Flashback Friday

I have a wedding coming up in May (woohoo Julie Barry!) & it is making remember just how much FUN that season of our lives were...I would relive the engagement/wedding planning/WEDDING over and over again if I could!! I was a laid back bride and just enjoyed the whole year of planning... :)

It all started at the end of my senior part 1 (yes there was a part deux!) when this Alabama boy proposed to me and I was so excited!!! Can you tell?! Hard to believe that this was 3 years ago!

I had fun celebrating with my "Georgia girls"...Alex got engaged a couple months later & we got married literally 1 month apart! So fun!

Was lucky to have 4 really great showers with friends and family...here I am with my mom at our Oxford shower!

Georgia girls like to have fun. It's what we do best. My Atlanta engagement party was so much fun!!

we look like babies. love my groom:)

Look! Remember the picture I took at Beth Moore? Hello...same pic 2 years earlier!! Blakely was pregnant with Ashton at the time!

It is hard to believe that when we celebrate our 2 year anniversary in just a few short months, I will be VERY pregnant with our little boy! I love wedding season...can't wait for Julie & Doug to tie the knot in less than a month!!

blind date success

I went on my first ever blind date tonight. Thought I was married with a babe on the way? I am. It was a blind date with a bloggy friend! Caron introduced us to Katie's blog last year when she was pregnant with her little girl...instantly, we loved it. Y'all..she is hilarious. I would totally put her link on here but for some reason I am not smart enough to know how to correctly do that. It never works. (Helpful hints appreciated) You can find Katie's blog on my list...Cleared for Takeoff.

Kristy, Mary, and I have been blogstalking her for awhile now and we finally decided that since she lives nearby we just needed to meet. Tonight was the night. We met at La Hacienda and had so much fun!

I got meet Ellie Kate who is a very happy and easy baby...so cute!
We tried documenting our night. This was take 1. Just not suitable.
Could we be any more awkward?

Finally! A good one...even the baby is looking! Gotta give a shout out to Caron--she came to dinner after a long day at work and is literally due to have Molly Cate like any second! I love making new friends & like I tend to say...it doesn't get much better than a girls night at a mexican restaurant!!

We are excited to announce...

that the precious little baby you are looking at is a....

B O Y ! ! ! ! !

Our little guy was a mover and a shaker during the ultrasound. He kept moving up and down & covering his face with his hands...it was so fun to watch! He did give us a good money shot...definitely a boy!! Looks like I do in fact have that thing called mama's intuition:)

His name will be Grayson Benjamin...I'll pretend like I haven't wanted that name since high school. I got pretty lucky that I married a Benjamin!! We are thrilled & I am so excited to get started on the nursery. I can't wait to meet this sweet little man in September...just about 4 more months!!

atlanta recap...so long insecurity!

This past weekend I went back to Atlanta to see Beth Moore...live! I went with my mom, aunt Terri, & my cousin Blakely. There were 9,500 women among us...that is A LOT of estrogen in one church!! Here we are during our lunch break...Blakely is 6 months pregnant & due about 6 weeks before me!

The conference was great...Beth Moore is so funny! She reminds me a little of a tiny Texas version of Paula Deen. I'm a fan:)

I am in the middle of reading her newest book, "So Long Insecurity," and so far it is great. I recommend it! There were 300,000 women across the North America tuning in to her simulcast...isn't that amazing?! She kept talking about how lots of Christians pray and ask God for guidance...but sometimes we don't always trust what He wants us to do. What if every Christian always did exactly what the Lord told them to do? How different would our lives be? I know that is something that I need to work on. Being still enough to actually listen...and do.

It was a great weekend at "home" and I am so happy I got to see the fam. We went to dinner at La Paz (yum in my prego tum) with my parents, aunt and uncle, Blakely, Wes, and their little boy. I had not seen Ashton is SO long! In fact, last time I saw him he was a baby who could not talk & now he is like a little boy! We had fun & I am hoping I will get to see more of them this summer before Ashton becomes a big brother!

Tomorrow is our BIG DAY! I haven't been able to sleep because I am so excited to find out what our sweet baby is! I am just praying that he/she cooperates and gives us a chance to see the goods!!

19 weeks

*How far along?: 19 weeks and 1 day...this is flying by!
*How big is your baby? a mango--6 inches long!
*Total weight gain?: not a clue
*Sex: TUESDAY! TUESDAY!! TUESDAY!!!!!!!!!! Pray that this baby cooperates!
*Maternity clothes: all maternity pants...belly seems to grow by the day!
*Stretch marks: None yet!
*Sleep: Great...I've been tired!

*Best moment this week: a stranger asked when I was due...guess I really do look pregnant!
*Movement: not yet...hoping I can feel it any day now!

*Food cravings: haven't had any cravings in a while
*Labor signs: no way jose

*Belly button in or out: in
*What I miss: a bra that fits. need I say more?
*What I'm looking forward to: our baby will have a NAME in just 2 days!!! I am so excited...don't think I will sleep until Tuesday night!!!

Can you tell that my Huddy missed his mama while I was in Atlanta this weekend? :) More on my fun weekend tomorrow! Off to spend time with my sweet hubby who may or may not be having "sympathy" prego pains...haha...

your neck is red.

I saw this truck as I drove through East Bumble and Middle-of-Nowhere...both lovely towns in Tennessee. I have 2 thoughts when looking at this...
1. Duh. You are a redneck. Plain and simple. And probably proud of it, right?
2. Over-compensating. I mean, really.



Can't say that I wasn't impressed by this man who has a red neck...it made me take a picture and laugh (at him, of course).

18 weeks

*How far along?: 18 weeks and 1 day...seriously? almost halfway there?!

*How big is your baby? about 5.5 inches long...the size of a sweet potato

*Total weight gain?: my scale says about 2lbs. I never know.

*Sex: we find out in 9 DAYS!!!!

*Maternity clothes: my shirts still fit...wearing maternity pants.

*Stretch marks: Nope. I am lathering up with my Mama Mio lotion once or twice a day. I am really hoping it works!

*Sleep: Great...I've been tired!
*Best moment this week: We gave Caron a baby shower for little Molly Cate!!

*Movement: not yet...hoping I can feel it any day now!
*Food cravings: fruit, cape cod salt & vinegar chips, and chocolate milk...still not a fan of sweets right now which is weirding me out!

*Labor signs: nope
*Belly button in or out: in

*What I miss: margaritas!!

*What I'm looking forward to: getting REALLY excited about finding out what this baby is on the 27th! Our little babe needs a name!

why do we call them showers?

Today the 1st grade team threw Caron a baby shower because she is only THREE WEEKS (don't panic, CJ!) away from giving birth! Ahh...I just can't wait to meet Molly Cate!

Here are the first grade teachers. We are a pretty small school, can you tell? (I kid, I kid...) Um, by the way? Why am I larger than the 37 week prego? That is just wrong. Remember the pretty scrap book paper I bought at Hobby Lobby? I made a banner with it! You can't see the cute patterns in this picture...but I thought it turned out pretty well!
We like food in first grade. We got our grub on after school!
SUPER cute cupcakes courtesy of Mary! She needs to sell these little things. They taste even better than they look...is that possible?! Doesn't get much better than a monogrammed cupcake!

I can't wait to see a little girl in that teeny dress!

She wore an itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny....

I promise I am not lying. Caron really is having a baby in 3 weeks! Cutest little bump ever.

That's all folks! Happy shower day, CJ! Now that the party is over, Molly Cate is officially allowed to come!!

a wild and crazy spring break..

Well my Spring Break is now over :( but it was fun while it lasted! I spent most of my week in Atlanta at my parents. Ben had to work so he stayed home with the big dogs & Jack and I ventured to the peach state!

My mom and I did a lot of shopping & Jack was happy to see his Uncle Hank! I finally had to shop for maternity clothes. My pants no longer fit so I am now the owner of maternity capris. They are MUCH more comfortable than squeezing into my pre-baby-in-the-belly jeans. However, whoever designed maternity pants did not want women to feel attractive. The huge elastic waistband looks a tad ridiculous.

I got to see Magan & Lauren while I was in town! They are the few that have stuck around Atlanta-hate that I can't see everyone when I visit anymore! We went to Pure Taqueria where they sipped 'ritas & I had a diet coke. Ha. I miss margaritas with my mexican food!

Jack & Hank are truly best friends. It's pretty cute!

This is why Jack loves going to his Nana & Poppy's house. They have windows even HE can see out of! He lounges like this all. day. long.

We ventured up to the mountains on Friday night and had dinner with Papa and Carol. They have an AWESOME new house that I love. Aren't they cute? Papa is pretty hip if I say so myself...he is 83 and is my friend on facebook. Love it!

Mom, me, and Dad. *gasp* I have now entered into the point of no return...I now look pregnant from the front. Hello baby Loma!

Here we are again.

Here is proof that Jack does indeed have a carseat and that he does indeed sit in it!

I can't believe my break is over! I will be back in Atlanta in 2 weeks to see Beth Moore. Anyone else going to that??

17 weeks

*How far along?: 17 weeks
*Total weight gain?: no gain...doctor said I lost 4lbs when I saw her on Monday. I don't get that at all since I feel BIG! Everything is shifting to my belly.
*Sex: We find out in just over 2 weeks!!!
*Maternity clothes: I am officially wearing maternity pants...sigh...but they are comfy!! (...and look mighty weird if you ask me...)
*Stretch marks: Nope. I am lathering up with my Mama Mio lotion once or twice a day. I am really hoping it works!
*Sleep: Pretty good...sides are still hurting

*Best moment this week: We went to the doctor this past Monday & heard that perfect little heartbeat again! It was exactly the same as last time...156. The doctor even thought that was odd!
*Movement: not yet...hoping I can feel it any day now!

*Food cravings: fruit, cape cod salt & vinegar chips, and chocolate milk...still not a fan of sweets right now which is weirding me out!
*Labor signs: nope

*Belly button in or out: in
*What I miss: having a margarita when I eat mexican...especially now that it is warm out!
*What I'm looking forward to: the big ultrasound coming up...April 27th! Hmm..whatdo you think? Team Pink or Team Blue?

peace up, a-town down.

Greetings from Hotlanta! (who am I kidding? greetings from METRO hotlanta!)

Here are some things about my trip so far...

• Jack rode the WHOLE WAY in his carseat! It was heavenly. I'll post the pictures when I get back to my own computer. He looked hilarious sitting in his own seat..but I am proud of my very grown up chi!
• The pollen here is disgusting. They beat Tennessee by a few days. My car is now the color of pukish green. I had to clean the front window before I drove last night because I do not want to view the world through pollen-tinted glasses...after the window was sprayed it looked like a giant had sneezed on my window. That is all. Gross.
• Speaking of pollen, my baby (not in the womb, y'all) has swollen eyes from allergies. Not to mention his grass eating habit makes the pollen stick inside his nose...yuck. Benadryl saved the day...and night.
• I went shopping and officially have maternity clothes! I tried on the fake belly at the store (awkward) and it made me look really funny. I hope I don't look that funny this summer.

Happy Thursday!!!

a post of randoms..

I hope everyone had a great Easter! We did! It was nice to spend it with our new sunday school class that we really like. Right now there are just 5 regular couples...but they are all newlyweds who are right around our age! The church service was great...I just love the worship music on Easter! We ate lunch, walked the dogs, cleaned the cars, gave all the pups a bath, and then lounged! I couldn't help but think about how next Easter we will have either a little girl in a smocked dress or a little boy in a seersucker onesie...:)

My poor dogs have been neglected on the blog lately. Here are my dogs-who-think-they-are-human: Ellie & Hudson. They love the patio chairs.

Just chillin...
I am attempting to be creative this week. I bought some cute scrapbook paper at Hobby Lobby (my fave) and am going to make something fun for a little girl who will be here in a month. Caron...does that freak you out? Molly Cate will be here in a month!!! :)

LOOK WHO CAME BACK! My little blue bird. I missed her this fall/winter. She started fixing her nest last week and I took a peek in yesterday and saw 3 little babes-to-be. Talk about Fertile Myrtle. This bird laid 3 sets of eggs in this nest last summer!

Jack & I are off to Atlanta tomorrow to see my parents. Jack is super pumped about spending the week with his Nana and Poppy! I am attempting to use the doggy carseat again...wish me luck. Also, I had my 16 week appt with the baby doc today! Heartbeat was exactly the same...156. I lost 4lbs...yet I had to give in and buy maternity capris today. Pregnancy does weird things to your body. She said everything looks great--we find out what little bean is in 22 days!

16 weeks

*How far along?: 16 weeks--this is going by SO fast!

*Total weight gain?: I don't know..we'll find out Monday at the doctor!
*How big is baby?: an avocado

*Sex: I can finally say that we find out this month:)

*Maternity clothes: Just noticed today that my jeans are finally feeling snug. Time to invest in the good ol' elastic waist band (gag) maternity pants. I practically live in my maternity yoga pants...they are amazing.

*Stretch marks: Nope. I am lathering up with my Mama Mio lotion once or twice a day. I am really hoping it works!

*Sleep: I've always slept on my side...but now I have to switch sides all night because my hips hurt. What is up with that? Do I have a baby on my hip?

*Best moment this week: I feel pregnant. I no longer feel like a college freshman who has been drinking too many 12-packs & eating late night taco bell.

*Movement: nope...I'm ready for some little jabs!

*Food cravings: fruit, cape cod salt & vinegar chips, and chocolate milk...still not a fan of sweets right now which is weirding me out!

*Labor signs: not for about 24 more weeks...

*Belly button in or out: in

*What I miss: my bra fitting. end of story.

*What I'm looking forward to: Monday!! We go to the doctor & get to hear the heartbeat again!

Sidenote: I am totally fascinated by my weekly updates from What to Expect that tell me what is going on in my belly. This week, our baby no longer has alien-like eyes...they migrated to the front of the face from the side! Who knew eyes could migrate?! Also, baby M is developing its very own fingerprints this week! So odd..my 4-5 oz. baby has fingerprints!

flashback friday

I present to you...

young little Loma.

I am 5 years old in this picture. We had just gotten Maggie and she was the sister I always wanted! We had her until I was 19!

These are the Moore cousins...Patrick, Blakely, & little me. I am digging the Care Bears pool. I have no idea where this picture was taken. Blakely is pregnant with #2 and will have Collin 2 months before we have Baby M!

Spring (break) has Sprung

I love the fact that I am 24 (and 3/4) and still get a spring break. Perk #2 about my job! Perk #1 is our 2 month summer vacay, of course...

My spring break officially began at 3:30 yesterday as I said adios to my 2 sweet little car riders! One would have thought that I would have craved something like a quiet night at home...or going out to a place with my friends where 6 year olds could not enter...

But no. Mary, Kristy, and I went to Chuck E Cheese for our school fundraiser! Oh. my. goodness. Best people watching ever!!! We rocked skee ball & ended the night with 600+ tickets. It was glorious.

I have to include this picture. We took this at school this week. It never fails to amaze me, but we tend to wear the same colors on the same day all the time. This was blue day. Great minds do indeed think alike, right?