This Man and This Week

I think this may be my new favorite picture of Benji. It shows perfectly how compassionate and kind he is.

How patient.

How loving.

How nurturing.

I love, love, love him.

I could not do this whole life thing without him.

This week has been hard. I'm physically and emotionally drained from the holidays. I'm anxious and nervous about all things baby. I'm still feeling nauseous every day, still feeling all the usual pregnancy aches. My hormones are ALL OVER the place. I almost cried in Publix yesterday...for no reason...none at all, I was just holding back tears the entire time I was shopping.

And on top of all that we decided to move Emery into her new room and new bed this week.

It's not going so well. The first night went okay, but it has gotten progressively worse as the week went on. Neither one of us has slept much at night since Wednesday. I thankfully have gotten in a few naps, there's no way I would have made it without them.

6 weeks before a baby comes is a stressful time any way and to add to it no sleep and holidays was a real doozie!

We did get new couches though! Fun! I love them. We've had the same light colored couches for 10 years. They've seen there share of chocolate, juice, milk, who knows what else since Emery, haha, so it was time to upgrade.

I also went out and bought one of these today! Totally an impulse buy. But I was sleep deprived, in Target at 9am...and had some Christmas money in my pocket..So I went for it and I'm not sorry!

I'm in LOVE! Keurig coffee maker is sent from heaven. It's a busy mom's dream. Most importantly the coffee is steaming hot when it comes out...and it's done in like a second!

No grinding beans, no luke warm temperature, no cleaning and setting up BEFORE you have to make it.... They just got one in Benji's office and he came home one day talking about how hot and fast it made a cup of coffee. Well that's all he had to say...

I also am really enjoying my Kindle. A total surprise Christmas gift from my Mom, I didn't think I would ever want one but I love it. The only bad thing about the Kindle is that it has introduced Amazon.com to me and now I can't stay off that site to save my life. I mean you can find ANYthing on there.

I found (and ordered haha) this body cream that Benji's mom bought me a few years ago for a gift. It came from this local shop in Gainesville that closed a short time after. I've always looked for it in random shops because it is imported from Italy and kind of a special item. I could not for the life of me remember what it was called but I knew I'd recognize the label and packaging. Well I did some searching and I totally found it! It is the Olive Oil Body Butter by Mediterranean Spa. Holla!

Actually today was a better day than I was anticipating. I slept maybe 4 hours last night, Benji slept probably less. He had to be somewhere for his job at 8am and so I was up at 730 with Emery... we ended up having a pretty mellow day though! I'm thankful that I have him to sympathize with and to fight this 2 year old sleeping issue battle with!

We are hoping for a better night tonight....

32 Weeks

The count down has begun. I can officially see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The end of the tunnel, however, I know will be just the beginning of a crazy, exhausting time.

We just moved Emery into her big girl room/new bed. She sleeps great, just gets up about 2 hours earlier than she did in her crib....sigh.....

This parenting thing is like a marathon. Once you think you have it all worked out, YA DON'T!

I really don't know how to remedy this situation. She just climbs out of the bed and once she's out she will not go back to sleep. What am I going to do with that happening AND a new born!!!

Somebody save me now.

With 7 weeks to go we are finally getting the nursery turned around to host a boy baby. It's looking so cute and I can't wait to finish it and post pics.

I'm feeling good, when I can sleep enough and when I take my Zofran. Last night I got about ohhh...3 hours of sleep, it's increasingly more difficult for me to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. Once I'm am actually asleep, I'm good, but then Emery woke up at 540...today is not looking too promising.

I noticed this week that carpal tunnel is setting in again in my "barista hand". I really should get some money from Starbucks for the repetitive motion injury I have in my right hand. Four years of slingin coffee and lattes wore my wrist slap out.

Well, it's almost 8am now, Emery's been up since 540...maybe it's almost nap time????

She's Got My Number

A few days ago I put Emery down for her nap, for only the second time in her new room and new bed. I was expecting a little drama since it's still pretty new.

I tried to read her a story but she wasn't calming down any. Once I started to leave she started crying and standing up,I put her back down, pretty sure she'd climb out once I left.

I stood outside the door for a minute while she cried.

Then she suddenly turned off the tears and said.....to herself....

"There's no need to cry, you're in your big girl bed now.....I not cry anymore, I'm a big girl!"

Then there was silence, and she took a nap.

So glad she could give herself a pep talk!

White Christmas

I'm sure many will remember this Christmas for a long time... We actually had snow in the south on Christmas day!

Emery had a blast playing with Asher when it first starting coming down, late that afternoon. She then got to play again with her other cousins Luke and Lydia, late that night.

What a fun, exciting day for a two year old. I just hope she doesn't expect a white Christmas EVERY year from now own. Haha. It may be along time before she sees another one.

Winter Wonderland: South Carolina Style

While we were in seminary Benji had the brilliant idea (actually I think I brought it up first) that he should drive a school bus for a part time job. It turned out being a great gig for the last few years we were in school.

To drive a school bus, obviously you go through tons of training and have to get a CDL. This little CDL thing sometimes is a pain in my side. It seems to add extra work to his schedule, aka time away from us, because the church is always needing someone to drive a bus somewhere. I think there are three men on staff that have a CDL...and we have a big ol church, so three is not alot for a church as large as ours.

Anyway, one night recently Benji drove the bus for the college ministry's Christmas outing. Emery and I got to tag along this time and it was a BLAST! I told him if he got more calls to drive for parties like this i'm tagging along every time!

We started out the night caroling for some of the older members of our church, then we drove a little out of town to see this incredible house that puts out like a GAZILLION lights and blow up Christmas decorations.

Ya'll this house is crazy. These pictures don't do it justice. And it's all free! They have popcorn, hot chocolate, a real Santa, the movie Elf playing on the garage door. CRAZINESS! We will definitely take Emery here next year. It's just some man (and his man friend I think, haha) that decorate their entire house/yard and part of their neighbors.

We ended the night at The Melting Pot for dessert fondue. I of course being the fat pregnant girl had to get the cheese fondue as well. My defense was that I hadn't had dinner, okay....

Emery had a B.L.A.S.T. I have to say that this night reminded me of why I love ministry. It's these impromptu times, the ones you don't expect to be exciting that make this life just what I was made for.

Ringing In Tha New Year

For the past two years I've had a party on new year's eve.

This year, as expected I just couldn't do it. Christmas wore me slap out!

I am thankful for the rest and low key night we have planned. Benji's got about 50 bowl games to watch and hopefully Emery will find entertainment in the form of her new toys.

I plan on getting caught up on blogger and setting up my new Kindle.

I know, I know, I'm actually against the whole idea of Kindle, BUT my mom gave me one as a surprise Christmas gift.... SOOO I think I'll give it a try and of course I'll love it. :) The best part of the Kindle, which I learned after the fact is that all the classic novels you can download free! Holla! Which means I'll be reading some of the ones I never did in school.

We are also having a mini marathon of baby room makeovers. There's alot of spray paint flying today and toys, pictures and clothes being moved from one room to another.

Hopefully one more weekend like this and we will have Emery in her new big girl room and a nursery patiently awaiting the arrival of our BOY.

Every new year I enjoy the process of reflecting on the past year and making goals/plans for the new one ahead. This year, however, I feel the need to just let the new year ring in peacefully and restfully! No horns, no hats, no goals!

Merry Christmas! 2010

We had a ball Christmas day with both sets of family.

We are so blessed and so thankful for all that the Lord has handed us.

This doll baby being one of them.