The Quick Journey

Pregnancy Photos {inspiration}

2012-05-08T13:26:00.001-05:00

It has been a long time since I have spent any amount of time on Pinterest.

I have been busy.

Busy.

And, some more busy.

But, alas things are slowing for a few weeks and then it will be a crazy whirlwind until the baby gets here.

I am trying to decide what avenue I want to go with my maternity photos.

Here we are with baby #3 due to arrive in 14 short weeks. I can't just drop the ball on pics because I'm busy and don't have the motivation to get them done.

How sad for baby #3, right???

So, my dear friend Pinterest is helping me get some pin.spiration and I thought I'd share it with y'all in case you were in need of some inspiration as well.

Here ya go...

via

Those are just a few. You can follow my board to see others and future BUMP pins!!!

xxLiz

Absent Days

2012-05-07T07:17:00.000-05:00

We have been getting our play on here at home lately.

The kids stayed with a babysitter for the first time in ages this week.

She is totally competent, so I was fine with it, but I still have difficulty leaving my kids.

It's my life people... the kids and the hubs.

yep. it's been warm here, but i wanted to use this pic... it is my blog after-all.

When I'm out of my element, it takes me a little while to feel normal about it.

Call me weird, but I love being a mom more than I even dreamed.

Can reality be better than a dream?

True.

There are some nightmare-ish days that are filled with endless disciplining and heart-to-hearts.

But, I wouldn't want to have anyone else steal those moments from me.

I.love.my.kids.

xxLiz

Who Wears Short... Hair???

2012-05-03T09:13:00.000-05:00

I'm going crazy over here with all this hair I'm having to deal with.

I know that cutting my locks of love while in the last trimester of pregnancy is not the smartest decision...

so, wait I must until this little lovey comes out.

It has grown... and grown... and grown...

I have been scouring the internet and Pinterest for short hair ideas and have compiled a few that I think are contenders. Let me know what you think... it's going to be drastic, so stay tuned!

Really, you can tell me I'm an idiot and shouldn't chop it all off.

I'm not sayin' that I'm going to listen, but I really would like your opinion.

It will be blond, but I don't know what cut I should do.

xxLiz

WIWW {pregnancy edition}

2012-05-02T13:13:00.000-05:00

I haven't ever participated in the "What I Wore Wednesday" link up, but I thought that this week I would.

I went shopping with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law this week and got a few items to add to my wardrobe.

Don't look too closely, I am wearing no makeup and have barely brushed my hair.

I guess I'm not making a very good first impression on WIWW.

Anyhoo, I'm 6 months pregnant with #3 and growing by the day. I'm determined to wear regular clothes as long as I can since I don't want to have to buy a lot of summer maternity clothes. I obviously have to wear maternity pants, but dresses and most tops still fit... snugly.

This necklace by Lisa Leonard is one I wear every.day!

I love it! It was a present from my kids and hubby for Christmas. Hubby ordered it and a few weeks later we discovered that we were going to have to add another name to the necklace.

Dress: Old Navy (not maternity)

Tank: Old Navy

Necklace: Lisa Leonard

Belt: Target

xxLiz

24 Weeks {update}

2012-05-01T10:38:00.001-05:00

Get ready to say... "Whoa!"

I have really blossomed since my 20 week picture.

I am so lucky to have a husband who loves my pregnant belly.

I have friends with husbands who don't really like their wife's body as it grows with the baby and I feel blessed that Mark thinks it's beautiful.

Milestones:

*I have gained 5 1/2 lbs so far. The doctor was very happy this past month with my weight.

*I am sore and achy, but taking evening walks seems to help me loosen up.

*The baby moves ALL.the.time.

*I am in full blown maternity... for sure!

*We finally have our names picked out... I think.

I am already so anxious to meet this little one.

I can't wait to hold him/her and give him mommy kisses on his precious cheeks.

I'm also ready for a Pizza Hut cheese pizza and a cinnamon roll! :)

Here's to four more weeks and entering my last trimester with this baby.

xxLiz

Liam's 2 Year Pics {milestone}

2012-04-25T17:33:00.000-05:00

Do you see that handsome boy down there?

You know, the one that loves to cuddle and snuggle with his bedtime bear.

He's the most special little boy in my life...

and he's officially two years old!

I decided I had better get his milestone pictures taken since he's already 2 years and 1 month old.

I took some in our front yard and some at an old grain elevator that Mark used to spend a lot of time at as a boy. I'm such an amateur, but I try.

He did so great and gave me his signature, cheesy smile when I asked for it.

It is so much easier to take pics myself when I know my kids are in good moods, rather than schedule an appointment and hope they perform for a complete stranger.

He's two... and I'm in disbelief.

xxLiz

Baby's Room

2012-04-18T13:23:00.001-05:00

I have been trying to decide what avenue I want to go as far as decorating the baby's room.

I will need to go neutral since we don't know what we're having, but I still want it to

be cute and something that isn't overwhelming.

I found a few options that I'm intrigued by and I think they would be good choices for whenever the child transitions out of "babyhood" or when we move the baby into another room and use the nursery for another purpose.

*****

I love the calm colors and when the baby is born I can either add pink for a girl, or blue for a boy.

via goo.gl

*****

Even though there is already a lot of blue in this room, I can easily see adding some feminine touches and this being a girl's room... if, in fact, baby 3 is a girl.

via goo.gl

*****

This is such a sweet printout and gives so many options for pops of color in the room.

via etsy.com

*****

I totally dig the idea of a large, custom sign over the changing table. I don't know that this is the quote I would choose, but it's such a statement piece and would be cheap to recreate.

via bit.ly

*****

I'm still searching for ideas, but I have a good start and am excited to get working on the room. But, first I need the hubs to finish the basement so I can move Ella and Liam out of the nursery and into their new rooms downstairs. Ella is so excited and ready for a big bed. It's time to retire the toddler bed. :)

xxLiz

They love...

2012-04-16T19:42:00.000-05:00

...to play together.

Ella always wants Liam to play with her and I think it is so sweet.

Liam kept wanting "More, More" when she would turn away to put the stickers in the drawer.

He's creating a new look... I think it may catch on.

And, of course the toothy-grin. Gotta love it!

I'm sure it won't always be this way, but a mommy can dream.

xxLiz

Baby #3 {ultrasound}

2012-04-12T10:32:00.000-05:00

I know it doesn't mean very much to random people to look at an ultrasound picture, but until August gets here it's all I have to know what my sweet baby looks like.

At the appt. a few weeks ago baby Humphrey was developing right on target and everything looked perfect.

Ella really loved getting to see her baby and she is sure that it is a girl. I guess time will tell.

All we really care about is that he/she is a healthy baby.

The excitement on the day of delivery is out of this world... the anticipation of finally getting to

know what gender the little baby is that has been nesting for 9 months.

Now I'm just praying for continued health and that he/she will find himself head down and ready for delivery in August.

xxLIZ

Quiet Moments

2012-04-12T10:25:00.003-05:00

I found Ella rocking her pets to sleep the other day... dressed all fancy.

It melted my heart to hear her sing Praise and Worship songs to her pets to lull them to rest.

The first pic was a surprise shot... the rest she knew were being taken.

Every good mom needs a sweet pair of heels!

In the quiet moments I sometimes find the sweetest things.

xxLiz

Liam's Birthday {The Big 2}

2012-04-11T09:10:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Liam's Doughnut Shop!

For Liam's 2nd birthday I did a doughnut theme in different shades of blue.

I wanted to do something different and I decided that since he was two he wouldn't care if he didn't have cake. The party was simple, fun and perfect for a little 2 year old.

I kept it really simple this year. I wanted to be careful with money since it's sooo easy to spend a ton of moo-la on birthday parties.

His birthday doughnut (he ate some of this one and then wanted one with sprinkles... don't judge- he's the birthday boy!!!).

My sweet little boy... soon to be a BIG brother!

This is Liam's signature "toothy grin."

Easter 2012 {recap}

2012-04-09T21:06:00.001-05:00

Easter weekend was full of fun, family, and food.

We started the weekend out by going to Kaleidoscope for the kids.

They all had a blast creating things and painting with the melted crayons in the black light room.

Silly faces from Jax and Ella

Liam's picture perfect smile.

We did the traditional egg dying and then I hosted an Easter Treasure Hunt.

This waiting on eggs to be colored is for the birds...

Easter morning the kids found their baskets and looked at their goodies before hunting their eggs.

We attending a lovely church service and had lunch with my family at my parents' home.

Baby Humphrey at 21 weeks... and growing!

I hope you had a wonderful Easter. Everything we did was fun and exciting, but nothing is as exciting as an empty tomb!

xxLiz

20 weeks {update}

2012-04-01T14:37:00.001-05:00

Here we are... beginning our downward descent.

I am more than excited to have this baby in my arms.

I feel him/her moving all. the. time.

We get to go see the baby tomorrow and I super excited to see the kids' reaction when they see "Humphrey"(the baby's name while in utero... compliments of Ella).

I wasn't showing that much, and then I got the flu.

We're talking BAD. I lost over 5 lbs within 24 hours and I'm pretty sure Mark was about ready to ship me to the ER. I was so weak and could barely muster enough energy to open my eyes and look at him when he talked to me.

I am much better now and have gained my 5 lbs that I lost while sick.

At my last appt. (one week ago), I hadn't gained any weight, but I'm pretty sure I have in the last week.

I tend to not gain any weight until around the 5th month and then I gain 5 lbs in that one month.

It's always shocking to me when I step on the scale, but I have to realize I AM going to gain some weight.

Hello, growin' a baby in here!

Here's to a productive and exciting end of my second trimester!!!

XX~ Liz

Productivity

2012-03-31T20:25:00.001-05:00

I have been cranking out the baking like crazy lately.

I was taking a nap almost every day during the first (and part of the second) trimester.

I finally began to feel better and set a goal of only two naps/ week for awhile.

It has felt sooooo good to be productive and have a clean home and food on the table during the day.

Ella had been asking for blueberry muffins for awhile now, so I decided to oblige.

I made:

homemade cinnamon swirl bread (with freshly milled flour),

angel rolls,

zucchini muffins,

blueberry muffins,

chocolate chip muffins, &

homemade crescent rolls.

We ate some and I froze some for later. They are yummy!!!

If you are interested in making any of my bread recipes, please know that they are pretty much fool proof and they aren't hard to accomplish. I'm not a baker by nature (more of a cook), and I have had success with each recipe every time I have attempted them.

xx~Liz

PS. Baby bump update and ultrasound pics coming soon!!!

16 week {update}

2012-03-05T13:34:00.000-06:00

I have been feeling much better this week. I am definitely growing, but that is good... right?

It is nice to be nearing the half-way mark. I have to keep my mind set on little goals, instead of the final date. When I think of August, it seems like an eternity away, but thinking about the 20 week mark seems like a goal I can reach.

At my last appointment a few weeks ago the doctor told me I could lay off testing my blood sugars because my numbers had been so good. This is a huge blessing. We also got our 20 week ultrasound scheduled and I am totally stoked about getting to see the baby.

I am napping less often and finally feel like I'm being more productive. The kids and I have been having a great time hanging out and talking about "Humphrey" (that is what Ella has named the baby).

A few milestones:

I am feeling the baby move and kick around.

My belly is really growing.

He/she is about the size of a lemon/avocado.

xxLiz

Remember... love

2012-02-13T19:08:00.000-06:00

Blessings overflow in our home... our hearts... our lives.

We have a marriage that isn't perfect, but a marriage that we VOW to

fight for until our last breath.

Why must we think that things that are meant to be are supposed to be easy?

I think things that are meant to be are those things that don't come easy, but are worth every ounce of pain, frustration, heartache, joy, delight, and hope.

We work at our marriage.

I love how God has matured us.

I love how God has taught us to love each other unconditionally.

I love how God has taught us the worth of our covenant.

We refuse to give up, to settle, to remain as the world tells us to.

We are blessed that God made us for each other.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

xxLiz

Becoming a Man

2012-02-06T14:29:00.000-06:00

Liam watched Mark shave one morning and decided he'd like to have a go at it.

This is how it turned out...

I can't help but giggle when I see these. I also want to kiss that adorable, chubby belly.

xxLiz

Finally... SNOW!!!

2012-02-06T14:20:00.001-06:00

We finally got enough snow to play in this Sunday. The kids went out and played with Mark for about an hour before we had to get ready for church. They were so excited.

Poor Liam didn't have any mittens, so I put socks on his hands and taped ziplocs around the socks. It worked well enough for him.

Ella even helped daddy de-ice the sidewalk.

I'm so glad they have a daddy that will get up on a Sunday and take them to play in the snow.

xxLiz

Baby Bump {12 weeks}

2012-02-06T14:13:00.000-06:00

And, we're moving out of the first trimester!!!!

I have had a rough past 6-8 weeks, but life is looking up

and it could've been a lot worse (ahem... Liam's pregnancy was soooooo hard!).

I am so happy that the last few days I have been able to act like a functioning human being.

My blood sugar numbers have been doing well and I have been fairly productive the last few days.

I can tell I'm going to "pop" faster with this one. I'm preparing myself to be okay with that.

I'm sure most people show faster with the third than with the first two.

I have had a few annoying issues with baby 3. For some reason I have to get up in the middle of the night and use the restroom... like 3 times!!! I have never had this problem and I hope it goes away. It's not good to be sleepy beyond belief and then get woke up to go potty.

I am really into peanut butter, which it typical for me. I like that it coats my tummy and keeps me from being super sick.

I have also been sick in the middle of the night. I am keeping saltines by my bed and eating them when I get up to use the bathroom because I am sick even at night.

This has certainly been different from the other two pregnancies. I am ready to move past the first trimester and enjoy the energy that everyone always says accompanies the second trimester.

xxLiz

This is how...

2012-02-02T15:54:00.001-06:00

... I told Mark he was going to be a daddy of 3!!!!

This is how we told our friends and family we were expanding our family...

This is me at 8 weeks pregnant with our little blessing...

{i got the idea to take pics like this from this blog}

There ya have it! Now you know why I haven't been posting AT ALL the past 6 weeks.

I am 12 weeks now and feeling better. We will welcome our little bundle in August.

xxLiz

Find Your Craft Friday

2012-02-02T15:40:00.000-06:00

Here we are again!!!

Another great time to show off what you've been doing.

{Quick's Top 5}

Cupboard Painting Project @ Simply Chic Treasures

Valentine's Day Art @ It's Overflowing

Art Tutorial @ The Bird's Papaya

Valentine's Mantel @ 52 Mantels

Circus Party @ Vixen Made

If you see your project, feel free to grab our Featured button for your blog... If not, visit Emily @ BabyBerry to see if you made her {TOP 5}

Here are a few things that you need to know before you link up!

PARTY RULES:

Please link directly to your POSTS, not your main blog. This way, visitors won't have to search through all of your posts to find what they're looking for! {NO other giveaways, link parties, or shops please}
Please link posts only pertaining to your latest projects involving one or more of the following: crafts, organization, holiday traditions, decorating, recipes or any other creative ideas.
Please follow your hostesses, The Quick Journey and BabyBerry
Please post our FIND YOUR CRAFT FRIDAY button under your posts, so that others can join in on all of the fun!
Most importantly, stop by and visit other party goers... Say Hi or leave a comment, because you know we ALL love a good comment! :)
Come back next week to see if we chose YOUR link as one of our TOP FIVE!

Ready to join in?

Grab a button and HAVE FUN!

*Once again, please don't link up your giveaways, link parties, or shops... All of these will be removed.

Thanks!

Down at the Barnyard

2012-01-28T15:58:00.000-06:00

My parents got Liam this awesome barn for Christmas. I kind of asked for it on his behalf, but I'm not thinking he minds at all.

Ella actually plays with it a great deal of the time. I should have asked for this a long time ago!

xxLiz

FYCF

2012-01-26T19:07:00.000-06:00

Welcome to FYCF!!!

Check out all the awesome.ness that was linked up last week. I totally dig everyone's goodies!!

{Quick's Top 5}
Bubble Tulle Skirt @ Babblings and More

Snow Valentines @ Michelle Paige

Makeup Bag @ ...for Lauren and Lauren

Un.twistable Necklace @ Chicken Scratch

Chalkboard Table Top @ 52 Mantels

If you see your project, feel free to grab our Featured button for your blog... If not, visit Emily @ BabyBerry to see if you made her {TOP 5}

Here are a few things that you need to know before you link up!

PARTY RULES:

Please link directly to your POSTS, not your main blog. This way, visitors won't have to search through all of your posts to find what they're looking for! {NO other giveaways, link parties, or shops please}
Please link posts only pertaining to your latest projects involving one or more of the following: crafts, organization, holiday traditions, decorating, recipes or any other creative ideas.
Please follow your hostesses, The Quick Journey and BabyBerry
Please post our FIND YOUR CRAFT FRIDAY button under your posts, so that others can join in on all of the fun!
Most importantly, stop by and visit other party goers... Say Hi or leave a comment, because you know we ALL love a good comment! :)
Come back next week to see if we chose YOUR link as one of our TOP FIVE!

Ready to join in?

Grab a button and HAVE FUN!

*Once again, please don't link up your giveaways, link parties, or shops... All of these will be removed.

Thanks!

Omelet {Recipe}

2012-01-24T15:48:00.000-06:00

I love a good omelet. They are just plain good. The problem is they are difficult to recreate without them basically being scrambled eggs with stuff thrown in.

I have perfected my omelet-creating craft, and I'm here to share it with you.

5. Once step four is complete and the omelet has had time to cook through, flip with 2 spatulas and add cheese to the underside.

6. Once cheese in melted, fold from the sides.

7. Next, fold from the top and bottom to for a burrito looking omelet.

8. I let it cook a little more and flip it a couple of times.

Then, it's ready to enjoy!

xxLiz

Find Your Craft Friday #7

2012-01-19T17:41:00.002-06:00

Love it. Love it. Love it.

Great Projects, y'all!!!

Here we go...

{Quick's Top 5}

Dryer Sheet Lantern Tutorial @ Petites Passion

Bottle Lamp @ Creative Passage

DIY Photo Canvas @ Raising Oranges

Winter Mantel @ It's Overflowing

Pillowcase Dress @ AboutBloggingTime

If you see your project, feel free to grab our Featured button for your blog...

If not, visit Emily @ BabyBerry to see if you made her {TOP 5}

Here are a few things that you need to know before you link up!

PARTY RULES:

Please link directly to your POSTS, not your main blog. This way, visitors won't have to search through all of your posts to find what they're looking for! {NO other giveaways, link parties, or shops please}
Please link posts only pertaining to your latest projects involving one or more of the following: crafts, organization, holiday traditions, decorating, recipes or any other creative ideas.
Please follow your hostesses, The Quick Journey and BabyBerry
Please post our FIND YOUR CRAFT FRIDAY button under your posts, so that others can join in on all of the fun!
Most importantly, stop by and visit other party goers... Say Hi or leave a comment, because you know we ALL love a good comment! :)
Come back next week to see if we chose YOUR link as one of our TOP FIVE!

Ready to join in?

Grab a button and HAVE FUN!

*Once again, please don't link up your giveaways, link parties, or shops... All of these will be removed.

Thanks!