24 weeks

Take a look at the progression...yike!

*How far along?: 24 weeks = 6 MONTHS!

*How big is your baby?: an ear of corn...about 8.5 inches long & 1 1/2lbs!

*Total weight gain?: about 3lbs.

*Sex: BOY! Grayson Benjamin:)

*Maternity clothes: everything...including the dreaded bathing suit.

*Stretch marks: None yet! I have been lathering cocoa butter on a couple times a day and then use my tummy rub at night. Seems to be doing the trick!

*Sleep: I am sleeping great...it's those middle of the night bathroom trips I hate!
*Best moment this week: Loving all the movements...I can see Grayson move now. Looks a little like an alien is inside my stomach!
*Movement:all. the. time. Little guy is getting stronger!

*Food cravings: anything cold!

*Labor signs: nope

*Belly button in or out: in

*What I miss: my bikini & a margarita!

*What I'm looking forward to: ...still waiting on his bedding to arrive! I want to get the nursery put together!

things that i LOVE & make me happy:)

This little boy has stolen my heart already. :)

I love my furbabies more than I like most people. Seriously. Jack, Huddy, & Ellie will always be my first "babies."

This boy makes me happy:) As does the rest of my family! I am lucky to have a really close knit family...they make life fun!

These girls got me through my senior year (part deux) of college!

These girls. I love them. Cousins, high school friends, Ole Miss gals...love them all!

These girls. I came to Nashville praying to find a teaching job that I would love. Well, prayer answered! Not only do I work at a really good school but I work with these awesome people!

The Double Doozie makes me happy (and sick) when I go to the mall...my mouth waters just thinking about one!

The Paisley family. Okay, Brad Paisley is easily my favorite country musician...but not only do I love him, I love his cute little family! I was just telling Ben at dinner on Tuesday that I have a family crush on them. I think that we could best friends! Then later that night I saw Kimberly in downtown Franklin! I think it's a sign...

Llamas & wine...killing 2 birds here, folks!

Everything about Christmas makes my heart giddy. I hope my little boy enjoys every second of it like I do:)

THE BEACH!!! This is the first summer ever that I will not be on the beach somewhere. I hate sand but I love the ocean. I love reading a book on the beach. People watching at the beach is the best. I love being tan. Next year, I will have a baby to take to the beach!

These things also make me smile:

*Mexican food

*diet coke

*a clean house

*front porch sitting

*SEC football games on a Saturday in the fall!

summer=reading

I love summer. I love that I am almost 25 and I still have a summer. I never read books for fun during the school year but I love reading by the pool/beach during the summer! Here is my reading list for this summer:

I've read "What to Expect" and it is b o r i n g. I am hoping this book is a little more entertaining!
I'm pregnant. I have a belly. I like to laugh. Enough said.

Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors. I read "Something Borrowed," "Something Blue," and "Baby Proof" last summer. I loved all of them. I am excited about reading this one!

My mom told me about this book and said it was really good. Here's to hoping they actually have it at our library:)

YAY! A new Emily Giffin book. This one sounds different from her other books. We shall see.

What are you reading this summer?

23 weeks

**Please excuse this picture...cleaning the house & washing dogs makes you not look so hot. :)

*How far along?: 23 weeks 2 days
*How big is your baby?: The size of a papaya!
*Total weight gain?: Between 2-3lbs
*Sex: BOY! Grayson Benjamin:)
*Maternity clothes: all maternity pants...most of my regular shirts are getting too short!
*Stretch marks: None yet!
*Sleep: Great...I've been tired!

*Best moment this week: Feeling this little boy KICK!

*Movement: I can finally feel him! He moves around a lot at night...Ben has even been able to feel him! So cool!
*Food cravings: Popsicles! ...baby is growing and I have been HUNGRY! Anything cold...it's hot outside!
*Labor signs: nope
*Belly button in or out: in
*What I miss: a bra that fits. need I say more?
*What I'm looking forward to: Our bedding should get here next week..I'm ready to see it all put together!

we were showered!

On Tuesday Grayson and I had our very first shower! Please note that I do mean a baby shower. I do like to be clean, ya know.

My 1st grade team hosted my school shower and it was great!

Kristy put together an AMAZING candy buffet...girl knows I love my sweets! Doesn't it look awesome?? There were lollipops, rice krispy treat pops, cotton candy shooters, m&m's, airheads--my fave, chocolate covered pretzels, & Mary's famous cupcakes! Seriously. Yum. My mouth is watering...
So cute:) Good job, girls!

My favorite 9 month old and her awesome mama even showed up! Ellie Kate was the star of the show!

My team...remember the small one from Caron's shower? Ha!

The honorary teacher...Mrs. Katie Jones!

Dear Mary, please stop making everyone else look pale. Thanks, Loma

We missed Caron terribly. She was just so lazy not to come on the day she brought her brand-new beautiful baby girl home from the hospital! Geesh. (I kid, I kid..) We love you CJ! I would totally photoshop you in if I knew how to!

Caron got Grayson his FIRST monogrammed outfit! I love it! Makes it seem more official now that his name is on something:)

The loot. Grayson was definitely spoiled! We also got our Pack-n-Play:) We will be using that instead of a bassinet. Can't wait to organize everything this summer! Thanks for an awesome afternoon, girls!!!

Molly Cate is here:)

So much to blog about this weekend! 22 weeks, Ellie's "birthday," AND the birth of Molly Cate!

Molly Cate arrived today around 3:00pm weighing 7lbs. 11oz! She is absolutely beautiful!
Aunt Loma was pretty excited!

3/4 of the posse!

Caron & her new baby girl--just 4 hours later! CJ was lookin' good!

The new family of THREE! Kyle, Caron, & Molly Cate:)

Just like Kristy had hoped, Molly Cate came into the world with a head full of brown hair! I can't wait to see a bow on that cute head!

Mary decided to "un-burrito" the baby...she was not a fan. I am going to need serious lessons in the burrito baby area!

I just love these girls. That is all. Caron--get ready for lots of summer visits from us!!

My Ellie..

One year ago today we made a trip to Petsmart to buy some dog food & ended up leaving with a little girl pup. That's right...Ellie is celebrating her "birthday" with us today!!

These days Ellie likes to lounge in the sun...do her frog pose in the grass...and prefers NOT to use the restroom if the grass is wet. High maintenance..a princess, really.
She loves a good snuggle with her big brother, Huddy. They are best friends!

She likes being pretty.

...and of course acting like a lunatic. Ellie has made this past year very interesting! We love our little girl!

22 weeks

*How far along?: 22 weeks...5 1/2 months!

*How big is your baby?: The size of a spaghetti squash. Grayson should weigh about 1lb. now!

*Total weight gain?: As of Monday, I was officially back to my start weight! So still no gain. I'm amazed at this considering I am the type that can LOOK at a Big Mac & gain a few pounds. Mary says Grayson is a fat-sucking fetus...I am perfectly content with that!

*Sex: BOY! Grayson Benjamin:)

*Maternity clothes: all maternity pants...most of my regular shirts are getting too short!

*Stretch marks: None yet!

*Sleep: Great...I've been tired!
*Best moment this week: We finished painting the nursery! Pictures to come...I love it!
*Movement: I think I am feeling little flutters...almost like a bubble popping.

*Food cravings: Popsicles! ...baby is growing and I have been HUNGRY!

*Labor signs: hmmm...hopefully we are about 18 weeks away from that!

*Belly button in or out: in

*What I miss: a bra that fits. need I say more?

*What I'm looking forward to: Setting up our crib & dresser/changing table...if we can get it up the stairs. :) AND we are still on BabyWatch 2010:Molly Cate. Caron & Kyle should have a baby very soon! Can't wait to meet little MC!

Okay...random thing I have noticed recently with my ever-growing front side: balance is pretty dang hard when you have a ball in your stomach! Seriously! I am by no means huge & when I am sitting on the floor I have a hard time getting up...dang weight shift. I can't even imagine what that will feel like in August & September...

Houston, we have a nursery.

Ben did not have to go to work today (lucky) and he was VERY productive!! I came home and he had painted the first coat in Grayson's nursery!! By the way..when will typing out the name "Grayson" become real & not seem like I am a daydreaming 6 year old playing dolls? I am not going to post pictures of the room until all the painting is complete...but so far, I love it! It is a really pretty green & we are planning to do an accent wall with blue & honeydew green stripes...can't wait!!

We haven't actually ordered the bedding yet, but we know what we are getting! We are having it custom made by JavisDavis...they have great fabric choices! I will post a picture of his bedding when it arrives...but for now, here are the fabrics!

I love them! I have already been browsing Etsy..which is dangerous..and can't wait to really get started on Grayson's nursery! Pictures to come:)

ramblings.

Can I first say that I have only 8 1/2 days left of school? WHAT?! How did this happen? This last half of the year flew by. I'm totally okay with that. We had our last field trip today. It was to a wildlife sanctuary. Outside. Record high temps. Bugs. Poison ivy. Sweaty hot mess. I had to cover myself in Monkey Butt Powder before we left so I wouldn't have major sweating issues. and yes, you read Monkey Butt Powder correctly. I swore by that stuff when I was uber pregnant all last summer and felt like I was constantly melting.

I swear if I have to flush one more guppy at school I'm gonna freak. We always get guppies, snails, millipedes, and roly polys at the end of the year. This just hasn't been a good year for critters in my classroom. All I have to say is my kids are sick of having guppy funerals in our bathrooms. Just sayin'.

I think me and my friends have way too much fun together. Last night we pretended it was Kristy's birthday at a mexican restaurant and got all our fave waiters to sing to her, make her wear a sombrero, shove whip cream in her face--which she hates, AND serve her a big ol' helping of fried ice cream. Ole!

I have a confession. I miss being pregnant. I miss that fresh-out-of-the-oven newborn stage. How is that possible when my baby is only 7 months?? I don't know. I may be crazy...I'm sure I am. I am definitely loving the stage we are in--don't get wrong--but, I just miss that whole phase of my life.

Speaking of that stage we are in...it almost involves a mobile baby. Yowza! G is almost crawling. I'm not sure me or the dogs are ready for that!

Cicadas are not nearly as horrid as everyone made them seem. *yawn* no big deal. The coyote I saw walking down my sidewalk the other morning? Now that seems a little more alarming.

21 weeks

*How far along?: 21 weeks...over halfway there!
*How big is your baby?: About the size of a banana...weighing close to 1lb!
*Total weight gain?: I will find out tomorrow at my OB appt!
*Sex: BOY! Grayson Benjamin:)
*Maternity clothes: all maternity pants...most of my regular shirts are getting too short!
*Stretch marks: None yet!
*Sleep: Great...I've been tired!

*Best moment this week: getting our fabric swatches in & looking at paint colors!

*Movement: not yet...hoping I can feel it any day now!

*Food cravings: haven't had any cravings in a while
*Labor signs: hopefully not for a long time...

*Belly button in or out: in
*What I miss: a bra that fits. need I say more?
*What I'm looking forward to: My friend Caron is due to have Molly Cate ANY minute now...I can't wait to meet her little girl!! We get to hear Grayson's heartbeat tomorrow..that is always fun!

Mama's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

In honor of Mother's Day, I am giving you the TOP 5 reasons my mom rocks!

5. She is always giving advice...even when I may not think I need to hear it:) When I am complaining about something and/or someone, she always tells me not to let things get to me. When I am venting about someone driving me crazy, she ALWAYS tells me to just feel sorry for that person and move on...at the time, this drives me crazy. However, it is so true! I wish I didn't hold on to things and could just let things go like my mom.

4. She has taught me the importance of family. Her family...and I mean entire family...is extrememly important to her. I want Grayson to know how important family is and be able to get to know all of his extended family!

3. She is loud and funny. Enough said:)

2. Recently, I have been able to see a different side to my mom. She is not only a mom, but a soon-to-be grandma! I love seeing how excited she is to meet her grandson. I know she will be an awesome grandma & love that little boy more than anything! I mean, have you seen her with my chihuahua?! I can't imagine her with a REAL grandBABY!

1. She has taught me about loving unconditionally. I'm sure there were many times when I was a feisty teenager that she wanted to pull my hair out, but she still loved me. She always put my needs before her needs. I know so many people that don't have great relationships with their moms & I am SO lucky that my mom and I are so close!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I love you!

Flashback Friday..a few hours early

2 years ago I graduated from a fabulous southern establishment: OLE MISS! I spent 5 years in Oxford, MS making tons of amazing memories. Oxford is where I grew up. Oxford will always hold a special place in my heart...it is where I met my husband, where I met lots of my besties, and where I decided to endure the education department at Ole Miss! Somehow I made it..thanks to my friend Leener who happened to be the School of Education Salutatorian:)

Graduation was humid & stormy. Typical spring Mississippi weather...just lovely.

Whitney and I snuck up to the front to stand behind Cathleen and the valedictorian. We like to pretend to be uber smart. That's how we roll. Btw...cool cap, right? Fail.
Thanks for cheesin' up the pics, Mom!

Mom, me, and Dad in the grove after graduation

We did it! I love my Three Muskateers:) Everyone sing Shania with me..."Looks like we made it..."