Soul Sundays- "Showered" with Love

Yesterday, I had my first baby shower. Due to the fact that I have friends and family spread out from all over, it was decided the best place to have the shower would be at my mom and dad's (I think the bonus was the lake, jetskis, and pontoon behind the house-lol). My aunts and friends helped to host the shower. It was lovely and turned out better than I had expected. A lot of people were able to make it, and Baby Boak got some amazing things. I posted before about my brunch inspiration.

Well, it didn't turn out exactly like this but I think it looked really good. Everyone was ooing and aaahhing so I take that as they liked it. My husband was really happy that I was getting a shower of this type caliber because as he put it, as much as you do for other people, you deserve something like this. Check out the pictures tomorrow in the Monday Montage. 

31 Weeks

How far along? 31 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss:  Doctor said 1 lb and ½ so that puts me at almost 15 lbs.
Maternity clothes?  No and I guess with only 9 weeks to go I will not be purchasing any. If I do anything, I guess it will be one of those bella band things. I have plenty of skirts, skirts and dresses that will do. I am just hoping to be able to pull together enough cute outfits to go to school in.
Stretch marks?  No, the magic belly oil is my friend.
Sleep: It is still a little sketchy. I am finding it difficult to sleep through the night with all the ups and downs, kicks and back to the weird, wacky, and scary dreams. (ones that have me reaching for my husband because I wake up drenched in a cold sweat)
Best moment this week: Having people tell me that I was one of the prettiest pregnant women they had ever seen…it feels good when you feel like a big blob of goo. Also having people try to guess how far along I was…4 months, 5 months, no one believed how far I actually am.

Have you told family and friends:  Yes.
Miss Anything?  Being able to get up off of the couch without having to rock to get up sometimes…lol
Movement:  He loves to move. (my best friend finally got to feel him moving and kicking and it thrilled her to death)
Food cravings: Hmmmm…this week it is most definitely hibachi…vegetable with some of the yum yum sauce and ginger sauce with extra mushrooms…my husband would have to have the chicken but I can do without meat.  (still yet to actually get this but I did make some but soooo not the same). I also have an increased need to eat sweet stuff which I try to ward off with fruit and a drizzle of honey but sometimes I just need it. Then I turn to my smore’s oatmeal-love HUNGRY GIRL!
Anything making you queasy or sick:  icky, yucky stuff
Have you started to show yet:  Yes, but I can still get by with not looking preggars in certain outfits.
Gender:  BOY.
Labor Signs:  No
Belly Button in or out? In still.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy.
Weekly Wisdom:  This came from a friend. Your feelings are normal. What you will go through after the baby is born is normal. You may hate your husband as you watch him sleep at 3 in the morning while you are feeding a crying infant, you may hate the pouch that remains on your belly, you may feel like you are in a fog, you may get really ticked off at people only asking about the baby forgetting that you just did a Herculean feat by pushing a watermelon out of your lady. It is normal, it is normal, it is normal…she said make it my mantra over the next few weeks.
Looking forward to:  Finally a vacation with my husband and finalizing the plans for my two baby showers this month. 

Wear it Wednesday

I couldn't decide exactly what I wanted to do for the first Wear it Wednesday. I didn't know if I wanted to take a picture and rework it with pieces I had in my closet or show you a Splurge and Save outfit. I decided to show you a Splurge and Save.

I love the look of a pretty Coral Dress but right now being pregnant, I don't want to spend tons of money on clothes as I have things to buy for the baby. So when I find a dress at the body shop in my size (small) and on clearance for 9.99 I buy it. My dress looks soooo similar to the splurge above except it doesn't have straps and the buttons are different. I actually like the look of my buttons better. I also love the look of coral paired with turquoise which is why I bought the earrings, also a Body Shop purchase for 3.90 and brought the antique cross necklace out of hiding in my jewelry box. (I am a sucker for all things crosses). 

Monday Montague ~Maternity Photos Inspiration Board

I put together a board of photos that I would like to have done with the little man. I have quite a few of the props for these ideas already. My husband's favorite is the first one as he is an avid golfer (when he has time). I like any with the books (I guess it is the teacher in me).

A Much Needed Vacation Provides Perspective

So my husband and I took off for a few days to enjoy each others company which we do not get to do very often because of his management job. Let me just say, it was wonderful. We walked on the beach at night, we went shopping, played putt putt (note to self-don't play putt putt at a place that requires you to climb so many stairs at 30+ weeks pregnant), swam in the pool, laid in bed and watched movies and found a new tv show, pigged out on food and sweets, and just talked. Again, it was wonderful. It was relaxing. I watched months of stress melt off my husband. During the vacation, I feel like I gained some perspective on things that I want and things that I don't want. The water has always had an effect on me, a soothing, calming, life-changing effect. Sometimes, I come back from the ocean and completely reorganize things, or change things that are not all that right in my life. Sometimes, the changes or alterations are so small they are barely noticeable, like trying to eat something different.
I have always been a very organized person. I can tell you where certain files are in my file cabinet (I have 4 tall ones that I know like the back of my hand). My lists have lists. I have to dos, and my to dos have to dos lol.
So I thought about organizing my blog better. This is my thoughts:
Monday-Monday Montage ~This will be where I post my inspiration boards or photo clips in a montage like fashion. I am sure after the little man arrives this day will be dedicated entirely to him lol
Tuesday- Try it Tuesday Tutorials- This will be where I post my crafts for the week or the craft that I plan to do. Hopefully I will be able to include step by step instructions along with photos-the photos are the hardest part because I forget sometimes till I am halfway through with a project, but I am trying.
Wednesday- Wear it Wednesdays- This will be where I post an outfit/fashion/makeup idea/accessories/hair styles that I did. It may also be where I found and copied or altered a look that I found online or on my favorite site PINTEREST. It might also be where I find a cheaper version of a coveted look or trend, my own version of Splurge and Save.
Thursday- Talk about it Thursdays- This will be where I post my weekly rants or questions or thoughts.
Friday-Foodie Fridays-This will be where I post about a food I made or ate or a new recipe that I tried this week. (pictures included) or maybe my weekly menu (especially after little man is here and I work to lose this weight)
Saturday-Spotlight Saturdays-This will be where I post about a product/idea/service that I just fell in love with. Again after my son is born, I am sure baby products will reign supreme.
Sunday- Soul Sundays-This will be where I post about the week, my life, my love-a kind of verbal spew of sorts.

Now I am sure that I will not always post every day as that would take a lot of time. I am also sure that some days I will deviate from that especially if something great happens or I get some awesome pictures to share or the little guy does something to make my heart skip a beat. I just needed to reorganize myself. Now off to organize for my substitute for my 8th grade class -which believe me is not something that I am looking forward to. As a bit of a control freak, handing my classroom over to another person regardless of the fact that she is certified, has done long periods of time for the 8th grade LA next to mine, used to teach me in college, has a Doctorate, the idea of someone other than me teaching MY KIDS stresses me out. I have a certain rhyme and flow to my class and the thought that it is not going to be that way just gives me the hives. So I am going to try to outline for her as much as possible what I want taught to MY KIDS. I capitalize these words because I mean just that. Up until now, each year, those children that come into my classroom become MY KIDS, not having any of my own. The thought that this years students are not just going to be mine makes me sad and worried all at the same time. I am like a mother hen. 

Leaving on a Jet Plane

While we will not be traveling via a jet plane, but by car, I just love the song. After my 2 week doctors appointment this week we will be leaving for the beach for a little mini vacation or our baby moon. I am soooo excited to get some time away with my husband without his work phone ringing during dinner and such.
I am by definition an over organizer. I have had my bags "semi" packed for weeks with the outfits that I wanted to take. I also always have a travel bag ready to go with all the travel essentials like shampoos, lotions, mini tissues, and most important TUMS! Just the essentials. I am also by definition an over packer. I take more than I would ever need; however, I am trying to get better so I have restricted myself to what I can take. My husband and I are just going to use our garment bag and my Vera Bradley weekender for all our things (towels, beach bag, etc). I have all my dresses hung on one hanger as I love dresses these day because mainly they are comfy. I did bring a couple extra that I thought might make good pictures down by the beach. Then I got my clothespin hanger (it is a hanger that has the clothespin type pinchers to hold four items). I put one of my skorts on it and the other three hangers are for my husband's shorts. I plan on packing only 2 pairs of shoes (plus the ones I will be wearing-a black pair of dressy flip flops, a comfy pair of brown plaid merrells that are soooo soft but great for the beach sand, and a pair of white strappy sandals that are dressy).
I did recently purchase 2 dresses from American Eagle that I wanted to take with me. This is the navy one that I got but couldn't find the white one I purchased online.


I did purchase a dress at Body Shop but it is strapless but looks like this (the white dress and the flower pattern).

Hopefully I will get lots of pictures. My husband and I plan on doing a little beach maternity session of photos, some of which I will be able to post immediately and others that will have to wait because his name or letters will be in the photo. I am ready to put my toes in the water....

Stenciling

We decided a long time ago that we wanted a stencil for the baby's room (long before we found out that baby Boak was a he we ordered this stencil). We purchased the Verde Stencil from Cutting Edge damask stencil and decided to do a metallic paint color on the wall. I was a little apprehensive but love how it turned out.

My great hubby painting the one accent wall we decided to do.