Look at my Cutie!

Haven't blogged in FOREVER. Being a new mom is pretty much insane. I hardly have time to eat, let alone write blogs-so this will be short. I just wanted to post an updated picture of my adorable son! Jackson will be 10 weeks old on Friday. I cannot believe how fast time is flying by. I can't believe that he'll be 3 months old in only 2 more weeks. They tell you to savor every moment, and I am making sure to do just that.

A Few Things I've Learned About My Son...

Jackson loves to be held and more than that, he loves to be held as tight as you can hold him without squishing him. He is a big fan of the pacifier, or his fingers or even the side of his bib if his options are limited. He recognizes Scott's voice and seems very interested when his daddy is talking to him. He doesn't like to be alone, EVER, even when "alone" means sitting in the bouncer while Mommy takes a quick shower. Loud noises don't seem to bother him whatsoever, we can have the TV on, both of us can be talking on the phone and the dishwasher and washing machine all going at the same time and he snoozes right through the noise. He HATES being changed - diaper and clothing, mostly because his temperature naturally runs low and I think he despises the feeling of cold air. He LOVES bath time and totally calms down during a nice warm soak, (like father like son, as Scott takes a bath every single day after work to wind down from his work day).

This little boy has so much personality, and its so much fun to learn more about him every day. I am Jackson crazed, its official.

Blissed Out

Just a quick post, (I'm a busy mommy now!) We're home from the Hospital...finally. Sitting here at home with Jackson yesterday afternoon and all day today has been so wonderful. I can't believe that this is my life - I feel like I need to continuously keep pinching myself, this cannot be real. I am hands down happier than I've ever been in my entire life. I've never felt such joy and felt so at peace. Jackson is everything that I could have ever dreamed of and more than I know I deserve.

NICU Update

Today Jackson is 1 week old. Most of his life thus far has been spent in the hospital. I feel so awful for him, although I'm sure I am not alone in this as I watch other NICU parents trudge through the hallways of the unit, worried and weary. Jackson is definitely one of the healthiest babies in the NICU at the moment. I feel like I can't complain about our situation, because we have been so blessed with this being the only complications he faced at birth.

Jaundice (also known as hyperbilirubinemia) is really not a serious problem unless it is left untreated at high levels. It is fairly common, effecting about 1 and 3 newborns. It is definitely more commonly seen in preemies, but not limited to them alone. For those of you who are not familiar, or who know very little about Jaundice; it is a yellowish discoloration of the skin, the membranes over the whites of the eyes and other mucous membranes caused by increased levels of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a substance that is made when the body breaks down old red blood cells. Phototherapy is the most common treatment for Jaundice. This consists of one or more high powered lamps as well as something called a biliblanket, which is basically a strip of blue lights that the baby is laid on. The strange eyewear you see him wearing in the pictures is important - it protects his eyes from harmful and permanantely damaging rays given off by the lamps, (much like goggles for a tanning bed). Phototherapy treatment is used for a few days until the liver is mature enough to handle the bilirubin on its own.

Jackson entered this unit with a bili-reubin level of 22, which is pretty significant as babies are sometimes hospitalized for a number as low as 12. It takes days, and in rare cases, sometimes even weeks for these levels to fall even a few points, and once taken off of the phototherapy, those numbers usually rebound a few points. Today, we have been told that his levels are a 10.3 - which is awesome! Dr. Hertz (the NICU Resident Physician) just came in and let me know that it was up to me ultimately, but he'd like to keep him for one more day so that he can be released tomorrow with a level so low that a rebound would not be significant whatsoever.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers again. One more day and we should be out of the woods and able to bring our healthy boy home again...this time to stay.

My Handsome Little Man

Here is a picture of my littlest guy in his crib for the first time during the brief period that we were able to spend at home. I can't wait to take him home again here soon!

So This is Love...

I am a Mommy! My sweet baby boy surprised us with an early arrival on Friday, March 27th! We named him Jackson Garrett Atwell and I promise you...he's perfect. He is literally everything I dreamed of and more. He was 6 lbs even at birth, measuring 20 1/4 inches long. Long and lean, just like his Momma. He favors Scott definitely, sharing his forehead, his eyes, his cheeks, his mouth and even his weird pinky toe. But he has my nose, the same nose that my mom has and the same nose that my Grandpa jack had - the man Jackson was named after. He also clearly has my attitude! He doesn't like to be messed with, and he'll let you know about it right away.

We made it home Sunday night and enjoyed our first couple of days together as a new family...God I'm blessed. Then Tuesday we were re-admitted to the hospital after discovering that Jackson's billi-reuben level (for Jaundice) had gone up to a dangerous level. So now, here I sit, in the NICU watching my son sleep under bright florescent lights. The lights are known to "bake" the billi levels right out of the skin. I know God's hand is on us. I've felt him with me since my labor started. I know that he will bring us through this and send my baby home with me in just a few short days. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

I am so overjoyed that I can't even see straight. I've never been so happy in all of my life. I've never felt so FULL of life! I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. What did I do to deserve such a beautiful boy? I must have done something right.

"Must be doin' somethin' right
I just heard ya sigh
Lean into my kiss
And close those deep blue need you eyes
Don't know what I did
To earn a love like this
But baby I must be doin' somethin' right"

- Billy Currington "Must be Doin' Somethin' Right"



If you're interested in hearing the whole story, let me know. I'm currently writing about the entire experience, and I'd be glad to e-mail it to you. It's a little intense to just post in a blog, so I won't be posting it here.

Have You Ever?

I found this fun little survey on facebook, (these things are always circulating,) and thought I'd participate. All of the things that I've done are in bold. I wish that I could say that I've done more of these things...hopefully I'll be able to add more to the list in the near future!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world Both!
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight Aww...Jamaica :)
46. Been transported in an ambulance just once!
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing LOVE it! (aren't you surprised?)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling snorkeling in Mexico...I HATE it.
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies I was a daisy, a brownie and a junior! ;)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy Brownie Honey!
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square NYC is one of the greatest places in the whole world.
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job - twice!
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Done a kegstand
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car - My Nissan Murano was brand new when I bought it! 1st time ever though!
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - fish for the 1st time last year in Ft. Lauderdale with Scott after a deep sea fishing charter!
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Gone Streaking
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby I get to bold this because I'm working really hard on it!
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Met someone famous - I met Juan Pablo Montoya the Colombian race car driver when I was a grid girl for F-1 back in 2004
98. Owned an exotic animal
99. Been stung by a bee

Little Photo Shoot

This is what I look like these days! I'm currently 35 weeks and 3 days along. Can't wait to meet our little man!

I Need a Baby Book

I am wanting to buy a baby memory or keepsake book for Jackson before he gets here but don't want to just buy it at Target or Hallmark if I don't have to. I'd love to have a custom made one that is trendy and cute and won't look like a store bought book. I found a few different choices on Etsy.com but am not sure which one I like the best. They are pretty pricey. The least expensive one is about $40 and the most is $70. They price difference is because the more expensive one is personalized on pretty much every page, whereas the $40 one is only personalized on the cover. Let me know what your vote would be for the best album cover and hopefully it will help me decide!

A Nursery Fit for a Prince

Finally, the nursery is finished! We were waiting on a few things to happen before we could take pictures and close the door on the project. We needed curtains for the window in the room, but the Pottery Barn Kids in Indianapolis was sold out of the panels, as was the catalog. So I searched far and wide and finally located a pair in Rhode Island. They came in on Wednesday this week. Also, I needed a bed skirt because without one, you could see into the drawer underneath the crib mattress. This also came in on Wednesday. Lastly, we needed to hang the two different wall hangings that we had. The first being a beautiful painting that my friend Brandee had hand painted for the baby while she was in Paris, France this January. It is beautifully done and goes wonderfully in the nursery above the changing table/dresser combo. We also registered for hanging wall letters (not very original, I know) that I ended up mounting above the crib. They also look great and give the room a finished appearance. I absolutely love this nursery. Jackson is one lucky little guy. Everything turned out beautifully! Enjoy the photo's below!

Another Glance at Baby's Progress!

I love these tickers!

A Song for My Son

From a very, very young age I can remember my parents singing particular songs to me. My mom had her staples and my dad had his as well. My mom always sang the Mexican birthday song "Las Mananitas," also "Feed the Birds" and "Stay Awake," both from Mary Poppins as well as a song that she made up (my personal favorite,) that she dubbed "Everyone Loves Lindsay". My dad sang me "Bilbo Baggins" from the Lord of the Rings story, "Inch Worm," from Sesame Street and "Edelweiss" from The Sound of Music. I'll never for as long as I live forget every.single.solitary word of each of those songs. Music has always meant so much to me, and I want it to mean something to my son also. Everytime I hear the song "Make You Feel My Love" by Bob Dylan, rather than thinking of it in a romantic sense, I think of how I ALREADY feel about my little boy. I realize that when Bob wrote the song, he probably intended it to be a love song...and it is, I just feel that it better suits the love of a mother and her son. I know that Jackson will be 23 years old and remember the lyrics of this song because his mother lulled him to sleep with it every night.



To Make You Feel My Love
By Bob Dylan

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love

I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong

I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
There's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love

The storms are raging on the rollin' sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing like me yet

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my love

In The Home Stretch!!!

St. Patty's Day In Indy

So I'm not usually a big St. Patrick's day fanatic. In fact, I don't think I've ever actually done the green beer or kegs and eggs thing since I've been of drinking age. However, Indy seems to be a pretty big mecca for this celebration, (which is sort of strange in my opinion). There are always tons of events going on for those who are St. Patty's enthusiasts. My husband plans on partaking in the festivities tomorrow night, so I found myself looking up what all was going on for his sake and thought I'd share with anyone who might also be interested.

First and foremost, there is a St. Patrick's Day Parade downtown which is put on annually by Cathedral High School. It seems to take place on Pennsylvania St. You can also participate in the parade's tent "after-party" on Vermont St. It is open to the public and will feature food and a beer garden as well as live music from an Irish band called Highland Reign. The tent party is being put on by Indiana Live Casino and will run from 10 am - 3 pm.

You can also (while you're downtown) witness the "Greening of the Canal". You need to go to the corner of Ohio and West St. just east of the fire station. If you are down there early (about 6:30 am) you can catch Chick-fil-a serving a free breakfast as well as coffee. Mayor Greg Ballard will have the honor this year of pouring the green dye into our beloved canal. This is definitely a St. Patty's event that shouldn't be missed!

If you want to remain downtown for green beer and parties, I would recommend visiting The Rathskeller. Oddly enough, the Rathskeller happens to be a German bar, not an Irish Pub. However, they are having quite the bash this year for March 17th. They are having live music all day, and no entry charge to get in for the party. They are also serving a full irish cuisine if you'd like to stay for lunch and or dinner. They'll be dishing out corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, red potatoes, soda biscuits and shamrock cookies! They will also be having drink specials on (of course) green beer!

Many of us (my friends and family anyway) live on the Northside of town and would rather not venture downtown on a weekday. If this is the case, check out The Claddagh Irish Pub on 96th St. The party starts promptly at 5 pm and tickets are $25 pre-sale or $30 at the door. 'Seven Mary Three' is the name of the band for the evening.

My husband's choice for the evening will be Moe's Irish Pub which is a brand new restaurant in Noblesville just seconds from our home. They are giving away 100 free t-shirts to the first guests in the door. They will obviously be serving green beer and will have live music by two different bands one of which happens to be a personal favorite of mine 'The Flying Toasters'! This is a perfect place for a low-key tent party feel, if that is what you are looking for. And best of all, Scott will be there, so you know it'll be a good time! :)

Let me tell you about Etsy.com!

I can't believe that I haven't talked about this website before. Just be warned...if one-of-a-kind "boutique-type" things constantly catch your eye, you may at risk for becoming totally obsessed with this website. Basically, it's Ebay for home-made items. I am not at all a fan of home-made things usually - I hate it when things look cheap or poorly made, and usually would just assume head to a department store for these types of needs. However, I promise you that you will be more than surprised at the types of things you'll find on this site.

One of my favorite designers who advertises and sells on Etsy is The Pat A Cake Baby store. She makes fabulous items for baby's...lots of great things for those looking to buy for a baby shower. I'm not the only pregnant girl around here...in fact I have several friends who have either just recently delivered or are expecting within the next 6 months or less. I am going absolutely crazy over these items!

Check out some of my favorites!

Burp Cloths $14.00

A "Lovey" Blankie (Small cuddling blanket about 15"x15") $20.00

Baby Blanket $35.00

Diaper Diddie (Holds 2-3 diapers and a wipes case) $24.00

All of these items I've listed (plus tons more) come in various colors and prints. Pat A Cake Baby also has a fabric line, so any of these fabrics can be made available for purchase for about $7.99 a yard. How fun would it be to design a hand bag, a chair cover, a child's dress or some rockin' curtains?! I'm thinking about purchasing some fabric to make a shower curtain from the print that you see on the "Lovey Blankie".

Shipping on Etsy is very reasonable also. Each of these items ship for about $4-6. If you spend $75 you get free shipping and if you spend $100 you get free shipping plus a free gift which is a burp cloth set for baby.

Go ahead and check this place out! www.etsy.com. Or for Pat A Cake Baby directly go to http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5576155.

Need Some Spring Stationary?

I am in LOVE with Erin Condren's vibrant and fun stationary and other paper goodies! She makes every type of paper product you could imagine needing. The best part is that nearly EVERYTHING can be personalized. Check out her website if you ever have a need for business cards, calendars, day planners, gift labels, canvas prints, birth announcements thank-you cards, party invitations, address labels and much much more. I've personally ordered from this company several times and have been totally ecstatic with my purchases each and every time.

Below are a few samples from Erin's new spring line. She also has a great selection of St.Patrick's Day and Easter themed items as well. You might notice that her prices are a little on the steep side. Here is a coupon code for $20 off...yep, 20 BUCKS! Take note that this is a one time offer. Enter: TINYORANGES into the promo code box and redeem your discount.

Visit Erin's incredible designs at www.erincondren.com. Enjoy!

It's not so bad...!

...Looking for childcare that is! At the start of this week, I was just about to go into cardiac arrest over the stress of needing childcare all of the sudden. We had an option lined up that totally fell through on Sunday. Fortunately, looking at the situation now, it wasn't a good one. In fact, it was a really bad situation, let me be honest. One of my favorite quotes came from the mouth of one of my ultimate idols Marilyn Monroe, who once said "Some times good things fall apart so that better things can fall together." And boy was she right. Especially considering it wasn't a "good thing" to begin with.

I found an excellent website called IndyMomsLikeMe.com that has a section called the Marketplace where people can list items or services to buy or sell. One of the things that they focus on is connecting people with different childcare options. It literally hosts every type of childcare that you would ever need. You can find anything from a family looking for an occasional babysitter, a full-time nanny or home-daycare, and it even allows full licensed daycares to post listings for openings that they have available. It's really very cool.

So, I logged on and created a profile and screen name and totally lucked out! I found 4 great options for home day care centers that are very close to my house. I've been talking with the women who run these day cares from their homes and getting information from each of them one by one. As of today, I started setting up meetings with them for a few weeks from now. I have two of them scheduled and ready to go.

All of the options are definitely more money than we were origionally planning on spending, (in fact, nearly double,) but they are MUCH better options altogether, so I believe it will be more than worth it.

I'm ending my week on a great note. Things are looking up!

Mommy Wear?!

Are these things innappropriate for a Mom? I mean...I am a 23-year-old mom, so, I feel like they are acceptable. I am anxiously awaiting not only the arrival of my son and FREEDOM to leave the house and get my life back, but also the arrival of the summer! There are three things that I believe are must haves for this summer's wardrobe. Scott and I always have amazing summers! Last year was a total blast and I can't wait for more memories to be made.

Join Us in the Baby Pool!

Want to make your guess as to the date and time Jackson will be born, how much he'll weigh and how long he will be? Click on this link to play!





By the way...Ignore the fact that it asks about the gender - we obviously all know it's a boy. I guess this is for those who are not finding out.

After he's born we will announce the winner! And your prize!? - The satisfaction of knowing you won...sorry. ;)

"The Climb"

Music is so big to me. It can completely change my mood the moment a great song comes on the radio. Sometimes, I find myself waking up completely discouraged lately. This bedrest business is very difficult for me. There are days that I feel totally defeated. It takes everything out of me just to get up out of the bed and get in the shower. I love it when I find a song that can inspire me and pull me out of a rut. Miley Cyrus is known for being some silly pre-teen idol and I've never really been her biggest fan - but she just put out this new song called "The Climb" for her new movie, and I'm in love with it. It's one that pushes me to keep going...reminds me that I'm almost there. Today I'm 30 weeks pregnant, and just have approximately 10 weeks to go until I meet the person who will change my life forever. I just have to remember...he's more than worth the weight.

Here's the lyrics to the song -

I can almost see it.

That dream I'm dreamin

But there's a voice inside my head saying you'll never reach it.

Every step I'm taking.

Every move I make feels Lost with no direction.

My faith is shakin.

But I gotta keep tryin.

Gotta keep my head held high.

There's always gonna be another mountain.

I'm always gonna wanna make it move.

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose.

Ain't about how fast I get there.

Ain't about what's waitin on the other side.

It's the climb.

The struggles I'm facing.

The chances I'm taking.

Sometimes might knock me down but No I'm not breaking.

I may not know it

but these are the moments that I'm gonna remember most

I Just gotta keep going.

And I gotta be strong.

Just keep pushing on 'cause,

There's always gonna be another mountain.

I'm always gonna wanna make it move.

Always gonna be an uphill battle

But Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose.

Ain't about how fast I get there.

Ain't about what's waitin on the other side.

It's the climb.

There's always gonna be another mountain.

I'm always gonna wanna make it move.

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes you're gonna have to lose.

Ain't about how fast I get there.

Ain't about what's waitin on the other side.

It's the climb.

Keep on moving,

Keep climbing,

Keep the faith, Baby.

It’s all about, It’s all about the climb.

Keep your faith, Keep your faith.

25 Things About Me

On Facebook at the moment, there is a "chain" post that is going around where people are supposed to list 25 things about themselves and then send the post on to 25 people. I don't usually participate in these types of things, but I thought this one was fun.

People learned things about me, even if they've known me my whole life,

and I certainly learned a lot about other people as well. Here is my list!

1. I'm currently, cautiously and anxiously awaiting the arrival of my 1st born!
2. If I could make one solid investment, I'd definitely open a bed & breakfast.
3. My husband isn't my type at all - which makes him all the more perfect for me.
4. My ears aren't pierced.
5. I am hugely patriotic, I think it was my late grandfather's influence.
6. I HATE change, of any type or form.
7. I changed schools 7 times during my whole education, and never left Indianapolis.
8. I am 100% totally obsessed with Gossip Girl.
9. My personal opinion is that Bob Marley was a genius...
10. Grilled chicken makes my skin crawl - so gross, I'm gagging.
11. I loathe scary movies, I won't even consider watching them.
12. Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" series totally blows my mind.
13. I am strangely enthusiastic about being a Hoosier.
14. Nothing embarrasses me more than crying in front of people, but I'm a huge crier.
15. I absolutely LOVE going out to eat.
16. Summer concerts are a huge priority. Last year I think I made it to 10.
17. I'll probably drive a Nissan until I die, I'm serious.
18. My BEST friends are absolutely incredible...you know who you are.
19. Britney Spears is a goddess, I don't care what anyone says.
20. No one hated high school like I did, there just no way.
21. High heels are like highly sought after pieces of art work to me.
22. Gay bars...are the best kinds of bars.
23. Vacations are mandatory...don't try to tell me otherwise.
24. I think its weird when people only listen to one type of music - how could you?
25. I have a real soft spot for soldiers, active or veterans.

Love The One You're With

Many people believe that Valentine's Day is one of those "Hallmark" holidays that are completely over-rated and only prey on consumers by forcing them to buy up all the chocolates and flowers made available by the overly-aware retailers. I , however believe that if you are one of the people who roll their eyes at the sight of a box of conversation hearts and cheesy red and pink cards, YOU are either a. bitter because you are single on this day or b. have never truly had a good representation of the day. Now before you get defensive, please understand...I was once one of these people as well. Even though I rarely spent a Valentine's day without a boyfriend, or love interest of some sort, I absolutely loathed the holiday. It almost seemed to historically and inevitably go completely wrong. I felt like it was tacky and stupid and just totally unnecessary. I felt this way until I met the man who I was lucky enough to marry. My husband and I don't go all out for birthdays or for Christmas, and we hardly recognize most of the other holidays that are lumped into this "Hallmark" group like St. Patrick's day, but Valentine's day for us is very important. This evening, Scott and I collaborated on a great low-key idea for our last romantic Valentine's day in which a recruiting a babysitter will not be required - a baby sitter who is one of the bitter Valentine's day people so she won't feel like she's missing out by spending it with my kid. Anyway, I'm so excited to spend the evening with my husband and just enjoy being together without a television or any other distractions.

The first ever Valentine's day that I spent with Scott was absolutely beautiful. I won't go into the details, but he really blew me away with all of his thoughtfulness and acts of romance. I can honestly admit that that evening was the one when I realized just how lucky I was to have found him. Ever since then, Scott has never let me down, never ceased to amaze me, and always succeeded in totally sweeping me off of my feet. One of the many things that I love about Scott is how pure he is in his attempts to put a smile on my face. It never requires a lot of money, or even time...but always plenty of thought.

I don't usually gush about my husband - really I don't - but I often wonder why not? He totally deserves it. We've definitely been through hell and back already in our relationship together. In our first year, there were certainly days and weeks that would pass when I wasn't really sure how we were going to make it. Nonetheless, we made it through that first tough year of marriage, and I couldn't be more grateful for God's hand undoubtedly being on us during that time. I shudder to think of what I would be missing out on if we hadn't had the stamina to make it through. My mom taught me something that really put deep imprint on my heart. She learned it from a couple who had been married for something like 35 years. She asked them "How do you do it? What's the secret to a successful marriage?" The husband replied "You just do. You just keep going." ...EXACTLY. That is the secret. Nothing more. Just keep going.

Throughout the trials and tribulations of this pregnancy, Scott has proved to me that he is truly a man among men. I worried quite a bit during those first few days in the hospital, that although he appeared to be acting very supportive and helpful, that this was not what he signed on for, and thus would not keep up the "charade" for long. Well...it was no charade. Scott has stepped up in a way that I don't know most men could. He has supported us 100% - not only financially, but in every aspect of running a household. This man had never done a load of laundry in his LIFE when I first met him, (not joking). Now he cooks for us, cleans, does our laundry, completes home repairs without being asked, takes out the trash, feeds the dog, and has joyfully completed the painting of our son's nursery. I could go on all day, but you know what...he's just a really great guy. I love him with all of my heart and I am truly blessed to be the lucky girl that gets to spend forever with him.

Summer Vacation Anyone?

Look at this gorgeous beach house! Scott and I are seriously considering renting this place for a week in the summer. It's located in beautiful Holland, Michigan. We're looking for some friends to stay with us though because it has two full bedrooms. It actually sleeps 8 people including the pull-out couches. I keep looking at the photos over and over and over again because its so gorgeous! What do you think!?

science fiction for those who hate science fiction

Newly famed author Stephanie Meyer is a phenomenon. Never have I ever found a writer so capable of completely sweeping me up and drawing me into a story in this magnitude. You may be more familiar with her work on the ever popular national craze the Twilight Series. The four books in the series (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn) are equally incredible, captivating the audience in a very similar manner. However, I think that her less talked about novel titled The Host appeals to a wider audience than that of the Twilight series. Twilight appeals to hopeless romantics of all ages. Her biggest audience seems to be teen girls, but I have definitely heard rave reviews from women in their 40's and 50's as well. The Host, however, is literally for everyone. I even think my husband would enjoy this book - my husband who probably hasn't read a book that wasn't required since his elementary school days when he caught up on the occasional R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series. Remember those?
As Meyer says herself, this is truly a story for a person who does not typically enjoy science fiction. Check out the "book jacket" explanation of the book's basis.

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.

Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed. When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind. Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.

If you decide against checking this book out...suit yourself. But take it from me, you'll see this in the box office as a major motion picture in no time. And we all know that movies are never half as good as the book. I'm just sayin'...

Yum Yum Yum!

Waldorf Salad is one of my favorite dishes EVER. I've loved it ever since I was a little girl and my mom referred to it as "Apple Salad". I remember my mother only really making it to take to parties or get-togethers, but I'm not sure why, because its so easy to make.

There are so many fun variations on it as well. The basis is apples, marshmallows, celery and mayo. But aside from those 4 key ingredients, you can really mix in whatever suits your tastebuds! My favorite version is bright green crisp granny smith apples, celery, mayo, dry roasted peanuts, raisins and marshmallows. Other options include adding different meat choices; diced chicken or turkey breast or albacore tuna. You can also substitute raisins for fresh grapes, seedless oranges, cherries or strawberries. Nuts are another ingredient that are totally interchangeable. I think I'm the only person who would prefer peanuts, but I'm not big fan of nuts with the exception of almonds which I think are much too expensive. Perhaps the most common nut addition is walnuts.

If you haven't ever tried this salad, I definitely recommend playing around with your own favorites to make your favorite version. Like I mentioned before, it is a great salad to throw together quickly to entertain a few guests, but I certainly enjoy it week after week on a casual Tuesday night as well! Here is basic recipe to get you started. It should be easy enough to follow and "Ad-Lib" in your own personal faves.

Basic Waldorf Salad

(4 Servings, about 3/4 cup each)

3 apples, finely chopped
1/3 cup Planters Lightly Salted Mix, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup chopped celery

1/3 cup raisins
3 Tbsp. KRAFT Light Mayo Reduced Fat Mayonnaise

Enough Mini Marshmallows to taste

29 Weeks & Counting!

Can't believe I've been so blessed to have made it this far.

The Nursery Is Complete!

Thanks to the hard and diligent work of my mom, her boyfriend Jim and my husband, the nursery is finally finished being painted! It was quite a task to say the least. Painting the whole room one color was all too simple, haha - I had to have stripes galore of course! I absolutely adore the way the room looks however, and can't wait to get the

furniture so that we can see the final look!

Great Recipe to Share!

My favorite cooking website - Kraft.com has done it again. I found another great recipe that my husband and I tried tonight for dinner for the first time. It is absolutely delicious! I am not able to really "cook" at the moment because doing so requires me to be up on my feet for a little bit too long. I am able to fix a sandwich or make instant Mac & Cheese, but that is pretty much the extent of it. Scott, however, not only enjoys cooking, but is a fabulous cook. Could I have gotten any more fortunate? He can fix literally anything in our house, and cooks a mean meatloaf to boot! :) Anyway, he helped me make this delicious entree, and we totally loved it. We cut this recipe down for two so that we wouldn't have leftovers - I am not a fan of leftovers. Try it out for your family tonight - tell me what you think!

Pork Chop & Apple Casserole

Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 45 min
Makes: 8 servings

1/3 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
4 cups sliced tart apples
8 pork chops, 1/2 inch thick, about 2 lb.
1 pkt. SHAKE 'N BAKE Original Pork Seasoned Coating Mix


PREHEAT oven to 425°F. Mix sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg in large bowl. Add apples; toss to coat. Spoon into greased 13x9-inch baking dish.

COAT chops with coating mix as directed on package. Discard any remaining coating mix. Place chops in single layer over apples.

BAKE 35 minutes or until chops are cooked through.

Extra tip : We also added dried cranberries (or you could even use Craisins) to the apple mixture for a little more sweet/tangy punch.