The Love of My Life

My Man

I just love and adore this man!!! He is a DREAM and funny too!!

Finally...Art!!

As much as we have been painting, gathering furniture, hanging drapes, etc. we do not have many accessories or wall hangings. I do not like to buy things in sets such as furniture. I like unique pieces and how they all come together. I also like immediate gratification but will wait until I find the perfect piece so the process takes a while. I am now at a point where I can start accessorizing the house. I can't do too much because...well it is expensive but an artist friend of mine, Amanda Hendrich came by this morning and brought over this painting. It is beautiful and we couldn't resist!! We are going to hang it above our antique chest of drawers in our bedroom for now but it could easily be transplanted to our formal dining room later!! Stay tuned for the "Birds on a Wire" painting she is doing for Madeline's nursery!!! Tootles!

Amanda will be opening her gallery in downtown Fairhope mid August. Here is a link to her blog.

http://ahendrichstudio.blogspot.com/

By Amanda Hendrich

Getting There

My friend Tiffany Clark inspired this blog today. She is having a baby girl, Janie Ann, due on November 8th and she expressed on her blog how she gets a little nervous the closer to that day. For me, the closer the due date gets the more I freak out. Questions arise in my head like..can I handle this?...how am I going to deal with the exhaustion?...am I too selfish to care for a baby?...how am I going to get anything done?...am I patient enough?...how do I balance caring for her and a husband and dogs and my home and my friends and family all at the same time? We can't ever give her back, we can't put her in her kennel when she is in the way, or board her everytime we want to go to an Auburn game or other weekend trip.Then I think of what I have already sacrificed for her and how much I am already obsessed and in love with her and it calms me down. I know everything happens for a reason and Seth and I prayed about having a baby and extending our family but neither one of us thought He would work His magic so soon and we are so thrilled but this is life changing!!

Pink Stripes Galore

The Drapes have been installed and they look magical!!!

28 Weeks

We went in for the big Glucose test and an Ultrasound yesterday! Luckily I passed the sugar test and everything was in its right place when we went in for the ultrasound. She was a little stubborn but because I eat sugary sweets all the time...the sugar drink didn't phase either of us and we had a hard time getting her to move anything but her kicking legs. The tech gave us a few 4D pictures so we wouldn't have to come back for another visit or pay out the extra $150. The two seconds she didn't have her hand and the umbilical cord in front of her face, we got some good shots. Here are a few....Enjoy and Tootles!!

Our Princess

Lips from her Daddy...Cheeks from Me
Lashes from her Daddy...Nose from Me

Nursery Update

This week we will have the nursery finished except for a few nic nacs like a lamp or two, throw pillows, wall decor, a rug, etc. The chair and ottoman came in yesterday, we have moved the dresser in and the crib skirt is on and fluffed. The drapes and window seat cushion will be installed on Friday!!

I just sat in the glider and rocked and cried my eyes out yesterday thinking of how blessed we are to be given this miracle...this brand new life. I am so touched by the prayers and thoughtfulness of friends and family that surround us. I want to be the best mother I can be and teach her God's purpose and try to be the best example of a woman I can. Before the tears start to roll again, I will post these many pictures of the updates made up until today!! Enjoy and Tootles!!

So far...

Glider and Ottoman-I adore ruffles!!!

Accent Pillow

Antique Pine Server- Changing Table


The Chandelier



A crib made for a princess!!

Baby Duvet

Antique Stroller for her to push her baby dolls in!!
My Grandmother Glover gave this to me when I was tiny.

The renewed and improved antique dresser!!

Bugaboo Bee Stroller...after a recall, we finally got it worked out and got a working one!!

Say Cheese!!

I have been searching and researching for a while now for an awesome camera we could have for when Madeline is born. I have a great pocket sized digital camera that Seth gave to me for Christmas one year (it is about the 5th one I have had). I am terrible with watches and cameras but I have taken great care of it and it is great for my purse. He has one for work that he uses on the job sights but we rarely use it for personal use. Anyway, I just wanted to be able to capture every grin, roll and wrinkle on our baby and I finally found the perfect camera for our family. Arden Ward (our amazing wedding photographer) recommended that we get a Canon. She said the 400 or 500 would be excellent so that is how I started my search. We ended up getting the Canon EOS 500D (Digital Rebel T1i / Kiss X3 Digital). It is amazing!! Arden was right and Canon is #1 rated in the "digital" world so that made me feel better about this big purchase. I have been practicing and here are just a few of what I have gotten.......Tootles!!!

our little watch dogs

ME...Seth was playing around

Crepe Myrtle at Daddy's

on the way to Tuscaloosa

Weeeeee're Baaa-ackkk!!

Laurie Beth, Me, and Lindsey at the river

We are back from our trip back home and it was wonderful. We got to spend alot more time at my mother's house than usual and it was great. I slept in until 11:00 one morning and she made me waffles. Mmmm! She makes the best homemade waffles. Seth helped her to replace some boards and lattice on her fence, I helped her order and design a baby invitation for a shower she is helping host and we picked up Madeline's freshly stripped and repainted/distressed dresser!! For the second part of our trip we went to the farm and ate, ate again, went to the river and ate some more!! It was great!! We are back in Mobile now getting the nursery finished this week except for a few nic nacs. I will be sure to post pictures later today!! Tootles!!

Heading Home

Seth left his job at Case Construction Monday of this week to look for another opportunity in the same field. While he has some time off, we thought it would be good to make a trip to Tuscaloosa and Greensboro to see our families and relax! We love going...we always have such a great time, eat good food, and because we have 5 whole days, we will see lots of friends. Will be sure to post about our trip once we get back!! Tootles!

Updated House Pics

We have been working so hard to get different rooms painted and ready before Madeline's arrival. You will notice that we don't have much on the walls or accessories but that will come in time. Also Madeline's room is clearly still a work in progress but I hope you enjoy!! I am loving everything we have done so far!! Tootles!!

26 Week Apt.

I just love it when Dr. Helen says, "everything looks perfect"!! This was the first time I have been in to see her and didn't feel nervous or scared. Madeline is so active, I swear she never sleeps, so feeling her kick all the time has put me at ease. She was steadily kicking when we listened to the heartbeat which was at 160 today. It was 147 4 weeks ago. I go back every two weeks now and next time we will get an ultrasound...she has one little concern but nothing major so we have to get that checked out and I will have the big Glucose test then. YUCK! Only 14 more weeks and I have a feeling that is going to fly!! Happy Summer!! Tootles!!

God Bless America!!

I wouldn't say this was a typical 4th of July for Seth and me. We are usually on the water in a boat somewhere with cold drinks in our hands. This year we worked in the yard, thankful we have the freedom to have been able to choose our yard and do what we want with it. Friday, we went down to Orange Beach to hang out with a large group of our West Alabama friends and then Saturday and Sunday we worked to plant a Crepe Myrtle, pull weeds, dig up roots, stumps and old ratty plants. I planted a few pots and fertilized everything I could. Seth cut, edged, and weedeated everything. The yard needed it and it looks amazing!!

Hopefully soon I will have something exciting to write about for better entertainment, but for now it is just cleaning out drawers and closets while I can still can!!! Tootles!

Baby Bump

Me at 25 weeks!! (6 months 1 week)

Loosing It!!

It is official! I am crazy! Anyone that knows me, knows that but I have really lost it! Here are my last 2 "incidents". The other major one is..well too complicated to explain.

#1. I was watching the CMT awards, which I never do, one weekend and was totally getting into it. I cannot stand the girl that sings in Sugarland. The only song I can tolerate is "It Happens" and only because my friend Laurie Beth loves it and I think she is funny. But the girl gets on my last nerve. She half stomps, marches and dances when she is on stage (like that is cute) and she is just so manly. I call her the beast. I know that is mean but it is just something I can't help. Anyway, I am losing it every time she got on stage to perform or accept an award. I even updated my status on Facebook because I was getting so upset with watching her. The whole time I am Blackberry Messaging with Rebecca to tell her all about the awards and was so excited when Taylor Swift won video or song or whatever of the year. She finally says to me, "Jane, you do know that you are watching a rerun? The awards were on last week." Gah!!

#2. I have made a summer reading list for myself since I have some free time on my hands this summer and because I don't always have company laying out with me. The Twilight series was on my list and I have gotten so wrapped up in them. I finished the first two books and borrowed the last two to take on family beach trip #2. Well, I am almost finished reading "Breaking Dawn" thinking it was the third book. It is the LAST book. So sad that I have been reading these books out of sequence and never even realized it until of course someone on Facebook brought this to my attentions!! Gah!!

And to think...I am about to be a MOTHER!!! Tootles!!