A Moment Like This

As I woke up this morning, I had very bittersweet thoughts. Tomorrow our lives will forever be changed. We will go from a family of 5 to a family of 6, 3 of those members under the age of 3. This is the last full day I will ever feel a baby kick, roll, or move inside me. It's the last full day I will ever struggle to get down on the floor to play with Love Bug or Bug-A-Boo because we all know that getting back up is next to impossible when this pregnant. It's the last full day I will feel the weight of baby Willow pressing against my stomach oh so painfully. And while I am completely excited and grateful for what tomorrow holds, I'm also completely sad that this is an experience I will never have again. My pregnancies aren't easy by any stretch of the imagination and I'll admit that I complain--a lot--when I'm pregnant. But God gave women such an amazing blessing in the way we were made and today, I'm just realizing how much I've taken that for granted (pain, suffering, and all).

Moving on to the family and general updates... Yesterday I was sitting on the couch watching Bug-A-Boo play with a truck and was just in awe of the difference between him and Love Bug. Not just a difference in their personalities and physical growth but differences in their likes and dislikes at this age. Bug-A-Boo is all boy. I don't really know how else to explain it other than he just loves playing with blocks and building towers, playing with cars, and throwing himself around or climbing all over everything. Love Bug at this age was more interested in playing with dolls, kitchen food, and her rock table. Physically, Bug-A-Boo walked before Love Bug and also has a mouth full of teeth, whereas Love Bug waited until 14 months to walk and still only had her 4 front teeth. She started talking much sooner than he, even though he tries so hard to form words and has since about a year.

Bug-A-Boo started walking and hasn't stopped since (or so it seems)! He's still in that wobbly stage where he looks like a Weeble Wobble (but actually does fall down). He trips over his own feet constantly which makes me laugh, especially when he tries "run". He scares me half to death when he face plants on the couch, barely missing face planting on the floor by only an inch. He likes to knock things over (like our lamp) to see what happens and put toys inside other toys and objects to see if they fit.

Little Love is starting 4th grade, 4th grade, on Monday! I can't even believe it. Where did all the time go? I know I feel this way at the beginning of each year but this year I think it's hitting me a little harder knowing it's the first time I won't physically be here to see her off to school. It makes me incredibly grateful that the iPhone has FaceTime capabilities and that our hospital has WiFi access for their guests! She got to meet her teachers earlier this week and now that she has, she's excited to start school. Her teachers are nice and I think we're going to have a great year.

That's about all I have for today so until next time, much love and many blessings!


♥Courtney♥

9 Months and Counting

The last week or so has been one emotional roller coaster after another. It's not because of anything anyone did or didn't do. It's just my hormones raging. I feel like this time around my hormones have decided to wait until the very end of the pregnancy to show up and hit all at once. I remember with Kristi being emotional pretty much through the whole pregnancy. I mean, I'd have a crying breakdown every few days it seemed. This time, not even close, not even one of those until 2 weeks ago. With that said, I've now had those meltdown-type cryings like every other day the past 2 weeks--and it doesn't seem to be subsiding. I know one of the things that seems to spark these fests is the realization that we're not the most organized family in the world so every time I look around the house I want to pull my hair out and insanely, madly clean. I usually don't care that we have clutter because let's face it--we live in our house. We have a 6 year old who likes to do crafts and then jump into the next activity without cleaning up the previous activity (I have to admit she totally learned that from me). So I've tried coming up with something to help reduce clutter. For example, to reduce the amount of clutter with magazines (I subscribe to at least 10), as I read a magazine I dog-ear the pages I want to keep for future reference like articles or recipes. Once I'm finished reading, I rip those pages out and put them in a binder or my recipe box, then I toss the magazine. Well, I've been more than a little backed up on my reading so I have 2 stacks of magazines that still need to be read dating back to the summer. (I'm thinking one of those will go with me to the hospital since I'll have ample time to read them.) I'm also making a concerted effort to do something similar with all the catalogs I get. (The ones I mostly care about are the knitting/crafting ones.) Back at the beginning of December, I found the Amazon Wishlist toolbar for my browser so I can now create as many wishlists as I'd like and put anything from any website on them. Score! So I also utilize the dog-ear method for things I want and then go to the website and add them to my Purchase Later or Christmas/Birthday list, then toss the catalog. Since implementing this 2 weeks ago, I've already thrown away 4 magazines and as many if not more catalogs. I'm thinking I'll keep this method. Well, at least until I run out of room for binders that is!

Okay that was ranting a little so back to the original topic of my hormones...  I've been nesting. Crazily, hungrily, nesting, especially when it comes to Trinity's room/stuff. I'm mostly finished with her room. I just have to finish filing some paperwork, change the files out since it's the new year, and clean the top shelf of her closet so I can fit my Cricut and Rubbermaid container with said Cricut stuff in it. I have a few other things to remove but other than that, the rooms good. I have to finish making the organizer for the side of the changing table (I've created my own knitting pattern since I couldn't find one anywhere online which will also count toward my goal--yippee!), sew the bumpers for her crib, and finish knitting her crib blanket. The bumper project is the one I'm most worried about. I haven't sewn since middle school. My sister lent me her sewing machine but I'm most worried about trying to read the pattern and get them to turn out right. I picked up the fabric, batting, and ribbon last week on sale at Jo-Ann's so I'm hoping to get to this project this week. I'm about half-way finished knitting the organizer and 40% finished with the blanket, both of which are fairly fast knits. Now, if she decides to come early, I'm totally screwed!

Changing topics completely... I was so excited to wake up to snow on the ground this weekend! I feel like I've been dying this winter because of cold/snow withdrawal.  This is one of the craziest winter's I've seen in a very long time. I love winter and snow so it hasn't been my favorite winter thus far. A side note to Mother Nature--if you'd like to score more points, you still have time to send me a blizzard. The only thing I ask is that you don't send one when I have to go to the hospital for Trinity's delivery. That just wouldn't be nice. 

I'm pretty sure I've talked your ear off enough for tonight so until next time, much love and many blessings!


♥Courtney♥

Fall is Definitely Here

Oh yeah, fall is definitely here! This morning I took stock of exactly why I was feeling more of fall today than other day this year thus far. I'm thinking it had something to do with the 51 degree weather upon waking up and walking the dogs, the pumpkin bagel with homemade pumpkin cream cheese for breakfast, and sipping on my homemade pumpkin spiced coffee (and by homemade I mean I added pumpkin spice to the coffee grounds). Yeah... I absolutely love this time of year. Not only is it the return of everything pumpkin, but it's that much closer to winter and Christmas, which is hands down my absolute favorite time of the year.

I'm really excited that next Monday is Halloween. Halloween usually doesn't do anything for me, but this year, I actually get to take Kris trick-or-treating. I haven't been able to do that since she was very little. The last time she was here 2 years ago, I was really sick and unable to take her. This year, she's being Ariel from The Little Mermaid (big shocker!). I love that she's so much like me and this is one thing she and I can share together. Sometimes I feel a little left out in that area because she has the He-Man/She-Ra/Thundercats thing with Andy. Anyway...

Business is going great. I had a meeting with my business coach today which was completely invaluable! I have never felt more at ease with this business thing. I have found it so completely overwhelming and she really helped me see that it's not overwhelming at all. Just take things a step at a time, map out a plan, and manage time efficiently is about all I need to do. It makes me feel great and oh-so-excited to work for myself and be here for my family whenever I'm needed. :-)

This week has been pretty crazy so far. We've been dog-sitting Matt's two adorable dogs, so that's been crazy in and of itself. Our family is definitely not used to having to pick every little thing up and closing all our doors. Needless to say, they drank out of the toilet a few times (clean mind you) and chewed up a couple of Kristi's things but all in all it wasn't too bad. Monday I hung out with Wendy a little. After getting my hair done, we went for lunch at Chili's (love that place!). Yesterday we had a play date with one of Kristi's classmates. That was our second play date so far and both have been fun for both the kids and moms. I'm excited to spend some time with another mom which I definitely don't get to do very often. Today was mostly just working my business, knitting the rest of the ornaments for Carol, and spending time with Kristi. Thankfully, the rest of this week isn't terribly busy (definitely a blessing). Kris has a birthday party on Saturday and Sunday we're heading to York for Carol's birthday party. I'm really excited for that. It's not very often our whole family gets together so it'll be nice to spend some time together.

This past weekend was my sister's bridal shower and it was totally awesome! Everyone had so much fun. Here's a couple of pictures from the party:

Well that's about all I have for now so until next time, much love and many blessings!


♥Courtney♥

Spring is in the air only to rain on my parade

This morning, I awoke to birds chirping outside my bedroom windows. This morning, I stood outside with Kristi and my cup of coffee in jeans and a light cardigan without a single chill running through my body. Today, I spent every minute outside without a jacket. Today, I felt the need to put on old clothes and dig in the dirt. Today, my mind raced to planning my gardens, what would go where and what would be in each. Today, I almost opened the windows to let the cool breeze chill my house (until I saw there were stinkbugs crawling all over the screens!). Today, it was the first sign of spring.

In previous years, the first sign of spring was kind of bittersweet, just as it was today. I love winter. I love everything about it. I love the cold air (but not getting the crap shocked out of me). I. Love. Snow. Absolutely everything about snow (well except maybe driving in it). I love how it blankets every nook and cranny with beautiful white wonder. I love bundling up in warm wool sweaters, hats, gloves, and scarves. I love that I can see my breath when I walk outside. I love to feel the stinging of my rosy red cheeks after spending time outside. I. Love. Snow. Now, the bittersweet part comes because I come to a point where I don't want my love affair with snow to end, but I really want to see everything blanketed in plushy green leaves. Spring signals the beginning, of newness, of birth. Spring ushers in sweet smells of fragrant flowers and beautiful sights of pastel pinks, yellows, and purples.

I'm feeling very poetic today but I think that's about enough. Some of you are probably wondering where I went and who me! Rest assured. I am back! From my dreamlike state to ramble on about the wiles of my day(s)...

Andy and I haven't celebrated V-day yet so I'll update that one after Saturday. But, speaking of romance... My ring is finished!!!! Woohoo! We got the call today! :-) I'll be picking it up tomorrow or Saturday! Score! And yes... you will have pictures the MINUTE it's on my finger. I will take a picture on my iPhone and post it. I can't promise that my phone will capture it's everlasting beauty but you'll at least get the jist. Once we get the engagements photos though, I'll post fabulous pictures of it. Our photographer (who is totally awesome and amazing) is going to definitely be taking a picture of it :-)

Business has been keeping me crazy busy this week. As I told you earlier, I spent time at the courthouse creating my individual lead list and sent them in the mail yesterday. I got my first response to them today--a phone call. While my heart jumped for joy that someone had received it and still chose to call, it immediately did a nose dive once the gentleman started talking. Let's just say he was a little less than nice. The thing that made me laugh afterwards was I offered multiple times to take him off my mailing list and was totally polite about it. At the end of the call, he stated, "I'm not going to tell you who I am!" and hung up. I was like, Oooookkkkaaaayyy. And how do you expect me to remove you from my mailing list if you don't tell me who you are? LoL! Oh well. I'm not going to let it get me discouraged. :-) I know I can do this and it takes those rotten apples to get to the good fruit sometimes. I also compiled my first list of professionals, real estate agents. Just in case you're wondering, there are 168 real estate agents in Franklin County. Um, yeah... I have about half of the letters addressed and printed and only about half of those actually signed and sealed. Who knew marketing was so much work? My dining room table looks like it's been run over by the mail truck! Moving on...

While most of my week has been on the upbeat side, my heart was very saddened and distraught earlier this afternoon. I received a phone call from the company where I ordered my dress. I'm sure I told you all about the dress a little while ago. Just in case I didn't, here's a brief synopsis: We want to keep the wedding low key since we're, um, less than monetarily endowed. So, I found THE. PERFECT. DRESS. in January. It's a strapless, ballroom gown with a semi-cathedral detachable train. It has rouching, beading, and appliqué and is just all around GORGEOUS. Well, I got the call today that they can't get the dress made in time for our wedding at the end of May (even though they told me in January it wouldn't be a problem). Okay, totally like the girl I am, I just sat there stunned and started to cry. The dress was only $225 (and did I mention it was THE. PERFECT. DRESS?)! A total steal, especially since the dress normally retails for $1,000. So I asked, just in hopes, what the earliest date would be that it could be made. Well that answer was the end of August. Okay, so now what? (It was THE. PERFECT. DRESS.) Here's my dilemma. You all know I'm currently going through a lifestyle change/diet. Since starting, I've dropped about 12 pounds. I've done this particular diet last year so I know it works and I know I can hit my goal weight prior to the wedding. My dilemma is that if I go to a bridal boutique to purchase a gown, most places that I have experience with or have talked to won't allow me to order a size smaller than what I am now. In wedding dress sizes, I'm in a 14 (normally a 10 or 12 pants size). I'm planning to be in a size 4 jean size by the time I get married, so I'd need a 6 or 8 for my wedding dress size. I can totally order the size I am now but then I'm going to have to pay a crap-ton of money for alterations which doesn't allow me to keep the dress within my budget and there's a possibility of screwing up any patterning/bead work on the dress. Now my next thought is I'm almost positive that I won't find a dress that has everything I want that'll be within my budget. The other issue is that because my wedding is so close, if I do find a dress that is perfect but have to order it, there won't be enough time to get the dress in and properly fitted/altered before the wedding. So then I'm faced with the dilemma of having to possibly back the date up. Ugh! My head hurts... Anyway, I'll keep you posted on that.

So Carol came home from the hospital today! Yay! Kris and I went over to her house to see her and hang with some of the Bentzel clan. Kris was really excited to see Sophie and vice versa. We took pictures of them outside and it was the perfect lighting for it. I'll post some pictures once I get them from Shari. The girls played for a little while and we went to visit Pap at the hospital. He looked much better than the last time I saw him. His leg is healing very well. :-)

Well this post was way longer than I meant it to be. (See, this is why I have to start updating every few days!) Until next time, much love and many blessings!

♥Courtney♥