Peach Cobbler...

Don't worry - I didn't have any of the good stuff... I ate the peaches from the middle, and this cobbler was made with Splenda...

Oh how I want one of these... with homemade ice cream and caramel. Wow.......

Anyway... let me tell you what I DID eat today...

Breakfast: 2 pieces of 45 calorie toast with all natural peanut butter... Peanut Butter is staple... In fact if you haven't read this blog yet, do...

Oh, and I shouldn't forget that the most important treat of my day is nonfat caramel macchiato. Best. Treat. Ever.

Lunch: ham sandwich with wheat bread, lettuce, onion and fat free ranch from Planet Sub... YUM.

Dinner: SALAD with salsa as a dressing...

I also have started my workouts. I am doing P90X. That's right ladies, and if there are gents out there, I am doing it. 90 days. Nonstop. I'll keep you updated. I have made protein shakes after every workout, and the last TWO days have been great! I have felt great. I can see clearly barley the light at the end of the baby weight tunnel, but slowly but surely I will see it.

:) Happy Day Readers.

Back With a Baby

Oh Readers, if you are still there, I am so sorry... But I have been a little busy. Look why. :)

This particular picture was taken by Emily. She's amazing! We did all of her newborn pictures, and they are pretty amazing! Our announcements will be in the mail soon. 

Here are a few more pictures of our sweet little girl, because I know you want to see them want to brag. :)

And these are just some from the first two weeks... Little Baby H is now 6 weeks old today... WOW! SHe is getting too big with all those smiles and noises she makes now. But, isn't she beautiful? :) 

So now onto the future of my blog... There is only one negative to the entire birthing process ... baby. weight. EW! Today is the first day I have been cleared to do any rigorous workout. So, blogger friends, please join me on my weight loss road to skinny. ish. 

I will be blogging daily, fingers crossed, on my food intake, workout regimens, and probably wishful dishes that I'd like to indulge in. 

I also would like to give motherly funny advice that I've learned recently. Here is a list of ten because you have missed so much...

1. Always put a diaper under your baby's bottom IMMEDIATELY after removing the dirty one. This is crucial for your changing pad/hand/shirt/laundry/water bill.

2. Never hold a naked (no diaper baby). See above.

3. DO let your husband turn down the monitor volume after you fall asleep... And DON'T get mad at him. You will still hear it unless you have recently become hearing impaired. And you might just become hearing impaired if you leave the volume up. You will hear him/her scream... they have fantastic lungs. :) 

4. DO allow 1.5 hours to get ready to leave the house with a newborn. Inform all friends that punctuality has left your vocabulary for the time being.

5. DO have weekly date nights... even if they are to go get a drink when you don't want to leave the baby for very long. Your husband will be so grateful and it will be fun... Promise.

6. Allow ample time in the evenings for "Baby Car Rides..." When your baby hits the "screaming" stages, you'll know exactly what I mean.

7. Remember that you will never have time for your top ten list and may have to stop at seven, because your baby is up and hungry in her bed. 

TTFN! (Ta-Ta for now!) In honor of the movie coming out that I will see...

39 Weeks Pregnant...

Okay so I mentioned a while back that I will feel close to giving birth when I made it to 35 weeks...


News Flash: I still don't feel close. :) The doctor told us Tuesday that it could be ANY day... she guessed this weekend. What does this mean? JJ and Linzi got it in HIGH gear... Well, tiny detail gear. Luckily the big stuff was done. Here are a few interesting things I never thought I would do.


1. Speak to my husband through a baby monitor.


2. Place a lamb stuffed animal in my child's crib to perfectly place the baby monitor.


3. See my husband's nose hair through a baby monitor.


4. Use the word nipple and reference a bottle... Not that I never thought I'd use them.. but I didn't think I would say "I think you just sterilize the nipples." Ew. I will come up with a new word... like top of the bottle. That's more appropriate.


5. Chase our dog around for the same exact baby sock she keeps mysteriously stealing...


6. Have an in-depth conversation about whether or not we still need a table for 2 with a high chair, or is that rude if we don't acknowledge baby girl and say a table for three?


7. Call people to ask a non-important question and all of them think I'm in labor... and being depressed because that is not WHY I am calling.


Either way, we are very close to meeting and loving on our baby Hallie. We are so very thankful to God for the precious gift of her and we pray for a healthy and happy baby!


*SIDE NOTE: Please continue to pray for all of the tornado victims. I cannot fathom what they must be going through, but I know that God can heal all wounds. 

Master Bathroom...Suite

Hey readers! 


JJ & I have been house hunting recently... slowly but surely we will find "the one." One thing that I feel like I won't budge on is having a bigger master bathroom. Of all the things to put on my list, I feel like this is the weirdest... but I won't budge. I want to make sure I have a tub to soak in and enough space to where I don't share a sink with JJ. I love him - but bathroom cleanliness is not his absolute forte. He has many fortes so I don't feel bad saying that. That being said - I have come home before with the entire house cleaned. So he has it in him. :) Here are some bathroom pictures I've seen that I am going to share with you... Keep in mind that for our first home, this will probably not be a reality. A girl can dream...

A few highlights: I really love it all... but I am obsessed with the tub, the vanity, and the beautiful floors and walls... Okay everything.

I love copper... This is my favorite tub I've seen. I'm sure Oklahoma homes have tons of these... Right??!!

How neat is this? I don't know about you, but after showers I sometimes just want to soak in a warm bath for a while. This is one of the best 2-in-1 things I've ever seen! So exotic... Again, I'm sure tons of these are floating around homes in Oklahoma.

Ok, so this is something I would never do. This is just here strictly for entertainment. It reminds of the bathrooms in City Bites where you KNOW they cannot see you, but it still freaks you out. I mean I would hold it so long I'd have a bladder infection before I'd go in this restroom or City Bites. Anyone else feel that way??

What do you think readers? Any room in a house that you consider a weird "no budge" on the wish list? 

How I'm Learning...

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mommies and mommies-to-be. Today I got my very first Mother's Day Recognition from Chick-fil-a in the mall. A lady handed me a pretty cream-colored carnation and told me Happy Mother's Day... and truthfully, this was the first time it truly sank in. I am, basically, a mommy. Hallie may not be visually here, but she's here and has changed my entire life. As most mom's probably are at first, I think the thought of being responsible for an infant is terrifying at times. There are two (and even more than that including grandmothers) women have unknowingly prepared me in the best way possible. 


Meet Bev (my mommmma). Those of you that know her - meet her again.

She is beautiful - both inside and out. She has great taste in many things, of which I attribute my attention to detail. She is very funny, very caring, very comforting, very happy, very loving, and most of all a very wonderful role model. I can't imagine how it was raising two GIRLS... especially through high school and teenage years. (Let's face it ladies - we were all brats) But this woman did it with such grace and never-ending energy that I only can dream of having half of. The patience it took to raise me was probably more than I could ever imagine and I am so proud to call this beautiful lady my mom. I love you so much, Mom, and it's because of the way you and Dad raised me that makes me feel even the slightest ease about being a mom very soon. I have a lot more to learn, so be ready to teach. :) 

Now, meet Jan. (my MIL)

This is a special picture from the wedding. :) She is also beautiful on the inside and out as well! From horror stories from movies or other people, I am considering myself incredibly blessed to have this woman as a MIL. She is such a great lady and so much fun to be around. I have no complaints and enjoy every time I get to spend with her! She has also become a great role model in many ways, and I can't wait to see how much more I learn from her now. She has raised two wonderful kids, one that I married, and I know they both look up to her as well. Could I be anymore blessed? Thank you Father! I love you lots, Jan, and as I said before - I have a lot to learn so be ready to teach. :) Happy Mother's Day!

I will leave you with a verse that I think explains these two women well and what I feel describes the kinds of women and mothers God wants us to be. Please read it and either think of your own mommy or woman in your life, or think about how you can be that way for your family. What great lessons our Father teaches us daily - even when rereading a scripture. 

Proverbs 31:10-12 and 25-31 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Hats of the Derby

I am so fascinated by sports and their traditions. I can generally watch any sport with my husband - ask him! I think that's one of the many things he is grateful for about me... ;) Kidding. However, there is one thing I just don't like - and it is the Kentucky Derby. I was traumatized a few years back when a horse was injured and had to be put down. I am not even an active animal rights activist. Don't get me wrong -- I love animals - but I am never that involved in activist things. I just don't think I can watch another derby in fear that something might happen. I am scarred. However, one thing that I really love about the tradition is the creative hats the "Derby Ladies" wear. Here are some of this years... we will call them "highlights." Some are beautiful and others are... well, you'll see. Enjoy.

L.O.V.E. And the mosquitoes might have even stayed away from her face... Brilliant and Classy.

You know this hat was heavy and her neck got a serious workout... Great feathers.

REALLY? I mean I'm impressed with the clown that created this hat, but... REALLY?

He is too cute for words.

This sort of looks like a bonnet. I am thinking Laura Ingalls Wilder meets 2011. 

FAB. They win in my book... at least of the pictures I have seen. I can't help but  humming every tune of the album "98 Degrees and Rising." Tell me you listened to it. On repeat. Maybe still occasionally? 

Today, Tomorrow, and So on....

TODAY...


I washed baby clothes, blankets, towels, etc. I washed it in Dreft, and it smells like baby.


TOMORROW...
I will wash the big kid's laundry (A.K.A JJ's work clothes, and some extras...)
I will make a tasty treat in which I will blog for all of you... STAY TUNED.


SO ON...
I will be patiently awaiting the arrival of Miss Hallie... IF I make it through Sunday and she comes after that, I think I will be satisfied. :) Can't wait to love on her and cuddle her!!!!!!!