two napkins really do make a pillow

Happy Monday lovelies!  I hope you had a very beautiful and relaxing weekend.  Our weekends have changed a bit now that Daniel is working Sundays instead of Saturdays.  The transition has been harder than expected (I know, it seems silly that one day would make such a different).  We were in a groove on Sundays: make breakfast, go to church, grocery shop, relax all afternoon.  Now that he is working on Sundays we are limited when we can go to church.  Our church has an 8pm service, and last week we tried to go...it failed.  And I turned into that wife I didn't want to be.  I was upset that he can't just leave when he is "off", that we couldn't go to church, and it turned into the "Jamie Pity Show".  I know, it's not pretty.  And that makes me forever grateful for a loving, and forgiving, husband who never remembers these ugly moments the next day, and just hugs me through it all.  

So this morning I went to church solo.  And instead of being upset, I got inspired to catch up on some crafts that I've been wanting to do for a couple months.  On the list of things to do were make new throw pillows for the living room and new coasters.  

For the coasters I followed this tutorial and it turned out quite well.  I'm not very familiar with stenciling, so it was a bit of trial and error.  The cat kept jumping up on them, then the stencil would slip a minute later, paint was everywhere...in the long run here were the 6 that turned out: 

And the two that didn't.  

Next up were the throw pillows.  I attempted some last summer, and even though they were cute-they just weren't quite what I wanted.  I found the pillow forms at Ikea (after much digging around) for $6 each.  A friend mentioned that the best way to make pillows was to use fabric napkins!  Genius, right?  Off to Anthropologie I went and ended up spending way too much money.  They all ranged from $8-12 a piece.  So I decided to check our World Market, just to be on the safe side.  Turns out I was able to find napkins there just as cute, for only $3.99.  I ended up keeping one from Antrho and used the rest from World Market.  Oh, and the black and white one I can't take credit for-that's all Ikea.  Overall, I'm in LOVE with how they turned out and they are a beautiful reminder that we all have our moments and we can make something beautiful out of unpleasant attitudes! 

it's a....

 

Well, it looks like we are having a little prince!  We couldn't be more excited and thrilled to have a little boy.  We found out just the two of us yesterday, which was such an emotional experience.  Before I was ever pregnant I always thought that I would be itching to find out what we were having.  As the weeks went by, know that we had a healthy baby safe inside was all I wanted and I wasn't that anxious to find out the gender.  Seeing how much our little guy has grown during our ultrasound was so overwhelming, the little nose displayed itself perfectly for us as well as so many other features, including 10 tiny fingers and 10 tiny toes. 

To share with our parents what we were having, we filled a box with blue balloons and they opened it up together.  What a beautiful surprise for them!

It is always so crazy to hear what people say about what gender your baby will be.  The moment my mom hugged me after I shared we were pregnant she had a feeling it was a boy.  I'm quite a girly-girl and really thought I'd want a girl so badly, but then I saw us with a little boy and I just couldn't be more excited! 

Oh Boy!!!

all the books I need to finish

It happens every night.  Just like clock work.  I decide I'm going to read, so I look over to my night stand and what stares back at me are all the books that I've started but can't seem to finish.  And I think that I officially have a problem.  

I love books.  When I was younger I was always reading, and I had a deep love for not just any books...new books.  Whenever I would get a new book I would flip through the pages quickly as I breathed in deeply.  My mom always tried to take me to the used book store.  They were used.  And they smelled terrible (in my opinion).  And I was young and wanting new things.  Now as an adult, I can't wait to get my hands on new books.  Let's add that to the list of things I wish I knew when I was a kid.  And so now I buy new books, used books, and borrow books.  But I can't seem to finish them without starting a new one.  

My list of current books: 

Skinny B Bun in the Oven- 

this book was so informational and scary at the same time.  It is filled with nutritional information that is key to know during pregnancy, and I have found myself gasping several times out of shock from what I have read.  

Love Does- 

oh Bob Goff, you sure know how to really pull at my hearts strings and convict this soul.  If you have not read this book yet, you must get your hands on it.  Each chapter stands alone and there is always something that I come away with.  

The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy-

I must say that I have read almost all of this and it kept me company during those first few weeks I learned I was pregnant.  I love the honestly and real moments, but am not a fan on their chapter for exercising.  

What to Expect When You're Expecting-

I'm not sure this counts as this is something that will be by my bed for a while...

Bloom-

this is one of those life changing books that you can't seem to put down in the beginning.  And I'm so close to finishing it I can taste it.  Kelley writes in a powerful, real, authentic way that just gets to your heart each time you open it.  Her experiences with her daughter's birth are raw but also something that each and every woman can relate to at some point.  We expect one thing and get the other.  Seeing how she has dealt with her daughter's Downs Syndrome is unbelievable touching and powerful.  

The Honest Life-

I am in love with this book!  I had reservations about getting it.  The thought that it would be all about babies and mommyhood quickly vanished when I read the introduction.  The first chapter is all about the food you eat, where it comes from, and how to eat real, whole foods.  Each chapter is amazing and informational.  I've learned so much about what it really means when something is dubbed "natural" and the harsh chemicals that are still allowed in those products.  I am itching to finish this and to continue using this as a reference.  

Through this long list of books I do have one success, I just finished Girls in White Dresses and read it in just a couple of days!