why

My aunt is visiting and she and Deran have been working diligently since yesterday afternoon to rid the house and garage of junk. We're doing all of this to prepare for the baby...so we can get more junk. It's not really junk, in fact I very much wanted all of it, but after going through everything we just received as gifts at various showers--I'm feeling discouraged. We're quickly running out of room to store it all!

But the real reason for this post is to showcase some of my fabulous momentos. I do a little work with a lot of resting in between so I haven't been quite as productive this weekend. I'm okay with it, and the others seem to be tolerant. So I did go outside earlier to help Deran go through the last box of my old things to be stored in the attic. The little gem up above was in a breakables box marked, "Amy's Momentos!" Seriously. I have no idea where she came from or why I chose to hang onto her, but the best part? The best part is her back.


She's a bow. And may the good Lord help me if someone actually has a photo of me wearing this creation!

Once upon a time, or a half-dozen years of my childhood, I was in 4H. I showed pigs and that's why I used to collect them. This one is cute:


But I especially like the view from behind. It really showcases all of the piglets.


This figurine and many more like it used to sit atop my dresser. And lastly, why did anyone let me get a perm at the end of my senior year of high school? I do have lots of natural curl so it wasn't so crazy, but I graduated in 2000. I'm pretty sure perms weren't hip then.

seeing double

That's me on the right, 32 weeks and 2 (now 3) days. The baby has been very active the last few days and honestly, that makes me so happy. Deran made the comment recently that it would be so weird to have someone moving inside your body, but at this point it's weird if she isn't, so I really like it.

That's my cousin, K, on the left. She'll be welcoming her sweet baby boy in just over four weeks. It's been fun to share these pregnant moments together. It's so crazy how fast this time has flown by, I am seriously going to need time to slow down after the baby gets here!

Yesterday was our official baby shower and I actually had a really great time. I usually get kind of stressed out before big events, especially when I'm going to be sitting at the front of a room with people watching me! It was nice to catch up with old friends and family members. And though I know only a few of those people ever check this blog, I'm going to go ahead and say THANKS! There, done. Don't be expecting a card from me! Just kidding...maybe.

We got so many wonderful and useful gifts, and no one need worry, our girl will be well dressed until she's at least two. :)

family

I first met a couple of members of this family in February when I took senior pictures of the Baylor-bound girl in "The Princess Bride" shirt. I miss you, 1987. You brought us some really fantastic movies.

Anyway, J's parents were visiting from out of state and she contacted me for family pictures. Though I do my fair share of complaining about the stacks and stacks of old photo albums we have to go through at our home, I do believe you can never have enough pictures. Photos help us hold our memories, good or bad, they're what life is made of.



Thanks J for letting me take pictures of your family. It was nice meeting the other members and I hope you enjoy!

i heart paula deen

I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but we don't have cable. So while I have heard of Paula Deen, and of course glimpsed her cookbooks at various bookstores, I have never actually seen her cook, etc.

That changed today, and somewhere between commercials for the 'Texas Hammer' and Kelly Pickler's rendition of "Santa Baby," I fell in love. Thank you Bonnie Hunt for playing a re-run of a Christmas episode this morning.

Paula is funny, spirited, and her pleasant nature is contagious...even through television! She and Bonnie made monkey bread, and you can find the recipe here. One of my best friends, L, makes a delicious recipe for monkey bread. I consider it one of her specialties. Except for the one time in college when she accidentally used salt instead of sugar...we were all sad that night. I'm careful to mark my baking supplies now though! :)

Anyway, it made me hungry and long story short--I have gestational diabetes--so basically the gooey sweet goodness is off limits. I'm careful to eat healthy balanced meals, take my medicine, exercise, check my blood sugar. I'm a very good patient! And of course it's all worth it for a healthy baby...

But I'm not going to lie, sometimes I find myself thinking about what I want to eat after the baby is born. I mean like, they just wheeled her to the nursery, someone get me xxxx stat! It's not every day and I'm not often tempted because I consider fruit to be dessert enough and it really makes a difference when you're not thinking about yourself. Overall, it's been a great wake-up call. Deran and I have made real lifestyle changes that I think will be easy to continue. It's just how we eat and think and act so it won't be different once she's here.

But my post-baby meal of choice is pancakes, and I'm blaming Denny's...and television. Now though, I'm thinking that Paula Deen's monkey bread may be needed with a side of syrup administered intravenously. Just kidding, I have a feeling I'll end up with baked chicken and a side of green beans and another yummy vegetable. Here's to hoping new habits are hard to break!

If you're looking for something yum to cook tonight, you should really check out Paula Deen's site, lots of those recipes look delicious!

engaged

I'm so happy for this cousin. She deserves the best and I'm glad she's found a great guy. I can't wait to shoot their wedding in October!


And speaking of cousins, could these two be any sweeter?! I think not.