The Garden

Of all the songs I've ever heard, this one encompasses the love of Christ and His sacrifice better than any I've heard.

I hope you have a blessed Easter.

John 11:25-26 - NIV

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

The Scoop on Baby S

Wow, wow, wow! You ladies blew me away with all of your sweet words here on the blog, Twitter, Instagram and through emails regarding yesterday’s news. I am beyond blessed, not only with this baby, but blessed with your friendship and support. I truly, genuinely do appreciate each of you. Please know that.

We are excited, overjoyed, anxious, over the moon, a teeny bit scared (that's okay to admit, right?), but most of all, thankful for this amazing blessing. From the moment I saw that tiny little person on the ultrasound screen, my heart grew tenfold. I cannot imagine being happier than this. I might just burst, y'all. 

This pic was taken last Sunday, so it's the most recent. As you can see...not much to show off just yet, ha!

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I got a lot of questions via Twitter and Facebook yesterday on how I’m feeling, if we’ll find out the sex, etc., so I thought I’d do a massive Q & A post today. I apologize in advance…this will probably bore some of y’all to tears! (It would have bored me terribly before this little adventure called pregnancy.)

But, I want to document and remember every moment of this pregnancy. This is essentially my journal/scrapbook, so bear with me...I promise this won't be an everyday occurrence. 

When did you find out about Baby S?

February 12! I never had any symptoms at first, I just had a gut feeling I was pregnant. In fact, I was only four weeks when we found out. I’ve heard a lot of women say they just “knew” they needed to go get a test. And apparently, I can put myself into that same category.

I went to the store to buy a test and got so flustered that, instead of picking up a pregnancy test, I bought an ovulation kit! Ha! It was 5:00 p.m. and I ALWAYS see someone I know in our little Neighborhood Market if I go at that time, so I was trying to get in and out unnoticed. So, I called Stephen to tell him my mix-up and he (very sweetly) offered to stop by the store on the way home from his office. (I married a GOOD guy.) I took the test as soon as he got home and…voila! Baby S was discovered : )

We hooped and hollered and hugged and kissed with happy tears in our eyes. It was a great day.

How have you felt so far?

Downright miserable, ha! I was actually diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum at around six weeks. This is a fancy way of saying, "I’ve spent a good portion of my day for the past several weeks yacking." It’s been just LOVELY. 

Thanks to Zofran, (and the fact that I’m almost out of the first trimester), it does seem to be getting a bit better. I'm still get sick a couple of times a day and honestly, may for the remainder of the pregnancy. But hey, I'll take twice a day over 10 times a day.

That being said, I also have even more sympathy for poor Kate Middleton and her bout with HG. I cannot fathom dealing with that awful, round-the-clock sickness AND harassment by the media at the same time. Bless her.

Will you find out the gender?

Yes! We can’t wait! Just a few more weeks – woohoo! Although I think it would be so much fun to be surprised, the Type A planner in me yearns to know the gender. Plus, I want to be able to decorate and shop accordingly : )

Do you have a gut feeling on the gender?

I have a feeling it’s a boy, but Stephen says girl : ) We shall see! I can think of so many fun qualities about each gender, so I can honestly say that I do not care! A healthy baby. That’s what we want.

Cravings?

Anything but food, haha! I’ve been so sick, absolutely nothing has sounded appetizing. Except for Zofran. I love some Zofran.

For the record though, Stephen has been amazing. Every day, he would put crackers and ginger ale on the nightstand so that when I woke up, I’d have something to soothe my tummy before getting out of bed. On the rare occasion I have craved a certain something, he will, quite literally, drive across town to pick it up. 

I will say, I've been enjoying savory, salty foods FAR more than sweet. Right now, anything sugary or sweet turns my stomach upside down. Also dairy...blech! Can't do it at the moment. 

Weight gain/loss?

Loss, but I’m trying very hard to get back up to pre-pregnancy weight. I think now that the nausea is somewhat under control, it will happen fairly soon. It’s worth noting though, as a lifetime member of the IBT (Itty Bitty Youknowwhat) Club, I am enjoying my new “assets”. Oh my, how the girls have grown. 

Favorite moment so far?

It’s been a toss up between hearing the heartbeat and seeing Little Bit on the ultrasound this past Monday. Legs were kicking, heart was fluttering away and the bebe was sucking his/her thumb. It was a GOOD day. One of the best of my entire life.

Strangest comment from someone so far?
I actually had someone we know ask me a couple weeks ago if we were "trying" or if baby was an accident. Ummmm?? Why on earth would you ask someone that??!! For the record, yes - this child was intentional, ha! But GAW, y'all! So awkward!

Funniest moment so far?
Not really a moment, but it's been almost comical to see my hormones take over my body. Seriously you guys, I can go from zero to emo at the drop of a hat. 
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Until tomorrow, ciao bunnies!

P.S. - Totally unrelated to baby, but you girls can now get 15% OFF at Maude Boutique online with the code AMBITION. That's pretty darn amazing! I swear, my sponsors are crazy generous. Get to shopping, ladies!

Party of Three

First, we fell in love.

Then, you know, we got married.

And now, well...

Stephen and I are thrilled to announce that we are bringing a little one into the world on October 19, 2013!

Let's all give a resounding girl squeal: EEEEEEEEP!

We decided in January that we wanted to start a family and, just weeks later, found out I was pregnant! Honestly, we were a little surprised (but a LOT happy) that it happened so quickly. Stephen jokes that it’s because we are classic over achievers : )

Right now, I’m right at 12 weeks and things are perfect! The baby looked wonderful on the ultrasound and had a good strong heart rhythm at 176 bpm! 

This probably won’t turn into a baby-centered blog, but I do plan to post the occasional bump photo and a few fun details as we find out the gender in a few weeks. And yes, I’ll still be outfit blogging : ) Please, child. Did you really think pregnancy would keep me outta the game? ; ) With bloggers like Sydney and Monika as my inspiration, I’m completely game for some preggy outfit pics.

All sickness aside, I feel SO blessed that God has blessed us with this baby. We pray daily for guidance from Him as we begin this exciting journey. I’m so excited to be a MOM. 

Mom. That's got a pretty great ring to it, doesn't it?

Be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead! 

I Peter 1:6

Beneath

Underwear. Such a basic thing, right? I mean, if you're like me, you probably never give a second thought to your skivvies on a day-to-day basis. Because, well, they're underwear.

Imagine this, though. You're 16 years old and recently, have become homeless. You have very few belongings, most of which you're wearing at the time you hit the streets. Occasionally, you can visit the nearby shelters in search of dry socks or a new coat. But you'd never ask for one of the most basic essentials because of the humilitation it brings.

And that thing, folks, is underwear.

As silly as this sounds, it's true: underwear are one of the least often donated items at homeless shelters across the country. But it's also the most needed. It's something we take for granted, and it's something very easily forgotten when we make donations to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

Recently, I was contacted by Cameron Weldon of Bold Beneath, an underwear company based in Dallas, Texas. Bold Beneath started a campaign called Underwear that Multiplies, which helps homeless youth acquire their most needed/least donated item: underwear.

In their own words:

The Summary: a pair for you, double for homeless youth

BENEATH is a campaign that gives homeless youth vital necessities, helping them rise out of poverty. Namely, we give them very comfortable underwear each time you purchase the same pair. But its much more than a piece of clothing, it's a symbol.

On the underwear is printed a phrase that can change mindsets over time: "WHO YOU ARE BENEATH is all of who you are."

I'm helping Cameron and his teammates get the word out about this campaign. If you have a few mintues today - and a little extra cash - visit the Underwear That Multiplies page and purchase a pair for yourself. In turn, they'll donate two to homeless youth.

Take a sec, and watch this video for more info. (Sorry, I tried to embed it, but no dice.) I promise, it's worth the two mintues it takes to watch it.

Confessional Friday: {Link-up}

Welcome to Confessional Friday, ladies! If you're new here to the link-up, I hope you find it fun. If you're a returning confessor, it's good to see you again.

1. I confess that I haven't had my hair highlighted since December. Normally, I'd be freaking out about this, but since the ombré hair trend is still de rigeur, I'm just pretending that the roots are intentional.

2. I confess that I am entirely too excited about going to Fred's Hickory Inn for dinner tonight. Stephen and I do a date night there once a month, and each time we go, I eat like there's no tomorrow. It's a carnivore's paradise. Bring on the pork, baby.

3. I confess that our house is in desperate need of a deep spring cleaning. Problem is, I can't seem to find the motivation to start. And I'm typically obsessive about the state of our house! I'm not even sure I know myself anymore.

4. I confess that we have four weddings we have to attend in the next four months...yeesh. Don't get me wrong, I love a wedding, but have mercy! One a month + couples' showers for each + wedding gifts = a lot of time and moolah : ) Makes me need a nap just thinking about it.

5. I confess that I tearful every time I see this Subaru commercial:

Okay, your turn!

Savoir-Faire Moment: Thrill of the Chase(r)

I picked out this outfit in February at Savoir-Faire, and kept waiting for the perfect dreary day to snap some photos. (I dunno why I needed dreary weather…this just felt like something I’d wear on a rainy-ish day.) Unfortuntely, or rather fortunately, our February was downright beautiful. Not one cloud in the sky. So I waited…

March rolled around and again, lots of sunny weather. Totally not complaining though…

But Sunday, the clouds rolled in and I knew we had the perfect slightly overcast sky to capture the grunge of the Chaser Tee, ripped boyfriend denim and leather-sleeved army jacket. And beanie. Because I’m wearing my beanies until it’s 110 degrees outside. And then maybe I’ll still do it.

Let’s talk details. The Chaser Tee, featuring a vintage Monk illustration, is the softest thing I’ve ever worn. It’s like tiny little angel fairies knitted it out of feathers and baby giggles. And then those angel fairies said, “Let’s take this shirt one step further and leave out that awful, itchy tag. It’ll really blow their minds.” And they did. Chaser tees are tagless. And, hand to God, the most comfortable article of clothing I’ve ever worn or owned.

The Blank Denim Frayed Boyfriend jeans are perhaps the greatest thing since…I dunno, Lucky Charms. I was going to say sliced bread, but I don’t eat a lot of sandwiches. I DO eat a lot of cereal though. And just like our favorite marshmallowy breakfast cereal, these jeans are magically delicious.

The leather-sleeved army jacket? Well, it speaks for itself. Seriously. An army jacket is a glorious thing on its own, but add some leather sleeves and, as Phil would say, “Now you’re cooking with peanut oil.”

The shoes are mine. From ASOS. They are simple and not very exciting, but I’m okay with that. They do their job, which is to compliment the rest of the outfit, without being a scene-stealer. These shoes are like the Best Supporting Actors of the ensemble.

(Psssst...and a little birdie told me they come in orange, too!)

If we need to discuss the beanie, we can. But really, haven’t we beaten this undead and still trendy horse enough? Let’s just let the beanie be. Eventually, I’ll quit wearing them for outfit pics. 

Yeah, it's fair to say Blank Denim has definitely become my jean of choice. And have you seen the adorable Blank Denim Flavor Savor vest? Oh my word...so cute! 

Isn't Melissa just gorgeous? 

I'm also smitten with this adorable Check It Out blouse and the beautiful Rose Bloom Pants . 

And did y'all know that you can now purchase accessories and jewelry on SF's web store? Yup. True story. I die for this Peach Tiered Necklace and Teal Mosaic Bib. Gaw, so pretty. 

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Alright, bunnies - I'm out! Don't forget to peruse Savoir-Faire's website this week to treat yourself to a spring goody or two.

P.S. - Had a couple of you girls ask about the shoes I wore in the S.F. fashion show. Naturally, Savoir-Faire : ) Each model was outfitted from head to toe (literally) in the store's merchandise. I *think* that right now they are only available in store, but keep checking the site, in case they do post them.