Coffee Date Friday: Black Friday Edition

Hello Friends! I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving and stuffed your bellies as full of turkey as humanly possibly. We enjoyed a quick, fun visit to Aiken to spend the first half of the day with my "in law" side of the family before returning home to Fort Mill to enjoy the rest of the day with my side of the family. Yep. That's right. Two Thanksgiving dinners. But hey? I'm eating for two; so, that means two dinners is fine, right? Right? 

Chef Banks, helping Pop prepare the SIX turkeys he fried!

My sweet babies, ready to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with Nana

The three little Lutons, the smallest of whom enjoyed his/her first turkey from the comfort of my belly

Thanksgiving Day Part 2, playing with Bammy in Fort Mill

Beautiful (and delicious!) Thanksgiving Feast #2

Anywho, I just wanted to stop by to say hello but will have to skip our coffee date today in honor of a family tradition. The ladies of my side of the family are out and about, Black Friday shopping. We have been doing it for years and years, with our typical posse including my grandma, momma, aunt, sisters, and cousins, with a baby thrown in every now and again. This year, our crowd is smaller but the tradition carries on. And honestly? Even though we usually just purchase an item or two, we always make it a point to go together, for the fun of walking through the crowd-filled malls and always, ALWAYS hitting the highlight of the day, a sit down lunch complimented by Bloody Marys for all, with my grandmother so kindly and insistently covering the bill for the rest of us. It's one of my favorite afternoons of the year. :) 

Our 2012 annual Black Friday shopping lunch

Before I go, I would wish you a hap, hap, happy weekend. I would also say with all my resounding, loud and proud, Clemson alumnus and former Rally Cat might, 

GO TIGERS!!!! 

See you next week!

Wee One Wednesday: 17 Weeks

Because my "change day" is Friday, I am actually 17 weeks, 5 days today. I am inching racing towards the half way mark, which is just pure craziness, I tell ya! So, here's the latest and greatest with Baby Lu:

Maternity Clothes: I am still able to wear my regular tops and hoping I will be for awhile since I am seriously lacking in the maternity tops arena. I borrowed so many clothes during my first two pregnancies that I have since returned and am really trying to hold out on not buying too many tops that I won't be wearing for more than a few months anyway. I am still in love with maternity pants and am not sure why we ladies don't wear them when we're not pregnant. They are just comfortable.

Symptoms: I am still having so many wackadoodle vivid dreams! I also get more tired than usual when I over-exert myself some days and have been experiencing some shortness of breath at times. Other than that, not much to speak of this week. 

Gender: You know what's crazy? I started feeling some tiny little pokes and jabs over the last week (yay!!!!!!!) and every time I do, I instinctively think about a little boy kicking me. So, now I'm really confused!

Movement: Yes!!! Just a few little pokes here and there, but I love, love, love them!!!

Sleep: Same old, same old.

What I Miss: Being able to run and participate in my regular weight-lifting, ab-crunching workouts. This may sound crazy to some, but I actually really enjoy working out and kicking my own butt into shape. But. When I'm pregnant, I get too paranoid to run or do much strenuous weight-lifting. While I have maintained my 5-day-a-week walking schedule, it's just not the same. Oh well. One day, that ol' workout routine will resume. 

Cravings: Apples. Hot ham and cheese sandwiches. 

The Belly: 

I'm excited to soak in time with both sides of my family and fill this belly with lots of fun Thanksgiving food! We'll see if the result of my "eating for two" shows up in my belly pic next week. :) 

Counting Our Blessings

Happy Thanksgiving Week, friends! As we kick of the week of thanks, I wanted to highlight a few things I am thankful for, as well as a few things my little buddy, Banks, is thankful for. 

So. In no particular order: 


I am thankful for my faith and my growing relationship with Christ. 

I am thankful for friends, near and far, new and old. 

I am thankful to be married to a man who is the most incredible father I've ever known. I am thankful I get to spend my life watching him love our babies and be their hero. 

I am thankful for the warm home we live in and the food on our table. 

I am thankful for education, both that which I have achieved in my life as well as that which my children are receiving as they begin their life of formal learning. 

I am thankful for preschools that put on adorable Thanksgiving feasts. 

I am thankful for this blog, a place I come to document our lives, storing our memories here as a keepsake. 

I am thankful for my freedom. 

I am thankful for my babies, all 2.5 of them. :) 

I am thankful for my health as well as the health of my hub and kiddos. 

I am thankful for the women and role models in my life, especially my Momma and mother "in law."

I am thankful for Clemson University, where my hub and I met and fell in love, and continue to spend many a Fall Saturday, tailgating with friends and cheering on our Tigers. 

I am thankful for life. To be living. To be breathing. 

I am thankful for the opportunity to stay home with my children, spending my days watching them learn, love, and grow. 

I am thankful for this guy, with whom I will celebrate 10 years of marriage next summer. 

I am thankful for hot coffee on cold mornings. 

I am thankful for YOU. Thank you for coming here, time and again, reading my latest entries and supporting my blog through your kindness. 

I am thankful for family. More than anything in the world. Family. 

And now, the things my Banks listed as those that he is thankful for, in no particular order:

God

Our house

Nana

Horsies

My toys

Spiders

My teachers

Cars

Digby

Grayson

Cooper (our dog)

Pop

Bammy

Cameron

Daddy

Santa

My friends

Maddie

Mommy

Myself

Raleigh

The Panthers

Jesus

The Tigers

The TV

Brantley

The Lion King

I love the emphasis on people and relationships that dominates his list. I think he nailed it. 

We are thankful for each other, for family, for friends, for people. We are thankful for YOU. 

Happy Thanksgiving week!!

Coffee Date Friday: The Giving Back Edition

Gooooood morning and TGIF! Geez, TGIF is right. My hub was traveling from Tuesday morning through Thursday evening, and this pregnant Momma of two (and a half :) ) is worn plain out. That's okay, though. That's why we have coffee, right? 

This morning, were we to meet for our weekly coffee date (via Rags to Stitches), I would brew us some Dunkin Donuts coffee, pour in some pumpkin spice creamer, and invite you to pull up a chair in front of our fireplace as I shared the following about moi: 

...That later today, our little family is off to Aiken, where we will spend tomorrow morning organizing and distributing Thanksgiving meals for those in need in the community. Thanks to the generous donations of our family and friends, both near and far, we reached our goal of over $3000, which means over 80 families will have full, delicious, Thanksgiving meals to enjoy with their loved ones next week. 

...That I ordered my first few Christmas gifts!! Yippee!! And our family Christmas cards came in the mail yesterday!! Hooray!! I know it's still pre-Thanksgiving, but given that turkey day is a week later than usual, these little bits of holiday spirit don't bother me one bit. :) 

...That I love the days when my Raleigh rocks her little mohawk (as styled by Daddy), although, I will admit, her attitude increases 10-fold those days!

...That my hub and I are really enjoying our Bible study. There are eight (awesome!) couples in our group, and we had fun hosting the group at our crib last night. We feel so blessed to have found this group and so look forward to continuing to grow in our faith and friendship.

...That we have a super fun, super secret Christmas trip planned with two of our closest Fort Mill couples and their kiddos coming up in December, and I am so stinkin' excited about it I can hardly stand it!!! I cannot WAIT to see the looks on my babies' faces when they realize what's happening...

...That I ordered a new book after a girlfriend (Hi Emily!) mentioned how awesome it was for Mommas of boys the other day. I cannot disagree. I am only a few chapters in, but I LOVE it. Boys are simply a different breed than girls, in so many ways. This book is helping me to better understand the workings of my life-loving little boy, from developmental, physiological, emotional, and social perspectives. Be still my psychology-loving heart. Seriously, though, if you are a Momma to a little boy, I HIGHLY recommend it!!!  

...That I am so sorry for going on and on about the oh-so-delicious Chestnut Praline Latte from Starbucks. Apparently, it is being tested in a few select locations, with our little Fort Mill 'Bucks being one of them. I had a few people tell me that tried to order it at their own Starbucks to no avail. Have no fear, though. It is so delicious I have no doubt the rest of the country will follow suit and make it a regular on the menu soon! 

...That, one week from tomorrow, my hub and I will join family members and friends alike in Columbia, South Carolina, for all-day tailgating, followed by a trip into Williams Brice stadium for the 7:00 pm kickoff of the Clemson/Carolina game. Fingers crossed that (1) My Tigers take down those obnoxious Gamecocks and end our 4-year losing streak, and (2) I am able to make it past my usual early bedtime, especially since I'll be surrounded by tens of thousands of fans. Hopefully, the rockin' stadium atmosphere will help. 

...That after over 11 years together, this man is still the best decision I ever made. I am so looking forward to having more time with him over the next month, when work will slow down a bit. 

And with that, I would spend some time checking in with YOU, hearing about your holiday plans as well as what else is going on in life for you right now. I would thank you for being a good friend as we finished the last sips of our coffee and started off our weekend with another cup o' joe. 

Have a great one!

Wee One Wednesday: 16 Weeks

Because I will be having a repeat c-section, and thus will have Baby Lu around 39 weeks, I am now around 42% D.U.N. with this pregnancy. Crazy! 

Size of Baby: Sweet Baby Lu is now 4.5 inches long, the size of an avocado. Mmmm...guacamole....And at my appointment yesterday, the littlest Lu one had a heart rate of 160, which my duo got to hear since they accompanied me to the appointment. :) 

Maternity Clothes: Yes to pants. No to tops. I live in my maternity leggings most days. :)

Symptoms: Some back pain after long days on my feet. Also, have I mentioned I have become much more....ahem...enhanced in the chest region over the last month or so. A definite "perk" (hahaha! I crack myself up.). Oh, and the crazy vivid dreams!! I've had them every night the last week or so. And I mean cuh-ra-zy vivid. Moreso than I ever had with Banks or Raleigh. Just wacko. 

Gender: Maybe boy? Maybe girl? Clearly, not the same mother's intuition I had with my first two. Okay, so honestly? I still really think it's a girl but am worried I'll be wrong, so I throw out a boy guess every now and then. But seriously. It's a girl. Isn't it??

Movement: Maybe??? Or maybe just wishful thinking. :) 

Sleep: Good! Still early to bed, early to rise, but I am a morning person; so, I'll take it!

What I Miss: The AAA's: Alcohol. Abs. Acne-free skin (but the latter is MUCH improved thanks to a new regimen I just started a la Rodan + Fields. MUCH improved!!!).

Cravings: Bacon cheeseburgers. I've had three within the last week! Vegetables. Edamame. 

The Belly:

And second trimester continues...

Mustaches or Bows? A Gender Neutral Baby Shower

Over the weekend, my sisters, along with my sister-in-law's best friends, hosted a gender neutral baby shower to celebrate the upcoming arrival of her first baby. 

The shower was held at the beautiful home of one of her dear friends on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina, where beautiful blue skies and 70-degree weather served as the back drop. 

Here are a few of the details from the fun, Mustaches and Bows baby shower: 

The gorgeous dining room, aka the food and fun room, where guests were invited to dine on light appetizers and desserts while taking their best guess as to the baby's gender: 

Adorable onesie, bib, and burp cloth made by, who else?, Amanda of Goat & Lulu

 I asked Amanda to include brown labs on the cute decor, in honor of the parents-to-be's dog, Emmy (and also? That bow is detachable from the onesie just in case the little one does, in fact, turn out to be a boy!)

Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages were available for party guests, with fun straws to adorn their drinks.

A few more fun party details: I created this bowtie, mustache, and hairbow garland, which hung from the mantle over the shower gifts. Easy and festive!

And my mom, aka Bammy, continued the family tradition of not only hand-knitting the baby his/her first baby blanket, but also contributed an adorable diaper cake which, along with  the blue and pink bouquets displayed throughout the party, completed the party decor:

After lots of eating, drinking, and chatting, pictures were taken of the guests showcasing their guesses as to whether Baby M will be a "he" or a "she." 

Finally, two games were played while the guest of honor opened her (many!) shower gifts. The first was "Gift Bingo," which was not only fun but also kept everyone engaged during the present-opening process. The second was directed toward the momma-to-be, who had to guess what her hubby had answered when asked, pre-shower, a series of questions having to do not only with his wife's pregnancy but also about what to expect after the baby arrived. So fun! 

It's safe to say we had a blast showering this beautiful momma-to-be. And for the record? My money's on BOY! 

For These Things I Pray

Dear Banks, 

There are no words to describe how happy you make me and how very much you fill my heart every day. You are a growing boy, so jubilant and full of life, and while your high energy level can certainly be tiring for those of us who lack the same full-throttle-all-day-every-day momentum, it is an inspiration to see how very much you love life and how you truly live each day for the fullest. For you, my sweet boy, I pray the following things today: 

...that you will maintain your love of the Lord always and forever. That you will continue to ask faith-based questions as you do each day, that you will grow in your spirituality, and that you will remember that yes, sweet boy, Jesus will always live in your heart. 

...that you will maintain your curious and inquisitive nature, never stalling in your love of learning. 

...that you will continue to be a good friend to all of those around you, as your teachers share with Daddy and me that you are in school each day, and that you will be an example of what it means to be a loyal friend who strives to make good choices.

...that you will always love to play with your sister as much as you do now, that you will protect her, look out for her, and live your life still considering her your best friend.

...that you will be passionate about the things you are interested in: whether it is all things football as it is today, or whatever else it may be that peaks your interest in the future. 

...that you will continue to live life to the fullest, searching for joy and happiness from the moment you wake up until the time those heavy eyelids close at day's end.

...that you will learn from your mistakes, accept apologies when others make mistakes, and allow yourself and others to grow from them.

...that you will always, ALWAYS know how very lucky and blessed I am that I get to live my life being your Momma. 

Amen. 

Dear Raleigh, 

Oh, sweet girl, how much joy, light, and love you bring into the lives of all those who are lucky enough to meet you! You radiate sunshine and make me so proud, even during those trying moments when you test limits and fiercely exert your independence. There are just no words for how very much I adore you, Raleigh Jane. For you, my lovely girl, I pray the following things today:

...that you will always be so affectionate and loving with your family, reminding us daily how important it is to say, "I love you," every chance we get and relish in the moments we have together. 

...that you will never lose your independent spirit nor your willingness to try new things. Whether it be proudly attempting new skills in gymnastics or smiling with glee as you sail down the high slide at the bounce house, your bravery is inspiring.

...that you maintain your devotion to your big brother, laughing with delight as you follow in his footsteps, while always knowing he will look out for you and protect you.

...that you will continue to flourish in your language and music abilities, reminding those around you of the joy of conversation as well as the happiness that music can bring, especially when singing "Jingle Bells" year round.

...that you build a thriving relationship with Jesus Christ and continue to show interest in saying prayers, singing the blessing, and learning new Christian songs. 

...that you always retain your motherly, nurturing characteristics, showing empathy for those around you who may be hurting and attempting to make their "boo-boos" feel better, however that may be. 

...that you never, ever forget that you are my best pal and that I thank the good Lord with everything I've got for blessing me with my beautiful baby girl, whom I get to spend my life with.

Amen.

Coffee Date Friday: Baby Shower Edition

Hello sweet friends. I am back for more chattin' and coffee drinkin' (via Rags to Stitches). Today, I would suggest we meet at our local Starbucks because ohmydearLawd, the other day I tried their newest seasonal drink and it was goooooood. So good, it may replace my love of pumpkin spice lattes. Let me kindly introduce you to the Chestnut Praline Latte. 

Oh, y'all. It is absolutely delish, even in the non-fat, no whipped version that I order. So. I would suggest we venture to Starbucks to enjoy a piping hot mug of this deliciousness. 

And then I would delve into all things YOU. I would ask about the latest, the greatest, even the worstest. And then, knowing what a close friend you are, I would privately share a few things going on in my world right now and ask for continued prayers. In addition, I would share the following little tidbits about my life at the moment...

...That yippee, hooray, yahoo! I am off to Charleston tomorrow to help host a baby shower for my beautiful sister-in-law, who just so happens to be expecting her first baby, along with my brother, in early 2014. They are not finding out what they're having; so, we are all anxiously awaiting the big day and big news. I will be crashing with my (newlywed!) baby sister and her husband, but not before she, my Momma, my sisters-in-law, and I hit up the outlets for some retail therapy and delicious Charleston dining after the shower. Meanwhile, my hub and kiddos will be holding down the fort back at home. Should be an eventful weekend for all!

...That I had a super fun night with some neighborhood girlfriends a couple nights ago as part of a Pampered Chef party and even learned to make a yummy, microwaveable, Italian meal. It was definitely a win-win kind of night for this Momma. 

...That we got our photos back from our Fall mini session with my beautiful friend, and amazingly talented photographer, Volree of Volree Wade Photography, and I cannot get over what an incredible job she did capturing our little family. I won't share them all now because at least one, if not a few, will be on our Christmas card this year, but here are three of my favorites...Who am I kidding?! They're all my favorite. So here are three of them. :) 

The Men

The Ladies

My handsome hub (with sweet Baby Lu barely poking through!)

...That I chopped my hair off last week! And yes, the big chop occurred at the children's salon while Banks was getting his hair cut. One day, I'll return to a real salon. I'm not sold on my new cut just yet, but my hub really likes it. And my hair is definitely a lot healthier minus those 3-4 heavier inches.

...That my little buddy had his third dentist appointment earlier this week and remains cavity free. Yahoo! I'm not gonna lie: I get so nervous the mornings of his dentist appointments and anxiously await the news from the dentist after his check-up. So far, it's been all A+. But. Me on the other hand? I have a cavity that I have to have (re)filled after a filling cracked and fell out. I'll be going next week, and I am a nervous wreck, especially since they can't use the nitrous oxide (aka laughing gas) to calm my nerves since I'm pregnant. Ugh!

...That my hub traveled to Clemson last night to cheer our Tigers on to victory! It's so hard to believe that there is just one more home game of the 2013 season. I swear, we were piled high in our SUV, with 16 of our closest friends, en route to the Clemson/Georgia game just yesterday.

My hub and Fort Mill friends, ready to cheer on Clemson in Tiger Town last night

...That, in addition to doing nice things for people, the kids and I have been diving into Thanksgiving crafts this week. Fun for all!

...That one of my good friends from college had her first baby last week! A sweet, and oh-so-handsome little boy who is just precious! I know she is loving these first special days of being a Momma. I love what they named him, too! Actually, it's the name we are planning to name our little one if he/she turns out to be a boy! D'oh! So, now my hub and I are deciding whether to stick with the name, and just have two little boys in our circle of friends with that name, or choose something different. We'll see...

...That I cannot believe we got a little snow this week! The temperature dropped over 30 degrees in one afternoon. Actually, when I left for an afternoon walk, it was warm and by the time I returned, the wind was blowing like crazy and it was chilly. All in a matter of 25 minutes! Crazy. I wonder if this is a sign of things to come this winter? Especially since last year was so mild here in the South. 

And then, with our tummys full of chestnut praline goodness, I would give you a big hug before wishing you the best and making plans to do this again next week. Have a great weekend!! 

Wee One Wednesday: 15 Weeks

I am now 15 weeks and some change, with my next appointment coming up next week. So far, time is flying by with this pregnancy!


Size of Baby: Our little Lu is now approximately 4.5 inches long, about the size of an apple (mmmm...a cold, Golden Delicious apple sounds scrumptious right about now...)

Maternity Clothes: Yes. I don't even pull my regular pants out of the drawer any more, and thank goodness for the comfort of the ever-attractive maternity pants. Ha! Still wearing my regular tops but with a definite baby bump pushing on through. 

Symptoms: So much better overall. While my skin is still teenager-ish, I think it's improved at least a teeny, tiny little bit. Also, I am generally able to skip my daytime naps but am still wiped by the end of the day. And oh, dear Lord, the other day I had my least favorite pregnancy symptom ever return. One that I am sooooooo hoping to avoid this go-round: leg and foot cramps. They were baaaaaaad with my two previous pregnancies, no matter how many ounces of water or how many bananas I consumed daily. I really hope they aren't as bad this time. For me, the intensity of the pain is worse than contractions. Seriously. They bring me to tears, take my breath away, and leave me screaming in pain. Fingers and (non-cramped) toes crossed they are minimal this time.

Gender: Oh geez. I just don't know. 

Movement: I don't *think* so.

Sleep: Pretty good. I wake up some nights. I don't wake up others. I always wake up for the day between 5:00-6:00 am. Do I sound like a broken record yet? 

What I Miss: Not sushi anymore! Because my hub and I had a dinner/movie date night last week and I enjoyed some delicious, pregnancy-safe sushi that was SO good!! Oh, and also some yummy movie theater popcorn with extra butter. Delish! I also enjoyed a non-alcoholic beer over the weekend, which wasn't too shabby. :)

Cravings: After typing up that sentence about sushi...now I want some again! Ha! And broccoli and cheese soup in a bread bowl, which my sweet hub so kindly made me after I expressed this craving to him the other day. It was gooooood. 

The Belly:

Next week, I'll have a 16-week appointment update! 

It's Nice To Do Nice Things

I like being in control.

That sentence will come as no surprise to people who know me well. But. Life does't always work that way. While we can control the choices we make, we cannot really control what's going to come our way in return. That's been made all too clear the last couple of weeks. 

However.

One of the things I do have control over is my ability to do nice things for people. And my ability to instill the importance of these acts in my children. 

As I've said before, the motto our little family adopts for the month of November is "It's nice to do nice things for people." Last year, we elected to do 25 random acts of niceness for random people, ranging from leaving quarters on candy dispensers in grocery stores and dollars in the dollar section of Target for unsuspecting children to delivering homemade cookies to the local fire department and hot chocolate to construction workers. We had a wonderful month and felt really good that we were doing nice things for people, even if in small ways. 

This year, we are focusing on spreading niceness to others on a larger scale. I remain hopeful that my children will continue to learn of the importance of kindness from these acts and also that maybe, just maybe, we'll inspire someone out there to spread the niceness, either by giving their time, energy, and/or finances to one of the organizations below or to one through your own local community. 

So, here are some of the nice things we plan to do for others over the next two months:

• Filling a brown grocery bag full of canned goods, peanut butter, and diapers (random, I know, but these were the items requested) for our local boy scout troop to pick up and distribute to those in need in the Fort Mill, South Carolina, community. 

• Making and delivering food to The Haven, a men's homeless shelter in Rock Hill, South Carolina, along with several other members of our Bible study group. My hub and kiddos will actually be delivering the food this weekend, while I am out of town, but I look forward to helping prepare the meal and hearing all about it. 

• Donating to, and helping organize Thanksgiving meals for, those in need in the community of Aiken, South Carolina, as part of the L.W. Rutland Thanksgiving Fundraiser. 

• Providing both a meal and a fun, kid-friendly activity to complete with a group of homeless women and their children through the Pilgrim's Inn of Rock Hill, South Carolina, again with members of our small group.

• Adopting several children for Christmas to ensure that their Christmas wish lists are filled and their trees underlined with gifts on Christmas morning.

Whatever your acts of niceness may be, I truly hope that both your family and mine are able to spread holiday cheer and joy to others, not only this time of year, but whenever possible throughout the rest of the year. Let the niceness begin abound!

Things I Do/Not Understand

Why God works the way He does sometimes

Why food that tastes so good is so bad for you

Why a man wearing a helmet who protects his country earns less than a man wearing helmet who protects a football

Why so many of our government officials on both sides are often too selfish and egotistical to worry about how the rest of the country is being affected by their stubbornness

Why some lives are cut way too short

Why all of my best friends don't live in the same place

Why we have yet to find a cure for cancer

Why I detest going to the grocery store so much

Why some people can be so close-minded

Why non-alcoholic wine does not taste even remotely like wine

Why the days can sometimes feel so long but the years so short

Why I have so much energy at 7:00 am but relatively none at 7:00 pm

Why I have been spared when others have not



But.

Here is what I do understand.



There is nothing so valuable on this earth as love

We can do hard things

Sometimes we need others to help us do hard things

One day this will all make sense

Family and friends make the world go 'round

We are stronger than we think we are

Sometimes our faith is all we have. Some days it feels like enough. Some days it doesn't. 

Love wins

Not knowing God's plan right NOW is really, really frustrating

What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger

Sometimes a good cry and glass of wine is the best medicine

Perfect is over-rated

Life is hard. Really hard. But also good. Really good.