Important Things

1. First I have to mention that my hogs beat LSU yesterday! Our season is always complete if we can beat LSU! My dad went and Scott almost went with him but we decided we wanted to come home. We felt bad that he sat in the cold and rain by himself to watch the game (because most of it was horrible) but that last minute win was totally worth it! GO HOGS! Wait until next year everyone! We will be back!
2. We are supposed to get our first snow of the year tonight and tomorrow. I can't believe it. They say it's going to be a rough winter. I'm a little concerned about trying to get to the hospital in an ice storm. We may just go sit in the lobby starting in January and wait it out. ha!

3. I have spent the last two days organizing the nursery and getting everything put away. I went to Wal-Mart today to exchange a few doubles we got and get everything we still needed. That wal-mart trip about did me in. I also stopped by Old Navy and got these cute little jeans for Harper. I ran into Mandy while I was there! Fun to meet a blogger while on a shopping trip!

4. At last - a tour of the nursery. The only thing not showing is the wall where the changing table my dad is making will go. It is going to be SO cute but it won't be done until right before she comes. I'm also working on something that will hang above the changing table so I need to get on that. Other than that - we are ready for Harper to come!

A peek into the room from the hallway

Another view of the room

Her closet - bless her heart - I'm not sure what we will do. She doesn't have a THING to wear!

A view of the day bed with the cute picture Jamie made me. My mom is getting some pillows made to go on the day bed and that will make it even cuter!

The little side table with the name canvas that Kim painted me!

Harper's crib and bedding

The cute bow holder that Jamie made me - I have a ton of bows I need to hang on there!

Close up of the painting - this is my very special verse for Harper.
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!!!!

Another one of my very favorite verses that I wanted in the room. I got this last Christmas from my best friend Laurie. I knew that one day it would hang in my nursery and in the mean time I just tried my best to "delight myself in the Lord".

I DID
and
HE DID!

Eight Weird Things

Jacquie tagged me to write out 8 random facts about myself. I've been trying to come up with some and since it's Saturday morning and I am still in my pj's - might as well make a list now:

1. Ever since the blessed day my mom finally let me start shaving my legs - I've shaved them EVERY day since. Until now. I can't reach them. And it's winter. So I am doing the best I can to at least shave every few days. It's hard to let go................

2. I don't like eggs or milk or hot dogs or black eyed peas or lima beans. My husband thinks I'm strange and un-American (especially the egg and milk part). Other than that - I'll eat pretty much anything. (Don't worry - I eat a lot of cheese and other forms of calcium plus take pills).

3. Getting Christmas cards is probably my favorite thing about Christmas. (Although I pretty much love everything about the holidays!)

4. I could eat a turkey sandwich and chips for pretty much every meal, every day forever.

5. I'm blind as a bat. I have worn glasses/contacts since the 7th grade. I only wore glasses for one year and I finally got a new pair this year but I still don't wear them (except for right now because I got some kind of eye infection over Thanksgiving). I have no desire to have surgery to fix my eyes. The idea of that terrifies me. I'm just fine with wearing contacts forever.

6. I am VERY shy and having to mingle in a big room full of people is my idea of a nightmare. As I get older - my shyness has worn off a lot - but I still hate mingling in big rooms. In college during rush - I would hide behind the punch bowl so I didn't have to mingle. (Unless I know and love every single person in the room like at my baby shower - in which I couldn't mingle enough!)

7. I don't like to read. Unless I'm on vacation and then I could read 12 books in 4 days. I grew up loving to read but I don't seem to make time for it anymore. I don't see that changing any time soon.

8. If my BFF Laurie or I ever have to miss church - we always call each other to get the "church report" and whoever was there will give as many details as they can possibly remember (music in church, sermon, any announcements, who was in Sunday School, etc). Both of us love to try and remember as many details as we can about that Sunday to report to the other. We hate missing church. And we would never ask our husbands for the "church report" because both of them would just say "church was good" and that would be the end. ha!

I won't tag anyone but if you are home on this cold Saturday - please make a list of your own!

Thanksgiving with the Martins

Scott and I headed over to Flippin (my home town) last night after work. We got here around 9. I got to open this gift from my friends Jamie, Micaela and their mom. This was one of the things Scott and I just loved - the little monkey activity gym (for our monkey).
It was fun to be home - especially when we all laid on my parents bed (even Dawson) and watched Harper kicking me. You could see her foot kicking out my stomach. That was about the best entertainment we have had in a while.

These are my parents - aren't they cute? Almost 38 years of marriage!

This is my dad's workshop - where all the magic happens. ha! This is where he is making Harper's changing table/dresser. I'm so excited about it - it is going to be so cute. I had almost forgot what I had sent him as a request to make and was happy to see it was better than I remembered!
We eat our thanksgiving meal at lunch (and again for dinner!) Here is my dad carving the turkey (with help from a little begging turkey. ha!) My mom made such a great meal - turkey, cornbread dressing, potato casserole, green beans, salad, rolls, cranberries, apple pie and the best pumpkin pie cake that I will have to give you the recipe. I don't even like pumpkin pie and I was gulping it up!!!!
Scott and I did some posing this afternoon to try and get a family Christmas picture for our card. I can't wait until next year when we can have a little cutie in a Christmas dress for our card!

This is my mom and my aunt Linda (sisters!) We took a walk after lunch up to my dad's shop.
My aunt Linda gave me an early birthday present - it is so cute!! A buddha bag - in python!!! I love it! I have wanted a new purse for a long time and this is VERY me! I have to start carrying it immediately before I have to add a diaper bag to my shoulder as well!
We are all sitting around watching the Cowboys play now and just waiting until we can feast again. I hope ya'll have had a great thanksgiving!
How many of you are getting up early to shop Black Friday? I have never ONCE been shopping on the day after thanksgiving. I'm going to try and keep that tradition alive and well!

A little of this.........A little of That

Julia e-mailed me today because she thought of me when she saw these pj's!!! They match Harper's bedding exactly. I'm pretty sure I will be ordering these because not only do they look so cute and comfy but I'm pretty sure my wardrobe for the first month of Harper's life will be pj's.
I was wondering if anyone out there wants to have a little girl in a few years and name her Harper???? Because I will be able to give you a multitude of things. I think I've gone overboard with the monogramming. (and I'm not done yet!)

So we are headed to my parents house tomorrow after work to spend Thanksgiving with them. We are going to come back on Friday so we can have a few days at home. I desperately need to get the nursery organized and once that is done and Scott hangs all the pictures - I will give a tour of the nursery! Yeay! I will also feel much better about her coming at any point!

Sunday night at our church they had people come up to microphones and share what they were most thankful for. It was very moving. We were sitting far away from a mike and I didn't want to crawl over people or get up there and start sobbing - but I think you all know what I'm most thankful for this year. But I have so much to be thankful for outside of the precious gift we've been given. We live in uncertain times, in a horrible economy - but God is still on His throne - He is my provider. I have everything I could ever hope for and more and I hope I tell Him every day just how thankful I am. I also hope that if for some reason I lost all my wordly possessions or my health or anything dear to me - that I would still be thankful and know that He is all I need!

(I'm also thankful for gas that is $1.37 today and that the sonic by my house is closed for renovations and I haven't gone into convulsions and that as of yet - I have no stretch marks (yippee!) and that "Biggest Loser" is on tonight (and hopefully Vicky is going HOME!))

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! I'm VERY thankful for the Bloggy world this year and all the wonderful friends I've made!

33 weeks

33 weeks

Harper weighs almost 4 pounds - like a pineapple!
(which makes me think of my favorite place on earth - Hawaii!)

I can't believe we only have 7 weeks left!

I'm starting to get freaked out. I feel like I have so much to do and get ready before she can come. I mean I would love to see her sweet face today if she wanted to come now but the control freak in me needs to have everything completely organized, the baby book all ready, our bags all packed, her clothes all washed and organized by size, a list of all the pictures we want to take in those first few days, meals made and frozen to eat those first weeks, and 10,000 other things I think need to be done before she gets here.

People ask me if I'm scared of delivery. I'm really not (I think that answer will change once I actually go into labor or after we go to childbirth classes next week). The only thing I'm afraid of is not getting that precious epidural. As long as I have that - I think I can handle it.

What I AM scared of - TERRIFIED actually - is being her MOM! I'm scared to death of being in charge of this little life. I worry that I won't do the right things or start her off right from the beginning. That I'll mess something up from the beginning and never be able to reverse it. I'm scared I won't make all of her childhood memories perfect. That I'll forget things like leaving cookies out for Santa or making traditions just for our family or carving the perfect pumpkin. I'm afraid I'll forget to take pictures that I wanted to take. I'm afraid I won't praise her enough and help her to have a good self esteem or that I'll praise her too much and make her a spoiled brat. I'm afraid I'll cross the fine line of wanting to give her the WORLD and teaching her that we already have more than we need. I'm afraid I'll want to shelter her from ever experiencing rejection or failure but I won't equip her to know that life isn't fair and she won't always get everything she wants. I'm afraid I'll dress her up like a princess every day and won't remember to tell her that "pretty is as pretty does" and that kindness is more important than looks any day. I'm scared of her getting hurt. I'm scared of feeding her too much or not enough at first. I'm afraid that because I don't like to read books that I won't use the right parenting methods and she'll be that child that teachers and Sunday School teachers see coming and say to themselves "Oh dear - here comes the Stamps girl". ha! When I was younger and not even married (and maybe even last year) - I had ALL the answers on how to be a good parent. ha! But now that I am about to be one - I feel like I know nothing.

Last night in my Beth Moore Bible Study - we were talking about what makes us feel insecure and another young mom mentioned "parenting". OH BOY - I am just entering that world and I already feel so insecure. I know it's the tendency of moms every where to compare their child to others. Are they talking at the right age, walking when they should, reading when they should, speaking a foreign language at 3? I think deep down we all want to feel like we are doing the best for our children and we all have different ways of doing it. As Beth would say "Does anyone here know what I am saying?Am I talking to ANYONE?"

On a completely different note - I got the sweetest package from Cena today and I just had to share what she sent.

This neat little pink and green sign that I can hang in the nursery and this precious book!

And what a cute idea - little washcloths put on spoons to look like lollipops!

And just to show you God's goodness and perfect timing - I wrote all the above earlier and then came home and before I could post - opened a package from a sweet friend, Catherine, who had sent me this book. It is full of prayers to pray over our children. It's by the same lady who wrote "Power of a Praying Wife" (which I highly recommend). Just exactly what I needed!

Thank you Jesus I don't have to do this alone - you are with me guiding me!

My Ideal Day

Today is the kind of day I think is just my idea of a perfect day! It's cold here and a great day to stay inside and get things done - all the while wearing PJ's.

I started off my day by taking Dawson to get his nails cut and hitting Wal-Mart. But first I stopped by Starbucks to finally try the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. RUN ........don't walk.....RUN to starbucks to get this. It is yum in a cup! I'm very critical of hot chocolate and Starbucks has always been low on my list but this was soooooooooooooo good. The guy made it a "truffle" by adding some decaf expresso to make it darker. I don't know if that helped or not - but seriously I can not wait to get another one!
I spent the afternoon putting up our one little tree. I won't show it to you yet - I'm saving it for Boomama's tour. But I will show you one of the ornaments I made this year. We have one for each of our initials - this is Harper's! I've had her stocking for several years now but since I'm not getting those out of the attic - we will have to wait until next year to get it monogrammed!
I spent the rest of the day watching football and Lifetime movies and finishing my thank you notes. Dawson has discovered that my big belly makes a great pillow! Harper was kicking most of the time when he was laying there - she was probably thinking "let me out of here! I want to play with you!"

We had Papa Murphy's pizza for dinner and I made some chocolate chip cookies. It's warm and cozy and quiet in our house and I told Scott this was probably one of our very last leisurely quiet Saturdays to spend alone together. We are savoring every moment. But we will savor every moment once our little girl gets here too in a whole new way!

P.S. On the Ornaments:
I've made several of these lately for hostess gifts and such. Just get the clear ornaments - they come in all sizes at places like Hobby Lobby. Then fill them with shredded paper ( you can find this in the wrapping section of most stores). I found 3 cute ribbons and tied them at the top and then put a sticker on the outside for the monogram. Super easy and I think they are fun. You could do them in any color!

It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!

Let me give some GREAT news for this Friday - we already have THREE praises on the prayer blog. That's right - 3 of the girls you have been praying over are pregnant! I put them at the bottom in red! God is good and I am expecting to put a big fat PRAISE by each and every name on that list - keep praying!

This sweet girl, Jenni, who reads my blog sent me this precious stool this week to use in Harper's bathroom. She is going to be brushing her teeth and brushing her hair in style!!! Isn't it sooooo neat?? Jenni - I can't thank you enough!
She also had this rocking chair made for me. It has the words to "Jesus Loves Me" on the seat. Isn't this the most precious thing EVER? I can just picture Harper sitting in this and reading books in her room as she grows. Oh I Love it. I'm excited because Jenni wasn't totally sure how to ship this and I figured out she doesn't live all that far from me - so I'm hoping we can meet (maybe after Harper comes) and have lunch and I can pick it up from her. It would be so much better to meet her in person! It completely blows me away that someone would do this for me.

Jenni had her friend at www.allisonrosedesigns.com make these. You can check her out here.

I'm putting up our one little Christmas tree this weekend. I love decking out our entire house for christmas and it gets bigger and bigger every year - but I am just going to do one little tree and a wreath this year and that's it. I love Christmas so much!!!! I have to do it this weekend or it might not happen at all. I hope you all have enjoyed Boomama's tour the last few years - it's one of my favorite things. I plan to join in - little Charlie Brown tree and all. I'm just giving my little plug for her - it will be here in 24 days!

When will you decorate for Christmas?

Soldier goes home

Several of you have e-mailed me to check on me because I haven't posted since Monday ( I know - strange!) I have been in the great state of Texas the last 3 days for my grandfather's funeral - we just got home. I'm sorry if I haven't responded to your e-mails, left comments or haven't taken your requests for the prayer blog - I have just been out of touch. BUT I'm back!

My grandfather had a wonderful funeral. My dad did the major portion of it and he did such a great job. You can imagine how hard it would be to do your own dad's funeral. As much as we will miss Poppie - it's hard to be too sad when you know he is in heaven having the time of his life. I'm pretty sure he would NEVER choose to come back to this life. So we celebrate with him.
He had a military grave site burial and that is always so special. I'm so proud to have two grandfathers who served in the War World 2 and my Poppie also spent his life serving his country. I'm so thankful to live in the United States and it is men like him who have made this nation "the land of the free and the home of the brave".

It was also so good to see so much of my family that I rarely get to see. We took this picture of my grandma and her grandchildren (except my cousin Kenneth - he was there but somehow he escaped this picture?)
Last night we got to go see my brother Chris and his new wife Carrie's new house they recently bought. I was so excited to get the tour. They bought the CUTEST house built in the 50's near White Rock Lake. They have it fixed up soooo cute! I just loved it. This was them greeting us at the front door!
I had to take a picture of Carrie's closet because she is the most neat and organized person I have ever met - which is why we were so glad she married Chris (neat is not in his vocabulary). Everything was so perfect and color coded. I would be so ashamed for ya'll to see my closet. Every time I walk in there I just shake my head at it. ha! We all went out to eat at this great Mexican place last night. It was fun to be together with our whole little family. I'm so excited for Harper to meet her Aunt and Uncle!
I love Arkansas so much but every time I go to Dallas - I get the bug to want to move there. I just love Dallas. (maybe because I was born there - it's in my blood).
Scott and I headed home today. We took our time getting home because it is not the most comfortable thing to ride in the car all day at 8 months pregnant. So we made a few stops - like at Braum's for ice cream sundaes. :-)
I had to share this - when we got home today - I had a package. Since next week is Thanksgiving - I thought I would show you what Miss Harper will be sporting at Turkey day next year. Oh I can't wait!!!! I'm going to put a little orange turtleneck under it and some cute tights. I may not be able to eat any pie I'll be so busy looking at how cute she is!

32 Weeks

32 weeks
Harper should weigh about 3.75 lbs by now. A little more than this sack of potatoes.
We are getting so close. I read last night in "What to expect when you are expecting" about how to deliver the baby myself if I am in an emergency situation. Let's just hope it never comes to that - because they instructions they gave on pulling the baby out myself nearly put me in an early grave. :-)

I went to the doctor today and I am measuring right where I should be. I will now start going every 2 weeks. Yikes!

Today I got this sweet little hat that I ordered for Harper to wear home from the hospital along with this sweet dress I already had. Of course we'll have to bundle her up over that dress but I can only imagine how sweet she will look. I can't wait to find out what color combination she will have. My hair was almost black when I was young (and really all my life until I discovered color in a bottle) and I have very dark brown eyes. Scott had white blond hair and huge blue eyes. So she could end up with anything I guess. I'm hoping for dark hair and blue eyes.

Thank you so much for everyone who took part of my Blog Baby Shower. It was soooo neat and fun! I loved reading all of your kind words. It was a little overwhelming actually. When I got home tonight - Scott was in the middle of reading all the posts. I think he secretly loves blogs as much as I do.

Blog Shower

I've spent the last few days having the most wonderful showers - and today is just the icing on the cake. It's a bloggy shower thrown by my sweet friends Jenna, Faith and Heather today!
SO FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go here to see!

A birthday, a painting and First Day in Heaven

Today is my sweet friend Jamie's birthday!!!! Happy birthday to one of the most wonderful people I know!
I had asked Jamie to paint a picture for the nursery to fill up one big wall. I knew she would do a wonderful job. Scott and I often refer to Harper as our "little monkey" so I knew I wanted a monkey on the painting and I wanted this verse because it was the verse I claimed while I was waiting for a baby and I feel like it is exactly how I feel about the miracle of our daughter!
Jamie finished this painting this weekend and sent it with her mom to my mom so I could get it at thanksgiving. She sent me a picture of it and I was just delighted! It's more perfect than I had imagined! I can't wait to hang it in the nursery! I will smile every time I see it!

On a sad note - my grandfather passed away early this morning. My dad was with him and I'm so glad. Mostly I'm thankful that my Poppie is in heaven today (probably trying to tell the angels what to do - he was a lifelong army man - a colonel -and he liked to be boss). He was saved at 68 - it's never too late! :-) We will miss him but I know I will see him again one day! Please pray for us as we travel to Dallas this week - I'm a little nervous about traveling this close to having a baby but I'm sure it will be fine.

Harper's Shower

This morning my church gave me a WONDERFUL shower for Harper. It was just so overwhelming and perfect. I am SO thankful for my church family and my Sunday School class. If you are not plugged into a church - you are missing out - it is so nice to have an "extended family" of so many kind and Godly people. I love everyone so much!!! This post has about a ton of pictures but I want to remember it all! This was the front table where I had people sign my baby book.
This is my beautiful friend Rachel who prayed for me so hard when we were struggling for a baby and who encouraged me and I just adore her. She worked so hard at the shower and made sure that everything was just perfect.

There were 12 very special girls who helped throw this shower for me and I am so thankful for each one. They made it absolutely perfect and they are all sweet friends to me. This was a picture of me and 10 of them (and the food table!)

Laurie and I.
Yesterday I got a letter in the mail from Laurie that just made me cry. She wanted to give me "sisterly" advice and just some thoughts before I had Harper. It is something I'm going to treasure forever because I just love that we are raising girls together.
All I can say over and over is "God is just SO good!"

Me and the two Judys. This is my mom on the left and Scott's mom on the right. I was so glad they were both able to come and be there!

The cutest cookies in the world

I LOVED these petit fours with Harper's monogram.

Two of my old TRI CHI sisters came to the shower and I was so excited! They are both very special to me and I was thrilled to have them there.
This is my friend Kelli that I used to work with and I miss her so much. She is one of my most favorite people in the world. I was so excited she came today! It was so good to see her and visit with her!
This is my pretty friend Isabel. She and her husband are moving soon to North Carolina and I'm going to miss them SO much. They were the first friends we made in Sunday School and we think the world of them!
My friend Hillary surprised me and drove up from Little Rock for the shower! I was so excited to see her that I almost starting bawling on the spot but I held it back. She came with Shannon and Katie and I was thrilled they all came. They are so sweet - they sat on the front row and watched me open all the gifts.

Jessica and Caryn - they are so cute

Some of my favorite girls - I didn't get a picture of half of the people that came because I was opening gifts for almost the whole 2 hours and I just had my mom taking pictures. But I was so thankful to everyone that came.

This is Ginger and her little girl Alex. Alex is just precious. She helped me open most of the gifts and she did so great!
Laurie was so sweet to write all my gifts down for me. I enjoyed having her up there with me.

One of the precious smocked dresses I got - I love it so much!

Scott and his dad came up after the shower to help us load the car - this is me with Scott and his parents. Scott and his dad worked hard all day fixing things around the house and putting together the stroller, the pack and play, the bouncy seat and anything else that needed put together. They were a HUGE help. And Judy helped me after we got home to organize things.
Me and 3 pregnant girls from class - we were missing Ginger. Vonda is due in May, Amy is due with TWINS in April and Robin is due in March. I love sharing this with them!
Mary Avery helped with the shower and her husband brought up her sweet little boy John Michael at the end. He is precious - even in an ALABAMA outfit. I would say Roll Tide right now but I have too many Mississippi State friends. (I just want an SEC team in the championship, ya'll. But I think FL might be our hope!)

Amy and Berkli

All of my wonderful gifts. My friends Rachel and Elizabeth worked so hard to display everything and get it all organized. I just love them. I can't even tell you how many wonderful things we got. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO blessed.

A peek at Harper's room as it is exploding with gifts. I will be working the next few weeks to get everything organized. Let's hope she doesn't decide to come early. ha!
I promise to post pictures of the nursery eventually - I just want to wait until I have everything on the walls!