baby blueprints...

Like most creative things, I procrastinate until I have a vision - and then once I "see" the space, I want to do it all in a day! Last weekend Mr. T and I painted the baby girl's nursery in Benjamin Moore's revere pewter. We are both in LOVE with this perfect neutral gray color.

The obvious next step is the furniture. After watching Annie Sloan chalk paint tutorials throughout my lunch break on Monday and Tuesday, I went to Milling Around on Tuesday night and purchased French Linen and Old White, the clear wax sealer, and an Annie Sloan brush to paint the glider, the bookshelf, the dresser/changing table, and 1930s bassinet I found in Canton, Tx. Once I started (at 6 pm) it was really hard to stop (at 12 am). With no prep work required with this amazing paint, I gave everything but the dresser a coat of paint and it looks fabulous. I will show you before and after pictures once I sand it to give it an antique finish and a clear wax it to seal it. I am going with very neutral and calming tones in the room - French Linen, Old White, Blush, and Gold Accents. I hope it is going to turn out very French Country, but we will see! We ordered the crib yesterday and it will be in Friday. Eeeek! T and I are super excited to see it all come together. I have pinned a million nurseries I love on Pinterest. This is a sketch I made of the layout I am going for in baby girl's nursery. (please no making fun of my drawing!)

I have been busy sending links to my mom and sisters to see what they think of crib bedding I have found online and getting their opinion on rugs, sconces, prints, basically everything... I am having so much fun dreaming up this little room that I decided to go ahead and draw out the front room as well. I don't have 1/2 the stuff I want to make it look this way, but that's the fun part - the search- right!?

I found out pretty quickly that I am really terrible at drawing chairs and anything to scale!

I am going to go with soft blues and tans in the front room area. This is my inspiration room from Blue Egg Brown Nest, whom I found on my crazy chalk paint youtube video time warp. She is just amazing.

Anyway, what do you think? Any tips on discount places to search for cool stuff in the Shreveport/Bossier area? I went to TJMaxx at lunch break today and had to walk away from some pretty pottery and glass vases... gotta finish that baby room before I move to another one! Hope everyone is doing well :) xoxo

sugar and spice and everything nice!

We are having a baby girl!!

Finding out what the gender is surrounded by family was so wonderful. No restricted excitement in a doctors office- tears, screams, and "what are we going to do with a giiiirl" comments were all expressed freely amongst our packing boxes and messy house. I was thrilled with how Paper Shack set up the balloons in the box with the most adorable balloon weight ducky. They were so sweet to do that for us! They even switched my polka dots to the outside of a bigger box to fit more pink balloons. Julie Anne's Bakery made a special king cake for this Mardi Gras girl with pink and blue sugar on top.

{Dad recorded everything for us to share with Leslie - and all of you, of course!}

Cheers to you baby girl. We are so lucky to have you!

it's a...

I had a doctor's appointment today and they were able to tell the gender of the baby! I had them write it on a piece of paper and put it in a sealed envelope. We are having our families over for a little reveal tonight. I am giddy with excitement! I am dying to know what you guys think it is.... comment and let me know if you think it's a boy or a girl. I will let y'all know tomorrow! Eeeek!!! I can't believe I am finding out in a few hours!

Amazing the difference 10 weeks can make, no?

As always, thanks for visiting and for keeping baby T in your prayers! The doc told me today that I was going to have my hands full with this kiddo because he/she wouldn't stop moving around during the ultrasound. It is so much fun to imagine this little baby's personality already shining through. I am SO looking forward to feeling him/her move in my belly. They say it will be any day now...

(Sorry about the crickets on the blog lately- we have been looking at buying a home! Exciting stuff, but stressful stuff. I really had no idea what all went into this home buying business.- whew- It has been consuming my evenings; another thing I will fill you in on soon :-)

Don't forget to let me know what you think! 

 Is it a...

Boy

or 

Girl?

 

it's a miracle...

...that any of my bras fit. I swear these things are resembling the Grand Tetons more and more every day! Getting dressed is starting to become an issue as my belly is really beginning to round outward. It makes my already rushed mornings (because I sleep until the last possible second) even more of an issue because I have to try on 3 different outfits before I find one that not only fits, but makes me not look like a bag lady. It's like one day I wasn't showing and then BOOM the next day (yesterday to be exact) I was getting comments from coworkers like, "what are you hiding under there" and " ohhhh, I think it's going to be a big baby!" My precious husband even said I look pregnant yesterday. So, I guess we are there. 13 weeks and 5 days - I am showing. My mom told me that she was so excited she was pregnant with me that she started wearing maternity clothes even before she started showing- and I don't mean to sound ungrateful- but I'm kinda like 'it's already time for the tub of maternity clothes Lauren let me borrow?'

At the doctors appt. on Thursday, the baby was moving around so much that it was hard for the ultrasound tech to get a picture or do the measurements or whatever it is they are looking for in there! She kept saying 'where ya going baby??' as he or she squirmed around in there like there was a private dance party. It made me giggle and I loved being able to share the news with Tison after the appointment. Even though our conversation was on the phone I could tell he was smiling with excitement. As this is the first appt. he didn't attend with me, he said, "this is the first time anyone has ever told me about our child. It is such a crazy feeling!"  I got a call from the doctor yesterday that the results from my blood work came back and everything is normal. We have a healthy baby in there and I couldn't be more proud of our little nugget.

"August feels like a hinge in the year.  Swing backwards and summer is there, swing forward and fall is waiting.  I'm in the swing forward camp. I'm never sorry to see summer end, although I'll miss the peaches.  I'm ready for sweaters and socks and new suede shoes."  -Stephanie Madewell

an epic adventure...

Well, the news is out! T and I are expecting our first little one! Can you believe it? I am still trying to wrap my head around the whole thing. From calling to set up my first ultrasound at 5 weeks and telling the lady, "I think I'm pregnant" and her explaining that you don't get a false positive on an at home pregnancy test - just false negatives... to the ultrasound tech telling us "according to the size of the yolk sak, your baby was conceived on May 18th" (our wedding day!!!).... to hearing the little bean's heartbeat for the first time. I was in mid sentence going on about something or other when I heard it. It was like time stopped. Immediately tears began pouring out of my eyes. I will never forget Tison saying afterwards, "That was the sound that changed my life. It was like the first time you told me you loved me." I mean, really! I couldn't stop the tears at that point. My latest appointment- before I shared the news with you all - we saw this perfect little baby head and body pop up on the screen and T said, "Is that a stock photo or our baby?" It was that perfect and growing so fast! I couldn't get over the little feet and toes! T has already purchased like 5 books about pregnancy and how to be a great dad - the kicker is he's reading them! (mine are gathering dust while I watch an episode of Mad Men before hitting the hay.)

Pregnancy, man. I tell ya - it is exhausting! I have never been more tired. Well, I take that back- a few of the times I have stayed out until 4am might be the exception - but growing a baby really takes it out of a gal! By the end of the work day all I want to do is crawl in bed. I have heard this is a side effect of the 1st trimester. The crazy part is- you're not supposed to have very much caffeine. It's like some evil joke! hahaha- you're so tired you need toothpicks to hold up your eyes?!? Don't even think about a cup of coffee or a 5hr energy or a sweet tea! As of tomorrow I will be entering into my 2nd trimester though - 13 weeks - hooray! Where a resurgence of energy is supposed to magically reappear! I'll let you know how that goes. I'm not complaining- I haven't experience morning sickness or crazy cravings and for that i consider myself lucky. I don't know if it is pregnancy or a lack of self discipline, but I wasn't eating carbs AT ALL on my wedding diet- it is ALL i wanted the 1st trimester. I am trying to get back to a healthy balance of whole grains, protein, fruits, and veggies. I have also been trying to push through the tiredness to hit the gym - but I think the most I have done is 2-3x on a good week.

I was overwhelmed with the outpouring of love we got from friends last week when we spread the news. I got to catch up with so many people through facebook messages, texts, and ACTUAL phone calls! It is so fun being able to share the news and explain- no, I'm not letting myself go after the wedding- I'm PREGNANT! haha. I have started to notice a nice little tire forming around my belly button area that I am joyfully calling my fat pad. It is too early for baby to be showing- so I have the carbs that kicked nausea to thank for my little padded friend.

On Saturday my friend Rachael organized a celebration at Superior (a Superior Celebration) to honor our news. I got a "mom to be" pin to wear and everything!  I even stayed out until 9:30pm which I consider a huge feat these days. Thanks for coming out, everybody.

We are in for an EPIC adventure!!

 {look at these adorable decorations - confetti, baby bottles, and a homemade chocolate cake bear!)

This just in!!!