My Tangible God

I have been really, really wanting to get on here and write what has been on my heart lately and here God is giving me that opportunity. Two sleeping girls, Wednesday nights Bible study planned and Thursday's Bible study homework up to date and Matt isn't due home for a bit, plus, it's leftover night so no dinner prep needed! Can you see me dancing with joy like a fool! 

Life has been busy, as it usually is. Olivia turned 2 last week!!! Just blows my mind that she is two already. Potty training is on the up swing. She has been so good and is gaining control over it all. Allowing us to enjoy life in longer increments than the ol' 45 minute routine we had just a week ago. I'm so proud of her- she truly is a big girl now. Lauren is just plugging away, throwing surprises our way at every turn. She is so freakin' smart sometimes, I am truly amazed that the things she says (quite literally on a daily basis) and does. I sometimes just take a step back and enjoy the fun that it brings to our house. She's such a young lady. Matt said to me the other day that he wished he could put a little recording device around her neck so we could document all the wonder, beauty, and down right silly that just escapes her mouth all day long. I told him I would agree as long as it was just her voice you could hear when it was played back, lol, this mama doesn't need to hear her own voice anymore than I already do!

Look who can even pour her own cereal...well sort of 

Lauren's skills are a little better- she'll teach Olivia I'm sure

Matt's wonderful parents where down visiting us this past weekend. Always a blessing and an unexpected one too. Which leads me right into what I really, really want to put down in this post. 

I think it was last week Wednesday when could feel God walking through my day with me. It has been one of those times in my life when I truly feel like His presence is so tangible that it gives me the goosebumps (or chill bumps for you goofy folk ;-). So here goes my days.

Wednesday was going to be a crazy day, and for the most part it still kind of was. I had a baby appointment with the good ol' OB GyN. I always get excited for those appointments- for a few reasons. One, I usually go alone or with Matt and I enjoy either my quiet time or my alone time with Matt. Two, when you're pregnant with baby number three it's hard to find time to just bask in the glory of your pregnant state and these appointments give me time to do just that. Three, I love hearing my baby's heartbeat, oh such a sweet symphony of tones that makes my heart dance. So I was a bit disappointed when I realized that my absent minded pregnant self had also made Olivia's 2 year appointment for the same day. Or it might have been the other way around- I made my baby appointment for the same day as Olivia's, but you get the point. I can't be two places at once.

I called Matt when I realized my grave mistake. I told him the predicament and was secretly hoping he would solve all of my problems and be my hero once again. But no indeed he too could not figure out how I could be at two places at once. I had a babysitter coming, originally for both girls, so I wouldn't have to worry at all about Lauren- Amen! So I asked Matt if he could take the morning off to take Olivia to her appointment and then I would go alone to mine. He said sure and all was right. Expect it wasn't. I really LOVE going to their doctor appointments- for a few reasons (sound familiar? - if not reread the last paragraph again- and yes I hope you're laugh right along with me on this). One, I love their doctor- she is great and I'd be friends with her in the outside world if I could be. Two, I love finding out all about how they've grown and how they are doing. Three, I like to ask questions- it's in my DNA to be a question asker (ask everyone of my teachers and professors they will agree hands down, or up :-). With Olivia I'm forever asking about her food issues and this time was no different. 

So I prayed and got over it. There was just one small, very small, extremely small chance I could do both. My appointment was at 9:20 and Olivia's was at 10:15. And God afforded me another chance besides the appointments be staggered a bit, there was also the fact that we were at the West End pediatrians office (not our usually office). The appointments were at offices only ten minutes apart. I knew going into the day that it was very slim chance that I could pull it off. After all the OB GyN is so very rarely on time so I just prayed and figured I'd have to hear about Olivia's appointment from Matt. 

Well Jesus was in the car when I got an awesome parking spot in, and when "For the first time in forever..." (yes I'm signing Frozen songs on my blog post) the doctors office was running on time. I got into the room with plenty of time. I'm telling you I've never had an appointment run so smoothly every!!!! I even had time to chat with my doctor, whom I love dearly too, about life and kids as I listened to sweet baby's heartbeat. Then I had to get that ever so wonderful Rhogam shot and since the doctor's nurse was super busy they had another nurse do it and she was ready as soon as I was and I was able to get in quickly to have my blood drown too! I got in the car and raced over to Olivia's appointment. I had been texting Matt my positive progress the whole time. When I got into the car I had a text from him back and I might just make it. So off I zoomed. I pulled into the parking lot, ran (okay, walked quickly) into the office and asked the receptionist where they were. I walked into the room to see Olivia being a sweet girl and the best was when she lit up like a little Christmas Tree when I came into the room. I hugged her and thanked God, whom I swear to you was in the room with us enjoying the moment too. Dr. T and I chatted about baby number three and names. I found out she was as crazy with her children's names as I have been. She also has three children and was very intent to make sure her children's name went together just so. Matt zoned out but I was so excited to not be the only crazy mama who agonized over simple things while naming her babies because it mattered-  to me. But we also talked about the food allergies, which Matt hadn't gotten to so I was also grateful I didn't miss that conversation. Olivia got a wonderful report of heath and didn't even need any shots- just a finger prick, which was with her doctors usually nurse -another wonderful lady! The morning couldn't have gone any better- such an answer to prayer plus more! What a great God we have!!

Then we traveled home to enjoy lunch as a family before Matt had to scoot back off to work. We all enjoy when daddy is here for lunch. I tell you I was walking on Jesus' soft cloud all day and I'm sure he was right there with me. It honestly was a blessing beyond measure.

Then I was praying and praying for Thursday too. You see we have Bible study on Thursdays and last week was rough with Olivia's potty training and I felt awful for both her and the nursery worker. I had a plan of action to turn that frown upside down this week. And there it was Thursday and there He was- Jesus yet again by my side seeing prayers on my heart be answered. She did so good. They had woken up early that morning- so Olivia was able to do her daily morning business at home leaving this mama so hopeful that she was good to go in that department (the week before not so much and she ended up doing it in her pants and I know she was beyond devastated that she wasn't quite comfortable enough to do it in the potty). Anyway- with her #2 out of the way I just had to worry about getting the pee in the pot- I could do this. So I went to the nursery to bring her into the potty every hour or so and help her feel more comfortable. I just left my study to tend to her in the nursery. I had to go there three times but the second two times she was successful and came home in the same pants that she showed up in. I was so proud of her and again so thankful for the tangible evidence that my God cares for even the grossest of our needs.

So then that leaves us with this wonderful weekend. But of course I must backtrack a bit- I wouldn't be Jennifer if there wasn't a back story to everything I say- oh bless my heart. Anyway, I've been prayerful for a new dresser. You see this time around all I needed to do to get the 'house' ready for baby was to officially move all of Olivia's stuff into the 'big girls room.' She has been sleeping in there since December but her clothes still were housed in the nursery. One reason being I had no dresser to put her clothes into and the other being I hadn't gotten around to rearranging all the closets yet (I still have more work in that area but I know I'll get to it). So I started stalking Craigslist for the city we live in and the city Matt's and my family live it. I was finding NOTHING here. On top of being a very small selection, what I was finding was way over priced. I had specifics that couldn't be changed. I needed it to be a chest of drawers since I needed it to fit in the room. It also needed to be 5 drawers high, not 4, in order to fit in all the clothes. And I really wanted a wood that wouldn't clash with the dresser that was already in there housing Lauren's clothes. I'm not to needy...ha! So I did find one and my MIL looked into it but someone else had found it first. I wasn't too discouraged, I mean I do have three months until baby comes into the world needing clothes and all. I trusted God had one picked out for us and in His timing we would find it. I didn't however think he was going to have such an awesome plan, in a way only he can!

Then one week ago- on a Sunday night I got an email from Matt's mom. She found a beauty. I saw it and told her to go for it. It was even better than I could have imagined!! It was a double chest. So there are two columns of drawers- 5 high in the same dresser!! Thus allowing me to put both girls clothes in one dresser!!! Who even knew that existed?? Not I. On top of this fantasticness, it was just one piece of a set. There was a coordinating desk, chair, mirror, nightstand, and bookshelf. Now- ALL of this was in mint condition and ALL of it was just $250. Now we had budgeted about $100 for a used wooden dresser. But we didn't need all of the stuff in the group, so things could be resold offsetting the cost. Plus, Matt's parents so generously helped financially too. So the girls now have a new bookshelf, something I hadn't even prayed for but they needed (there was literally no room left on the one they had and we have many more years of book collecting in front of us). They also have a new nightstand that coordinates with their new dresser and bookshelf. I was just hoping for something that wouldn't clash but God had bigger and better things in store for us. Isn't He GREAT!!!!

Here's the dresser all set up, clothes inside! It fit perfectly into

the space. Just an answer to prayer plus so much more!

Here is the bookshelf...see the room for growth. 

It however is NOT all set up- just books thrown back

on so the floor wouldn't be covered anymore. 

A work in progress...

If this wasn't enough my in-laws were planning a random- we miss our grandbabies visit. So they were able to pick it up and bring it down to us just a few days later. They also took the dresser and nightstand that we already owned and had no room for back to there house for storage until God blesses us with our next home that we're hoping might have some more rooms and we can take it back from them. I was able to move the bookshelf from their room into the office for some much needed storage of school stuff. The house that once felt so big and somewhat empty is now feeling a little snug and not empty at all- and what a blessing that is!

My in-laws presence this weekend allowed for Matt to do a few things around the house and me too. Lauren took a trip to their hotel room again and we got some wonderful alone time with our now 2 year old. I love when we're able to make our children feel special in their own way. We were able to visit with them and enjoy their wonderful company too. I was able to run some errands and get some reorganizing done with the dresser swap, closet rearranging, and new bookshelf arrangement. 

Man the length of this post is beyond my usual attention span or my allotted time. But here I am still able to write. I just can't explain in words how amazing God's love is. I think of the way I try and do special things to make my children feel loved and important and cherished and then I see Him doing it to me. I think that is why I've been so adamant in getting this post down. I want to... 

Shout to the north and the south
Sing to the east and west
Jesus is Savior to all
He's Lord of heaven and earth

Rise up women of the truth
Stand and sing to broken hearts
Who can know the healing power
Of our awesome King of love

And Shout to the north and the south
Sing to the east and west
Jesus is Savior to all
He's Lord of heaven and earth

We've been through fire, we've been through pain
We've been refined by the power of Your name
We've fallen deeper in love with You
You've been the truth on our lips

Shout to the north and the south

Sing to the east and west
Jesus is Savior to all
He's Lord of heaven and earth

Yes, He's Lord of heaven and earth
~Shout to the North~

"There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you." Deuteronomy 12:7

"Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice." 1 Chronicles 16:10

"But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, "The Lord is great!" Psalm 70:4 

"In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trust in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation." Isaiah 25:9

There are so many more ways I can quote how I feel about God right now. I feel like rejoicing in Him who knit each of these days together so perfectly in a way only He who created the heavens and the earth can. I might not be a preacher who can tell many how tangible God can be but I can tell all who I know about how God is here with us. And He isn't just with us when things are working out but He's there with us when things are all jumbled up too, if you've ever read any of my other post- especially ones about this past summer- you know that I feel His almighty presence in the good times and the bad. I just prefer the good times...don't we all! So may your week be blessed. May you feel his love, power, and gentleness as you walk through your day. May you know His presence is so close that you feel it in your heart and see it in your daily life.

Well it's time for bath and shower and bed and I'm one tired mama- off to enjoy those blessings!

How my list is coming...

If you've been so lucky as to follow my blog throughout this pregnancy you know that as soon as the second trimester started so did my need to get the house perfect before baby arrives. This was a lot sooner than it was with baby number one but in my defense I had a lot more to this this time around. With Lauren I just needed to decorate her room and I was done, although it didn't seem that simple then. This time we had to move our room downstairs, move Lauren into our old room, and then prep the nursery for the baby. This was a big undertaking and has been going on for quiet some time now. I do however feel like things are moving along and I see a bright light at the end of the tunnel now. Since my dad came down I was able to get a HUGE portion of what was left done, and that was closet rotation and organization. 

Now, all of my clothes are down in my bedroom closet, Lauren's clothes are moved into her new room and that closet is organized, baby clothes now reside in the nursery dresser and closet as well, and finally the office closet is now wonderfully organized and there is no wasted space. So much more fits into there now and neatly too. Before I had stuff stacked on top of stuff so things would fall or you'd have to move seven different things to get at what you needed, so annoying. During this processed I learned that the office closet is the biggest closet in the house (yikes)- and I'm grateful since it's the only storage space we have for all those things that one would usually put in a basement or attic, of which we have neither. So check out my picture below:

The picture doesn't quiet do justice to all I have crammed, I mean organized, into this closet. My dad and I maximized the space as best we could and I think it came out great! 

Here's my list, once again, and you can see all we've done to prepare for this sweet baby, who at the moment is squirming and bopping around inside my tummy.

My Four Phase plan is moving full speed ahead! Check out what I got done:

Phase One:  - Empty guest/playroom and closet - moving everything upstairs.
                  - Prep room to be painted
                  - Purchase paint and paint room
                  - Reorganize closet in office to accommodate more stuff (this 
                    should be fun...)

Phase Two: - Move our bedroom furniture downstairs and set up room
                 - Decorate our new master bedroom
                 - Redesign, purchase, and install closet organization for this room
                 - Sell one queen mattress set
                 - Purchase two twin mattress sets

Phase Three: - Reorganize upstairs closets- we have three and they will all be        
                     changing!
                   - Purchase two new dressers, and a nightstand for Lauren's new                            
                     room
                   - Reorganize Lauren's stuff into new room
                   - Purchase bedding for new beds
                   - Purchase and hang new blinds for this room (curtains too, but 
                     no rush on those)
     
Phase Four: - Decorate Lauren's new room
                  - Wash, fluff, and spruce up nursery for new baby
                  - Redecorate upstairs bathroom into a kids bathroom

So really all that is left is decorating Lauren's new room which is slowly coming together. I purchased a really pretty canvas painting (at half price might I add) for the wall above the beds. The quilts I'm having made for the beds are coming along and are more beautiful than I could have imagined (Lauren's should be done before the baby is born, but the second one will be a little later than that). The only things that are on the back burner right now are the curtains for that room and the name canvas's that Garrett is going to do for me. I don't want her to do them until I have a quilt all done so it can help inspire her creativity. I've changed my mind so many times on the curtains I haven't purchased anything. I think once the quilts get in there I'll have a better idea of what I want, and I think it's most likely going to be something I'll make and not buy, go figure. And the dressers, I think that will be on the back burner for a while since we have what we need now, so maybe I'll worry about that when it's time to plan for baby #3. I'm sure I'll have a picture for you when it's all done, in the year 2020...lol!

As far as the "Wash, fluff, and spruce up nursery" I plan on doing that during the month of January. Now that all the extra stuff that was in that room has been moved to were it belongs this will be much easier. And now that the holiday season is done, I'll have more time to do it.

Oh goodness, so much done and just a few things left to prepare for my sweet baby's arrival. I'm quiet giddy about it all. Although, I'm still quiet content at being pregnant, still not ready for baby to arrive just yet.

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken" Psalm 55:22

Our New Set Up...

If you've cared enough to follow my blog you know that we've had a switch-er-rue of the house in anticipation of our bundle of joy coming this February. We own a cope-cod style home and have two bedrooms upstairs and two down. Ever since we've lived here Matt and I claimed the larger room upstairs for ourselves. The smaller room up there served no purpose at all until Lauren came around. We excitedly made it into a nursery just over two years ago. Of the two rooms downstairs, one was our guestroom and the other an office. After Lauren got a bit older the guestroom morphed into a toy room too. So when baby number two came into the picture I was trying to figure out the best new arrangement of bedrooms.

The final plan was to move Matt and I downstairs and ditch the guestroom/toy room, leave the office alone, move Lauren into the bigger room upstairs, and leave the nursery alone. This would allow us a "Kid Zone" upstairs and wouldn't leave any one child abandoned downstairs, with the rest of us upstairs (a bit dramatic I know). 

After painting the old guestroom I started to feel more ownership over this new room and slowly but surely as furniture moved in and new valences have been hung, the room feels more and more like it's our room. I still have plans on hanging pictures and moving some of the wall decorations from our old room upstairs down and I know that after all is said and done it will be even more of a cozy master suite than it has already become. 

I was apprehensive about moving down here, but knew that I was more than okay with it being us and not Lauren or the baby- I just didn't feel right having them in a more venerable part of the house than us (again I understand the drama of this statement and I'm just trying to be honest here). Now, however, I really enjoy our new house arrangement. I love that the upstairs bedrooms are now next to the kids bathroom and that I was able to decorate it all cute/kid appropriate.

I love that our bathroom is away from their rooms too, yet still next to our room. When Lauren was little I would often be annoyed because I would be a lazy/exhausted mommy and not shower first thing in the morning, and when I was ready to shower it was Lauren's nap time. One might think well, what a perfect time to shower when you have a newborn/infant. Well my bathroom was a small thin wall away from her bedroom. I didn't want to accidently drop the shampoo bottle and jolt her awake- oh no I'd rather sacrifice my shower than wake a baby when she wasn't ready. So I'd often put her in the bouncer seat with some toys and set that in the bathroom while I showered. Now there will be no problems with me showering while Lauren or baby #2 sleeps. We'd have the same problem in the morning. Matt would wait until Lauren woke up to shower so he wouldn't wake her earlier. Now because of our wonderful new arrangement when days like today occur, where I had an early doctor appointment causing me to shower before Lauren had awoken, I took my shower with no thoughts of disturbing her- wonderfulness!

Likewise, when we bath Lauren it is wonderful to just wake two feet from the bathroom and get her dressed for bed. I love that I can keep the bigger, more cumbersome potty seat, practically permanently on the toilet upstairs and the small, easy to store seat down here- where we move it on and off five/six times daily. 

Also, L.O.V.E, love that 99% of the toys are upstairs and not taking over my house. I have a few things still downstairs but most of it is upstairs. I was also thinking that will make it easy since this house isn't big and soon we'll have the baby's activity mat, swing, bouncer seat, etc. once again taking up residence down here. 

As we all adjust to our new rooms and the new way the house is organized I think it is helping us prepare for our new little girl. As the baby stuff comes out of storage and things like the bassinet take up residence in places they haven't been for two years, I know we'll start preparing to make room for this new little love. I can't wait to see her personality, look into her eyes, snuggle her little delicate body, and dream of the wonderful woman God will make her into. I pray so much that both my girls have a heart filled with Jesus and a desire to see his everlasting love for them. May they grow to know him and all that he promises for us, and all he has done for us! May this house's changes be the first of many happy changes to come!

Such a big weekend!

Holy goodness there are about seven hundred other things I should be doing but I can't put off another minute what I've been waiting to write about! So yeah to procrastination!!

First, oh my what a wonderful weekend! How great it was to have Matt's parents come down and to see them. It's such a treat to have them here. They came Friday a little after lunch and stayed through this morning. Them being here gave Matt and I some time to get away. So Friday after Matt got home from work and visited a little- we headed to a friends vacation home.

All I can say is quiet, it was so tranquil and quiet. We slept like champs Friday night after enjoying some Arby's dinner on the drive down. Both of us have been so tired that the sleep (and did a mention quiet) were such a wonderful gift. Saturday we enjoyed a nice walk around the area and I got almost all of my cross-stitch project done (I won't shame myself by telling you how long ago I started this project or that it's for some friend who got married this past April...yes my head is hung a little low for this). Matt enjoyed reading magazine after magazine- there were lots there. We chatted and enjoyed watching the 'baby on board' kicking and squirming around inside my tummy. I napped while Matt enjoyed a movie (the only time we turned on anything electronic, aside from our cell phones to call home). We decided that dishes were too hard to do on such a relaxing getaway so we got take out for dinner. Before we knew it, we were ready for another early night and off to bed we went. As crazy as my sleep has been these day- waking up at the wee hours of the morning and not being able to fall back to sleep for what feels like forever (yes, this is still a problem for me)- I slept like a champ, 10 straight hours each night.

By the time Sunday morning rolled around I was ready to get home and take advantage of my in-laws being in charge of Lauren and the house. We got back and I got right to work reorganizing and cleaning. I got so much done and Matt and his dad got stuff done I wasn't even hoping to happen. It was such a productive day. It was like all the energy that I didn't use the day before was stored up so I could do twice as much the next day. Plus, my MIL was doing all my usually things, watching Lauren, cooking, cleaning up etc. so it freed me up to be able to do whatever I needed to do. I know I could use that break more often and it makes me so wish we could be closer to family- especially them.

My Four Phase plan is moving full speed ahead! Check out what I got done:


Phase One:  - Empty guest/playroom and closet - moving everything upstairs.
                  - Prep room to be painted
                  - Purchase paint and paint room
                  - Reorganize closet in office to accommodate more stuff (this 
                    should be fun...)

Phase Two: - Move our bedroom furniture downstairs and set up room
                 - Decorate our new master bedroom
                 - Redesign, purchase, and install closet organization for this room
                 - Sell one queen mattress set
                 - Purchase two twin mattress sets

Phase Three: - Reorganize upstairs closets- we have three and they will all be        
                     changing!
                   - Purchase two new dressers, a nightstand and two twin beds for 
                     Lauren's new room
                   - Reorganize Lauren's stuff into new room
                   - Purchase bedding for new beds
                   - Purchase and hang new blinds for this room (curtains too, but no 
                     rush on those)
     
Phase Four: - Decorate Lauren's new room
                  - Wash, fluff, and spruce up nursery for new baby
                  - Redecorate upstairs bathroom into a kids bathroom

My house feels more like a house. Matt's and my new master bedroom so close to being complete- it all but needs some pictures on the wall and you can call it done. Lauren's new room is moving along quite nicely. I'm still organizing some toys, books, and need to switch over closets- but it looks like a kids room and not a room of crap in piles. The nursery is back to normal- no random furniture  toys and boxes lining the walls. It's getting there.

This week is relatively slow- I only have Brooke one day, and I only have plans for Friday- other than that I've got time to do things. This wonderful math equation show how I feel in a nut shell  Stuff being done + time to get more stuff done = one happy lady. Most of the things left are tedious and it's stuff most people will never see or notice- like closet reorganization- but once it's done, it's done! (I know that statement is redundant but we all know we do stuff just so it's done and we don't have to do it again- hopefully for a while).

I'm so grateful for a wonderful weekend, that had the prefect combination of relaxation and productivity. I'm so grateful for the time to reconnect with my loving husband- Happy 7th Anniversary to us! I'm so grateful for family that so willingly and generously helped us out in SO many ways. I'm so grateful for the house we have and the home we've created. Amen to all those blessings!

"God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

Wednesday again!

I think it's neat that all of my appointments thus far have been on Wednesday. Mid-week is perfect. So today we had the last ultrasound and found a happy, cooperative, healthy baby! We also found out that we're...

We're super excited and can't wait to see what this bundle of joy has in store for us. It was funny because I think we both were so in-different about what the gender would be and we both also didn't mind having either one. Last time it was more defined. I guess that is why the name is still up in the air. I have two that I really like, one of them I love. Matt still thinks that the perfect name is out there- although he has admitted he likes both names I've picked, he just thinks there is some hidden name that we haven't thought of yet. I beg to differ.

I'm super excited to know how we're going to rearrange the house now. You see we have two bedrooms upstairs and two downstairs. Currently, Matt and I in one room upstairs and Lauren is in the other. Downstairs we have a guest/playroom and an office. It was already decided that no matter the gender Matt and I would move downstairs and the upstairs would be the kid zone. It works much better for them having their own bathroom and moving the majority of the toys upstairs is just a grand idea to me. We however were waiting on the gender to see if Lauren would stay in her room or move to our old room. Since it is a girl, Lauren will move into the bigger of the two rooms and the baby would move into the nursery.

Although the other way would have worked, this way is better. Most of the toys are Lauren's toys anyway, so since she has the bigger of the two rooms, most of the toys will be in her room. Also, we don't have to spend money on anything for the decorating of the nursery. I plan on keeping it all the same. No need for new bedding and decor, like we would have done if we were having a boy. We do however need to get Lauren some new decorations for her "new" room. 

I'm thinking the new room will help when it comes to transitioning her to a big girl bed. This is something we plan to do in late November, early December- all depending on how slow/fast I am at rearranging everything.

First thing though is moving us downstairs. So I need to clear our the guest room and paint it. Then I need to reorganize closets and lastly move our stuff down stairs. Once all of the is done, we can worry about getting her big girl room prepared. We have time too, since I plan on using a bassinet for the baby in our room. 

Oh this excitement has really got the better of me today. I was sad Matt had to venture back to work. Then after Lauren and I had lunch I just got really tired and wanted to lay down. I wanted to write the great news in here thought before I attempted a nap. But now my tired eyes are getting the better of me. Off to enjoy the quiet and solitude before my energetic, goofy girl wakes up!

Nusery!!!

Well the nursery is getting there! Two weeks ago, after getting back from the beach, I had Matt take down all the doors so I could start with painting those. They took me 3-4 days, but the work seemed easy since I got to sit while I did it. I also chatted on the phone or listened to my book on CD too (Eat, Love, Pray - wonderful book so far!).

Then last Saturday I had a friend from church, Josh, come help me with the trim. You see Matt is not a painter. I, for the most part, enjoy painting and feel I'm not horrible at it. I've painted most of the rooms in the house, all but three. So Matt did yard work while we painted. Painting with others makes it go by sooo much faster. It was nice having that time of fellowship with Josh as well. (If you remember, from a previous post, he was on my crew a Lebcamp this year.)

Then Friday I ventured out to get the paint for the walls and shades for the windows. I've always pictured the pleated shades for that room and was super excited to throw away those cheap mini-blinds that we've had in there.

Well after getting the paint I was motivated to get started. I had originally asked Josh to come back and help me out again. I wanted to tape off trim and start cutting in before Saturday. Well I was on a "roll" (haha) and taped all the trim, cut in the one green wall, cut in the purple walls, and then rolled the green wall. I texted Josh and told him I didn't really need him today since I had gotten so much done already. So this morning I woke up and got to work. I didn't think it would take me that long to do, but it was another 2 hours before I was done rolling the purple walls. I was exhausted afterwords! I cleaned up while Matt hung the shades up, showered, and took a 1.5 hour nap!

Now tomorrow I'm going to clean the carpet in there, with a borrowed cleaner machine. Then hopefully the furniture will be delivered this week.They are suppose to call Tuesday to set up a delivery date. So I'm thinking it should be here by the end of the week.

Wow I can't believe it is all coming together. Only by the grace of God that is for sure. I'm so grateful for all He has blessed us with. I'll end with a bible verse to sum up how I feel: "Trust in the Lord, with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you they way" Proverbs 3:5-6






Here are some pictures of what it looks likes so far. I can't wait until Garrett paints the garden mural on the green wall, it's going to look so great!