Boy names are so hard!!! We're so thrilled to be having a baby boy, but boy, this name thing hard!!! I know we have quite a few more weeks (17 to be exact) to talk about this, but it's so much fun to think of baby names!
So, here's what we've come up with. Nothing is just jumping out at me and I'm reaching to all names (you may think some are way off the wall) to try to find the perfect name for our baby boy. I'm very open (and won't be offended) by your thoughts and want to hear them!
-Briggs
-Nash
-Beck
-Tate (love this one the most so far, but have some friends in Arkansas with a son by the same name...so, struggling)
-Riser
-Cy
-Lewis
-Butler
Middle name to come later, but that one will be a family name probably.
Help!!!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
one week down...
one week to go... ugh.
i'm in South Carolina with my new job. they sent me here to train...for 2 whole weeks!!! 2. whole. weeks. double ugh!!
Highlights and Lowlights of the trip so far.
Lowlights:
1 . I miss my baby....TERRIBLY!!
2. I miss my husband...TERRIBLY!
3. The training proctor is SO getting on my nerves. (Don't they all?!) I'm not sure he's cracked much more than a slight smile even twice.
4. I spent the first week without any computer access. (there's not even a computer center/business center in the hotel!) Sad, I know, but we're so connected with the world via internet, that it's been rough!
5. I only have about 4 decent television channels...thank goodness TLC is one of them, but I hate to say it's not as good as HGTV would have been.
6. There's no fitness center in the hotel.
7. We have 1 car to share.
8. I'm pregnant (yes, a blessing) and can't drink at least one cocktail to get me through some of this pain!
9. I'm missing my brother's 30th birthday party :-( it's sure to be a blast!! I moved to Shreveport so I wouldn't miss this kind of fun! ugh
10. I'm stuck at this training 5 days a week with 3 guys and that's it. Just me and 3 guys I didn't know until now. Kinda awkward, but kinda in my favor...
Because the #1 highlight is that we were supposed to share rooms., but I got lucky and don't have to since there are no other girls! No, not your regular hotel room, but a suite. you know, 2 separate bedrooms each with their own bathroom, but a shared living/kitchen space. Still, it's sharing a room with a perfect stranger! SO, lucky me! I have a room all to myself! Sadly, this "room" is larger than the "Smith Suites" my family and I have been living in for the last 3 months! and I'm all alone!
i'm in South Carolina with my new job. they sent me here to train...for 2 whole weeks!!! 2. whole. weeks. double ugh!!
Highlights and Lowlights of the trip so far.
Lowlights:
1 . I miss my baby....TERRIBLY!!
2. I miss my husband...TERRIBLY!
3. The training proctor is SO getting on my nerves. (Don't they all?!) I'm not sure he's cracked much more than a slight smile even twice.
4. I spent the first week without any computer access. (there's not even a computer center/business center in the hotel!) Sad, I know, but we're so connected with the world via internet, that it's been rough!
5. I only have about 4 decent television channels...thank goodness TLC is one of them, but I hate to say it's not as good as HGTV would have been.
6. There's no fitness center in the hotel.
7. We have 1 car to share.
8. I'm pregnant (yes, a blessing) and can't drink at least one cocktail to get me through some of this pain!
9. I'm missing my brother's 30th birthday party :-( it's sure to be a blast!! I moved to Shreveport so I wouldn't miss this kind of fun! ugh
10. I'm stuck at this training 5 days a week with 3 guys and that's it. Just me and 3 guys I didn't know until now. Kinda awkward, but kinda in my favor...
Because the #1 highlight is that we were supposed to share rooms., but I got lucky and don't have to since there are no other girls! No, not your regular hotel room, but a suite. you know, 2 separate bedrooms each with their own bathroom, but a shared living/kitchen space. Still, it's sharing a room with a perfect stranger! SO, lucky me! I have a room all to myself! Sadly, this "room" is larger than the "Smith Suites" my family and I have been living in for the last 3 months! and I'm all alone!
Here's my home away from home.
the "shared living space"
it even has a washer & dryer in the room!!
2. My sweet husband and mom sent me our laptop per my request and it just arrived today!! So, now i'm connected, can blog, and can even catch up on some TV I've missed over the last few months!! Cheap/free entertainment!! Yippee!!
3. We have access to a gym...it's just about 2-3 miles down the road.
4. We just have 1 more week!!!
I cannot WAIT to get back to my family!!! I'm praying this weekend and next week fly by!!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
It's (almost) ours!!!
here it is!! our new home!!! well, not yet. we close on April 15th, THEN it's our new home!!! I don't think that day could come any faster :-) we are super stoked about this place! mainly because it's ours, but also because we love it, we feel like we've waiting and played the house bidding game for TOO long (really it wasn't THAT long, but it felt like it), it's in a great neighborhood, and it's going to be just perfect for our little family!! We put offers in 3 different times (on 2 other houses and this one) before we scored on this one! 4th times a charm! the house is not as big as some we looked at and a little more pricey per square foot than some we looked at, but it's NOT a "fixer-upper" like some we looked at either. We like to fix things up and were a little hesitant on this house because there's really nothing to "fix up," but I think in the end it was the best deal. The bonus is that we won't have to fix much up and really that's probably smart considering we have a 1 1/2 yr old and a new baby on the way soon!! Praise God for knowing what's best!!
The front. You can't really see it from here, but it's got a pretty good front porch to just hang out on.
The kitchen! I can't wait to hang out here! it's so cute and open!! and it's really inspiring me to start cooking!!! 
The den. There's also a formal living room, but this will probably get the most use while the kids are young! 
check out the pics below! The current owners have great taste!
The front. You can't really see it from here, but it's got a pretty good front porch to just hang out on.
The kitchen! I can't wait to hang out here! it's so cute and open!! and it's really inspiring me to start cooking!!! 
The den. There's also a formal living room, but this will probably get the most use while the kids are young! The backyard! I love it!! I can't wait to watch our kids play here!!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Baby boy belly pics
so, i said i would post them...and i'm regretting it. Maybe i'm a little more self-conscious or a little more modest this time around, but i think i'm going to regret posting these. here it goes.
16 Weeks
20.5 weeks
I feel SOOO much bigger than this!!! and starting to get uncomfortable.
really, i can't wait to be oh, 30+ weeks pregnant where i look pregnant, can embrace having a big belly (hopefully nothing else will get TOO big this time around), and have a full wardrobe of full out maternity clothes instead of the "not-big-enough-yet-for-maternity-clothes-yet" clothes. Still trying to wear your regular clothes and not being able to button them is not as comfortable as "everyone who has advice for you when you're pregnant" may say. really, it's not comfortable...and neither is the Bella Band. really.
and really, i remember enjoying being "big belly pregnant" last time...hoping that i remember that in about 10-12 weeks!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Total Package
I'm a little late with this post...we only have a little bit going on around here...see previous post. We had our "sneak peak" dr's appointment a little over a week ago and got to find out the sex of baby #2! Much sooner than my previous doctor let me find out (4 weeks earlier to be exact!) and as all you mommies who like to find out the sex, one of the most exciting pre-natal appointments you have. Except, of course, when you find out you're pregnant, you hear the first heartbeat, you see the baby is healthy, etc...who am I kidding?! it's all exciting!
it's a BOY...we'll now have the total package! (iPhone pic, but still you get the picture!)
What I always wanted! A girl and a boy! But really, although, I kinda hoped Ruby Belle would get to have the sister I never had, we're SO blessed to be having a healthy (so far) baby boy!!! We are a little nervous about a boy because we've gotten so used to our little girl and girlie things and pink things! Now Justin will get to do "boy things" while Ruby Belle and I have girl time, though! And we'll have a little more testosterone in the house...good for Justin, of course...the jury's still out on whether it's good for Ruby Belle, Maggie and I!
So, now that we know ... Let the naming begin!!! Of course, I started the naming LONG ago, but now we can narrow it down to boys and now Justin will participate! - he refuses until we know the sex...no fun! (not that he's been sitting around doing nothing lately. he IS off in New Orleans taking the last day of the Louisiana Bar Exam as I type and has been studying for the last 3-4 months! Prayers welcome!)
will keep you posted on names!!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
RE: "Talk about a To Do List"
After reading this blog post by my sweet sister-in-law i feel like i must respond.
so here it goes:
1. I am so thankful that my brother and sister-in-law agreed to let my family and i occupy their mother-in-law suite for a couple of months. I LOVE living so close, but am always terribly afraid that we're driving them crazy...you know, the feeling you get when you have house guests...you love them, but sometimes they make you feel uncomfortable in your own home. that's how I think we make them feel sometimes. (ok, maybe i'm just this way sometimes...and with certain house guests!...but it makes sense to me). Anyway, this living arrangement has made our life a lot less complicated during this "transition process" and we're so thankful for them opening their home to us!
2. that picture of Stephanie and I is terrible of me!!! She's a blushing bride and i look like a pretty p.o'd bridesmaid! I swear, I'm NOT. I loved every minute of being her bridesmaid and it's that darn half smile that comes out sometimes (especially when squinting for pictures in the sun) that makes me look like i hate life. I DON'T and the picture just didn't capture me at my best :-).
3. I am 17 week pregnant as Steph stated...(post on the sex of the baby to come VERY soon!) and my clothing choices are getting smaller and smaller. I have a select few pairs of pants I can fit in. The maternity pants will be coming out SO soon...like today! also, i'll be posting belly pics soon...so sorry if my bare belly offends some of you! just close your eyes. you know, like your parents use to make you do!
so here it goes:
1. I am so thankful that my brother and sister-in-law agreed to let my family and i occupy their mother-in-law suite for a couple of months. I LOVE living so close, but am always terribly afraid that we're driving them crazy...you know, the feeling you get when you have house guests...you love them, but sometimes they make you feel uncomfortable in your own home. that's how I think we make them feel sometimes. (ok, maybe i'm just this way sometimes...and with certain house guests!...but it makes sense to me). Anyway, this living arrangement has made our life a lot less complicated during this "transition process" and we're so thankful for them opening their home to us!
2. that picture of Stephanie and I is terrible of me!!! She's a blushing bride and i look like a pretty p.o'd bridesmaid! I swear, I'm NOT. I loved every minute of being her bridesmaid and it's that darn half smile that comes out sometimes (especially when squinting for pictures in the sun) that makes me look like i hate life. I DON'T and the picture just didn't capture me at my best :-).
3. I am 17 week pregnant as Steph stated...(post on the sex of the baby to come VERY soon!) and my clothing choices are getting smaller and smaller. I have a select few pairs of pants I can fit in. The maternity pants will be coming out SO soon...like today! also, i'll be posting belly pics soon...so sorry if my bare belly offends some of you! just close your eyes. you know, like your parents use to make you do!
4. Overwhelmed is an understatement! I am SO there with this to-do list!!!
On a serious note, though, I'm so blessed and happy to be back in Shreveport and close to my family!! they make all of this transition a lot easier!!!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
moving day #2...
We sold our house!!! yippee!!! such a relief! well, really the relief comes Feb 25th when we actually close and the deal is done!
but for now, we have to move! ... the rest of our stuff. we only moved the necessities when we moved to Shreveport so we had to move the rest. and it was a lot. well, it seems like a lot while you're packing and moving, but when you see your life packed into a 22 ft moving van, it does seem a little sad maybe. First though, we had to get through the snow! NWA got 20-24" of snow in various sections of the area just 2 days before we headed up there. I believe the last time they got anywhere close to that much (I think it was 15-18") was back in 1968. crazy stuff!! we only got to see the remnants when we arrived on Friday and here are some pics from Saturday...melting was well underway, but still there was SO much snow!! we got stuck a couple of times, but made it out alive :)
actually the packing went very smoothly....thanks to my wonderful packer of a husband and our amazing friends who helped us get the entire house packed in less than 12 hours (excluding sleeping time!). special thanks to my friends who came over to help me with the final packing and Justin with the moving since i'm pregnant and couldn't be a whole lot of help! i can't believe we did it! exhausting!
but for now, we have to move! ... the rest of our stuff. we only moved the necessities when we moved to Shreveport so we had to move the rest. and it was a lot. well, it seems like a lot while you're packing and moving, but when you see your life packed into a 22 ft moving van, it does seem a little sad maybe. First though, we had to get through the snow! NWA got 20-24" of snow in various sections of the area just 2 days before we headed up there. I believe the last time they got anywhere close to that much (I think it was 15-18") was back in 1968. crazy stuff!! we only got to see the remnants when we arrived on Friday and here are some pics from Saturday...melting was well underway, but still there was SO much snow!! we got stuck a couple of times, but made it out alive :)
actually the packing went very smoothly....thanks to my wonderful packer of a husband and our amazing friends who helped us get the entire house packed in less than 12 hours (excluding sleeping time!). special thanks to my friends who came over to help me with the final packing and Justin with the moving since i'm pregnant and couldn't be a whole lot of help! i can't believe we did it! exhausting!
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