Now I Get It

I've begun to get emotional about this second baby. I know it's mostly raging hormones. I mean glory! What else could be causing these headaches?

Usually at night after Emery is asleep I start to get this ache in my chest, knowing that my one on one time with her is quickly coming to an end.

I understand now what my friends who have 2 children went through during that second pregnancy.

I am thrilled to pieces about this baby. We never questioned whether or not we would have a second, and I know my heart is certainly big enough for two babies.

I also know that Emery was born to be a sister. She is so loving and so nurturing, I know she'll have no trouble loving a little sibling.

I've just noticed that ache in my chest and it reminds me how fast two years has flown by.

Sky Top

Here's a few pics of our trip to Sky Top Orchard. We will definitely be going back next year.

What I'm Reading

Today was a great day! We visited an apple orchard in N.C. less than an hour away from us. We picked apples, ate fresh made donuts, and had apple cider slushies. It was a much needed change of scenery for me and Emery had a blast.

I got a few good pictures, but I'll save those for another day. (I'm too tired to upload them now.)
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The good thing about the local library is that the books are FREE! and you can have a ton out at the same time. The bad thing about the library is also that the books are FREE! and you can have a ton out at the same time. :)

This obviously does not help my schizoness because I end up reading like 3 to 5 books at once.

These are the ones I'm currently in the middle of. Radical is actually the book study Benji is leading our youth through. It is an amazing, life changing read. Most of the youth are actually reading it. Well, at least the girls in my group are, I know girls read more than boys. Anywhoo. I never read the Great Gatsby in high school. It's one I've always wanted to read just never thought of it when looking. Something I read in an issue of Elle magazine peaked my interest in reading it again, so I reserved it through my library account online and picked it up!

The Help I've heard a lot of good things about, so I'll see how it goes. I just picked it up today.

I always love a good book recommendation, so I thought I'd share mine for the moment.

SAHM Marathon

I have to admit I've tried really hard not to get overwhelmed too early with thoughts of having two kids.

I mean mom's do it every day with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6!!!!

I have felt so rotten this pregnancy it's been easy to stay in the 'here and now' and be preoccupied with my immediate state of exhaustion. haha.

My life is a paradox of sorts. I have always been a restless soul. I need to travel, I need to try new things, be challenged, enlightened, busy. Change for me is exciting and welcomed (most of the time). But I've always wanted to stay at home and enjoy this season of life with my children.

So the hardest part of being a mother (who stays at home to raise her children) has been the every day monotony. It has been the "actual" staying at home part. I stare at the same walls every day, the majority of the time not having any interaction with adults.

I realize now how women get into financial trouble shopping all day...It's hard to find things to do with a two year old, especially in 90+ degree weather, that doesn't involve some sort of retail establishment.

I do know that this time is precious. I know that it is limited. In three short years Emery will start kindergarten. So I cherish this time, most of the time. I try to not let the small things get to me. I know I'll have a lifetime of being able to keep the kitchen floor free of chalk and cheerios.

But some days it feels like a marathon. It feels like I'm running and running and still have 20 miles to go.

(Not So Wordless) Wordless Weds.

This one deserves a caption.

The dining room table fall center piece in the house of a hunter.


Yes this is where he keeps it. Yes it makes me laugh.

Day Time Love

Guess who has their own new day time T.V. show!!!!!



Oprah may be leaving day time, but she's left us with Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and now cutie patootie interior designer Nate Berkus!

An Old New Friend

I worked at Starbucks for ages. I liked these okay, but never really thought much of them. But recently I've started to LOVE them. They are the perfect size, perfect amount of sweet.

Petite Vanilla Bean Scones

PDub lives in the middle of nowhere, unlike me who lives less than a mile from my neighborhood bux. But I'm trying to save money. And pregnant. These two things do not go well together when I'm wanting to eat these twice a day.... So I want to make these at home. I'm gonna try her recipe soon.

Reason #15 Why I Love Fall

I used to be an all summer, all the time girl. In my aging (I guess that's why haha) I've quickly come to realize that I favor the in between seasons. I love spring because it's the time we get to plant our garden, things are beginning to bloom and everything is so fresh and new.

I love fall for a million reasons however, one of them being that apples are in season! I never cared much for apples until I started paying attention to fruit seasons. Apples can be an amazing yummy snack/meal if eaten in season.

We are planning a trip this weekend up to an apple farm in North Carolina. Emery loves a good apple, so I'm pretty sure she is going to have a blast picking her own.

My New Plan

Emery's in MMO two days a week, we have a new baby on the way and bills bills bills! In an effort to make room for our new addition I'm trying to cut our budget in areas that I've neglected in the past.

This week I started trying to plan and shop for our meals 4 weeks at a time.

I found some great tips at Passionate Homemaking.

I arranged my plan according to my style and our taste.

I've decided to plan for themes rather than full out meals. That way we will have more variety and I can continue to have fun cooking!

My biggest fear in starting this plan is that we will get tired of what I've planned or not be in "the mood" for that certain food once the time comes to eat.

I think I've handled this concern by shopping monthly. I'll have most if not all of my supplies to cook something different if, for example, we don't want Mexican the night I planned for Mexican.....

With all that said, here's my plan:

Monday- Italian
Tuesday- Mexican
Weds-Seafood/fish
Thursday- American/meat and three
Friday-Chicken (We like chicken enough I thought it could be it's own theme.)
Sat-Sandwiches/burgers
Sunday-leftovers/sandwiches/or eat out

I know at least four or more different recipes for each themes.

Ex, Italian could be lasagna, pizza, spaghetti. We also do lemon pasta with shrimp, Alfredo sauce with veggies, etc. Once I start running out of ideas the Internet is my domain.

Mexican, of course tacos, fajitas, steak or chicken, fish tacos, taco soup, Mexican casseroles, etc.

American I figured would be more of our meat and veggie night. Pot roast, grilled chicken, steaks and potatoes, etc.

Chicken night the possibilities are endless.

Sundays will be our day to clean out the fridge of leftovers from the week, and to maybe fellowship with some friends at restaurants.

I plan on stocking up on our meat once a month (or less) at Costco or if I find it on sale at Publix. Benji is a hunter (as you know) and he also processes his own ground venison so we will have plenty of it to replace ground beef.

Okay...Whew! Next I'll tell you why I've given up on couponing and stock piling the pantry! But later, Benji's hunting, Emery's asleep and I've got a date with DVR. Rachel Zoe, RHODC, and season premiere of Gossip Girl are calling my name.

Baby2 Update

The nausea is gone, but now the stomach issues have set in. I've also been getting some nasty headaches. I don't remember either of these issues being as intense with Emery. My hip is hurting as well. :( Okay enough with the griping. I'm super excited about this baby, I just have to get out all the frustrations every now and then.

My reflux and heart burn have started earlier as well this time. The reflux is alot worse than with Emery. The few times I have thrown up this pregnancy have been as a result of reflux more than nausea. NOT FUN! Sorry if that was TMI, but I am talking about pregnancy here.

We find out in a few weeks what we are having and I absolutely can not wait! I think we have finally decided on two names, one boy and one girl name. With Emery we only had one name and were going to use it either way, but this time I just couldn't decide on a gender neutral name as good as "Emery." :)

I have no feeling as to what this baby is either. I keep going back and forth between the two sexes.

I still haven't gained any weight with this baby yet. I know, I know I should be glad, and really I am, but my Dr. did say that it was about time to put on a few pounds.

Benji started hunting this week. 'sigh'....no really I don't mind (most of the time). AT LEAST this year he is in a hunting club in S.C. and not trekking back to Georgia or KY to hunt, which was what happened last year. So this year is a major improvement.

I also really love getting a freezer full of deer meat. Not having to buy ground beef at all during the winter is great!

I'm starting to meal plan so I'm going to try and post a little about that soon. We've got to cut down in some areas in preparation for this new bambino, and let's face I ain't gettin rid of cable.

p.s. I've noticed also with this baby in the oven I can not spell at all! I'm usually pretty good, but it must be the hormones. mercy.

My Nationality

I've figured it out, my heritage. I'm part Asian. I could eat any kind of Asian food everyday. Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Korean. Just give it too me!

Now someone please make me stop surfing blogs and finding recipes that make my stomach growl at 11pm....I can't take it anymore!

I'm definitely making this in the next few days... Asian Noodle Salad: From PDub.

My Heart Faced Girl

Here's one more from Emery's first day of MMO. It didn't upload when I added the first few. I love how heart shaped her little face is. I can only imagine another one of these precious faces running around my house. It's hard enough already to discipline one when they are that cute. :)

The Very First Of Many

Praise the Lord Emery started MMO this week!

Her first day of many many more first days of school.

She goes from 9-1 two days a week. Which is nice now but it is going to be a life saver as soon as baby2 comes along.

She is such a social girl, she thrives off of interaction with other people. I don't know who is more excited about this new experience me or her. Both days she came home saying "mama I have fun at school!"

So precious. :)

I was a tad emotional the first day we dropped her off, but that quickly turned to pure joy when I came back home to a quiet empty house and jumped back into bed the sleep some more!

Speaking of sleeping, this baby2 is sucking the very life out of me. I am wiped out still most of the time. I just can never get enough rest. I have also started getting some pretty intense headaches. I've been joking that I think that's a sign it's a boy. This go round has definitely proved to be more difficult.

I'm hoping that the second half of this pregnancy will prove easier than the first half.

Girls Labor Day Weekend

This weekend my sister and I headed to the beach with some of my friends from church.

We shopped. We ate. We slept late, laughed a lot, lounged on the beach, read trashy magazines and had a BLAST!

The plans are already being made for our Labor day trip next year, only difference is we will be adding an extra day. :)

W.W.(2)

W.W.