everyday graces

twenty six acts.

2012-12-16T16:26:00.001-05:00

Friday afternoon I came home, turned on the television, and sat in disbelief as many of you did while the town of Newtown, CT dealt with unimaginable tragedy. I watched news, and then turned to watch my sweet son playing in the floor, oblivious to what was going on. I just prayed that I could keep him protected and innocent forever, that he will not have to live in a world that knows the terms “mass shooting.”

But he does, and he will, and we will have to have conversations about why things like what happened in Newtown happen. Why six year olds pass away before Santa comes to see them Christmas morning, or why teachers lose their lives defending their students. We will have to have those conversations. What in the world will I tell my children when they ask questions?

I will tell him that I have no idea why that boy chose to hurt all those nice people. I have no idea why he was angry or what upset him enough to do that. But I do know that all those kids and teachers are being loved on by Jesus, and that Jesus loves each and every one of them. Even the shooter. That even though 27 people lost their lives, hundreds were saved and got out of the school to be reunited with their parents. That they were all in the palm of God’s hand, and all safe. Some are just safe in heaven, while others are safe at home. And while we can’t change what happened, we can pray for those that were affected. We can pray for the mommies and daddies that had to say goodbye to their babies far too early, and we can pray for the families of the teachers and principal. We can pray for the nurses and doctors at the hospital where they took the kids, and we can pray for the police that responded to the school. We can also pray for the shooters family, because they too lost a loved one.

We can also turn this moment of tragedy into twenty six moments of goodness.

So in the spirit of Christmas, and in the spirit of Christ…I think this is an amazing way to honor the spirit of those who so innocently died.

Will you join?

Simple Things Sunday…

2012-12-15T22:02:00.005-05:00

Its been a while since I’ve linked up with Simple Things, and I miss it. (Note to self: link more often!) So today I’m sharing my favorite shot I took of Landon and his best friend Josie. These two…they are soon to be bestest of friends. Landon is in love with this dog…and well, the feeling is growing to be mutual. Josie had a hard time adjusting to life with a baby in our house, but she is getting better!

A very sweet birthday…

2012-12-11T18:01:00.001-05:00

This week we are busy as ever planning our little guys very first birthday party. But this week also marks another very sweet birthday in my family. December 12, 2012 is the day my grandfather turns ninety years old. The past year has proved to be a very difficult one for my grandfather, and I am realizing how very special it is to have him here this Christmas season, and what a huge milestone #90 really is.

Roughly a year ago, my grandfather went in for quadruple bypass surgery. The doctors warned us that he was a weak old man and he may not survive open heart surgery, but he did. A few months later he continued to have low blood pressure and weakness, and they realized he needed a pacemaker placed. Through all of this he developed dementia, and began having some pretty strong hallucinations, until a month ago, when my mom and her sister made the difficult decision to move him into skilled nursing facility to keep him safe. My heart broke for both my grandfather and my grandmother as they went through that huge transition. He was moving away from the house he built with his own two hands, and she was living alone for the first time in sixty plus years. It was such a difficult transition for them to make.

And here we are, December 2012. Celebrating this miracle man’s 90th birthday.

Happy 90th Dandy!

and then I died of cuteness overload…

2012-12-09T13:43:00.001-05:00

I apologize in advance for the picture heavy post, I couldn’t narrow down my favorites!

Okay, the end.

My Very First Leibster Award

2012-12-06T18:51:00.000-05:00

Well, I apparently have been granted my first ever Leibster blogger award. Whoo hoo! Thanks to Tiffany at Mama Bear Diaries!!

Here are the eleven questions she asked me, and so here I go with my responses…..

1. Why did you start blogging?

I originally started blogging just as an outlet to talk about my faith and everyday life. I have always been a journal-er and this was a much more efficient and fun way to go about it all. Then, a couple years ago I got into photography and used blogging as a tool to learn and grow by reading other mom-tog blogs. And now, I still use it for photography, but I also use it to document my little family’s life and adventures. I think its a great way to memory keep and to journal what goes on, even small things. Its been a great way this past year to document Landon’s milestones, trips we went on, phases he went through, and pictures I have taken. I also just love the community of blogging.

2. What is your one thing that you do in life that is just for you?

Right now…not a lot! I do love photography, anything outdoors, and traveling, but honestly the time I get to myself is mostly spent browsing blogs and catching up on Real Housewives (I know I know, I can’t help it!) or Greys Anatomy.

3.What is your all time favorite color?

Easy one…blue! Its calming to me…and cozy- and reminds me of the beach, so that’s always a plus.

4. How many kids do you want?

Well, we have one already- He will be one in just a couple weeks. But I think ultimately we’d like atleast two, maybe three. We’re still adjusting to just one….so we’ll wait a little longer before we have our second!

5. If you have children, how did you come up with their names? If you don't have any but want some, do you have names in mind?

His full name is Landon Cole- neither has significant meaning, we just liked it!

6. What would you say is the one meal you have perfected over the years?

Um…does chocolate chip cookies count as a meal? I cook from a crock pot…so any crock pot recipe I can master!

7. How did you meet your husband?

John and I met when I was in high school. He lived in the same dorm as my sister her freshman year of college at ECU, and I went to visit her for a basketball game. He was nice enough to give me an extra ticket he had. We were friends for a few years and once I got to ECU we started hanging out more, and eventually started dating. The rest is history :)

8. What is your favorite night time tv show?

Just one? I’ll just give you my list of shows which I usually watch via DVR: Any Real Housewives…trashy as they may be I can’t help it! Greys Anatomy, Revenge, Hawaii Five-0 and Dallas (what are we gonna do without Larry Hagman, y’all!?)

9. How did you come up with your blog name?

I actually got it after reading the book Eat Pray Love…This quote for me really affected me.

“You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight.”
― Elizabeth Gilbert

I was at a place in life that was really confusing, had a lot of change going on, and just really struggled to be happy where I was. And this kind of taught me that it was up to me to find the happiness, or the beautiful within life and recognize it as God’s blessings on me, no matter how small or insignificant it may be. I then also ready the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that’s on my side bar and that too fit what I wanted to use this blog for- the Beautiful Within Life.

10. Where is your all time favorite place to shop?

Target or Marshalls…or Home Goods. :) I love a bargain!

11. What is your favorite food?

I have to pick just one food? I really REALLY love some true New York style pizza.

So there it is, my Q & A from the Mama Bear Diaries!

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my little corner of the internet :)

Christmas Light Bokeh

2012-11-30T21:50:00.001-05:00

I’m kind of in love with bokeh. It’s probably one of my favorite things ever. So tonight I was messing around with the camera and gave my hand at taking pictures of our Christmas tree to get some gorgeous gorgeous bokeh.

I LOVE the big fat bokeh on the left…but they’re all pretty!

And I caught this shot of the little mister checking out the lights himself.

Want to try your own? Here’s a great tutorial from Click it Up a Notch on how to capture your own Christmas light bokeh!

Friday Night

2012-11-30T20:59:00.001-05:00

There are moments in motherhood that no amount of discussion or birthing class or books can prepare you for. There are moments that just simply steal your breath, hit you in the stomach, put a lump in your throat, or bring you to tears as you watch your sweet baby growing up right before your eyes. There are of course those moments of stress, extreme exhaustion, and frustration. But then there are moments of joy in the most unexpected of places.

Its Friday night, and instead of having grand Friday night plans or relaxing while you play. I am sitting in the kitchen floor. You have a multitude of books, cars, and blocks that you could be playing with while I caught up on my missed Grey’s Anatomy episode. But instead…you choose the pantry. You choose to destroy my once organized pantry, pulling out boxes, bags, and baby food. And I’m okay with that. So here I sit. On the cold kitchen floor, watching you play. It is exactly where I want to be. Because one day, you won’t want to play at home on a Friday night, you’ll be out with your friends, or girlfriend. Tonight you are content with just your mama.

I want to soak in every ounce of this moment. Every ounce of your baby-ness. Your striped Christmas pajamas, the way your small hands hold onto things, or the way your sweet hair is messy right now. The love I have for you makes my heart ache in a way I didn’t know was possible.

This is one of those moments. My breath is gone, my stomach feels like its been hit, my throat has a lump, and my eyes on the verge of tears.

Being your mommy is the absolute best thing ever.

Today I am Thankful

2012-11-21T13:54:00.001-05:00

(photo)

For my husband, and the four years of sweet marriage. That we have made it through the happiest and most difficult moments, and always come out stronger. That he loves me, even though I am stubborn and ridiculous sometimes. And that he is my absolute best friend.

For my son, and the gift of motherhood. The past year has been the most incredible year of my life, and I am so thankful for that.

For my job, and the opportunity I have to be a part of people’s lives during such important moments.

For smart doctors, and fellow nurses who work together as a team.

For chemotherapy, procedures, and modern medicine.

For my own health and my families health.

For new opportunity.

That God is always faithful, and always provides.

For my parents, and all that they have taught me about life love and happiness.

For my sister, that she gets me like no one else in this world, and for that deep rooted bond that no one can really understand but us.

For Thanksgiving, and that it reminds us what is truly important in life.

For two paychecks in this house in a struggling economy.

For photography, and the gift it has truly given me to learn, and capture my sons precious memories.

For coming home each night to my little house, my little family, and a whole lotta love.

For technology that keeps us close despite miles between us.

For my grandparents, and that I am so lucky to still have them in my life.

For cozy blankets, hot apple cider, turkey, pumpkin pie, and sweet potatoes.

For the smells in the house on Thanksgiving.

For North Carolina, and that I can call this great place my home.

For the beach, a place where my soul breathes easier.

For a messy house. Its just “lived in” and means memories are being made instead of cleaning.

For holiday movies and that they will never ever get old.

For coffee. I’m not sure that needs elaboration.

For my faith, and that it is ever growing, and that God is so patient with me as I walk with Him. And that all these blessings are from Him.

Happy Thanksgiving!

thankful: being a registered nurse

2012-11-21T13:27:00.001-05:00

For the past four years, I have had the opportunity to work as a registered nurse on an oncology unit at an amazing hospital. The majority of my patients have leukemia, although I see all types of cancer. The past four years have taught me more than I ever could have imagined about life, health, and who I am as a person. However, when Landon was born, I knew I couldn’t continue where I was for long. Life as a working mom is tough, and its so hard to give your all at a job that is so demanding, and then come home and feel 100% for your baby. My current job requires 12 hour shifts, a 45 minute commute both ways, holidays, and weekends. It was very apparent to me that I needed a change. I love oncology. I love my patients, and I love that I get to be there with them in their most difficult moments. That being said, it is emotionally, physically, and mentally draining to be in that environment on a daily basis. At 25 years old, I have been in the midst of situations that I would never dream of. I have dealt with death more than I care to. You know all those crazy tumors you see on Grey’s Anatomy? I have seen them in real life. Those situations exist in real life. But with each difficult moment, I have grown, and changed, and learned.

Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, is my last day at my current position. Monday morning bright and early, I will start a new job at the cancer center ten minutes from my home. I will get to drop off and pick up Landon each day instead of leaving while he is still asleep and coming home only to put him to bed. I will have half days on Friday, every weekend, and every single holiday at home with my family. And for that I am so incredibly thankful. I will get to see patients that do well with their diagnosis and go home at the end of the day, instead of to the palliative care unit. I will get to see patients who fight the disease, and live full lives. I look forward to the change, and I look forward to the break it will give me. If I have to be away from Landon for 40 hours a week, it needs to be in an environment that will allow me to come home at the end of the day and be ever present in my sons life, not exhausted.

While I am thankful for the new opportunity, I am so thankful for the job I am leaving. It is my first “adult” job. And in so many ways it is where I became an adult and grew up. It is where I learned everything I know about oncology and chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants. It is where I bonded with patients and held their hands, and that is something that I truly believe is a privilege. God has blessed me so greatly in allowing me to work on 9 Reynolds. There are patients that I will never forget.

So this Thanksgiving, even though I will be working, I am so thankful and so blessed for the past four years and all they have brought.

it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2012-11-21T11:47:00.001-05:00

I have been pinning Christmas inspired photography since mid July, preparing for those perfect Christmas pictures that I would hope to take of Landon. You may have seen the slew of photos with your child and Christmas lights filling the Pinterest boards and pinned a few yourself. I pinned this picture a while back, and decided to give it a try with my little guy.

I must say, this is probably one of my favorite pictures I’ve ever take of him, and apparently others agree to as I received almost 80 “likes” on Facebook when I posted it.

Here is a great tutorial from Click it up a Notch about taking photos of your kids with Christmas lights.

Linking up with ILYMTC

Landon / Eleven Months

2012-11-18T22:00:00.001-05:00

Here we go, the countdown to your first birthday! I really cannot believe we are here already. I find myself just hanging on to every ounce of you and cherishing you during this phase, because you are growing up way too quickly. This past month has been so fun with you.

At eleven months…

I have no idea what you weigh or how long you are, but we will find out at your twelve month doctors appointment in a few weeks. You are wearing 9-12 month clothes across the board, and size three diapers.

You are eating SO so well now. I kind of laugh at myself for being concerned about you and your self feeding, because what a difference just a months time has made. Just a few weeks ago you wouldn’t pick up anything but cheerios and puffs because they were dry. Anything slimy or squishy you turned your nose up at. Now, there really is nothing that you won’t pick up. You really love bananas, mandarin oranges, and green beans. We’ve also let you try everything we eat, and you like chicken, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, and rice. Each week we add more finger foods to your diet, and you do really have eaten everything we offer. You are eating more solid food, and less formula than you were last month, only taking 4-5 ounces at each meal. I really look forward to making the switch to whole milk and getting rid of this formula thing all together. I am so, so proud of you!

We celebrated your first Halloween! I said in a previous post that I really was not a big Halloween person when I was growing up…I really didn’t care to celebrate it. But having a child really heightens the excitement around every holiday, even those we used to not care about. I was so excited about your first Halloween, unfortunately you came down with your first cold and and really weren’t feeling it. We put you in your costume (a monkey!) and took you to see Mrs. Liz (your sitter) and her family, Erin and Joe that live across the street, and then we came home. Aunt Alison, Uncle Justin, Macy, and Sam stopped by while they were trick or treating to see you also. After that, you decided you had had enough of this “monkey business” and so we ended up snuggling and watching Hocus Pocus while daddy gave out candy to the trick or treaters. I really get excited thinking about the next few Halloweens when you understand more and eventually when we can take you trick or treating! Love you little monkey!

As I said, you came down with your first cold. Which completely broke my heart. It really wasn’t that bad, just a runny nose and congestion, but pair that with teething and you were one unhappy baby. Lots of Tylenol and Benadryl, and lots and lots of snuggles (which I didn’t mind). For several nights you woke up in the middle of the night crying and we would bring you in with us to snuggle and get you back to sleep before putting you back in your crib. As sleepy as we were the next day, it is so worth it. I know those snuggles are numbered, and I truly love any moment that I get to hold you and love you. I know one day you will be mister independent and want nothing to do with it! Thankfully you started feeling better after about a week.

You went to your first ECU Football game with us! This is something your daddy has looked forward to since before I can remember. He grew up going to ECU games with Boppa (your grandfather), and always knew he would share the same experience with his children. You really did so well at the game. Somehow, you slept the first half of the game, and then woke up and took it all in for the second half. You learned to clap at the game also, by watching everyone around you clapping. We were so proud of you for how you did for the trip and the game. You are such a trooper! It was so fun to take you back to the place that I met your daddy and where we shared so many great memories (and ECU won!).

This month you learned to clap, give high fives, and wave on command. You are cruising on everything, and standing up unassisted for longer periods of time. I have no doubt that you will be taking those first steps very soon. You are a baby on the move and constantly crawling and climbing and exploring. You love playing in the Tupperware cabinet, and you also love taking laundry out of laundry baskets. I have to fold clothes while you are asleep because you really like to unfold everything and pull it all out of the basket. You love cars, trucks, and anything with wheels. You love books, and swinging on the swing set in the neighborhood.

So here we are, you are eleven months and we are busily planning your first birthday party and getting ready for the holidays. I am looking so forward to all the celebrations and family time, and remembering where we were a year ago awaiting your arrival into this world (even if you were 8 days late….I really will never let you forget that). We love you sweet monkey! Happy Eleven Months!!

Crock Pot Apple Butter

2012-11-16T15:52:00.001-05:00

One of my absolute favorite things in the world is apple butter. Usually we make a trip to the NC mountains in the fall to take in the fall leaves, breathe some mountain air, and buy some mountain apples and apple butter. This year however, we weren’t able to make the trip. With our weekends slammed full, I was missing my little mason jar full of apple butter goodness. So I was super excited to find a recipe for crock pot apple butter on Pinterest. After google-ing and researching several different recipes, I came up with my own. It was incredibly easy, and SO delicious.

I used a variety of McIntosh, Granny Smith, and Honey Crisp apples, probably about 12 total. Peeled, cored, and diced the apples. In the beginning I was literally, peeling, coring, and dicing…and then by then end I got lazy and it turned into more of just coring and slicing (As you can see in the two bottom pictures). In hindsight I would have kept peeling and dicing, but it really works either way.

I put all the apples into the crock pot, and then added brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. I let them cook in the crock pot on high for four hours. A lot of the recipes online said to cook them overnight, but I had to be up at 5am the next morning for work and wasn’t about to wake up earlier for these apples, so four hours it was. You could cook them all day if you wanted to.

When they were nice and and soft, I took them out of the crock pot and put them in a huge mixing bowl, where I used my immersion blender to puree them into a very smooth consistency. You can add more sugar or spices to taste once it is finished. It made a lot more than I thought it would, and so it wouldn’t go bad I decided to can it. I had four pint sized mason jars that I used to can the apple butter. I took left over fabric and some twine, and plan on giving them to our parents on Thanksgiving.

Ingredients:

Approx 12 apples, any variety.

1/4 c brown sugar

cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

Combine in crock pot, cook on high for 4-6 hours, blend until smooth, and enjoy!

an ecu family

2012-11-16T12:15:00.002-05:00

I know I post a lot about us going to ECU games, and traveling to Greenville. And I occasionally go into how big of fans we are and how we met there, but East Carolina really holds a special place in our hearts. You see, not only did I meet my husband there. But my parents met there, John’s parents met there, my sister and her husband met there, and our friends and their husbands met there. I’m not kidding. John lived above my sister’s room in their freshman dorm. I went to visit her one weekend, and met this college guy. Said college guy contacted me when I got home and we quickly became friends. It wasn’t until 3 years later when I went to college that we started hanging out more, and eventually dating, and long story short…here we are, married with a baby. While in school there we were both members of the Student Pirate Club Executive Board, and helped coordinate student/athlete/coach meet and greets, dinners, and other functions. I babysat the coach’s kids for extra money, and John was always around to lend them a helping hand when things got crazy during football season. To say we were connected to the university is an understatement. I consider it home in so many ways, and always will.

Even before we thought about having children, we would talk about how fun it would be to take our kids one day and walk them on campus showing them where mommy and daddy lived, the “wall” in the center of campus that we would meet at in between classes, the stadium, and the baseball field which all held great memories. Once we had Landon, John really couldn’t wait to share his love of Pirate football with our baby boy and counted down the days to when we could take him to Greenville to cheer on the Pirates with us.

That said day was just a couple weeks ago. ECU was playing Houston, and the stars aligned for us to bring Landon with us. Landon loved it, he played while we enjoyed breakfast at our tailgating spot. When we went into the game he was sleepy, and ended up snoozing the whole first half of the game (what a party pooper!), and sat on our laps during the second half watching all the chaos around him. We were so proud of him, and absolutely loved having him there to share the experience with us. I have no doubt there will be many more games in his future.

Go Pirates!

the night I met Emily Giffin

2012-11-07T13:15:00.001-05:00

Yep, you read that right.

I’ve been a fan of Emily Giffin’s books for quite some time. After reading her first book Something Borrowed and watching the movie which starred Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin, I was hooked. They’re great beach reads, and instead of having to drag my husband out to see a chick flick movie, I can read her books and get my dose of girly-ness. Last week while I was browsing Facebook on my phone and saw her post a status saying she was headed to little Lexington, North Carolina. Say what? Emily Giffin in my hometown? How did I not know this was happening?

After hunting down some more information, I found out she would be speaking at the civic center downtown to benefit our local library. I got in touch with my sister in law, who also reads her books, and we planned to go that night. Giffin has ties to this area being that she went to Wake Forest University, just up the road in Winston Salem. However, I also learned that Lexington is where her best friend lives.

Lexington is teeny, and I was so surprised she agreed to come speak here. Her book signings are typically in much larger cities like New York and Los Angeles, but here she was. For about an hour she spoke about her journey to become a successful writer, she spoke about her newest book Where We Belong, and then answered questions from the audience about movie production, what it was like working with Kate Hudson, and future plans for books. I found her charming, down to earth, and really like you were just listening to your friend talk about her job. She graciously signed books and took pictures with all of us afterwards. I was so excited to purchase Where We Belong, and to have her sign it. And now, I can’t wait to start reading it!

Halloween 2012

2012-11-06T21:49:00.001-05:00

As I mentioned before, I really was never big on Halloween growing up. However, since having Landon, every holiday is bigger and more important than ever. Including the seemingly pointless ones, like Halloween. I'm sure any mom can relate that you want to create memories, and moments...and dressing your 10 month old up like a monkey is one of them. I'm sure he will love me when he looks back on these pictures and that his mother made him wear a ridiculous monkey costume with a hysterical tail and ears. I even contemplated making our dog a banana costume so they could be a duo. I didn't make it that far, I'm sure the dog appreciates it.

Halloween week Landon came down with his first cold. And while I loved the extra snuggles and time spent loving on my sweet boy, I hated that he really wasn't interested in wearing his costume or taking pictures. I attempted to take pictures on the day of Halloween but they didn't turn out well, so this past weekend we tried it again and were able to get some good ones. Landon is going through this super serious phase where he absolutely will not smile in pictures. He used to laugh and smile and play when I was taking pictures, adn now he's all "are we really doing this?" on me. He looks thrilled, as you can see.

Happy Halloween!

a little update from my corner of the world

2012-10-31T12:25:00.001-04:00

Hey friends, hope this little blog of mine finds you well. I’m been a neglectful blog mama and haven’t been posting as frequently as I would like to, but really…it just means I’ve been out there enjoying life and being IN it instead of writing about it. And I’m okay with that. Today is just some random thoughts, updates, and happenings from my little corner.

First off, Happy Halloween!!

You know, I never enjoyed Halloween as a kid. I hated dressing up. I always felt like my costumes were awful compared to others that had the fancy store bought costumes. My family just wasn’t a big Halloween family. I went to college at a school that is known in the state for its Halloween madness- and never once participated. I stayed in my dorm or apartment and watched from a far the craziness that is college Halloween. When John and I moved to our neighborhood we decided we would at least give out candy, so last year was my first year being a candy-giver-outer. This year, with Landon here, my Halloween excitement has come to an all new level. I even have one little Halloween decoration in my house! Landon will be a monkey, since we call him monkey, monkey head, little monkey, etc. I will take pictures and post as soon as I can! I am just so excited about starting new traditions and experiencing Halloween with my little family of three!

Second…do any of you mamas know about Boogie Wipes? Because you should.

Landon has his first cold this week. Just a runny, snotty nose. But you pair that with teething, and I have one fussy, clingy baby on my hands. The past two nights he has woken up in the middle of the night crying and we’ve brought him in with us to get him back to sleep. While I love those snuggles and wouldn’t trade it for anything, it is so out of his character. He has been sleeping through the night since he was five months old, so for him to require middle of the night attention, my baby must not be feeling good at all! Boogie Wipes have been a huge life saver since he wakes up with crusty-ness on his nose. These are basically just saline wipes, and while they are more expensive than just using regular tissue, they save his skin and probably feel loads better than dry tissue would. They have vitamin E, aloe, and chamomile in them also. We were given some as a baby shower gift- and today I am so thankful for them.

Hurricane Sandy. Do I really need to say more than that? For those affected, I’m thinking of you. I have family on the Outer Banks, and some in Hoboken, NJ. So please be praying for them as they battle the aftermath. Much of our beloved Outer Banks was destroyed. It makes me so sad to think that these islands continue to endure damage from hurricanes and one day, we will no longer be able to enjoy them. We have experienced some windy and overcast days due to Sandy, which makes me even more aware of those truly being affected by this storm. It is crazy to me that I can see the outer bands/effects here in NC of a storm that is truly affecting people that live in NJ and NY. Gives you an idea of how massive it really was. I'll probably give Sandy her own post before too long.

New Job! Yes…I got a new job…How is that not number one on my list here? Thanksgiving Day will be my last day of commuting 45 minutes, working long 12 hour days, holidays, and weekends. Hallelujah!! There is an Oncology clinic ten minutes from my house. One of my former coworkers contacted me back in September for an open position they had and I interviewed and finally was offered the position last week. This means getting to see Landon every morning and every night, only driving ten minutes to work, NO HOLIDAYS, AND NO WEEKENDS! (I was supposed to work three in a row at Christmas this year, so this came at just the right time!) I’m so thankful for new opportunity, so sad to leave my first adult job and the family I’ve made there in my coworkers, it really is such a mix of emotions.

New Coat…Last year I was a big ol pregnant person this time of year, I wore my coats but couldn’t button them. Thankfully our winter was mild. But this winter seems to be a different beast. With Hurricane Sandy came colder temps and snowfall in the NC mountains already. Normally our first snow isn’t until at least December, if we get any at all. Last night the husband and I went on a date (A REAL DATE!) and stopped by my favorite, Old Navy. I have long been a fan of Old Navy’s outerwear- its cute, reasonably priced, and really holds up well. I’ve been on the hunt for a coat, and really lucked out last night. This little beauty will be under the tree waiting for me on Christmas morning.

It really is a much more vibrant orange-y/red/poppy color in person, and will bring a little color to a dark, neutral winter!

Okay..that’s all for now. The little snotty booger woke up from his nap.

Happy Wednesday y'all and Happy Halloween!!

the best news I’ve heard this fall

2012-10-18T10:50:00.001-04:00

Last fall I decided to take a dive and try my first pumpkin spice latte ever, and like the rest of the coffee drinking world, I was instantly hooked. I may be late to this little pumpkin spice bandwagon that hits every October, but I can’t seem to get enough pumpkin goodness. However, I refuse to pay four dollars for Starbucks, and I live 20 minutes away from the nearest one. No bueno. So, I was super excited to purchase pumpkin spice creamer at the grocery store. Less than four dollars for the whole bottle of creamer versus four dollars for one drink? Yes please. Last night I was grabbing a couple things for dinner and as I got to the creamer section I picked up a bottle of this goodness and thought “Man, it’d be nice if I could buy a ton of these, freeze, them and then enjoy it all year long instead of having to wait for October every year.” So I did what any girl does when she needs to know something…I googled it.

The conclusion?

Yes.

This liquid creamer yumminess is completely freezable. That means, pumpkin spice in July if you so choose!

There are a couple ways to go about this:

1. You can just stick the whole bottle, as is, into the freezer and leave it for when you’re ready to use it. Allow it to thaw 1-2 days before use in the refrigerator.

2. You can treat it similar to homemade baby food, and freeze it into ice cube trays. Then you could unthaw portions of the creamer instead of all of it at once.

So ladies, I don’t know about you, but this was pretty much the best discovery ever. I might just have to head to the grocery store to stock up. We might need a whole separate freezer when they release the holiday/Christmas creamers!

PS. Did y’all know there is pumpkin spice cream cheese now? Holy yumminess.

Landon / Ten Months

2012-10-17T11:34:00.001-04:00

In advance, I apologize for the photo overload in this one! We took Landon’s fall pictures, which I shared a few of here, but like any proud mama I can’t resist another opportunity to share this cuteness.

Excuse me if I fall asleep during this post, little monkey, because this month you have flat worn your momma out.

At ten months, you weigh just under 18 lbs and are 27.5 inches long. You are in nine month clothing across the board and size three diapers. I have loved getting your winter clothes together, you look so cute all bundled up and in your plaid shirts and jeans. Such a little man all of the sudden.

You are cruising and crawling and constantly on the go! It seems like one day you were learning how to pull up on things, and the very next you were cruising around like a champ.

You are a great eater, and getting better with self feeding/finger foods. You have learned that you really love grapes, and we have to watch you so you don’t pack your mouth like a little chipmunk. You also will eat anything off of my dinner plate, so you’ve tried all sorts of new foods that way. Your favorites this month have been the tried and true sweet potato, grapes, and any fruit. You used to like zucchini but all of the sudden aren’t so fond of it.

You love books, cars, and your push-car. We ride to get the mail everyday in your little car, and you wave your arms and love it.

You learned to wave, and it is absolutely the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. You melt my heart when you raise your little hand and wave. When you are riding in your stroller you just wave at everyone that walks by.

You have discovered the Tupperware cabinet, and pantry, and I can always count on you to make a mess of the kitchen with those two things. You also discovered the dog bowl…gross.

We went to New Bern, NC to visit Aunt Becky and Uncle Tommy and enjoyed the seafood festival.

You went to two fairs this month- the Dixie Classic, and the State Fair, and loved them both. Your daddy and I love experiencing these things with you, and watching your reactions to the sights and smells.

Each night after I put you to bed, and wander back upstairs to check on you and it just amazes me how you are growing and changing so quickly right before me. You seem so much more like a little boy lately than a baby, and that just makes my heart ache. Maybe it’s the anticipation of your first birthday, or maybe its that you are developing such a little personality. Whatever it is, it is such a joy to watch and experience. You are my greatest blessing, sweet boy.

My cup overflows.

just call me little susie homemaker

2012-10-13T12:00:00.000-04:00

I’m not sure what it is, but something about this time of year really brings out my “little Susie homemaker” side. I want to cook, bake, organize, and enjoy all things home-y. Last night I must say, I even impressed myself. I’m typically not the best in the kitchen but you see, I have a new friend. Her name is Pinterest, and she's helped me step up my kitchen game. I thought I’d share our super easy, super scrumptious dinner AND dessert. That’s right, I made dessert. See, I told you it was impressive. The first recipe is from my sweet friend Beth at work, dessert is courtesy of Pinterest.

Crockpot Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

I know I know, the name sounds amazing and fancy. We live in the BBQ capital of North Carolina. When I say capital, I mean we host the annual NC Barbeque Festival. Yep. Be jealous.

This recipe was super easy, and super yummy, and I didn’t have to smoke a single pork shoulder. Good thing, ‘cause I have no clue how to work that smoker hubs got for Christmas.

Here are the ingredients…prepare yourself, its a lot.

3-4 boneless skinless chicken breast

One bottle barbeque sauce of your choice (I used some cheapo honey hickory something or other…)

1/2 diced onion

whole wheat hamburger buns

Place chicken in crockpot, pour over barbeque sauce and let cook for 8 hours on low. When you have about 3 hours to go, I pulled each chicken breast out onto a plate and shredded them with a fork. Then put the shredded chicken back into the crockpot to continue simmering in the sauce. I also added the diced onion at this time. Then when you’re ready to eat, pile it on a bun and enjoy! So good. So easy. And makes a ton of food so there are plenty of left overs! We enjoyed ours with sweet potato fries.

I didn’t take a picture :( But here’s one that looks almost identical to what my dinner looked like:

via

Dessert was a whole other story….this one I found on Pinterest, but it is originally from Deep South Dish.

Apple and Cream Cheese Dessert

(which really just tastes like a yummy apple pie.)

Ingredients:

1 can large cresent rolls

1 can apple pie filling

4 oz cream cheese

1/4 c sugar (I cut the amount in half from the original recipe)

a dash of vanilla extract

1/4 c butter

cinnamon

brown sugar

Grease an 8x8 pan, and then lay half of the cresent roll dough on the bottom of the pan.

Mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a separate bowl, then spread on top of the dough.

Pour apple pie filling on top of the first two layers.

Cover with remaining cresent roll dough.

Pour melted butter on top, and then sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350.

Husband says both dishes were winners- he went back for second helpings of both, and he is not an easy one to impress.

I would definitely make both again. They were easy, cheap, and filling. Not to mention, our house smelled incredible!

weekend getaway / new bern, nc

2012-10-12T22:39:00.001-04:00

This past weekend we took advantage of one last warm, gorgeous North Carolina weekend and ventured to New Bern, NC. My sister and her husband live there now, so we were so excited to stay with them for the weekend and let Landon get loved on by his Aunt and Uncle. It was also the weekend of the NC Seafood Festival in Morehead City. We used to go every year when we were in college. I love the little vendors, the food, the boats coming in off the water. I’m a sucker for festivals and fairs!

wandering the New Bern waterfront and lunch at the delicious Persimmon’s

my stroller rider…he is so content cruising around!

passed out in the stroller, munching on a hush puppy, and listening to Gloriana

So thankful for quality time with my sister and brother in law, and for one more warm, sunny weekend near the water before colder weather comes our way.

Fall Photo Shoot

2012-10-12T15:10:00.000-04:00

I have been seriously slacking on taking pictures of my little guy over the past couple months. But I knew I had to get my act together for a fall photo shoot!

I plan on using some of these pictures for his 10 month post in the next week or so, but I couldn’t resist sharing some of them today. We had these grand plans for what the day and photo shoot would look like, and like always, plans don’t always go the way we hope. I read about this great pumpkin patch near us, and convinced John to come home early so we could take Landon to the pumpkin patch, take some pictures there, get some pumpkins and move on to our next location. However, when we got there there was no patch. Great. So we bought our pumpkins and decided we’d go ahead to the park where we were going to take Landon’s pictures. Or so I thought.

You may remember our maternity shoot last October. If not you can revisit it here. I planned to take Landon back to that same spot, with the same set up, and do his fall photo shoot to mimic our maternity shot a year ago this month. Well, the park was closed. So we improvised and found a different park that was open later, with a gorgeous little pond. I love how these turned out, and even though it wasn’t what I planned, it worked out okay!

I really hope y’all won’t mind seeing more of these in his 10 month post…because I have waaayyy more to share.

Happy Fall Y’all!

fair fun

2012-10-04T20:38:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned earlier, Sunday we ventured to the Dixie Classic Fair. Landon LOVED the fair, and was so content cruising around in his stroller, taking it all in. He especially loved the tractors and the animals, boy stuff! I got a few shots of him on the tractors with John.

Love that little boy….

football and fairs

2012-10-02T14:44:00.001-04:00

Nothin’ says fall like football and fairs.

And this weekend we got our dose of both. Saturday we headed to Greenville to cheer on ECU vs UTEP. The game didn’t start until 7pm, and part way through the 2nd quarter we evacuated the stadium due to bad weather coming through. After about an hour and a half wait underneath the stadium, we headed back to our seats to finish cheering on the Pirates to a victory in the pouring rain. It was so. much. fun. Something about sports in the rain is kind of fun to me, and this was no different. Dressed in our best rain gear we had, we sat through all four rainy quarters!

Team coming on the field, waiting out the storm in our sweet looking rain gear, and me and John during the game. Go Pirates!

Sunday, we headed to Winston Salem for the Dixie Classic Fair.

I was really excited to take Landon and let him experience all the lights, smells, and animals. He loved watching all the animals, and just took it all in. Him and John got to enjoy the tractors together too, which John loved. I love watching the two of them together. Landon is so lucky to have a daddy like John, and the bond between them is so special.

Riding on dad’s shoulders, prize winning pumpkins, and the ferris wheel lights. love.

I took more pictures from the fair, which I’ll share in another post. These were just the iphone shots. I love fall, and love everything that comes with it and all of the fun and experiences- And its only the beginning!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Show and Tell / Favorites

2012-10-02T14:04:00.001-04:00

1. Tell us about your 5 favorite memories in your life.

. Landon’s birth: I’m pretty sure I don’t need to elaborate on this one. Motherhood has changed me and made my life so full…that experience, all thirty six hours of it, brought me my greatest blessing.

. Our wedding…actually our honeymoon after the craziness of the wedding! That week I fell more in love with my husband, it was pretty perfect. Perfectly relaxing, and perfectly us. Just the two of us. One of the rare times when I had 7 days of no interruptions and nothing but quality time with my husband.

. My high school weekends at Windy Gap with Young Life Younglife has been a huge part of my life, and really shaped my faith as a teenager. One of my best memories is going to weekend camp in the mountains of NC. I can’t really think of a time I felt closer to God.

.Our Weekend in NYC Two years ago, John and I took an impromptu weekend trip to NYC two weeks before Christmas with my sister and her then boyfriend. It was an awesome. We saw the sights, saw Elf on broadway, and just took in all the city had to offer. For whatever reason, it really is one of my favorite memories ever. Going to the city was on my bucket list, and I loved everything about it. I loved that the whole weekend we didn’t use a car. I loved the energy of the city. I loved the Christmas craziness.

.playing softball growing up. I played softball for almost fourteen years and gave it up right before I went to college. The softball field was where I really grew into who I was as a person. Playing gave me confidence and strength and for that I will always be grateful. I really struggled with fitting in growing up, but on the field it didn’t matter. And the girls I played with accepted me for who I was. Looking back, softball really changed who I was, and brought me out of so many insecurities I struggled with. Secondly, my dad was my coach, and I will always be grateful for his dedication to me during those years. He never missed a game, woke up at the crack of dawn with me to drive to tournaments, and loved every minute of it. Those years as father and daughter impacted me in so many ways and I am so so grateful for a dad like him. I hope to have the same relationship with my kids.

2. Show us 3 of your favorite beauty products.

Bare Minerals Loose Powder/Foundation : I have tried cheaper versions of this, but I keep coming back to it. I normally don’t splurge on beauty products and am a strict drug store buyer, but this is the one thing I will spend money on. Plus, it lasts forever.

Its a 10 Miracle Leave in Product: makes my hair silky smooth, and really fights the frizz and fly aways.

Burts Bees Chapstick- I’m addicted.

3. Tell us what your favorite TV shows are to watch.

Greys Anatomy, any of the Real Housewives , and Revenge

4. Show us 2 of your favorite pictures.

The first one I took at the beach this past August…I love everything about it. I love the depth of field, I love the color, I love his sweet self. Its one I’m really proud of.

This second one I didn’t take, but we had taken by our friend Kim Overcash when Landon was three months old.

5. Tell us your favorite things to do during "me time."

Blog, Photography, cook (or learn to cook), catch up on my shows, oh…and waste time on Pinterest. Can’t forget that one. :)

Linking up with Mrs. to Momma’s Show and Tell!

2012-09-21T11:13:00.002-04:00

Here's the thing. I don't really discuss it that much around here, but over the past year or so I have been struggling. In ways I wasn't really aware that I could. I struggled to see God's hand in my life, struggled to understand what He was up really up to, and struggled to get back on track.

Enter Good Morning Girls, and my sweet friend Branson. Just about the time I felt like I couldn't get any lower, Branson emailed me and asked me to be apart of this wonderful online Bible study of the book of Colossians.

"Okay God, I hear ya, I hear ya."

So I agreed. I joined in this community, and in just a weeks time I can feel the change in my soul. The renewed strength, the reassurance. The "oh yes, this is what it feels like to be walking with Him" feelings. I've missed them. I've needed them. This wife, momma, and nurse needed to be reminded that I cannot do anything on my own accord, but He gives me the strength to endure.

I just wanted to share the verse this week that has really struck a chord with this weary soul of mine.

The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope.

Colossians 1:5 The Message

I love the visual image this version gives me. This line, this anchor of mine, holding me tight to my future in heaven. My inheritance stored in the heavens, that I cannot be cut off from. I like that even when I may not feel it, my line does not grow weak. It doesn't grow slack. It is always tightly tied to Him. I picture me on one end, and God on the other, just holding on for dear life to that line, not letting go of me. And I love those last four words, "kept taut by Hope." Hope. What a beautiful, amazing thing. Hope keeps me.

Hope is strength to walk along

and music to my song

I’ll be redeemed

Light a fire in the cold

buy me back where I am sold

I’ll be redeemed

All the waves of time are crashing

and our innocence is gone

Hope, I’ll be waiting, I’ll be holding on to…

I am never knowing, so I’ll be holding on to

hope

-Alli Rogers "Hope"

Loving this Bible study so far, loving what I'm learning and the truth it is re-instilling in me! He is so good.