Halls are decked!

Above is our sad mantel all plain and undecorated. I originally had garland and our stockings hanging in the middle but I always decorate it the same every year. I was inspired to get my rear into gear after looking at my friend Nat's mantel and then on to lots of other ideas here. I didn't do mine to enter and I was a few days late anyway, but either way, something needed to be done. I spent $7 total at the Dollar Tree plus used some things I already had.

Befores

Afters. That snowman does not belong and needs a new home. Still working on that...

The giant snowflake, moss in the vases, the small vase, gold ornaments, 2 black picture frames and the tall white candle, all dollar finds.

The white candle may be a Catholic prayer candle but I liked it anyway :)

I threw in a couple vintagey colored family pictures

And a couple wrapped gifts

Side glance

And the real reason for the season, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!

Our sadly mismatched stockings. I think I may get us all coordinating ones next year, including one for Baby E!

Never decorated the dining room before but gave it a shot

2nd attempt at a yarn wreath. I think I may tuck this project in my pocket to make for years to come.

Belly pictures, shower and Babymoon

I have realized that I'm almost 33 weeks pregnant and I haven't posted one picture of me since being pregnant!! How true it is when people say round 2 is much different than round 1, I'm much busier this pregnancy because we have Audrey. Time is going by so quickly!! The weeks are flying by now, it's hard to keep track! The above picture is me and little E at 12 weeks (I think). I've been feeling pretty well but sleeping is getting to be a bit more uncomfortable which is to be expected. I remember bad back pain with Audrey but fortunately I haven't had that yet.

At the beginning of September, I had a baby shower for my friend Crystal and her baby girl Coco. It was a Korean theme and was lots of fun to do! In the middle of October, my friends Mary and Meghann had a shower for me and Ezra at my friend Anne's house. How blessed we were by the generosity of so many friends and family! We got a big Red Sox toy box from Gramma Sandi that Steve adores :) I posted a picture of Ezra's empty room, just putting some last minute touches on it and I'll post finished pictures in the next few weeks. At the end of October, Steve and I got away for a 3 day babymoon to Charleston, SC. I'd like to say it was relaxing but I probably walked more in those 3 days than I have in the last year! But it was good for me and such fun to have time just the two of us.

Only 7ish more weeks to go!! Thanksgiving is next week already and oh how many wonderful blessings I am thankful for, including our sweet baby boy who we can hardly wait to meet!

19 weeks

Watching TV with Audrey while she holds her brother :)

I think Crystal was around 30 weeks, I was 23

Sushi diaper cakes!

Ezra's empty room

Assembling the toy box

27 weeks, right before my shower

Shower peeps

Praying for Ezra

Cute wagons my friend Natalie got for E's room. She painted the wood one, so cute

Natalie also sewed these circles together as part of the decorations for the shower. I made a mobile out of them which I will include in the finished room pictures.

I adore this homemade pillow my friend Steph made for him!!!

So blessed!

29 weeks

At the Battery in Charleston

Entering the pier in Mt Pleasant

It was such a beautiful place with a great park, little shop, a long pier to look out at the boats and swings to relax in! I could have stayed there all day.

A quick update...

I have been pretty absent-minded about taking pictures lately but here are a few from last week. We went and picked pumpkins with a bunch of friends.

To say we've been busy so far this Fall would be an understatement! The days, weeks and months are literally flying by and I just can't keep up. I'm attending two bibles studies each week which takes up half the day then the other half consists of naps, playing with princesses and barbies, dinner and bed. Getting together with friends and having play dates, going to the library and trying to get a head start on Christmas shopping are filling up the other days.

I am feeling so much better than early on but still have several pregnancy aches and pains that I did not have with Audrey. For those who don't know, we're having a BOY! And we've chosen a name, Ezra Beckett. I'm learning more and more about him every day. He moves more at specific times a day and boy does he move!! I think we've got a wild one on the way!! I can not describe how much I am anticipating his arrival and being able to see his sweet face! He will really be here before we know it. Once the holidays start rolling in, the time will go even faster. Some belly shots soon! Happy Fall Y'all!!

My little purple blossoms

This beautiful, purple bush blossomed in our yard last month and I had to take advantage of it and take a few quick shots. They aren't the best but my little red head looks so cute next to purple, I couldn't resist. :)

2nd ultrasound

I had another ultrasound this last Tuesday morning. The question of the moment has been, "What are you having?!" Well, Steve now knows but I do not.

I originally decided to wait because we had the house on the market and we were unsure where we would end up so I couldn't start preparing for the baby, which I would immediately want to do once I found out the sex of the baby. But we took the house off the market about 3 weeks ago and we're both at peace about staying. I love our house and even though it was a tough, emotional 4 months while the house was for sale, we know the process wasn't a mistake and both Steve and I grew so much and it also strengthened our marriage and our communication as well. We've enjoyed living with less these last several months so we've decided to sell most of the stuff we've had in storage. I'm so excited!! But our stuff is at Steve's sister's house and their neighborhood isn't having a yard sale until the Fall so we'll have to wait. We also have a queen sized bed that we need to get rid of that's in the future baby's room so even though we aren't moving anymore, I still wouldn't be able to start on the baby room. Sooooo, I've decided to wait until October to find out what we're having. A couple of my friends are giving me a shower so I'll find out at the shower. Steve's going to drop me off, give me a gift that will let me know what we're having so he can be there when I find out, then he'll leave so the gals can enjoy the festivities. I can't wait!!

Some people think I'm crazy and a lot of my friends are beyond anxious to find out what the baby is but I know that the Lord is going to do a work in my heart through this process. My natural tendency is to over plan, organize, situate and fuss about things when I get excited about them. Since I can't buy clothes, go to yard and consignment sales, look online for things, I need to be at peace about deciding to wait. I'm hoping this process will grow me in patience. I really thought Steve would be readable and I'd be able to read his face so easy or he'd slip and say "He" or "She" accidentally. That could possibly still happen but so far he's doing great! I misread his non-emotion as not being excited about the baby the other day and he said he's trying to be neutral and not show any emotion so he doesn't slip anything out. :)

I am now 17 weeks, 5 days. The baby looked healthy and weighed in at 7 oz., 10.1 cm long. The heart beat was at 150. It was so fun to see the baby again, see its long arms and legs. And the nose, so cute! (you can see it in the 2nd picture) I do have a prayer request for our little one. I am scheduled to go in for another ultrasound on the 18th of August. The ultrasound tech said the baby was still a bit young and she couldn't get a good enough look at all of the chambers of the heart like she needs to. The Dr. said it's nothing to worry about and to be excited I'll get to see the baby again and get more pictures. She did mention that the heart was one of the last things to be formed. Please pray the baby's heart continues to grow and develop normally and the tech will see a full, strong, well developed heart in a couple weeks. The life of this sweet child is in the Lord's hands and we're trusting Him as he forms and grows the baby in my womb.

Foot

Horsies, Jesus and Aurora