my favorite cleaning products. I think I've mentioned before that I do my own home-ec stunts, short of taking out the trash and the floors. (My love does that, and I'm grateful.) Here are two products that I won't go without:

Comet Bathroom Cleaner. If you have glass shower doors, you should make friends with Comet Bathroom Cleaner. No more scrubbing the glass! You simply spray it on, then wipe it off. The soap/hardwater residue wipes right off. It works better than the Magic Eraser, and you can quote me on that. I know this because I spent a year trying everything under the sun to keep that door clean after we moved in.

Bar Keepers Friend. I do not keep a bar because we don't drink anything stronger than Dr. Pepper. But I do keep this cleaner because it works amazing wonders to clean up my stainless cookware and my stainless sink. Seriously, the bottom of your pans can look like they are stained forever, and a couple of wax on/wax off motions with BKF makes them brand new. I used to use Comet powder, but this just works better. It also smells terrible, so there is a trade-off there. (Note: I like the smell of Comet powder. It reminds me of my childhood. Maybe that is weird, but my mom kept a clean house.)

I was not compensated to review these products. They were just on my mind as I scrubbed away Thursday night after putting the baby to bed.

Go forth into the weekend with a sparkling home!

Large (or EXTRA LARGE) Family Portraits

2012-01-26T05:00:00.000-06:00

I've had home decor on my mind lately. (Hence, put a bird on it.) We've been in our home for 5 years this summer, and I still have some blank walls. And I'm completely okay with that. I'm not one to put something that doesn't quite belong just to take up space. I'd rather it be blank until I find the right inspiration, and I love the layered look our house has as it takes shape over time.

When the lovely Hailey asked me what I wanted for our photos back in the fall, besides a nice Christmas card pic, I told her I wanted something I could hang in my living room in a giant gaudy gold frame. (I prefer a good gaudy gold frame over a canvas, which I think is the en vogue thing right now.)

After receiving our photos, one shot stood out to me, and of course it was primarily of our tiny boy. I know that many people have used the pose, but I loved the entire composition of the shot: the ethereal look of the golden field in the background, the details of our rings and my arm party, the little look on our tiny guy's face, and those beautiful baby blues of his.

That little boy is the Creator's most beautiful art, to me.
In a bit of a "go big or go home" moment, I decided I would order an extra large print. And when I say extra large, I mean extra large. The photo alone is 24x36, and I think the frame adds an extra 6 inches. BIG. The more I got to thinking about it though, the more it made sense. I also found a photographer's blog post (which I can't find now) that validated what I was thinking. Back in the Mr. Darcy days, people commissioned beautiful, large portraits of their families. Why should I spend money on random art work when I can fill my walls with beautiful, large portraits of my greatest treasures on earth? The most beautiful art that God has created on earth, in my opinion. We thank Him daily for that sweet face.

I had a "what was I thinking" moment when this HUGE package arrived.
And that's unframed!
I love it. It may be a little bold, but somehow it makes our house feel a little more like home.

This angle is a bit deceiving. We joke that it is life-size of Jack.

Hi! My name is Emily, and I put birds on things.

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-06:00

My brother sent me this YouTube video for what will become obvious obvious reasons. (See below.) I don't watch Portlandia, but this is enough to make me think I should watch it and/or move there despite my incredibly conservative values.

These are my people.

Put. A. Bird. On. It.

I even sewed that pillow in the window seat, then put a bird on it.

I probably have more, but these were the most immediate around me.

Real birds need not a apply.

Under the Weather & A New Skinny Recipe

2012-01-24T05:00:00.000-06:00

After being up several stretches in the night with the tiny man coughing last night, I decided to stay home and carry him to the doctor's office today. I'll be glad when he's old enough for over the counter cough medicines so we can actually do something for him on nights like that one. Over Christmas he had croup (which was the most awful sounding illness ever), and today it's the runny nose and congestion. It's so sad to see him feeling bad.

Our pediatrician is just wonderful. She's a mom of not one, but TWO sets of twins. (!!!) So, even besides the MD thing she has going on, she knows what she's about. She is especially patient when I ask new mom questions. Half the time we go in there, she's probably treating me, honestly. Today was no different. She got us all fixed up with something that has provided relief before, and we were back out the door to home.

Normally I would just work from home on a day like today, but Jack is also teething which requires a lot more TLC than usual. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with work and tend to him, so it was for the best that he got all of my attention. After we got back from the doc, I put him down for a nap that lasted 3 hours. Poor little fella!

While he was sleeping, I used the opportunity to try out a new skinny recipe. This one is for a very delicious banana bread from Eat Yourself Skinny. I think you'll love it!

Grandma's Banana Bread (from Eat Yourself Skinny) 12 servings at 3 Points+ (using Splenda)
1/2 cup (1 stick) light butter, softened
1/2 cup Splenda sugar blend (or 1 cup sugar)
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup light sour cream
1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 bananas)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a stand mixer, or hand held, mix together softened butter and sugar until well combined. Then add in eggs and mix well. Next add in vanilla, sour cream and mashed bananas then, while the mixer is on, slowly add the flour, baking soda and salt and mix slowly until completely combined, scraping the sides and the bottom.

Meanwhile, grease your pan(s) and lightly flour so that your bread won't stick. If using one 9x5 loaf pan, bake bread for about one hour. If using two smaller loaf pans, bake bread for about 45 minutes.

I used 1 cup of sugar. Running it through WW recipe builder, it calculated out to 4 points with 20 servings which is a really skinny piece of banana bread. Next time I'll try it with Splenda to cut down the points like Eat Yourself Skinny recommends and have a bigger slice. Have you ever baked with that before? Can you tell a huge difference?

Mr. G would like you to know that he approves this banana bread. Good for the whole family!

Weekending.

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-06:00

ETA: And the week changes on a dime! Jack coughed and cried all night last night (and he's teething), so if you need me, I'll be playing the role of Nurse today. Such is the life of Mama.

At last minute on Friday I decided to take off at lunch and come home to my guys. The beautiful weather, plus the prospect of spending time with both of them, was too much to keep me at my desk. Our church provides the wonderful gift of inexpensive childcare one Friday night a month, so later that evening Mr. G and I dropped the little man off with his little man friends and headed over to Chuy's for supper. From there, we ended up across the street at Target.

Such rebels we are.

I spent a perfect, lazy Saturday playing with Jack, deep conditioning my hair, painting my nails, and doing the laundry. It never does do itself, does it?

In the evening, I got all gussied up for a friend's 30th birthday dinner. But it wasn't just "dinner." We tried out a Murder Mystery Dinner, which was not exactly what we had in mind. I think everyone pictured something like "Clue" with a butler and other more sophisticated roles playing out the mystery, plus maybe a fine dining experience. (The tickets were pricey.) But instead, we showed up to a creaky old restaurant only open on the weekends, serving chicken fried steak (which was actually quite good) and a murder at a 70s disco. And every possibly 70s cliche you can think of, they threw down.

Oh, and we thought the dress was after 5. Nope, it was casual. I really don't think I've laughed that much in a long time! I had fun in spite of myself. It was definitely out of my comfort zone.

Me and Ashley.
Right as we got there wondering what we'd gotten ourselves into.
Sunday was church, relaxing, and preparing to go back for another week of work. I've got dinner all ready assembled in the Crock Pot (Skinny Santa Fe Chicken, actually), and I'm ready to go.

Have a great week!

Friday Favorites: Little Luxuries

2012-01-20T05:00:00.000-06:00

So Monday I treated myself to a bit of retail therapy. Nothing expensive, just one teensy little something to brighten my day. A girl can do that every now and then, especially if she has Christmas money. Behold, my options:

1. Kate Spade heart of gold bangle ($32). A solid addition to your arm party.

2. Fresh Sugar Lemon body wash ($19). I packed this for the hospital when I had Jack. The beautiful, light scent will always remind me of the first faaaaabulous shower I had after 24+ hours of labor!

3. NARS Heatwave semi-matte lipstick ($24). I read that this is the perfect shade of orange-red for all complexions. Make sure to dab it on with your finger instead of applying straight to your mouth for a less garish effect. I mean, we're not fashion bloggers 'round these parts of the Internet.

What's your favorite little luxury?

{I chose #1.}

Although, beauty is more than skin deep...

2012-01-19T05:00:00.001-06:00

I'm a gadget girl. One of my favorite personal gadgets is my Sonicare toothbrush. I wish I could tell you that I'm kidding, but that toothbrush has traveled all over the USA with me. I do not leave home without it. (Well, except for that one time I rushed off to the hospital to deliver my baby and ended up with a terrible excuse for a toothbrush that the hospital probably charged me $20 for, but I digress. Next time I will be better prepared.)

So the Clarisonic was invented by the same guy who created my {beloved} Sonicare. It uses sonic technology to gently massage your skin to remove all of the dirt and other junk left by traditional skincare products. (Real details here. I'm paraphrasing what I can remember.)

Until I had Jack, I was using a traditional 3-step skin care regimen. After having him, I felt like I need more of an exfoliant--daily. Having a baby changed more than I anticipated, that's for sure. When I came across the Clarisonic, I was mostly worried that it would be too abrasive. I follow the lovely Eva Chen on Twitter, who is a flawless-faced beauty editor at Teen Vogue. One day I tuned in to her telling Kathie Lee and Hoda (no judgies! I watched a lot of Today on maternity leave) that she uses it twice daily, at which point I was sold.

My results from the Clarisonic have been noticeably smoother skin, and I daresay that my pores appear smaller. My makeup goes on smoother, and when I have my face completely on, it looks dewy and fresh, to me. One step closer to Lady Mary skin.

Anyway, it's not a cheap little apparatus, so I did a lot of research before I moved on mine. The brush is soft enough that you can use it twice a day without rubbing your cheeks raw. And I have to admit, it kinda makes washing my face fun.

{I wasn't paid to review this. I received my Clarisonic as a gift from my husband. Sorry if you think it's weird, but I asked him for it.}

Easy Birthday Banner

2012-01-18T05:00:00.002-06:00

Quick Note: Amy over at Total Tippins Takeover has a fun giveaway from Willow House. Go over there and win it!

As I was prepping my house on Friday afternoon for our company that evening, I realized the house was wanting in birthday decor. I love birthdays, so how could this be? I didn't have time to get the baby loaded and off to the party supply store, so I started racking my brain for ideas. In the age of Pinterest, none of us should have any shortage of ideas, amen? I headed to my little craft closet and took inventory. I have almost an entire bolt of burlap that my aunt gave me leftover from my cousin's rehearsal dinner last summer. I decided to put some of it to work.

I needed something simple - no time for the sewing machine! I always have to budget at least 30 minutes to wind the bobbin and thread the needle. I am sad in that respect. I made a quick little template from poster board that I very randomly keep hidden behind the hutch in my dining area. As for the template, I eyeballed it. Thinking that I would want to fold the top over whatever I used to string it together, I gave a little extra length.

Using my rotary cutter and self-healing mat, I made quick work of the banner flags. No one is more challenged than I am in the skill of using a rotary cutter. But usually even I get straighter lines than I do with scissors.

After my cuts were made and I had ironed my fold over at the top, I pulled out my faaaaaabulous Christmas present from my parents. A Silhouette Cameo!

(My cutting sheet is extremely dirty. I should work on that.)
One tip I found online for the Cameo: if your paper is tearing when you pull it off the sticky mat, blot it with a clean old t-shirt to lessen the stickiness. That worked for me.
With one sheet of card stock, I cut out 'happy birthday' to create a stencil. I just eyeballed the letter position on each flag and used silver glitter glue on the stencil because that's what I had on hand. After the letters were on, I grabbed some jute and spaced the flags to my liking, then hot glued the fold to create a little sleeve where I could adjust if needed.

When I hung it up on my mantle, I decided it needed a little color, so I ripped some scraps from my scrap bag and tied them on. In the end, a happy birthday banner in 30 minutes, made with things I had on hand.

A little hard to see the glitter in this light.

And where was little Jack during all this, you ask?

Rearranging the pantry, naturally.

A New Year, A New Look.

2012-01-17T05:00:00.002-06:00

So I'm celebrating the new year with a virtual face lift and a new home on the web. You'll find me at www.beingmrsgentry.com, so please update your blog links and RSS reader to keep reading. You can also comment anonymously, so if not having a Google account has kept you from commenting, that's no longer an issue.

Thank you very much for reading!

via confettisystem.bigcartel.com

Weekending.

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-06:00

This past weekend included my Friday off. It goes without saying that I love my Fridays off. Jack must've read my last post, because he allowed me to sleep in until 8:30. It was marvelous! We lunched with my friend Rebekah, who is waiting to go into labor. Her due date passed by last Tuesday, so I was hoping Jack and I could give her a bit of distraction from the waiting. We spent a good hour and a half talking babies over Chick Fil A and then grocery shopped in Wal-mart. Anything to pass the time!

Later that evening we met up with our supper club for dinner. After, we came back to our home for dessert, which in this case was birthday cake from Bluebonnet Bakery to celebrate Leigh! (She blogs over at The Art of Living.)

She is due with a little girl soon. Doesn't she look beautiful?

The ladies and children. When we started this supper club, we had only 10 adults. Our number has increased by 4 so far!

Saturday we lounged around and enjoyed having no plans. We took the red wagon out for a spin over to the park. Jack loves the swings, of course.

My house is spic and span and has stayed that way through today. My week is so much easier if I take the time to pick up the random things about the house before I go back to work on Monday. Clutter stresses me out, so I'm glad to cruise into the week stress free, house-wise.

We had another wonderful worship service on Sunday morning. Our pastor preached on abortion, and we heard some shocking statistics. In our county alone, 6000 abortions were performed in 2011. That's 6000 babies who were not allowed to live. It grieves my soul. Lord, deliver us.

Friday Happiness.

2012-01-13T05:00:00.000-06:00

I have the privilege of spending the day with this sweet face and a friend of mine tomorrow. We have a busy, FUN Friday planned, and I can't wait!

I'm hoping my little human alarm clock will let mama sleep past 6:30 AM.

{one can dream?}

Have a great weekend!

DO THINGS.

2012-01-12T05:00:00.000-06:00

So not only does jumping back on the fit train require constant supervision of food consumption, it also requires exercise. You know what they say: "Reduce input, increase output." That's how to effectively lose weight, no matter how you slice it.

Via baltimoreprintstudios.com

I've been making excuses for exercise since I went back to work after maternity leave. Here is my favorite excuse (and it's really good, you guys): "I spend so much time away from the baby during the day that the last thing I want to do is be away from him when I get home." (Being away from him meaning at the gym, outside running, etc.) It's a completely valid excuse and makes me sound like a wonderful, self-sacrificing mother. But really, not taking care of my health is not good for my child in the long run. Good health for me leads to a healthy lifestyle for him.

So.

Since I can't go to the gym, I've decided to do a hodge podge of different things right in my home. On occasional Saturdays, I plan to take a local barre class or Zumba, and between those times I'll be hitting the DVD workouts. The goal set is 4 workouts per week. Last week worked well for me to come home, pick up the bebe, and Shred in the living room while he played with his toys/climbed on me during 1 minute abs. We are still interacting, but I am moving. He thinks watching me jump around and yell at Jillian is hilarious.

But I'm one of those people who will get bored with a workout quickly. I've been doing research (highly scientific, with the googling and all) to find great cardio DVDs. Surprisingly the one that was recommended here was for a So You Think You Can Dance workout. I plan on cracking that open this week, so I'll let you know how it goes.

Here's to a healthy 2012!

Skinny Recipes.

2012-01-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

Recently I had the opportunity to take supper to a family that just had a sweet, new baby girl. She was so tiny, and all I could think was, "Wow, I can't believe Jack was ever that small!"

{It turns out that he was never that small--at least not outside the womb.}

Anyway, speaking of large and small, I'm sure everyone is getting back on the fit train with the arrival of 2012 and the impending swimsuit season on the horizon. Spring break is not that far away, my dears, and last year's "I just had a baby excuse" is going to be an entire year old very soon.

3 days old versus 9 months old
Barely relevant to this post, but he's so cute I couldn't help myself.
Today I'm sharing with you my current favorite skinny meal. 95% of the times I have used my Crock Pot, it has been for this. Delicious, filling, and skinny. I serve it up on cilantro lime rice (recipe below) like a Chipotle bowl. There are copious leftovers, and it reheats well in a skillet with a tiny bit of water added in. (Few things gross me out like microwaved chicken.) Both of these are from Skinny Taste, which I love since it lists WW points along with the calories. I've been a point counter for years, but I rarely try new stuff because I'm lazy and only eat things for which I have the points memorized. So thanks, Skinny Taste, for enabling my laziness while attempting to eat well.

This is also what I carried to the new parents I mentioned above, along with a colorful salad and a chocolate chip cookie pie, complete with Blue Bell. New moms need some indulgences after what they have endured. Am I right, or am I right?

And now I must ask, what is your favorite, easy skinny recipe?

******************

Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken 4 Points+ for 1 cup
24 oz. chicken breasts (I usually just throw in 4)
14.4 oz. can of diced tomatoes with mild green chilies (I use 2 cans of Rotel)
15 oz. can of black beans
8 oz. frozen corn
1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro
14.4 oz. can of fat free chicken broth
3 scallions, chopped
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. cayenne pepper (you might cut down on this to keep it mild.)
salt to taste

Combine chicken broth, beans, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, and salt in the Crock Pot. Season chicken with salt and lay on top. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. Half an hour before serving, remove the chicken and shred it. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in. Adjust salt and seasoning. Serve over rice (extra points.)

Skinny Cilantro Lime Rice 5 Points+ for 3/4 cup
1 c. extra long grain rice or bismati (I use Minute Rice and follow those intructions)
1/2 lime, juice of (I use the bottled lime juice since I rarely have fresh limes on hand.)
2 cups water
1 tsp. salt
3 T. chopped fresh cilantro
3 tsp. vegetable oil

In a small heavy pot, add rice, water, 1 tsp. oil and salt. Boil on high until most of the water evaporates. When the water just skims the top of the rice, reduce to low and cover about 15 minutes. Shut off heat and keep covered and additional 5 minutes.

In a medium bowl, combine chopped cilantro, lime juice, rice, and remaining oil and toss until completely mixed.

Book Report: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

2012-01-10T05:00:00.000-06:00

I finished a couple of books over Christmas, but I'll spare you the details on the project management one and just give you the better of the two. I had heard fabulous reviews about Unbroken from everyone who has read it, so I picked one up for myself and one for my grandfather for Christmas. I hope he likes it.

VIA
In Unbroken, Hillenbrand (author of Seabiscuit, which I never read or saw*) tells the extraordinary tale of Louis Zamperini, a former Olympian who was lost at sea, captured, and survived a Japanese POW camp during WWII. I had to keep reminding myself while I was reading that it was actually a true story, as in these things really happened. It gave me a renewed and incredible respect for the men and women of the Armed Forces who served or are currently serving our Great Nation. What amazing sacrifices they make and dangers they face to ensure freedom for citizens of the United States of America.

I'm not big into history reading, but this captured my interest and held it all the way to the end. It's just that compelling - similar to a movie! I feel like perhaps the ending was a bit rushed. (Funny, I felt the same way about The Hunger Games, but that, my friends, is another soapbox for another day.) But this is an amazing story of redemption and transformation, and I think you would love it too.

*Not all that into real-live animal movies, which makes it difficult to get excited to see Warhorse which everyone is raving about.

Weekending

2012-01-09T05:00:00.000-06:00

We have had a wonderful, slow weekend here at home. Friday night I worked late and got caught in traffic through Arlington. It seems I forgot about a tiny little sporting event scheduled that evening called the Cotton Bowl. So after finally getting home, I did Day 5 of the Shred and hung out with my guys.

Saturday Mr. G golfed while Jack and I ran to Waxahachie to meet up with my mom. She treated us to lunch at a charming little place on the square called The Dove's Nest. While they did not have a high chair, thus resulting in my little man's first adventure with a booster seat (requiring constant supervision and flinching to catch him any time he moved,) they did have a delicious chicken salad made with apricots, roasted almonds, and rosemary honey dijon mayo. I don't even like almonds, and I could've licked my plate it was so good. If you're ever in that area, it is a solid dining choice.

Waxahachie is halfway (45 minutes) to my hometown, so it's the perfect meeting spot. We occasionally meet my parents there for dinner, and it's a great rendezvous point to hand off grandchildren, so I imagine we'll be seeing a lot of it over the years. We spent the rest of the day shopping around town. It's so nice to not have an agenda on the weekend, you know?

Sunday we had a great day in the Lord. Today was the first day of our church's new worship schedule, with contemporary worship at 11 AM. It. was. amazing. Reports I heard said that both services were full, and it is just so neat to see the Lord moving in our congregation. Afterward, we had several couples over for lunch. I had fried chicken (pick up from Brookshire's, no need to be impressed) and the other ladies brought sides. It was great to get to know new friends! I feel like I'm just now getting my "entertaining" legs back under me since I had Jack, which is hilarious considering he is into everything and requires so much more picking up after! He's so fun though, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Right now I'm enjoying my super clean house (a benefit of socializing at home on Sunday) and watching the season 2 premiere of Downton Abbey on Masterpiece Theater (which is now shortened to just plain Masterpiece so hopefully there aren't too many typos! If you haven't been watching Downton, you can watch all of Season 1 online HERE. It is incredibly entertaining, about the innerworkings of an English estate highlighting relationships of the servants and the aristocracy. That description in no way gives it the credit that is due. If you're watching, who is your favorite character? Mine is a toss up between Lady Mary and Anna, the ladies' maid.

Have a great week!

And the new year begins.

2012-01-05T05:00:00.000-06:00

Not only did we have a great Christmas day, we had a wonderful 11 days at home together over the combined holidays. Honestly, I think it was harder to go back to work this past Tuesday than it was to go back after maternity leave. Jack is so fun right now, and he's just now specifically wanting one or the other of us and shying away when other people want to hold or talk to him. Usually some sweet talking will get him to turn loose. It's so sweet and cute.

But as I mentioned, it was so hard to go back to work on Tuesday. I cried on Monday night over it for the first time in a long time. For me, working is a choice that I'm blessed to have at this point in my life. Jack has the absolute best childcare I could imagine outside of me staying home, and that is key for me to work. I'm enjoying my professional life post-maternity leave even more than I did before. God is blessing our family in this season. But I think I would be an emotional robot if I didn't feel some sadness about being separated from my baby for part of the day. It's normal, but it's not paralyzing.

A new year means new beginnings, more time to spend making memories with my little family, and more opportunities to love one another. The Lord has impressed it upon my heart lately to be intentional in loving others as Christ loves them. I want to be more like Him. That is my new year's commitment. It's pretty big because with it comes holding my tongue more (yowsa!), reaching out to people even when it might be uncomfortable, and showing more hospitality. (And hospitality does not just mean hosting more parties, although there will be plenty of that.) I'm a busy girl who's been pretty wrapped up in her own life lately, and the Lord has convicted me of it.

So bring on the new year!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given
us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
1 Peter 1:3

...and a Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

2011-12-31T05:00:00.000-06:00

We had an absolutely lovely Christmas celebrating the Savior coming to bring true freedom to the world. It was everything I hoped my baby's first Christmas would be. No, I didn't get a picture of the three of us together. And no, Jack didn't sit sweetly through the candlelight service on Christmas Eve (As a matter of fact, he snagged a runner in my new Anthro tights in the process.) But overall, I really couldn't have asked for a better holiday. A healthy and joyful baby, a wonderful husband, and my entire extended family combined to make it one of the best for me--ever.

{You hear that, Family? I know you're reading. I said, "the best EV-ER."}

Jack in his red wagon from Sugar and Granddaddy on Christmas Eve.

How many adults does it take to get a toddler to smile when he wants to play with toys?

Chillaxing in his PBK Anywhere Chair from Santa on Christmas morning.

Hereby resolving to wear more lipstick in 2012.

Have a fabulous last day of 2011.

Oh what fun it is to...make memories!

2011-12-15T21:41:00.000-06:00

I feel like without even being intentional, wonderful Christmas memories are made during this season we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Growing up, my family always celebrated Christmas eve worshipping the Lord at our church. We opened gifts from one another before we left for church, and afterward, we drove around to look at Christmas lights before heading off to sleep so Santa would come.

Some of this tradition has carried into my little immediate family. We love spending Christmas eve at church, focusing on the true meaning of the season and go to one of our families' churches if we are traveling. Since we are usually traveling, we pick a specific/special night before Christmas to drive around and look at lights.

Tonight, my guys before we left to look at lights.

There is a particular house we found a couple of years ago, and we'll probably go back every year. The first year, we had no children, the next year I was pregnant with Jack, and this year, he was asleep in his carseat. I love that progression. I can't wait for the year that Jack realizes how awesome it is. Check out last year's display:

2010 Wizards in Winter from chapel creek lights on Vimeo.

Their light display from last year. Pretty incredible!

Memories are free. Memories don't have to involve clever printables, perfect recipes, or picture perfect moments. (I have pictures that will never see the light of day right after Jack's arrival in this world to prove that wonderful memories are not picture perfect.)

What are your favorite Christmas memories?

Oh what fun it is to...eat!

2011-12-13T20:10:00.001-06:00

I daresay that most everyone has wonderful Christmas memories of gathering with their families to exchange gifts, but also to eat. Good or bad, I have a feeling that it's not exclusively Texan to associate celebrating with food!

Like all families, we have staples at our family lunches, and I wanted to share just a couple today. In particular, these are hard to mess up, delicious, and always garner compliments when I carry them to potlucks or other friendly gatherings. They're also super quick, which is perfect if you are short on time. I am perpetually short on time. If you are like me, these dishes are right up your alley.

{But you may not be like me, which is cool too. I think you would still enjoy them.}

A total rarity: ready with precious time to spare for family photos before church this past Sunday.
This is especially a sweet season for us to celebrate the birth of our Savior.
The Lord has magnified my joy since this boy came along!

We do not do jello salad. (Not a fan.) Instead, we dig in to a super sweet version of a fruit salad. It's a great red color due to the strawberry juice that will perfectly match your holiday table or buffet and looks beautiful in a cut crystal bowl. Also, we love spicy food, but even though my family would totally have Mexican food for Christmas lunch and dinner, we are traditionalists, so Grannie makes turkey and dressing for holiday lunches. The corn dish below is a great spicy addition alongside her usual spread.

Fruit Salad

1 (21 oz.) can of peach pie filling
1 (20 oz.) can of pineapple chunks, juice drained
1 (15 oz.) can of mandarin oranges, juice drained
1 (24 oz.) carton of frozen strawberries in juice, or 2 (16 oz.) small cartons (I looooove strawberries.)
2 bananas, sliced (optional)

Allow the strawberries to defrost. Pour the peach pie filling into a large mixing bowl and add the other cans of fruit. Add the strawberries with their juice and stir gently to mix it all together. If you add bananas, I recommend slicing them and adding right before you serve the dish.

This is sweet enough to be a dessert on it's own and goes well served with angel food cake or pound cake. I also make it for ladies' lunches.

Out of this World Corn Casserole

3 (11 oz.) cans of shoepeg corn
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1/4 c. milk
1/2 c. cheddar cheese, grated
1 fresh jalapeno, diced
jalapeno juice, to taste (optional, from a jar of jalapenos)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Over low heat, melt together cream cheese, butter, and milk. Drain corn and stir into cream cheese mixture. Add jalapeno and mix well. Pour into a casserole dish and top with the grated cheese. Bake for 20 minutes.

I included this one in our church cookbook. If it's church cookbook worthy, you know I'm not playing around here.

There are 1000 recipes in this book. I've made 3 of them so far.

I'm linking up with the Duchess of Fork today, where everyone is posting about food at the holidays. Join the fun over there! And if you make either of these recipes, please let me know what you think!

Christmas Entertaining: Hosting a Cookie Exchange!

2011-12-12T21:45:00.005-06:00

One of the "sweeter" parties that I've thrown involves dozens and dozens of cookies! Last year I hosted my first cookie exchange for the Senior girls in my Bible fellowship class, and I've decided to do it again this year because it was so much fun. Who doesn't love cookies?

Source: justdeliciousrecipes.com via Jodi on Pinterest

Mine probably won't look like those, but aren't they beautiful?

I created a Facebook event to invite the ladies to my house. That's a very appropriate channel, knowing my audience! They are always on FB. (I might be right there with them, but that is another post entirely.)

I've asked each girl to bring 4 dozen cookies of any kind. Decorated, bar, regular, whatever! I've seen several party "logistics" ideas online calling for 6 dozen and specifically only decorated Christmas cookies, but that seems like a lot of cookies and way too rigid rules for this lady. I am an equal-opportunity cookie exchanger. No cookie left behind!

This merry banner was first thing I bought on Etsy a long time ago. So fun!

For decor, hopefully I'll have all of my Christmas decorations up by then. (Then, in this case, would be only 4 days before Christmas Day.) I'll be using my Spode Christmas china. I have service for 24, which will be more than enough for a party of this size. I'm on the hunt for red and white polka dot napkins, so if you have any sources for those, I would absolutely love to hear them.

Santa watches me cook. He's one of my favorite decorations.

I'm serving mostly savory snacks, like finger sandwiches, sausage balls, and some chips and dips. I may add a few bite-sized sweets, but I imagine there will be enough cookie sampling to satisfy each sweet tooth. For drinks, I'm planning on hot chocolate, coffee, soft drinks, and water.

I've ordered these windowed bakery boxes from BakeABox.com and will have ribbon for the girls to tie up their packages before they take them home. I might even spring for some of that ubiquitous red and white baker's twine. I'm not stressing over it though.

I think it's important to keep in mind that celebrating Christmas with our friends doesn't have to be a Pinterest-worthy event. More than anything, it should be a fun night celebrating the birth of our Savior with some laughter and cookies thrown in for good measure.

I'm linking up today with another new mom, Nina, at According to Nina! She and four others are hosting a blog link up for fun holiday ideas. Hop on over to see more!

S. Claus Himself

2011-12-11T22:16:00.001-06:00

This weekend was so fun and filled with Christmas activities. We determined earlier in the month that this past Friday would be the night we took Jack to see Santa at NorthPark. (NorthPark Center and the Galleria are the premier shopping locales in DFW, if you're not familiar. They are fancy.) I knew that they had a system set up to see Santa, whereby you go and get a number, then have your pic made in the order in which your number is called. (For Santa's hours, see here.)

Since I worked on Friday, I ran over to NP at lunch to ~~shop for myself~~ grab a number for Santa. At noon when I picked up our number, the college kid passing them out estimated that it would FIVE FORTY FIVE PM before that number was called. For us, that was fine since B wasn't meeting me at the office until that evening, but I felt bad for parents who thought they would just show up at lunch and wait in line.

He and Santa both did really well! At first, he looked at Santa like, "WHO are YOU?" Then he looked over at me like, "What is happening to me?" Then I convinced a couple of smiles from him. I was already walking to pick him up right around the time he started whimpering at the weirdness of it all.

{This is a picture of the picture, since I decided not to pay $60 for the digital copy.}

I love that little boy sooooo much!

Baby Boy's First Christmas

2011-12-05T21:13:00.000-06:00

GAP sleeveless vest|Amazon.com: LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table: Toys & Games|Stride Rite Srt Trent (Infant/Toddler)|Peek Screenprint Tee (Infant) Red Medium|Rugby & Denim Jean Set - One Piece & Sets Infant Boy (9M-24M) -...|Striped Rugby Infant Boy (9M-24M) - RalphLauren.com|Amazon.com: Fisher-Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm: Toys|Amazon.com: Radio Flyer Classic Red Wagon: Toys & Games|Amazon.com: Green Toys Tugboat: Toys & Games

This year brings a new experience - buying gifts for our little man's first Christmas! Above are a few of our potentials. One of my favorites is the tug boat. I found it in a toy store in Santa Fe a few weeks ago, and it caught my attention due to its great texture. It will definitely be under the tree. It's made of recycled plastic, and he'll have a blast with it in the tub. I think Santa may be bringing a Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chair (not included up there)--that is, if the elves at PBK get busy between now and December 19th. Backordered!

Mommies, what has been your tiny tot's favorite gift in years of yore?

Household Happenings

2011-12-04T20:50:00.001-06:00

Well, another weekend has come and gone, and I've tucked my baby in for the night. It's time to prepare for another week off at work in coal mines. (Not really, my office is completely above ground, and I have a lovely window view. The biggest workout my muscles will get is walking to the Ladies in heels.) I think the hardest time to be a working mother is Sunday night. How do I leave this face on Monday morning?

My handsome son, after a riveting game of peekaboo on Saturday.

Jack is in one of the sweetest stages right now. Each day he learns just a little bit more. This morning as I was talking to my senior girls in Sunday school, one of them mentioned that her mom tears up when they talk about her leaving next year for school. I related that I've been pondering Jack's growing independence quite a bit lately--that every day for the next 18 years Jack will do something a little more on his own, and at some point, he'll leave our home. (At that point they were all, "Aww, baby Jack!) And then I added, "So go easy on your mamas! They've been watching this happen slowly for 18 years!" It is such a fulfilling, beautiful, yet heartbreaking experience to watch your child grow from helplessness to self-reliance.

I love, love, love those girls, by the way.

But my baby is only 9 months right now, so I kind of need to just get a grip and enjoy his milestones. Waving bye, bye! Clapping! Baby proofing is imminent. He is all over the stuff I have on the coffee table, and for that matter, he's all over the living room. I let him tear up the junk mail we get each day to his great delight. And? Can we talk about him crying for "MAMA" when his grandmother picked him up out of his high chair at Sunday lunch?

I may or may not have thrown up my hands signaling a TD with a loud yell in the middle of the restaurant on that one. That's my boy.

In Honor of December 1st

2011-12-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

I give you what might be the creepiest/most awesome Christmas music video of all time. George Michael making moony eyes at his faux ex-girlfriend while they are on a ski trip with her new boyfriend? Awkward and totally 80s?

It's ALL in there.

Addressing Christmas Cards

2011-11-30T05:00:00.000-06:00

I have Christmas cards on the brain, although I haven't ordered mine, or even picked out a picture for that matter. Here's one (by the wonderful Hailey Erickson that I don't think I'm using, although it delights me to no end.

No, this photo is not doctored. My tiny man is truly that charming.

{And my mouth is definitely that large.}

One thing that always plagues me while addressing my Christmas cards is how to write names properly on the front for my friends with families. Is it too informal to address it to "The Smith Family?" Should I say "Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Family" leaving their children anonymous? So many options, but which one is correct?

So being that I'm thinking about this pre-card order, I thought I would look up the rules so there would be no more guessing. Here's a summary I grabbed via EmilyPost.com--another Emily I know that is always right. Ahem.

Single:
Mr. John Smith
Ms. Jane Smith

Married:
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

Married, both Doctors or PhDs:
The Doctors Smith

Married, she outranks her husband:
Dr. Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith

If you have any other addressing relationships not listed below, most likely, they cover it there, with one major exception--the one thing I wanted to know.

So, I'm throwing this out to you, Internet Friends. How do you address an informal Christmas card to a family? If you send it to just Mr. and Mrs. Smith, then you are ignoring the children. That seems like a terrible idea. Here are the options:

a. Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Family
b. The Smith Family
c. Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
Sally and John Jr. Smith

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Bonus points with Internet citation.

Mom and Dad Fly the Coop

2011-11-29T05:00:00.000-06:00

Before we celebrated Thanksgiving, Mr. G and I headed off to the great Southwest for a long weekend with 2 other couples from our church, the Brantleys and the Cooks, to celebrate Chris's 30th birthday. It was the first time we left our little guy overnight for more than 24 hours and further than 60 miles away. Also, I'm a Very Nervous Flier which will go down as one of the greatest ironies of my life. I never let it stop me from going anywhere though.

{Said, with my feet firmly on the ground.}

Anywho, we arrived in ABQ Thursday evening and made the short drive into Santa Fe under the cover of darkness. There was a little movie premiere that night (Breaking Dawn, what of it?) which we bought tickets for um, like a month ago. Not gonna let a trip get in our way of seeing it! So after the boys were safely at the house, we headed into Santa Fe. The movie was gory, much more so than it played out in my head while reading the book.

Dinner at Tortilla Flats.
Check out those sopapillas.

Ignore those girls texting.
I did a lot of sleeping, reading (The Hunger Games), and Twilight movie watching, since it was on every station. It was so nice to sleep in! Sleep is so wonderful! I love sleep! Day 2 found us at Ten Thousand Waves, a spa built into a mountain (that is, after we saw Breaking Dawn for the second time. Oh yes, we did.) Let me tell you, it was faaaaaaabulous. One of my treatments was a head and neck massage where they treated my hair with this lavender hot oil conditioner. My hair was softer than it's ever been once I washed it out. By the time we left, I could've melted from the relaxation.

Official book of Santa Fe Trip 2011.
Another day we shopped around the square at Santa Fe. There is so much more to offer than just southwestern jewelry and Indian blankets. (My original expectations, my bad.) I found some cute Christmas decor at Doodlets, which is just across the way from the very delicious Cafe Pasqual's, and a fun toy for the boy at a toy store just around the corner. There's even a J.Crew.

So there were a few Southwestern artifacts, such as this shrine to the Gloved One.
By the third day, Mr. G and I were straight up missing our little guy. He's just so much fun right now. He has this hilarious little opinion about everything. I hope I never stop thinking it's funny. (Feel free to laugh at my naivete. I do.) My mom told me he was saying "mama" while we were gone, but he has yet to say it to my face, so I'm not too convinced.

We stayed in a great house (found here) just outside of town, with heated floors (come to mama!), and lots of comfy couches and chairs to nap or read in. The gentlemen golfed, and we all met up to eat out a lot, laugh a lot, and just relax. So refreshing--exactly what a getaway should be.

Giving Thanks

2011-11-27T05:00:00.005-06:00

Our Thanksgiving was just lovely. We ran down to my hometown for the holiday. It is wonderful to be so close! Everyone was kind of in and out throughout the weekend going to jobs, in-laws, football games, hunting, shopping, etc. I love my family. I am so, so thankful for each and every one of them. God has been so gracious to me in the area of family. Having one that plays well together and argues well together (because there is a right way and a wrong way, you know) is a blessing that is often overlooked. This year I was especially thankful for our sweet boy. He is just the best!

I made a chocolate pie for Thanksgiving, then left it at our house because Thanksgiving morning was a bit chaotic*. I made the Pioneer Woman's rolls for Thanksgiving lunch at my Grannie's. I promise you that Homesick Texan's Grandma's chocolate pie tastes just like my Meemaw's chocolate pie (which I don't have the recipe written down.) I mean, maybe our grandmothers were cousins and learned from the same grandma. It's that similar.

{Doubtful, but really close anyway.}

On Thanksgiving Day, Jack, Sugar, and Grannie (his great-grandma) fed the cows hamburger buns.
If I were a cow, I would be totally offended.

Offended!

I have several hairstyles pinned on Pinterest, but all of them require my mama to make them happen. I can't French braid my own hair in less than 3 hours. So I asked and begged and pleaded that she watch YouTube videos and put my hair up. She gave in pretty easily. This was my favorite. Yay, Mom!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday!

*I can't pack as quickly with a tiny man scooting about. We left 30 minutes late, and my hair was NOT done. We will not even discuss the smoke billowing through my parents' house as the rolls burned while I did my hair after we arrived. Being on vacation has knocked me off my game.

Best of Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale

2011-11-08T13:55:00.006-06:00

Nine West Nobelman
Most comfy heel ever.

I've jetted off to beautiful Orlando, FL for my very fabulous job, however I would not know if Orlando was beautiful this trip or not since I've been locked away in conference sessions.

The past few months have seen me investing mostly in comfortable, flat mom shoes. As I've become more confident in my role as outside-of-the-home-working-mother (or whatever such label-nonsense society might place on me) the height of my heel has gone up. I'm figuring out that I can slip into flats on the way to get my baby or into heels as I climb back into my corporate role.

This heel height discovery might be symbolic in some way to my self-discovery and what not, etc., but really this post was to tell you about the fabulous heels above. They are my conference footwear of choice this week, currently on sale at Nordstrom. The wide but not clunky heel provides comfort, and the height provides some sassiness. The loafer style with tassels are completely in step with this year's runway obsession of men's-styled wear. I've been wearing them 3 full days with no terrible foot pain. The pic above is a little deceiving as the heel height is 3 1/4 in.

In short, I highly recommend.

Friday Favorites: Too Much TV

2011-11-04T05:00:00.000-05:00

Overall, I have less free time than ever before, yet I find myself watching more TV that I ever have in my entire life. (One major exception being the summer before 8th grade when I was laid up with a full cast on my leg, and my brother and I discovered that through the magic of syndication we could watch up to 3 hours straight of Saved By the Bell across 3 channels.)

The only reasonable explanations I have for this phenomenon are that 1. I have finally caught on to this 2004 technology called "DVR" and 2. I am busy rocking or feeding the baby and putting him to bed around 8, at which point it is too late to do any housework (at least, that's my story) and too early to go to bed. So bring on TV!

Here's what I'm "taping" on my DVR these days:

1. Parks and Recreation: This is hands down the funniest show on major network television right now. Every single character is hilarious. If you've never seen it, I'm going to need you to tell me why in the comments. You will find B and I rolling over it every Thursday night.

2. Revenge: I find myself strangely drawn to Revenge primarily because of Emily Van Camp's hair. It is simply beautiful, as is the gorgeous set where they are filming. Also, I can't wait to see how the whole "revenge" thing is resolved. There can't possibly be any winners at the end of the series.

3. Person of Interest: I'm watching this one with B also. As much as I didn't like Ben in LOST, I really like Michael Emerson in POI, and he seems like almost the same character! (For good, not evil though.) That being said, the show has a great premise, but we think it would do better on a Monday or Tuesday night rather than Thursday. If you've not watched it, each episode is a story unto its own, so you can jump right in at any time.

4. Once Upon a Time: I really wanted to dislike this show. I'm not a big fan of at least one of the actors in the show, and the premise reminded me too much of Enchanted. Honestly, I would not be able to handle that amount of sweetness as a series. That being said, I watched two hours of this and loved it. If you like fairy tales, I think you would like it too.

Honorable mentions: Body of Proof and Castle

What's filling up your DVR that I should be watching?

So there I was, leaving the baby for the first time to watch the Rangers lose the World Series.

2011-11-02T22:03:00.004-05:00

My dad texted me around noon last Tuesday, asking me what the odds were we could fly standby from Dallas to St. Louis to watch the Rangers win Game 6. First I laughed and ignored his text message. Then I actually looked up the flights and was all, "You're not going without me!"

Unfortunately, my man had other commitments, but my brother was available to go too. And then my mom (a 1st grade teacher) was all, "The three of you aren't going without me!"

About 5 hours lapsed from decision time to go time. I left the office, ran home and packed a bag, ran across the street and smooched on my baby, then ran by Academy to buy some blue Ranger gear. We wanted to stand out in that sea of Cardinals Red. Back to Dallas I went.

Fountain dyed red to support the home team.
We took the Company Plane up north and waited out the rain delay. (There wasn't much rain to speak of.) During the delay, we shopped, ate, and did a little exploring in STL. My dad complained that I wanted to go to the mall on rain out night, but while we were there, we ran into this guy, and I do believe we were outside of Sephora. This is the most terrible pic of me to date, but it was Elvis Andrus, only hours before the Rangers lost the World Series.

So, so disappointing.

(As is my new habit to repeat the word 'so' twice, as if the first time it wasn't a sincere 'so.')

Some notes on STL:

We did not go up in the Arch while we were there.
We did eat Imo's Pizza, and it was good.
We also ate crepes at a place called Rooster, which I recommend.
We stayed at the airport Hilton, which I also recommend.
We took the MetroLink the entire time, rather than renting a car.
I paid $10 for hot chocolate during the game. It was worth it.
They have a beautiful new Nordstrom in their Galleria.
Drew had something else going on Thursday night and didn't get to stay for the game. Boo.
I would go back to STL for a long weekend and do more exploring, but I think it would need to include a sporting event to have enough to do.

It was the trip of a lifetime! As we got down to one strike left (twice), I will never forget how the cameras starting flashing all around the stadium, just like you've seen before on TV. I'm so glad I got to experience it with my dad, the one who taught me to love baseball and love the Rangers. More than anything, it was incredibly gratifying the entire week to see him having so much fun.

And one of these days, the Rangers are going to win it.

Baby's First Halloween

2011-11-01T20:48:00.004-05:00

My tiny man on our front porch hamming it up, sans mustache.
What are the odds that I will remember to take a picture of him in
the same place next year?

I found his costume on a Mexican import website. Who knew they made toddler panchos and sombreros? B grabbed a mustache on his way home from work last Friday before our church's Fall Festival (and the Rangers final meltdown of the year.) It only seemed natural to stick it on his favorite paci, and shockingly, he had no problem with either it or the sombrero on his head.

We had such a fun Halloween! This was the first time we've actually stayed in our home of 4 years and passed out candy to the neighborhood kids. I know, I know, but in our defense, it's because we usually were either out of town or with friends.

We had my BFF/college roommate (hi Alisia!) and her friend Brian over for supper, which ended up being Frito pie and chili dogs. Halloween seems like a Frito pie holiday, does it not? My mom informs me that I feel this way because she always fed us that before we went out trick or treating when we were little. Funny how things like that influence in adulthood.

Anyway! I had so much fun handing out candy. Jack fell asleep super early in Alisia's arms and not even the doorbell could wake him up. Some of the cutest kids and very few of questionable age to be trick or treating. How old is too old to do that anyway? And how young is old enough? Even if the boy is old enough to eat candy next year, obviously he doesn't need a whole bag of candy otherwise it will be clear that he's shilling for mommy's chocolate fix.

Happy Halloween From the Frito Bandito.

2011-10-31T05:00:00.000-05:00

A Few of Baby's Firsts

2011-10-17T05:00:00.001-05:00

We were having such a wonderful weekend until the little guy came down with something and started running his very first fever Sunday morning. Poor little pumpkin! It kept him and me home from church yesterday and is keeping me home today. I have never seen my happy boy so sad. Breaks a mama's heart.

Speaking of pumpkins, Saturday we carried him to his very first pumpkin patch. As a matter of fact, I believe it was my very first pumpkin patch as well. We went to the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch, which had inexpensive admission, all activities for children included, AND...Fletcher's Corny Dogs and Funnel Cakes as well as Texas Roadhouse. So we got our fair food in without actually having to deal with the fair. Success.

The turn out was so huge that in subsequent years I will probably do this on a week day. Jack wanted to look anywhere but the camera, but who could blame him. The patch was ripe for people watching, with children and parents everywhere.

Here are a few pics where he was looking in the general direction of the camera:

My sweet, sweet little guy.

Who's big idea was this?

Mom and the J-Bird

I guess this is going in reverse order, but Friday night B and I were able to get away for a short date night. We ended up down in Sundance Square for supper while the boy stayed for the first time with my in-laws. It's funny. Before we had a child, we always said we would make time for date nights once we did have one, but in reality once we've worked all week, we're tired and missing our boy so it's much easier to stay home. It's good for us to steal away some though, and Friday night was refreshing for both of us.

How do you and your spouse set aside time for one another? Scheduled dates? Once a year getaway?

I hope you and yours are well, and that you enjoyed the beautiful fall weekend!

Friday Favorites

2011-10-14T05:00:00.000-05:00

I haven't done a Friday Faves post in quite a while, but this week I was inspired to journal a few here. It's the simple things that are truly my favorites.

My very dear friend's mother made Jack's trick or treat bag. (She also made the pillow to match his baby bedding here.) Hopefully soon she'll be opening an Etsy store. Stay tuned here for breaking updates, ye lovers of monogrammed goods.

Does Jack have a costume yet? No.

Does Jack have an awesome bag to collect candy for his parents to eat? Yes.

{Feel free to leave baby costume websites in the comments. I've checked Chasing Fireflies.}

This week held and holds quite a few things that make me happy:

first professional pic as a family of three by the lovely Hailey Erickson
lunch dates with other young working mamas in my office
date night with my man tonight
the prospect of no scheduled activities (church excluded) the rest of the weekend. Yesss.

Have a lovely weekend yourself!

Seven Months!

2011-10-12T20:55:00.004-05:00

Seven months is getting away from me!

It goes without saying that we just love, love, love this boy. He is cracking me up so much these days. My dad made the discovery this past weekend that if you hold any iPhone up in front of him, he will smile. Even one of our distant family members (who he did not know) held her phone up, and that kiddo of mine flashed his big gummy grin. Perhaps his mama takes too many pics? Is that even possible?

Speaking of gummy grins, there are no teeth yet although he is really working his gums. I'm expecting one any day now. He was 20 lbs 1 oz at his last doctor appointment, and crawling is imminent. Last weekend he was a little mama-clingy (kinda flattering, ok very flattering), but I'm fairly certain it was because we were in different territory around so many new faces. His favorite toy these days is a ball with holes that he can put his fingers in and throw. Typical boy.

I like pretty paper.

2011-10-11T20:08:00.003-05:00

Back in August, our local Anthropologie had an event demonstrating the art of letterpress. Lauren, of Blue Eye Brown Eye, brought her printing press and explained the process of creating beautiful letterpressed cards and even let us press a couple on our own. And of course, it was followed by brunch foods, which is my favorite meal of the day.

Brunch at Anthropologie? Why yes, thank you, I will.

Fast forward several weekends later, and Jack and I found ourselves at the Dallas Flea. If you've never been, it's a fair of Etsy-style vendors: paper, vintage clothing, handmade jewelry, etc. There were all kinds of beautiful items, although it was a bit crowded.

I found Lauren (who's also an Aggie!) again there where she was selling her beautiful letterpressed cards. Below are just a few of my favorites. I picked up some sets to give as gifts, but those are being kept as a surprise for some people who read this on occasion. I honestly could've bought one of everything!

Aren't these so fun? I never can find a good, minimum cheese baby card, until now.
And the deer card birthday card is perfection for a certain Mr. Gentry.

One more thing to love about cards from Blue Eye Brown Eye.
They are printed right here in good 'ol Cowtown.

You can also find Lauren's cards being sold nationwide at Anthropologie, although you'll find a larger selection in her Etsy shop here!

He called me Emmy.

2011-10-10T19:26:00.003-05:00

This past weekend I expected to be in NYC. My brother's band was playing a showcase on Friday night for a record company, and my parents and I were planning to be there to support him. It was going to be my first more than 24 hour time away from my little guy from Thursday to Sunday. We had tickets to the 9-11 Memorial, plans to see Phantom on Broadway, plans to eat pizza in Brooklyn, and {of course} plans to shop.

What I did not plan on was my grandfather passing away on Tuesday night.

I am so blessed to have had him for 31 years. Many memories stick out in my mind about him, but I will share just a few here. He had land out in the country that my cousins, brother, and I played at all summer long when we were young. When our parents would come to pick us up, my grandparents would convince them to let us stay just a little longer. One summer, he fixed up an old riding lawnmower without the blade and built a trailer to drag behind it. We drove that thing all over the place, taking turns steering the tractor and riding on the trailer. We would break it somehow and call him out to come and fix it. He would act irritated that we had messed something up, but we all knew really he loved it.

Also, he loved to read. He always had a book going. I like to think we were kindred spirits where that was concerned. The worst thing about aging for him was macular degeneration, which clouded his eyesight. Books on tape are just not the same, you know.

I have never lost a loved one until now. {I know I am incredibly blessed to be able to say that.} Coming face to face with mortality last week made me realize how thankful I am for the hope I have in Jesus Christ--that this life is not all that we have to look forward to. I have wonderful memories of growing up as his granddaughter, and the picture below is a treasure to me.

Weekending

2011-10-03T05:00:00.002-05:00

Jack says, "I can't stand First Monday Weekend."

Friday we had new tile installed in our kitchen, breakfast, and laundry area, so while B hung out at home, Jack and I escaped to Canton. To readers not familiar with East Texas life, the weekend of the first Monday of the month, the small town of Canton, Texas is filled with all kinds of vendors: vintage, antiques, junk, and mass-produced decor purchased from market. It's a great place to go to decorate your home, and they especially have fun holiday decor.

I've discovered that while Canton may not be the best place for babies, his stroller is perfect for hauling all my stuff and has a much better turning radius than the carts everyone uses to carry their purchases. So there's that.

We spent the rest of the weekend putting our house back in order. I sent this tweet once I got home and surveyed my kitchen stuff redeposited all over the house. Everything was shoved into the living room and study, and since we don't have a tv in our bedroom (by choice,) we ended up eating pizza and watching hulu in our bedroom floor Friday night.

Speaking of hulu, my word there are so many tv series that I like this season! I haven't watched this much tv in years. So ridiculous. We're watching Castle, Pan Am, Person of Interest, Parks and Rec, The Office, Two Broke Girls, The New Girl, How I Met Your Mother.... Seriously, too much.

The rest of the weekend was housekeeping. Hair appt, laundry (once all my appliances were hooked back up), church, and spending time with the boys I love. Oh, and of course, hand scrubbing the new tile so that at some point it will be acceptable to let Jack crawl on it.

I am so my mother's daughter.

Weekending

2011-09-26T23:02:00.005-05:00

The boy has discovered the dog, and he finds her hilarious.

While the Aggies may have lost it during the 3rd quarter of the game this weekend, I can't keep from posting a picture of this dashing young gentleman sporting his maroon. That is the face of the class of 2033 right there. I can't even imagine how many SEC Championships A&M will have won by then.

Glass half-full, you say?

So we spent the weekend hanging out. Friday night we met up with B's parents and grandfather for supper. I made a lovely chocolate chip bundt cake--you know the kind with the extra boxes of pudding that make it just super delicious and the batter just even more super delicious? Yep, it was one of those. And it is no longer. Because we ate it all.

Saturday saw the boy and me at The Dallas Flea while B played in the church golf tournament. It was an Etsy-style/vintage clothing flea market I suppose. While they had a ton of fun things, I think the venue was a bit cramped, especially with a stroller. However, I'll be back here later this week with some way cool paper that I bought there from a Fort Worth artisan. I pink puffy heart stationery so, yay is what I say.

The rest of the weekend we spent with family and church commitments. Our church is celebrating its 100th Anniversary, and there was a neat collection of wedding dresses from brides who had been married in our church sanctuary over the past 100 years. I can't remember how old the oldest one was (for sure pre-1950s), but I was amazed at how perfect it would still be by today's standards. Classy never goes out of style.

I hope you had a delightful weekend. Next weekend I'm breaking out the pumpkin bread recipes and shining up my boots. It's time to get serious about fall, people!

One Day, Reviewed

2011-09-22T05:00:00.001-05:00

So of course I was inspired to read this book after seeing the previews for the latest Anne Hathaway movie. British accent? I am there! One Day was written by David Nicholls who I know nothing about other than he wrote One Day. Except now I just googled him, and it looks like he is a screenwriter and has adapted Tess of the D'Urbervilles and is working on Far From the Madding Crowd for the BBC. Fancy that.

Anyway, this novel centers on a couple who become entangled with one another on their last day of college and follows their friendship throughout their twenties and thirties. It's one of those geeky-girl-likes-popular-boy but they are friends, but then more, but then not. Until ONE DAY. Sort of.

It was an easy read, but I have to say it wasn't my favorite. I wasn't okay with the ending, although I don't know how I would've rewritten it myself. But, you know, Mr. Nicholls did not consult me so there is that. Additionally, it has some language and situations that Jane Austen {and therefore, I} simply would not approve of.

If you're interested in my copy (because of course, one woman's "meh" is another woman's "ohmygoodnessmyfaveever!"--feel free to crosstitch that on a pillow), leave me a comment. I will not judge you if you love it. Otherwise, this one's got a one way ticket to Half Price Books.

Outsourcing

2011-09-20T05:00:00.006-05:00

I am not a clipper of the coupons. I enjoy using coupons and codes that fall in my lap, but I rarely seek them out. This will sound overly dramatic, but I really just do not have it in me by the time I drive 2 hours round trip and work a 9 hour day. But that's just me.

And lo, there was Amazon Mom. Amazing, wonderful, schedule my orders, deliver to my doorstep, give me a discount, don't make me dig for it, clouds parting, birds singing Amazon Mom.

By implementing their Subscribe & Save feature, I receive 30% off of the little mister's unmentionables. That means I have a standing order for 156 size 3 Huggies Snug & Dry diapers each month. I no longer schlep a big 'ol box of disposable tightie whities from the Big Box Discount Store in addition to my other groceries.

And really? I am too tired to load that much stuff into the car + baby.

Instead, diapers automatically ship on the 18th of every month. Amazon sends an e-mail informing me that order ship time has come 'round again and allows the option of canceling. Within that communication comes notification in case of a price increase. I have canceled before (when we moved from size 2 to 3) without penalty. If I need an extra shipment, I can request an off cycle. So far, it's been a free and flexible subscription service.

Recently as I was exploring, I came to the (overly excited) realization that I can Subscribe & Save other items as well. Every time I turn around I find some other staple to eliminate from my grocery list. First, it was laundry detergent (Tide HE, FYI), next TP. That's right, our Charmin Ultra is delivered directly to the doorstep. By "subscribing," I received 15% off of those products, plus they ship for free.

An additional household benefit is that by joining and ordering, you qualify for a free Amazon Prime membership by spending a certain amount on baby products. My standing diaper order alone qualifies us each month, which means any item stocked by Amazon ships for free. No more trying to finagle a $25 order just to qualify for free shipping. (Am I the only who does this?) And if you live in Texas, you don't pay sales tax on items off of Amazon since they don't have a storefront here.

{So to those of you keeping count at home, yes, that's one more reason to live in the Lone Star State.}

Amazon is not compensating me for this fabulous review. I simply got tired of having all that stuff in my grocery buggy + I enjoy tracking shipped items on the internet.

My guess is you feel the same way.

Family Ties

2011-09-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

Serious post ahead. I'll be back to my light and fluffy, sunshine and rainbows tomorrow.

I got a call last week that my grandfather (my dad's dad) had been taken the emergency room after exhibiting some strange behavior. An MRI showed a mass in his brain and further x-rays of his lungs showed a mass there too. I went home for a super quick visit on Saturday afternoon to hug his neck (and my dad's.) He still knew who I was, which was a great relief.

The next few months are going to be difficult for my family. How do you go on with life as usual while also traversing this road? I really would be so honored if you would pray for us through this season, as the family navigates my grandfather's and grandmother's care.

Everyone experiences a situation like this at some point in time. That is a sad reality of life here on earth, you know? It should make us long for the day when there is death, pain, and tears are gone forever (Revelation 21:4.) For the Follower of Christ, this is the reality, that our Savior has conquered these things. I am clinging to this promise today.

{If you read the above and have no clue what I'm talking about, please contact me because I would love to tell you all about it. Triple exclamation points. (!!!)}

While we were there Saturday, we went out for supper with my parents. There is a little boy at my house who can cheer the frown off of anyone's face, especially his Granddaddy's. He is just good medicine. And because my mom couldn't let us leave without a pic for her Facebook, here we are in front of the local Mexican food restaurant in town.

The sound you hear is me lacing up my running shoes to run this baby weight off of my face. Yikes.

My Royal Souvenir: A Review of the Modalu Bristol/Pippa handbag

2011-09-15T05:00:00.002-05:00

Back in mid-May, I saw this picture of Pippa Middleton and knew that I must have that understated grey handbag. It is by an English company called Modalu, which I had heard nothing about. Of course everyone else in the world wanted Pippa's bag too, which actually resulted in Modalu renaming the bag from "Bristol" to "Pippa." And ultimately, they've produced it in other colors as well, and sent a bunch of them to Pippa. That lucky duck. Not only is she Prince William's sis-in-law, she gets free handbags.

{Sigh.}

As I mentioned, everyone and their mom ordered the "Pippa" so the wait time became long. Like several months long. I ordered this bag in the color shark in Medium Grab size back on the 19th of May, I believe.

It came in the week of my birthday.

{August 23rd, feel free to take a moment to mark your calendar.}

I thought I would do a review as I had difficulty finding any about the quality of the bag online.

And hey! You might be wondering the same thing.

My bag came wrapped and stuffed with paper. In addition to the outer paper wrap, it also had a plastic bag around it. It looked to be well protected as it made its journey across the pond.

All of the metal details on the bag, like the label shown here,
and the zipper pulls were either plastic covered or paper wrapped.

You can see the cute shell detail on the zipper pulls.
They are a good, hefty weight, in my opinion.

Pippa (the bag) has 3 compartments.
I fit my very large paper planner in the middle one,
and my working mom survival kit in the top one where you see an
internal zipper pocket. There is also a cell phone pocket and
one other easy access pocket up in there.

The bottom compartment (as shown in this pic) is just a plain zippered section. In my bag, there are usually baby accoutrements, like diapers and wipes.

Front shot of the bag, and the accompanying leather strap,
which so far I have not used.
It really is a beautiful bag. The leather is "like butter" as one of my friends described it the other day. Just really, really beautiful. I might compare this to a classic Coach bag, perhaps? You can't tell from my pics, but unlike Pippa's (first photo), mine has metal feet on the bottom, which I think is a really nice detail on a handbag.

As far as a mom bag goes, I have to say that this one works great from 9-to-5 for me. I think most mothers will agree that a shoulder bag works best with wee ones, which this is not that, and I'm not terribly fond of it with the strap added. So I'm loving carrying it to work each day and swapping it out for the weekend when I am out and about with my little.

I took a bit of a risk for myself (I research a handbag relentlessly before I make a purchase) and bought this one. I love it! It is likely to be in style for years to come as long as the leather wears well, and I take care of it. I would buy another one.

Well done, Modalu!

Weekending in September

2011-09-12T05:00:00.000-05:00

Ladies' Luncheon centerpiece

Baby in a bowling alley

The Man playing whirlyball*

Baby sleeping during whirlyball

Church cookbook sales
There are 1000 recipes in this book!
We spent the weekend with church activities, from the Saturday morning Ladies' Lunch, to Sunday afternoon cookbook sales after church. Sandwiched between those rather grown-up ladylike events was a retreat with our high school seniors. The youngster was up rather late Saturday night but was still his smiling self the entire time. I can't even say that about myself half the time. He has just a wonderful disposition, and I am so thankful! We stayed at a nearby hotel for the retreat, and he had no problem adjusting to another bed, being fed sitting on a sidewalk while waiting for our tables to be ready, etc. He had fun playing with the girls and came home just talking up a storm about them.

{At least, that's what I think he was talking about.}

So this has me thinking, this parenting on the go thing. What is the weirdest place you've ever had to feed your kid?

*Whirlyball is a combination of lacrosse, bumpercars, and basketball, kinda. We do it as a teambuilder at work on occasion. It completely levels the playing field between those with athletic ability and those without. I will let you guess which of those categories I fall into.

A Kickoff I Will Not Soon Forget

2011-09-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

Jack watching his first Aggie football game
As most everyone in the great state of Texas knows, we have been in an incredible drought this summer, the heat index notwithstanding. I gave up watering my flowers at least a month ago, and we're barely keeping the yard alive at this point.

I've mentioned this before, but my parents and grandparents live out in the country on the farm my grandfather grew up on. If you've read any Little House on the Prairie books, you know that there are many dangers of living in the country: pestilence, distance from help, and of course, prairie fire.

My mom called me around 5 PM to say that a wild fire was burning out of control heading towards their place. While we were talking, my dad beeped in to tell her to start gathering things up in the house to evacuate. That is the most stricken I've ever heard my mom, when she called me back to ask if there was anything in the house I wanted to hang on to. Providentially, my brother had gone home last minute for the weekend, so they had an extra set of hands and wheels to load up the more irreplaceable things in the house. They grabbed all photos off of the walls, portable family heirlooms, and then took the time to photograph everything they would leave behind. She told me that as she closed the door on the the bare-walled house, she prayed that God would send a miracle.

Then she got on the phone and called me to pray before heading over to my grandparents' to help them pack up and photograph too.

I tweeted and texted asking anyone who could, would pray for my family. Brad and I got on our knees in the living room, and in tears, I begged God to deliver the farm, no, to deliver TEXAS from becoming a scorched earth. I prayed for protection for my family, protection for the fire responders, and ultimately, that an end to the fire would come, in such a manner that anyone who witnessed it could only say that the Lord had intervened and saved. Specifically, we prayed that no matter what, God would be glorified in the situation, whether in prevention or recovery.

About 20 minutes after we got up from our living room floor, my mom called to report (quite fanatically) that IT WAS RAINING. Downpouring!

We spent the rest of the afternoon monitoring the situation. By late evening, the rain had slowed the fire such, that the fire department had it contained. Yesterday, my hometown newspaper reported that the rainstorm directly followed the path of the fire until it was controlled.

In short, it was a miracle.

Only God could have intervened. The fire had consumed more than 1500 acres and was quickly burning through more directly on its way to my parents' place. Glory to God alone for His protection and His mercy.

I will never get over it.

If you would be so kind, please continue to pray for my hometown. While I am praising God for delivering my family from the devastation, many were not spared. Whether they are replacing homes, livestock, or other buildings which are used for their livelihoods, much is left to be done to recover, outside of the emotional trauma itself. Please pray for comfort, for peace, for recovery efforts, and of course...more rain!

Birthdays are my favorite {especially my own.}

2011-08-29T19:12:00.004-05:00

So I think I documented here last year that I am no longer in my 20s. Actually, now that I think of it, I never blogged about my 30th birthday party. It was at Joe T's and my wonderful husband along with my wonderful college roommate organized it. We officially announced to many of our friends that we were expecting a sweet, little baby. And I took an awesome trip to NYC with the ladies in my family to celebrate.

I was fairly convinced that this b-day would be a little bit of a letdown because I'm working (a lot) and of course it was thirty-one.

C'est la vie, and all that, you know?

But I also did not take into account this little boy.
He is the biggest blessing to come out of year the thirtieth.
And his daddy brought him over to take me to lunch.
How sweet is he?

{Referring to his daddy, in this case.}

And while I worked the rest of the day, they went shopping (for golf stuff, don't get too excited)
and then hung around to meet me for supper. We went to The Porch, which
was completely Jackers friendly.

And then we had this.

{Gooey Butter Cake, homemade vanilla bean}

I think I posted on FB that this was my favorite birthday.

And you know what?

It was.

Some Random Thoughts for Today

2011-08-18T05:00:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of goodreads? I'm guessing yes. If you are a goodreads member, what are the ways you've used it? Does it keep you accountable to give a book report? I'm just curious if I need to join one more social media-type site.

Do tell.

And also, I must own to you that my royal wedding souvenir shipped out two days ago from across the pond. I am like a little girl {or, ahem, early thirty-year-old girl} the night before Santa comes.

Thank you, that is all.

Jack's 5 Month Update

2011-08-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

This boy continues to steal our hearts. He is just too much! This month, he expanded his eating of solids. From fruits to veggies, to mac and cheese and chicken noodle, so far I've not put anything in front of him that he hasn't eaten all of. One of my friends was keeping the baby room in the nursery and commented on how solid he was. And he is definitely that--a solid little kid. I love it! He's outgrown his little bibs, so we've moved on to the bigger ones. He rolled over a couple of times from back to front, and then got mad that he was on his belly. (He's figured that one out in month 6th, for sure.)

Below is a video of suppertime. When I introduce a new food I will say, "MMMMM, yummy!" You'll notice he's picked up on that. A little.

I'm so blessed to be Jack's mama!

My Literary Aspirations for 2011.

2011-08-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

I finished up The Help a few weeks ago and was inspired to come up with a reading plan for the rest of the year. With my free time at such a premium, I have to plan, plan, plan.

I meant to post a list back in January but just never got there. It's been completely revised with the addition of Baby J to the household. Now that there are only 4.5 months left in the year, here's what I've got in store for the next few months:

--The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas. Status: purchased. That sounds so serious doesn't it? I'm a software engineer, and this book is to help me hone my craft. Yep, software engineering is a creative art as well as a science.

--Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker. Status: purchased. This is along the same lines as Radical by David Platt that I read last year. It is giving me a lot of perspective on affluency and the American dream. According to Jen's statistics, Americans spend more annually on trashbags that nearly half the world spends on goods combined. That blows my mind! I'm taking my time reading this one.

--One Day. Status: purchased. I saw the preview for the movie version of this book while watching Midnight in Paris (which I pink puffy hearted.) If the Princess of Genovia is in it, AND it includes British accents, then I'm in. So basically this is junk food for the mind.

--Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson. Status: borrowed. I think that one's pretty self explanatory. I might need to invest in my own copy in case I need to keep re-reading.

I'm already starting my list for 2012 and since I am so out of the modern literary loop, I need help! It is so sad when a friend asks you for a book rec and your only thought is Pride and Prejudice (which don't get me wrong, that is the best book rec ever, but you know they've already read it.)

What's the last book you read? Would you read it again?

Fridays with Jack

2011-08-15T05:00:00.002-05:00

Our jobs allow my husband and I to have every other Friday off. Before J was born, we had Fridays off together, but now that we have his sweet self, we stagger them. This past Friday was my Friday with Jack.

We loooove to get out and about and basically not stay home. By lunchtime, one of us had napped, the other had picked up in the house, and we were both ready to go somewhere. The mall was just too cliche. I decided our destination for the day would be the Kimbell Art Museum, one of the many wonderful museums in our town that I have not visited. We have so many fine arts opportunities, and slowly but surely I am trying to acquaint myself with them.

We loaded up and headed to the cultural district. By the time we were there it was well after lunch, so I decided to stop at the museum restaurant. I guess it was a little lunch date with my smiley boy who bestowed his favor to everyone who came our way. He was the only baby in the museum, so I guess I am either brave or dumb. Anyway! His behavior was impeccable and behooves a great future as a purveyor of fine arts. Right?

After touring the Picasso and Braque exhibit (which I believe those who are art history deficient such as myself would find worthwhile,) we meandered through the Kimbell's permanent exhibit. (By this time, my boy had leaned back and gone to sleep.) It is beautiful, and the architecture of the museum's soaring corridors make it beautiful to behold. Just a gem in our fair city. A gem, I say!

The rest of the weekend low key too. We met friends for dinner on Friday evening at Pop's, a place that won the best burger in town by dfw.com. After that, the girls snuck off to see The Help, which was great. Saturday we slept in (exhibit A: baby in jimjams above circa noon) and spent the day preparing for church the next day. Promotion Sunday! New senior girls for my class, which is so exciting. They are a group I had two years ago as sophomores, and they are precious.

I hope you had just a wonderful weekend yourselves!

Friday Fave Finds: You've gotta try this.

2011-08-12T05:00:00.001-05:00

This week I found out about an iPhone app called Fooducate. It's awesome. If you are watching what you eat (like most every woman I know) then I think you would love it. You scan the barcode on almost any food product packaging, and it tells you the nutritional value PLUS the WW points.

via
Additionally, it lists healthier alternatives in the same food category of what you scanned. Thanks for looking out for me, Fooducate!

Working (New) Mom Survival Kit

2011-08-11T05:00:00.005-05:00

The working new mother is fueled by caffeine,
prepared for any dark circles or unsightly lines,
and running in flats. Of course, she is never
without digital portraits of her tiny tot.

Or her lipstick.

Bobbi Brown eye brightener, Goody Spin Pins, MAC hot tahiti,
Spanx, Tazo Awake tea, MAC Splashproof Mascara,
Kate Spade daycation medium leila,
Lauren by Ralph Lauren Abira flats

All of these items are perfect for the mom about the conference room, as well as the mom about the playgroup. I've mentioned how much I love Goody Spin pins before. Bobbi Brown's tinted eye brightener is a fabulous quick fix before that all important meeting where you do not need the answer to the "is your baby sleeping through the night" question written all over your face. Of course, leopard print is abundant for fall, and a flat is polished but perfect for the afternoon car sprint to reach the wee one as quickly as possible post-workday. And dear ladies, I must admit with a color called "Hot Tahiti" on my lips, I am feeling on my game.

{I'll let the Spanx speak for themselves.}

I've spilled my shortcuts. What delightful tools are hiding in your mommy survival kit?

Where this is going.

2011-08-10T05:00:00.000-05:00

I’ve been back to work now since May 26th, which is plenty of time for me to gauge how things are going to go. I would love to have had a smooth, not much responsibility, ease back into my “new normal” transition period, but alas that was not to be. I came back from maternity leave at a critical time in my project. While it’s a great feeling to be respected for the experience and work ethic you bring to the table, my work life became a bit more complex with a little person at home whose heart beat within me only months prior.

So far, with the help of my husband, the backing of our family, and God’s blessing to provide wonderful care for our son, it is working. Really, I have 3 full time jobs: housekeeping (that’s right, I do all my own stunts), child-rearing, and the work for which I am paid. There are moments when I get all annoyed with women’s lib, not because I can't do it all, but because I am tired of doing it all. (Save me the lecture, women's libbers. Yes, I'm proud to have the right to vote.)

But God has been so gracious to me. I've only fallen flat on my face once during these three months, and it was exactly that--I fell flat on my face in my kitchen after slipping in some water! (Water that I dripped--way to go, me.) I have never felt His kindness more to me than in this time. He holds me up at work, He raises me in the morning at ridiculously early o'clock, and He grants me wonderful times with my husband and son. And somewhere in there, I have started exercising with my old running buddy and counting WW points.

So I see the blog headed in a bit of a new direction. Hopefully it won't be just in the direction of picture and caption, but instead, a place where I lay down my thoughts as a working mom, homemaker, wife, and pursuer of the Lord. I'm sure to have stories of my major fails (because that is a noun here in the '10s), but I have great expectation that there will be victories to recount as well!

I hope you'll come along for the ride!

Weekending

2011-08-07T21:09:00.006-05:00

We've had just a lovely and long {yay!} weekend around here. My parents came up on Wednesday to play with the very cute young man that lives at my house, and in the meantime, they treated us to some fun including, but not limited to: shopping, eating out, eating in, and {oh yeah!} cleaning my house while I was at work.

Thursday evening at Babe's Chicken House in Granbury. We absolutely love Granbury! It's one of the most picturesque town squares in Texas. This kiddo is sitting up like a big boy, and we'll be ready to break out the high chair when it is finished this week.

Uncle D came for a visit! He was fresh off of a show in Dallas at The Double Wide which got a great review. Their EP will be released on iTunes on the 16th. I'm sure you'll hear about it again here. I'm definitely a proud big sister.

Granddaddy, Jack, and Sugar just before they left on Saturday. Thank you for the fun weekend!

Dog Days of Summer

2011-08-01T19:27:00.003-05:00

We've been eating.

And laughing.

And eating some more.

And staying cool!

A Truth for Today

2011-07-27T22:04:00.001-05:00

via Lay Baby Lay

Jack's 4 Month Update

2011-07-26T22:20:00.004-05:00

It appears that I'm running a full month behind, because today Jack actually turned 5 months old! So that inspired me to post about his 4th month.

He is growing like a weed. I always thought it was so cliche that "they grow up too fast." Seriously not cliche. Definitely truth. At his checkup, he weighed 15 lbs. 10 oz. and was 25 1/4 inches tall. I admitted to our very awesome pedi that I'd been feeding him cereal for some time since month 3 (he is a BIG eater), so she said I might as well start him on baby food. I guess that is considered solids? They seem pretty liquid if you ask me. Anyway! We went straight to the store and stocked the pantry with food for the young gentleman.

He is such a joy to both of us. This month he figured out how to smile for the camera, rather than looking at it so pensively when we bring it out. That's made for a lot more photo sessions, most of which get posted on Twitter or Instagram. Feel free to follow me there--my username is em_gentry.

And I think to myself...

2011-07-18T00:03:00.004-05:00

what a wonderful world.
--Louis Armstrong

Happy 6th wedding anniversary, Mr. G.
I love you.

THREE Months Old

2011-06-12T20:57:00.003-05:00

I've gone back to work, which is why there are crickets chirping around here. I am B-U-S-Y and heading into the office at a crazy, dark-thirty-type hour of the morning so I can be home to pick up the J-Bird in the evening and still have every other Friday with him. It is so worth it.

My sweet kiddo is (a little over) 3 months now. He is THE BEST. Seriously, just the best. We're having so much fun. He is laughing tons, smiling tons, and just all around super sweet. He only fusses a little when momma isn't so quick on having the bottle ready, so usually not much (I am johnny on the spot.)

So obviously the biggest change in J's life is that I'm not home with him during the day. We had a few nights where he started waking up again, but he's found his rhythm and is sleeping all night long. His care while I am at work is the perfect situation if I'm not at home with him. We are incredibly blessed that I can go back to work with confidence that he's well taken care of.

Other things this month: still in size 2 diapers (by month 4 he'll be in 3's), shakes his rattle, and enjoys tummy time for about 2 minutes.

Green With Envy

2011-05-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

My brother sent me this. It's been far too long since this group has made a movie together, and I absolutely cannot wait to see it!

Flea Market Makeover: Chalkboard

2011-05-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Before: a found custom framed piece of art.
(yes, someone custom framed this.)

After: a chalkboard for my breakfast nook.

I am super impressed with how well chalkboard spray paint works. It actually feels like a real chalkboard and not some weird sprayed on substance. I am even more impressed that two cans of spray paint (gold, for the frame) turned this not treasure into something that retails for upward of $100 at Ballard Designs.

Maternity Leave Farewell Tour

2011-05-23T15:12:00.004-05:00

Last week was my last full week of maternity leave, so I decided to take full advantage of it. We had lunch plans every day with friends and family. It was a fun week off with my sweet boy.

Lunch at Zodiac with Auntie Ish!

Shopping with Momma.
One day we hosted a luncheon for several of the new moms on our street. (We have a baby boom on our street--five new babies.) We met my brother and Brad for lunch on different days, along with a little shopping. Friday, we lunched at Tillman's with Auntie Ish again while her sweet parents were in town, then later that night the J-Bird chilled with his friends during his first childcare night at the church, and we headed out for a dinner date.

This week I'm still off until Thursday (hello, short week back then a 3 day weekend) so I'm spending these last 3 days sitting at home, playing with my baby and putting my working mom survival kit together. I'm blessed to have wonderful support as I transition into the role of working mom. One thing's for sure--I won't be bored.

Friday Fave Finds

2011-05-20T06:00:00.003-05:00

Rather than the Friday Fave Five, I now present to you the inaugural post of my Friday Fave Finds, a list of my little discoveries this week.

Enjoy!

--I loved this post from Natalie about babies growing up. And talking!

--Am I the last person to know that Zooey Deschanel has a TV show coming out? Here's the preview.

--These pantry pics on Material Girls have me seriously contemplating painting my pantry in my last 3 days of maternity leave. (But I'll probably just sit and hold my sweet baby.)

--And then there's Pinterest. Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest. Rather than save things you find on the internet in your favorites, you can "pin" them to boards that will save the original source. I love.

--And also? While not on the world wide web until now, I found myself taking a lot of pics with this tiny gentleman. You understand.

"Cutest thing evaaa..."

2011-05-19T06:16:00.000-05:00

One of the girls in my Sunday school class sent me this video of an awesome marriage proposal (The title of this post was her comment about the video. It's so fun to minister to high school girls!)

We were talking over coffee (or tea, in my case) this past week and the subject of proposals (and in particular, this one) came up. I remembered reading an article recently that something like 80% of women are disappointed in the manner in which their husbands/fiances proposed. I wish I could find the article. Now, I must note here that I think my husband knocked it out of the park with his proposal, however I think it's a sad state when that many women would admit that they didn't like how the proposal went. In my book that ranks right up there with looking at the shiny diamond your gentleman worked to give his fair lady and saying, "I expected something a little bigger."

Have we been ruined by romantic movies?

{But I think this is an awesome proposal, BTW.}

Let your hair up.

2011-05-17T06:18:00.005-05:00

So there I was, sitting in my hairstylist's chair about 4 weeks before delivering my boy. Nearly every time I go in there I complain about the fact that I have to shampoo my hair every single day. She always says the same thing: dry shampoo or figure out a good second day hairstyle to hide the second day obvious. But this time she also pointed out that I was going to have 12 weeks at home to experiment where I wouldn't have to go out in public unless I wanted to. She is brilliant.

So for the past 11ish weeks I've been here, just slaving away in my laboratory. After trying some super duper expensive stuff along with the super cheap, I am pleased to publish my research for you today. Ladies in a hurry to get to the office, moms, or basically anyone looking for a good shortcut, I've got some winners for you.

The new Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo works very, very well. Just spray onto roots and work in until your hair doesn't look white. Additionally, on a lark I purchased the above little spring-like gems by Goody, called spin hair pins. I have a lot (a lot a lot) of very fine hair that usually requires 1 trillion bobby pins to put up. With these, I whip my hair ~~back and forth~~ up into a bun, spin those little hair pins in, and voilà--up do. I found both of these at my local big-box discount store. They are now staples in my beauty arsenal.

Oh yes, it is an arsenal.

So tell me--what's your cheap beauty secret?

{P.S. I'm not receiving any compensation for this review.}

Friday and Saturday Sundaes

2011-05-16T06:18:00.000-05:00

We spent a great weekend catching up with friends we hadn't seen in a while, and I managed to get away from the weekend with one picture--of food. How boring.

Friday evening found us at So7 Love Shack with our supper club friends. It was a perfect evening for patio dining and good conversation. After, we rounded back to one of the couples' home for the first freezer of homemade ice cream for the season. Yum-o.

Saturday, we spent most of the day lounging (ok, Jack and I lounged--Brad mowed) before having folks over for hamburgers and more ice cream. It's just the season for ice cream and one reason I'm still not back into my pre-Jack jeans. Awesome.

Monday kicks off my "Maternity Leave Farewell Tour." It's my last full week of leave with the J-bird, so I'm making the most of it. We have lunch plans almost every day and lots of shopping plans (for him and me.)

If you need me, I'll be brainstorming ways to sneak him to work with me every day.

Sunday Night Home Movies

2011-05-15T21:09:00.001-05:00

Two Months (a couple of weeks late, oopsie)

2011-05-13T17:10:00.003-05:00

Jack is joy and a half. He is cooing and smiling and turning me to mush a few times a day. He especially loves bath time these days and is especially chatty then. I love it. When I start a rendition of "I Feel Good," he starts wiggling his arms and legs, and when I stop, he stops and looks at me like, "what happened?" Of course we think it's hysterical. The longer I laugh, the bigger his smiles. It is just too much.

At his 2 month check up, he weighed 12 lbs. 8 oz. and measured 23 1/2 inches. He was in the 75 percentile all the way across the board. Perfectly proportional and meeting all the developmental milestones as he should.

{The bear in the pic above is Jack Bear. Brad and I made him at Build-a-Bear on our last date night before Jack was born.}

Winner = Me.

2011-05-11T16:22:00.002-05:00

I never win anything. Ok, that's a lie because this one time at work (years ago) I won a signed Nolan Ryan baseball while playing BINGO. (Yes, we occasionally play BINGO at work. It was the lunch hour.)

Anyway, I won a Stella & Dot giveaway from cutie cute Hollie over at Blog-o-hollic (hello, cutest blog name ever) Hollie is a Stella & Dot stylist (as well as youth minister's wife and L&D nurse, extraordinaire) and allowed me to pick something out from their super cute collection. I chose the Petra bracelet, and I ♥ it! It's a high quality product, and I know I will wear it a ton.

I'm a sucker for sweet paper goods. This is the box my bracelet came in.

At some point in the next few weeks I'll let you know what else I ♥ from Stella & Dot because there is a ton. (Husband, are you reading?) I know you will be checking this page on pins and needles for my picks.

In the meantime, if you're in the market for some new accessories (and who is not?) then click on over to Stella & Dot!

My Mother's Day

2011-05-10T15:10:00.004-05:00

before church Sunday morning
{whoa mama's big hair}

This Sunday was not just my first mother's day.
It was also Jack's baby dedication!
{hair a little smaller by this point, whew}

What a great responsibility to raise our son in such a way that some day he will choose to follow Christ. He will see our every move--and take note of it! Brad and I both pray so much for wisdom in raising the J-Bird. Our pastor gives each baby a letter for them to open on the day of their baptism after they make their decision to follow Christ. How I pray for that day!

Both of our immediate families were in town for the occasion, which was nice, but a bit hectic! We headed to Joe T. Garcia's for lunch (because I picked!) and then back to the house for pound cake and a little more playing with Jack for the grandmothers.

I teared up when I put Jack to bed that night. He is an incredible answer to so many of my prayers.

I will always remember this first mother's day.

Confession

2011-05-08T16:52:00.002-05:00

Being a mother is 1 billion times better than I thought it would be.

{And I had pretty high expectations.}

Happy Mother's Day.

"Every wedding is a royal wedding..."

2011-04-29T05:51:00.003-05:00

"for we are subjects of the King of Creation," as spoken by the Bishop of London.

My breakfast setup to watch the Royal Wedding

When B asked if I was going to set an alarm to get up for real time coverage I said, "I did. His name is Jack."

The bride looked absolute perfection, and the groom appeared dashing and appropriately smitten with the bride. I loved the bells ringing in the background. Everything was like a real-life Disney. Today's society is so casual, which made the pageantry of it all that much more special. What a fun moment in history!

Related topic: I beseech you, fellow American ladies. Let us bring back hats as a fashion staple!

Quiet Day

2011-04-28T15:44:00.004-05:00

I just woke up from a 3 hour nap with my boy. He had his two month doctor appointment today and the vaccines that come with it, so I can tell he's not feeling his very best, although I'm still catching some smiles now and then.

After I get up from here, I'm making some scones to pair with my tea for my personal Royal Wedding watching party. Who else is waking up in the early hours to watch?!?

This past Saturday my brother drove down from Denton to visit us. {His band has been in the studio recording some new music. I may or may not have heard an early cut of one of their new tunes...and I like!} My parents joined us too, and treated us to lunch outside at So7 Love Shack in perfect weather. It was a good family day.

I found these sunglasses for Jack at Nordstrom last week and HAD to have them. Mini wayfarers!

Jack's First Easter

2011-04-25T14:56:00.002-05:00

Our very first {acceptable for public viewing} photo as a family of three.

Jack's {suh-weet!} Easter sailor suit.

For Jack's first Easter, we attended our church's early service and Sunday school, then headed to my parents' house for lunch. My mother's brother and sister and their families were able to make it, which was so fun! It reminded me of old family Easter lunches with one exception--no egg hunt since Jack is a bit too small. Maybe next year?

My aunt made her dee-lish homemade potato salad for the first time in years. Sweet mercy. I had a second helping for supper last night before we drove home. I should've confiscated all the leftovers and brought them back with me--so good.

I just want to hang on to these memories. My tiny boy. A pale blue sailor suit and tiny white shoes. His dad reminding me to stop and take a photo even though we're running late. The blessing of his good health. The blessing of HIM. My silent prayers during the service for his salvation. Comparing my love for my son to God's love for His Son. Overwhelmed and changed.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T06:09:00.000-05:00

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 1 Peter 1:3-4

We are praising God for this wonderful Easter Day, where we celebrate the risen Savior who was the sacrifice for our sin so that we could have a relationship with God. Our prayer is that you would know Him and worship Him too.

Royal Watching

2011-04-18T18:05:00.001-05:00

This is a hoot.

Am I the only one excited about Kate and Wills's matrimonial adventure?

Weekend Haps

2011-04-18T10:22:00.002-05:00

Snapped this morning after a busy weekend. I am in love with this kid.

This past weekend we headed to the farm for an overnight Friday. We got there early enough that my parents kept Jack while B and I had a date night. So much fun! We drove south to Fairfield for supper a great steakhouse, then came back to Corsicana for coffee (or tea in my case) at Two Doors Down, a cute coffeehouse in downtown. They had Friday night karaoke going on, which was so fun!

Saturday morning, my mom, Grannie, Jack, and I were off to a wedding shower for my cousin's bride-to-be near Austin. I, being the rookie mother that I am, naively thought that I could keep my son awake during parts of our drive there and back. He slept most of the way (that's 6 hours round trip) then all the way back to Fort Worth (add another hour and a half) and that night he didn't sleep that well. Never you mind that I had just tweeted that morning about his fabulous (seriously, wonderful!) sleeping habits. So he and I missed church Sunday morning since I could barely see straight I was so tired. We had a great trip though, and Jack got to meet our aunt, uncle, and cousins!

Last night the J-bird fell right back into the sleep pattern he's had for the past couple of weeks. He goes down around 10 PM and wakes at 4 AM for just a couple of ounces, then goes right back down until 7 AM. It's wonderful!

All in all, a great weekend. Hope yours was too!

Yep, We're Still Here.

2011-04-14T00:20:00.002-05:00

I made chocolate mustaches to give out to guests who came to visit us in the hospital and at home. They had a cute little tag that read, "It's a boy! JMG," that hopefully I have a pic of floating around here somewhere. That project was the weekend before this cute little guy was born when I was looking for anything and everything to keep my mind occupied, if you know what I mean.

As the title says, we're still here! I am having so much fun being the mother of this great little boy and am soaking up every second of my 12 week maternity leave. What a blessing it is to have off this much time with my boy. Tomorrow we're heading up to my office to show him off and give me a little dose of reality, I think. But until May 26, I am loving the life of stay at home mom. Sleep 'til 7? I believe I will! Lunch with friends? What time should I be there? Grocery shopping with no line? Thank you very much! I've targeted the trouble spots in my home and have already organized the pantry and linen closet, so now I'm on to the laundry room, master closet, and I keep eyeballing the garage.

I know! Crazy!

But you didn't come here to read about my post-partum nesting. On to the boy! He's awesome. Seriously, just awesome. Even his crying and waking in the night is awesome to me. I'm using that quiet time to thank God for him and pray over him.

And he doesn't hate bathtime anymore. Oh no sirree! He is very content now in the water and just talks to me so sweetly during that time. It is amazing how quickly they learn and adjust to things. He's even opening his mouth for a bottle as soon as I place the burp rag under his chin. Genius!

One quick funny grandparent conversation here, and I'm off to bed.

Me: I'm thinking of putting Jack in the church nursery tomorrow. Don't you think that's okay? {Jack was 4 weeks old that day.}

Mom: I don't know...let me ask your dad what he thinks.

(Dad talking in the background)

Mom: Your dad says 6 weeks.

Me: When did you put us in the nursery?

Mom: Well, let's see. I had Drew on a Monday and played the organ at church that next Sunday. So...one week old.

Me: So it's good enough for your kid to go at a week, but your grandkid has to wait until 6 weeks?

Mom: Yep!

Me: (slightly offended) He's totally going to the nursery tomorrow.

I had no idea grandparents were so crazy about their grandkids.

Word From My Mother.

2011-03-24T12:54:00.004-05:00

Jack chillin' listening to Clapton. His favorite is the Unplugged album, obvs.

I'm having so much fun being the mom of this cute and sweet little man. I have quickly discovered that he can get bored easily, so to anyone who says newborns just eat, sleep, and need their shorts changed, well...mine is not that way. My own mother was here for spring break and bought him a new toy--one of those playmats that plays music and has dangly things for him to bat around. He loves it! He's still not a fan of tummy time AT ALL. Each time I lay him on his belly, he does a few push ups, then rolls over. And he's usually VERY mad while he does it.

We just got back from his very first road trip. Unfortunately B's grandmother passed away, so we had to make an impromptu trip to his hometown. Jack got to meet quite a few new people, and being that I had no experience away from home with him, I packed everything but the kitchen sink. Think Beverly Hillbillies, and that's about what our car looked like. I was impressed with how well he did sleeping in his pack and play though.

I'll update a little more later after I finish up all this laundry and get the house back in order. We've been up to a whole lot--including learning when is day and when is night. Not sleeping all the way through, but he has learned that 11pm-2am is sleep time, not play time.

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

Newborn Video by Hailey Erickson Photography

2011-03-09T18:02:00.002-06:00

My sweet, sweet friend Hailey shot Jack's newborn pics when he was 5 days old. Below is a video she produced from that day. It is a treasure to me!

Baby Jack from Hailey Erickson on Vimeo.

Up Close in Jack's Room

2011-03-08T14:43:00.006-06:00

I've had a couple of folks ask me about Jack's bookshelves. I found the idea over on Apartment Therapy's OhDeeDoh blog to re-purpose Ikea spice racks for them. In their natural state they're unfinished, so I spray painted them red to tie in with the rest of the room. I love to read and hope he will too!

Another one of my favorite details of his room is the framed series above the bed. My dad got his private pilot's license back in the mid-70s, and I raided all of his old flight training stuff for decor. The left is a framed FAA reminder that says "Attention Pilots: Avoid Accidents." It's a warning about knowing air density, but we thought the avoiding accidents part was totally appropos. In the middle is an old flight plan that my dad filed for a trip from Corsicana to Dallas. I'm still working on a shadow box using some of the other stuff I grabbed from Dad. On the right is a series of old sight word flashcards that I thought were sa-weet(!!!) when she offered them up. My mom "inherited" them from a retiring teacher.

I had all three of them framed during a Michael's 60% off custom framing sale. I love the 60% off sale! I normally pick out standard size frames from the floor, and they will give you the discount off of custom matting, as well as assemble everything for you. It's a cheap and easy way to save a little bit of cash while achieving a custom look.

More About the Boy.

2011-03-06T16:56:00.003-06:00

We've finally gotten settled in at home, I think. From what I've been told, just about anytime you establish a schedule with a baby, the schedule changes, so I figure our schedule will change any day now.

My mom was with us from Monday when we came home from the hospital until Saturday, and she has taken care of all of us. I've had time to rest and regain my body "party of 1" legs, and she had time to love on my boy, all the while keeping my house in tip top shape for company. I won't be able to thank her enough. She even took the night shift with Jack!

Our church family has overwhelmed us with love. I think we are set with meals every night for two weeks. And, can I just say that the ladies in our church can cook! I never understood what a ministry taking a meal to someone who is just home from the hospital is until we were on the receiving end of it. What a great way to bless someone.

So on to my boy. He has been a wonderful baby so far. He's sweet and laid back, and sometimes he looks like me, while other times he looks like Brad. He may eat us out of house and home someday as he definitely inherited his dad's appetite! His most active time in the womb was from 10:30 PM to 2 AM, so it was no surprise that it was his most active time out of the womb for the first week. He's sleeping normal stretches of time during that period now (too bad I couldn't have taught him that while he was keeping me up prior to his birthday!)

He army crawled across our bed during his newborn pics on Thursday trying to get away from me. Clearly, he has inherited his dad's love of being photographed. On Friday and Saturday, we laid him down for tummy time, and he rolled over both times. He is a very determined boy. And I am having the time of my life getting to know his little personality! It's so humbling to think that God let me have any part in the miracle of Jack.

{insert post-partum joyfully teary eyes here.}

Everyday I feel a little more like myself. This morning Brad headed to church while I kept him by myself for the first time. I think we did pretty well. I was able to power on the video monitor, then get myself together (hair washed and all that), do a couple of loads of laundry, and make up two beds. Once Brad got home I took a nice long nap. So wonderful! I have a new pair of running shoes picked out, and I'm actually itching to get outside with the new stroller (probably cabin fever), so here's hoping this weather warms up soon!

And then there were three.

2011-03-02T07:54:00.004-06:00

I don't even know where to begin this post. I guess I'll start from my week 39 update.

All week long I had irregular contractions. Starting Sunday morning, I woke up in a bit of pain from them so I stayed home from church. I made it in to work most of the week, but Tuesday I didn't get there until lunchtime because I had woken up with contractions. Thursday I went to the doctor completely expecting her to induce me or something because I was having quite a bit of pain in my hips, swelling, and of course the irregular contractions. No dice. She did an exam (which hurt) and told me I was on the schedule for induction March 7 (4 days after my original due date). But she told me that she thought I would labor, rather than see March 7th. When she said that, I was determined to do anything to encourage this boy to come on out before that date.

Thursday also happened to be my last day of work. I had some days to take before I started my maternity leave, so Friday I slept in a little longer than normal, got up and got dressed to start running some errands. I figured I probably had over a week to get everything done since my brother and I had both come a week past our due dates and supposedly your labor is similar to your mom's. As I got ready I noticed I was having contractions again, and they were quite a bit closer together than they had been in the past week. I started timing them, but they were 10 minutes, 7 minutes, 12 minutes...you know, nothing that made me feel the need to change my plans.

I decided to walk as much that day and weekend as I possibly could. I went to Wal-mart and filled my buggy with nothing but junk food. I walked from one side of the store to the other, having contractions off and on that seemed to be getting stronger. I ran through a drive thru for a beef burrito for lunch but decided I didn't like it, so I only ate half. I would end up regretting that later.

That afternoon I decided that I would have more fun timing my contractions at the movie theater than sitting watching soap operas. I headed to the mall to watch The King's Speech with a Coke Slurpee and some Junior Mints. During the movie (excellent, by the way), the contractions slowed down so afterward I decided to walk the mall. In the last two weeks of my pregnancy, my right hip had begun to hurt so badly that I was walking slowly and with a little limp, so I'm sure I was quite a sight. After 30 minutes, of that I headed home.

Last weekend was D-Now at our church, and since we knew we'd be close to Baby Jack Day we didn't make any official commitments to be there. Friday night Brad headed over to where his Sunday school class was staying, and I decided that it would be more fun to hang out with my class than sit at home in pain. I was still having contractions, but they weren't regular...some at 5 minutes, 7 minutes, 9 minutes, etc. It was good to see the girls (and boys!) They are such a joy, and it lifted my spirits to be with them!

Around 10 PM, I decided to head home. I had been enjoying talking to some of the other adult leader ladies for a while, but it seemed like the contractions had kicked it up a notch. I started timing them once I got in the car, and the first two were 3 1/2 minutes apart. Whoops--might've stayed a little too long. B texted to ask how I was, and I sent back, "You need to meet me at the house."

We timed them for about 40 minutes before paging my doctor. I don't know if I've mentioned this on the blog, but my doctor is in Dallas--which means I'd be delivering over there too. She told us to head on over.

Calling the Doctor.

We got there a little before midnight. I had progressed from my doctor visit the day before, so my doc decided to keep me and gave the orders that I could have my epidural whenever I was ready. My contractions were staying anywhere from 3-5 minutes apart, and I was ready for some pain management. They had me hooked up and comfortable so fast, and I was amazed at the relief. Modern technology is truly amazing. The anesthesiologist who hooked me up was a longhorn. My nurse had told him we were Aggies. I laughed and said, "Maybe you should've waited until he was done to tell him that!" He talked me all the way through the procedure and had a great bedside manner. After it was over and life was so much better, I told him he was the best longhorn I had ever met! By then it was around 2 am, and our parents were on their way to the hospital.

I labored for about 17 hours before I started pushing. It was an incredibly long day, and I hadn't had really anything of substance to eat since lunch and not much then. Of course I wasn't able to get much sleep because I was excited. Around 2 PM I began pushing. A little over 2 hours later, our boy made his miraculous appearance into this world. It was by far the most amazing moment of my life so far. When he made his first cry (and boy, was he mad!) Brad and I locked eyes, and there were just NO WORDS. None. Nothing could describe it.

I delivered at big Baylor in downtown Dallas, and praise God, my doctor was the one on call this past weekend. Once I started pushing, she was at the foot of my bed for all but maybe 20 minutes. She was wonderful. The nurses who took care of me were so awesome. The L&D nurse assigned to me all day was so kind and was on top of every request I made. If I was in pain, the nurse anesthetist was responding in less than 5 minutes. My night nurse in post-partum was a super star. She had just come on shift when I was transferred up there, so she got to walk me through the worst of the post-partum stuff. I have a new appreciation for nurses, most definitely.

So that's the story of how Baby Jack came into this world. Next up, an infinite number of posts on how incredibly special and wonderful this little boy is.

The Only Thing Missing is a Boy Named Jack.

2011-02-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

My Aunt Sheri and I sewed the bedding. She tackled the bumpers while I made the crib skirt. The framed pic is actually a blueprint of a P-51 Mustang fighter plane, a workhorse for the US during WW II. Your history lesson for today!

{I still can't believe I made a crib skirt. Move over, Ma Ingalls.}

Close up of the mobile over his bed. It's one of my favorite things in the room.

{Until the boy comes, that is.}

The pillow was made by the mother of my very dear friend, Hilary. I ♥ it so much because it's awesome and reminds me of her sweet family. The quilt was made by Jack's Nana (B's Momma) and is beautiful--a wonderful keepsake. Bunny comes to us from FAO Schwartz in NYC courtesy of Sugar (my momma) and was one of the first things we picked up for Baby G last August.

{Filled with love.}

{But I know it should not stay filled while the boy is in there, in case you were worried.}

Picture a mirror hanging over the dresser in that huge blank spot. You can see Jack's first baseball glove sitting on top of the dresser. His Grandaddy picked that out (my dad.)

{Also, Corduroy is my favorite childhood book. It's on the top bookshelf.}

That's Jack's big boy bed with a framed blueprint of a Boeing B-17 Bomber.

Come out and play Baby Jack! Your room is waiting for you!

Weeks 36-38

2011-02-16T19:43:00.005-06:00

Well, I believe now we're in what is considered the home stretch. I've got my bag packed to the point where all I need to do is throw in my hot rollers, makeup, and Sonicare (because I don't travel anywhere without it) and hit the road when the time comes. I can't tell if Jack has dropped any, but I have had a sudden change in appetite--as in I am hungry all.the.time.

Over the past couple of weeks we've been iced in (perfect for working in yoga pants), my office gave me a wonderful baby shower, watched the Super Bowl that took place just right down the road, finished up Jack's room, and had our last babysitter-free Valentine's date.

I had my first check at the doctor (can I just say OUCH) and had progressed a little bit--as in the little bit that could linger for weeks. I go back tomorrow to see her associate just in case she's the oncall when I go into labor, but I won't have another progress report until the following week (39 weeks.)

As for me, I am as uncomfortable as the next very pregnant girl and find myself having to fight to smile when I am up and moving around. I know many other people have had harder pregnancies than I have. I've been incredibly blessed. But as I told my husband earlier today--I am at the end of me. I am exactly where God wants me, and He'll sustain me through the next few weeks as He ushers me into motherhood. Oh that it would come quickly, Lord!

My Grannie has consulted the Farmer's Almanac and from my understanding, the next boy moon is this Friday, February 18th. Clearly he will be born by Sunday or Monday at the latest.

Room pics coming soon, but until then, here's another from our shoot with the lovely Hailey of Hailey Erickson Photography.

If you're picky and you know it, clap your hands.

2011-02-15T06:23:00.000-06:00

One of the many things I felt like we'd use a lot for this baby is a rocking chair. Most popular right now are the really fluffy upholstered chairs to match the nursery and gliders. The upholstered chair really wasn't practical for me because once I am done with it in Jack's room (and the room(s?) of future Gentry progeny), I don't have a place for it.

Plus, let's be real. I knew exactly what I wanted, and it wasn't either of those. I wanted an antique windsor-back rocking chair that had been passed down through generations of mothers rocking their babies in my family, specifically in a dark stain. Can't you just see me, rocking my sweet little love to sleep, 3 weeks post-partum and back to my pre-pregnancy size?

{A girl can dream, so please don't interrupt my reverie...}

Not only do I know it will probably take me more than 3 weeks (if ever) to get back to pre-Jack size, my family doesn't have the aforementioned generational rocker. So I did the next best thing--I got online and googled it.

Jack's grandparents (B's parents) graciously gifted us with precisely the chair that I was hoping for. I found an Amish furniture maker online, so it is a new piece, handmade in Delaware and is really beautiful and classic. It goes perfectly in the living room of our home, and I'm hoping that one day it will be an heirloom for our children to pass down.

When I sent my mom a pic of it she told me that my great-grandmother had one just like it, but her uncle had sold it in an estate sale after Grandmother passed away. I didn't know her, but apparently she had good taste.

A Very Merry Un-Birthday

2011-02-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, the Girls' ministry at our church had a Mad Hatter Tea Party, and I volunteered to make and decorate cookies to go with the theme. I've always wanted to learn to decorate cut out cookies, but to be quite honest, I've never been very good at step 1--actually cutting out the cookies and having them maintain their shape getting them from the countertop to the cookie sheet.

I did a little bit of searching and came across this recipe on "Bake at 350" linked on the Pioneer Woman's blog (of course she would have the answers!) for cookies. You don't even have to refrigerate the dough. It was good and thick, and even I, the cookie cutter challenged, was able to work with it.

I also used this recipe from Bridget at "Bake at 350" for royal icing. It calls for meringue powder which I thought was safest since last time I checked I'm not supposed to be munching on raw egg stuff. (And yeah, I don't bake cookies that I can't eat.) It worked out well, and I think with a little bit of practice I'll get the hang of it.

{I started with the pink. You can totally tell they were the first I tried.}

The cookies were pretty plain at this point, but later on (and I didn't get a pic--bummer) I wrote "eat me" on some of them. You know, like the Mad Hatter's Tea Party!

Next time I will add a little bit of almond extract to the icing, and I probably won't leave the cookies in the oven quite as long. We like our cookies a little softer in the middle than these. Overall, I love how they turned out!

One of these things is not like the other.

2011-02-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

So I was re-organizing my cabinet space a few weeks ago to make room for Jack's bottles and came across this. I'm not entirely sure when I decided Edward was special enough to reside with my crystal, but he has now been banished to the random unmatching plastic collection that includes A&M football game and Dickey's BBQ cups. {All of the crystal has been moved up a shelf to make room for baby's things too.}

It's a new world, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Ice Days

2011-02-05T08:00:00.004-06:00

So while the world was iced in, I was working from home. It's very interesting for me to work from home while my husband is home, but on vacation days. One thing the ice has done is disprove our theory that we never have any food in our pantry. It's amazing all the ingredients for meals I have available at any given time. I just rarely have time to to plan them out. My quick commute this week made that easy!

At one point B was bored enough that he started assembling baby items.
He's a good one, that Brad.

In a moment of desperation when we ran out of Little Debbie Valentine cakes (my faves), I found a strawberry cake mix in the pantry. I added some homemade buttercream frosting and valentine sprinkles (that I randomly had on hand) and voila, we had something sweet to eat. That was dessert Thursday night when we had our neighbors over for supper. And yes, that is some crazy fluorescent pink frosting. I got a little excited with the pink gel food coloring.

That picture is hurting my eyes. Scroll quickly.

Friday at lunch, we took a quick break to play in the snow!

Just a few more weeks until Jack makes his debut!

Happy Snow Day!

2011-02-04T16:47:00.001-06:00

Love,
Jack's Mom & Dad

Week 35

2011-02-02T11:00:00.001-06:00

This week Jack got bigger, therefore I got bigger. I started packing his hospital bag at 1 am one night because I couldn't sleep. It's just about ready and filled with some blankets to come home with, a couple of sleepers for the hospital just in case, his coming home duds and shoes, and finger nail clippers as I've been advised by many that the hospital doesn't always provide those. Maybe it's a liability thing? That doesn't seem right since they--you know--do SURGERY there. I intend to get to the bottom of this.

As I mentioned yesterday, we were thrown a wonderful baby shower, so I've been unpacking some things, organizing, and washing some of the 0-3 month stuff. The first little load of tiny laundry I did was sooo precious. Just made my heart melt.

I can't wait to hold my little boy.

Photo by the super fabulous Hailey Erickson.

Shower for Baby Jack!

2011-02-01T15:48:00.007-06:00

A few weeks ago, our friends from church threw Baby Jack and me a wonderful baby shower full of such cute and thoughtful details. They filled it with some of the best of the best things in and around Fort Worth--including themselves (and Bluebonnet Bakery petit fours!) So many of my other sweet friends and family were able to make it in to celebrate this special time in the life of our family with me. It meant so much to see everyone!

We received so many great things. By the time the last gift was opened, we were completely set for Baby Jack's arrival. Overwhelmed with thankfulness is how I spent the rest of the day, as I sorted through everything, looking over all the tiny clothes, toys, and cuteness.

Below is a wonderful tree that by the end of the shower was filled with encouragement and blessings for Jack and our family like prayers, parental advice, and an even an offer for Wal-Mart runs (thank you Amy D.!) I will have to snap a closer picture soon, but the tags were re-styled vintage airline tickets. So precious! I just love to thumb through them and know they will be a blessing for years to come.

I wish I had enough space and pictures of the day. I could go on and on, but below is a small sampling. Thank you everyone for all you did to celebrate our boy and dream come true who is coming very soon!

This little lady knew exactly what to do with the rocking chair my grandparents gave Jack!

Airplane cookies from J. Rae's as favors. YUM.

My Grannie, Mother (Jack's Sugar), and my aunt Sheri.

Fun friends!

All of the goodies!

Week 34

2011-01-24T20:30:00.004-06:00

I'm finding that each day at this late in the game of pregnancy is a little unique unto itself. Some days Baby J is very, very high, other days he's shifting back and forth on my hips with each step, and other days, I feel like I'm going to burst. Oh, and sometimes it feels like he is hugging my spine. I'll be honest--that's not my favorite.

I saw my doctor's associate this week for my check-up just in case she ends up delivering our boy. She was very personable and answered a couple of questions I had. She's an Aggie, so she must be good people. She said that I'm right on track, and my next visit at 36 weeks will begin the final countdown if you know what I mean.

I had my first major Braxton-Hicks contraction last Tuesday. I was walking to the ladies room when it hit, and I nearly sat down in the floor where I was because it was just that shocking. I had experienced a few twinges before it, but this one went all the way across my belly. I described it to the doctor just to verify that it was what I thought it was. She confirmed, and I said, "Ok, then I think I'm ready for my epidural." She thought it was funny!

Other than that short check-up, the week held a few other things. My wonderful church friends threw us a beautiful baby shower. It is deserving of a post all of its own--totally blew me away. We are so blessed! Other than that, we worked on finishing Jack's room, which we didn't complete. It's coming together just as I had hoped though, and I will post pics soon. I think the house might be cleaner than it was the day we moved in, so now the task is to keep it that way for a while.

We'll see what week 35 brings!

Week 33

2011-01-14T21:23:00.002-06:00

Well, Baby Jack and I have made it through week 33 and an interesting week it was. I'm finding each day a little different than the day before, and I now understand why pregnant ladies waddle (and that's all I'll say about that.) I'm slowing down quite a bit, to the point where I'm considering grabbing my laptop and relocating to an empty cube closer to the ladies' room to save myself some effort. You can call me a wimp. I call me resourceful.

Tuesday night B and I attended an infant care class at the hospital where I'm delivering. We had more fun laughing while we bathed and diapered that giant baby doll. I sent him to pick out our "baby" (there were 3 sizes), and he came back with the biggest. Considering that I'm a bit concerned about how big Jack is going to be at delivery, my eyes got a little wide thinking this might be a standard newborn. Fortunately, the nurse instructor cleared it up: we were practicing on a 3 month old. Thank goodness!

Other than that, we had a good time laughing at the questions people asked (mostly dads.) One in particular that we're still talking about is, "what direction should you wipe the baby's arms during a bath? Shoulder to hand or hand to shoulder?"

And I thought I was detail-oriented.

It was also interesting because the nurse gave us some specifics on how things are done at "our" hospital like what happens to the baby right after delivery (he'll stay close by me) and that his dad will give him his first bath (with a nurse right next to him of course.) In two weeks we go back for a birthing class and tour L&D. Now that should be interesting.

I picked up Jack's baby book this week and began filling it out last night. In a hormonal state, I used an irritating number of exclamation marks in answering most of the questions--to the point that I feel the need to make a note that I am aware of the overuse somewhere in there for my son. I promise, Jack, I am not a valley girl. (But really! We prayed for you! For a long time! God is good!!! His plan is perfect! And you're coming! And! It's all! so! exciting!!!)

This weekend I plan on making big time progress on THE LIST. Carpet cleaning, vacuuming and wiping out my kitchen cabinets (who does that?), organizing the linen closet, and finding a storage solution for Jack's closet are all my targets.

Or who knows, I might put on some yoga pants and lay on the couch all weekend. Either scenario is possible at this point.

There's a bun in that oven.

2011-01-10T06:37:00.001-06:00

Week 32

2011-01-08T12:16:00.003-06:00

As you can tell, I took a major holiday from the blog over the past few weeks. But now I'm back and actually have quite a bit to share (or not much at all, depending on your taste.)

Thursday was my 32 week check up, and I am measuring exactly 32 weeks. My doc says Jack just needs to hang out for at least a month longer, and then we would begin talking about delivery. What?!? I will now begin working The List with a bit more urgency.

While I'm mentioning my doctor's appointment, I will take the opportunity to give myself a pat on the back. I only gained 3 pounds over the month of December--the Christmas season and New Year's combined. That took a LARGE AMOUNT of self-control. As a whole, so far my weight gain has been textbook for a healthy pregnancy. I know this because my doctor is a stickler for it. I'm sure that the second week of March I will probably appreciate her for that, but for now I will continue to whine about wanting to eat everything in sight, but not do it.

{I celebrated this feat with a #9 combo at Whataburger - sausage taquito and hashbrowns. Just so you know.}

Baby Jack is doing really well--praise the Lord! His heartbeat is great, his kicks are SUPER strong, and he's already head down and feet up. A couple of weeks before Christmas his estimated weight (based on sono) was 3.5 lbs. If he gains half a pound each week from the time of that estimate, it puts him in the high 8's, which is right around what I expected based on our family history. Heaven, help me. I don't know how long he is, but I am convinced that a few days ago he kicked me in the throat.

I have a few pregnancy complaints, but they're minor in comparison to the excitement I'm feeling as we get closer to the finish line of seeing our tiny boy's face. Coming up, we've got baby showers, finishing up his room, birthing and infant care classes, and 3 months of maternity leave. Oh, the blessings--they are many!

Mom friends, I want to hear from you. Do I need anything else for the hospital other than the requisite waterproof mascara (not kidding), hot rollers (also not kidding), hairspray, nightgowns, and slippers?

Please, enlighten me!

Week 28

2010-12-13T21:01:00.002-06:00

I woke up last Friday and rolled over to look at my What to Expect... app (which I do every Friday morning), and it said something like, "Your baby will be here in 11 weeks and 5 days."

11 WEEKS AND 5 DAYS!

And that was three days ago!

So as you can imagine, I have new sense of urgency about having everything in my house done and in order by the time this tiny gentleman makes his appearance. Heaven forbid that on the day he comes home, he notices the dusty baseboards!

Just kidding, I would never have dusty baseboards ;)

So after that little wakeup call, we began a day of errands which all pretty much pertained to our little bundle. We conquered several tasks that were on THE LIST. Brad chauffeured me to Dallas to pick out fabric for his bed. We stopped by Home Depot on the way home and picked out paint for his room which will be painted over our Christmas holiday.

My doctor's visit went great last week. I passed my glucose screening but I'm a little low on iron, so I started a supplement. I read online (so clearly, it must be the gospel truth) that low iron can cause restless leg syndrome which I continue to have, so I'm praying the iron will give me some relief from that. In the meantime, I'm also eating more hamburgers. The doc thinks I am having Braxton-Hicks when I'm on the treadmill--however, she gave me no license to stop getting on said treadmill.

Jack has made his way north into my ribs, and at times I feel like I'm about to burst. I guess that is a normal sensation and unlikely to happen since I have never seen any news reports of bursting pregnant ladies. I'm still completely amazed that there is a person--my Jack--rooting around in there. We're headed in next Friday for another 4D sono. The last one he kept his arm directly over his face, even though we got some sweet pics anyway. He gets that from his dad!

Weeks 26 & 27

2010-12-05T18:43:00.002-06:00

The weeks are passing so quickly, and all of a sudden according to What to Expect..., we have about 13 weeks until we meet Jack. In the meantime, we have a million things to do before he gets here.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at the farm with my family. I made Pioneer Woman homemade rolls which have twice now been a hit with them. The very last thing any of us wanted to do was get out and shop on Black Friday, so I spent my day shopping online for both Christmas gifts and decor for Jack's room. It's so fun to come home each evening and have Fed Ex and UPS boxes to open!

We got home from Thanksgiving on Saturday night and began trimming our house for Christmas. Brad has lights up on the house (every year he says he's going to put up colored lights, but so far he's stayed the course with the clear--my preference). It took me a little longer to get everything up inside because at this point I am really beginning to slow down.

In other news, work is incredibly busy, I take my glucose test on Wednesday, and we bought our first package of newborn diapers. All of a sudden when I saw 13 weeks on the calendar, I was stricken with the idea that we were completely unprepared to bring the little guy home, so I bought some. I'm sure that's the least of my unpreparedness.

Other than some shortness of breath and/or feeling like I'm going to burst at any moment, I feel great. The signs of the 3rd trimester are upon me, with restless leg stuff and having a hard time getting comfortable at night, but those seem to be minor in the grand scheme of things. God has blessed me so much with something I've wanted for so, so long. He will give me the strength to deal.

We're looking forward to a special Christmas season!