Tammy's In Love

Sickness and Project Life

(This photo has nothing to do with this post but oh, how I love my paperwhites! They are so gorgeous!)

 

I'm sick. 

I have a nasty runny nose, I'm sneezing constantly and when I'm not sneezing I'm doing that really weird looking up thing like I'm trying to sneeze, my eyes are red and puffy, and don't forget about the sore throat. Not to mention the huge belly that I'm sporting lately. Andrew told me the other day that this might be our first ten pound baby. Thanks Honey! I've only gained ten stinkin' pounds thank you very much! 

I spent today wishing that I had the energy to tackle my never ending, must do asap, to do list. We have less than 9 weeks folks. 9 weeks. Is this really happening?! 

In other news around here.

 I just jumped on the Project Life train. For my birthday I received a few of the basics. A box of journaling cards and page protectors. I spent WAY too much time on my title page and I'm still not happy with it but it doesn't matter. I'm sure I will like it months from now. Pregnancy makes me a little un decisive. Today I printed pictures and I'm slowly trying to get week one finished. Printing the pictures is usually my biggest chore when it comes to anything scrapbook related. Something always happens. I run out of photo paper or I'm low to no ink. Today I happily printed all that I needed without any mishaps. Well, almost. I did spill water on three and had to reprint. Pregnancy makes me clumsy too. Just so you know I'm going to start blaming everything on pregnancy from here on out. It makes me feel less like a mess right now and more like I will overcome all that needs to be fixed. :) One thing that I learned this week while printing my pictures is that I take a lot of pictures. Mostly of food and Lillie. A good amount of Karigan and the sisterly bond that they have going on. But hardly any of the boys. This makes me sad but I'm really glad that I recognized it early. So this week I'm going to intentional take more pictures of the boys. Another thing is I need to be more selective as to what I'm actually going to put in the album each week. I had so many pictures and wanted to use all of them. Well, almost all. And I didn't keep anything like receipts or drawings that they kids made me this week. I only took pictures. Which is still okay. I started Project Life in hopes that it will help me get back into scrapbooking and help me find the long lost love that I once had for it. 

I also celebrated my 32nd birthday on Saturday. Andrew bought me muffins and fried potatoes from Perkins. They have the best Apple Cinnamon muffins in the world. I enjoyed every bite of them with a little Downton Abbey. Have you seen Downton Abbey yet? If not, you are missing out on something really, really good! Best miniseries in a long, long time! Then for lunch a very dear friend brought my entire family lunch from Chick-fil-A. It was yummy! She knew exactly that the best gift is giving me a break. Andrew and the kids were going to make me a cake but after I saw that Lemon Ice box pie there was really no need. Lemon Ice box is always a favorite when I'm pregnant!!! I wish I had one piece left right now.

I'm going off to snooze for a bit. I didn't sleep very well last night. I'm praying that this cold passes as quickly as it began.

Hopefully in the next few days I will share my project life with you all. I truly am enjoying it more than I thought I would and that makes me very happy. 

 

New Art and Ramblings

Remember these girls?

Well, I created another. 

I'm always so reluctant to show my artwork. I go back and forth about it way too much. To me its a pretty vulnerable thing to do. Especially painting but at the same time its very freeing. 

I created this Proverbs Girl for a dear friend of mine who just moved away. I wanted to give her something that was from my heart. 

I will miss you Melissa. I'm so thankful for texting right now. :)

In other news...

Last night was a long night. Lillie woke me up three times. My best friend was and at the moment still in labor so I was checking my phone and facebook every time I turned over. It wasn't a great nights sleep. 

But its a new day and His mercies are new everyday.

I'm on operation get the house ready for baby number 5 mode right now. What a chore that is. Half my closet is sitting in my living room floor and its making me feel like a very messy person. Must tackle that today. I'm not really a nester but our home needs some major organization. 

Here's hoping I can muster up enough energy to get a lot accomplished today. 

 

A New Year

Andrew woke me up this morning and made me breakfast. One egg, toast with blackberry jam, banana and pineapple smoothie, and my favorite hot coffee. It was good and healthy. Fulfilling. He read Psalms 10 and I sat quietly eating while trying to digest the scripture. I felt convicted and it felt good honestly. Not the weeping conviction of a terrible sin that I’ve committed, although I’ve committed many, but good because I’ve felt so blah toward God’s word lately. I’ve learned over the years not to depend on my feelings when it comes to my faith but the truth of God’s word. Something that is really hard for me because I’m a whole bag of feelings. Tenderhearted to the core.

 

I’m expecting our Emmaline Katherine during the first week of March. I’m nervous, excited and anxious to meet her. I’m excited to see what she will look like. Our Lillie has blue eyes and curly blond hair. Think Shirley Temple. Nothing is impossible with God. It almost makes me want to have about twenty kids to see how different each one could look. :)

 

Andrew and I stare amazed at the beauty of our children all the time. I know all parents think their children are the most beautiful and I truly think that to them, they are. There are times I truly think my heart will burst from how much love I have for them. Of course those times usually come when they are all peacefully sleeping in their beds. 

 

I’ve been thinking of how much things are going to change around here soon. Before I found out I was pregnant with #5 I began feeling like I could handle all that God had given me. I was excited about homeschooling again. That’s a miracle in itself. I was painting and really, really enjoying it. Then morning sickness set in and my house and my love of painting went on the back burner.

 

Now here I am almost 30 weeks into this pregnancy and a New Year awaits me.  I do love a fresh start. When Andrew went to work this morning I looked around at my almost clean, naked (just took down Christmas decorations) living room, and it felt good. Of course the sun hasn’t come up yet. Its still 6:19.

 

I’m not good at goals.  I’m even worse at keeping them.  But I can pray. My prayer this year is to have more JOY. Joy in the everyday. Joy is the mundane. Joy in the trails. Joy in the days when I really just feel like staying in my pajamas and not getting out of bed. To stop being so cynical.

 

I want to be glad.

 

I want to be happy.

 

I want to be Joyful.

 

(Because every post needs a picture. This is my dad and my Lillie. Do you think they look alike? This picture makes me happy just to look at.)

 

 

 

 

Redesign

Doing a blog makeover in my spare time. That is actually funny because I hardly have any spare time but I'm hoping by the end of the weekend to have it prettied up again. Thanks for your patience!

 

Lately...

Can I be real with you for a minute?

For the past three months I've pretty much felt like crap! Just to be honest.

I've had nothing. I didn't feel like doing anything. I didn't care about doing anything. I felt sick. I felt sluggish. I felt like I was crazy for having another baby.

But... Fall is here. Lovely, lovely Fall. I f.i.n.a.l.l.y. made it to the second trimester, thank you Lord!

And last night I felt flutters. Flutters. That made me happy and made me smile.

So. I feel a change coming on. A wonderful back to myself change.

This pregnancy has been hard so far. I'm hoping the last trimesters will go easy on me. 

I'm hoping that I will start feeling like my old self again soon. When I start decorating I'll know I'm there. I'm not there yet. ;)

My big ultrasound is on Oct. 18. Yay! I'm so ready to find out whether this baby is a he or she.

I kinda want a girl because... I know how to do girls! 

I kinda want a boy because... well, its been 10 years since I've had a wittle boy!

Basically, I'm happy either way. 

And today. Its chilly and beautiful out. 

Have a wonderful Monday.

 

 

 

Lately...

I'm still here. 

Still pregnant. 16 weeks on Friday. Its going fast and slow all at the same time.

I've been overwelmed. Homeschool. Housework. And trying to regain control of the mess that took place during my first trimester. My house has paid the price.

Chasing after Lillie. Or Goldie Locks as we sometimes call her. Ringlets of golden hair. A wild child at heart.

I've cried so many times these last few weeks wondering and praying how I'm going to do it all when this baby comes.

I'm scared. I'm scared that I won't be able to handle it.

But at the same time there is a calm. I know it comes from Him. 

He placed this child inside my womb. He is teaching me that I can't do it all.

I have to give Grace and learn daily to accept His. 

 

Instagrams

I awoke this morning with my legs covered in some sort of rash. So I get to go the lovely doctor today. I'm dreading it. Did I ever tell you that I'm a hermit? Well, I am. I think that's probably why I love social networking so much. Last Saturday morning I woke up with hives and during the weekend was in the ER twice and then the Doctors office Monday morning. I was on prednisone but evidently it is out of my system and the hives/rash is back. Not a good way to start the day. Itch. Itch. Itch.

I haven't shared any of my instagrams in a few weeks so I thought I would today. Pictures are of the everyday. Vacationing with my parents. Visiting my grandmother. My trip to the ER. Lots of stuff.

 

I love Instagram. Love having these images not just sitting in my phone. Love that I can capture moments and not regret leaving my big camera at home. Makes me happy.

Have a wonderful Tuesday! 

 

She's a Keeper

This child.

Is so beautiful.

So difficult.

I really thought that I had this mothering thing down before this one arrived. I mean I have three others.

I didn't think I was prideful. We would always get comments such as...

"Your kids are so well behaved."

"Your kids are so good.

"You are so lucky to have good kids." - Luck has nothing to do with it, thank you very much.

Then entered Lillie and I realize now that I was prideful. God has humbled me with this one.

She is stubborn. Loud. Crazy fast. Smart as a whip! A total manipulator. She can take care of herself and will hit you in the face if you get in the way- we are nipping this in the bud. 

She is also sweet. Loves our dog like never before. Her latest is "Ginger, outside" and "what's that?"

Has a headful of curls. Her eyes look like blueberries. She loves her baby dolls. Carries a purse around just like her mama. 

There really is only one Lillie.

But... I wouldn't have it any other way.

She's a keeper this one. :)

Love, Joy, Peace

Good Friday Morning. I woke up this morning and thought it was Thursday. It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't planned company for Friday. So I'm about to get busy cleaning the house. I went out of town last week to visit my parents and just have not gotten back into the swing of things! This might have something to do with it though.

                                        

I'm a little shocked but happy. Worried, but happy. Very Thankful!

I've also been creating! 

This is my first 9x11 canvas. I've been working really hard trying to get my faces the way I want them. Drawing late at night. Finally, I just went for it. It's supposed to resemble Karigan and myself. 

Well, I have a ton of stuff to do and four kids to take care of. 

I hope your Friday is filled with love, joy, and peace from our precious Redeemer!

 

It's a layout! Yay!

I created a layout. It's been almost two years since I've finished one. Two Years! It was so much fun and I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it. I signed up for Jenni Bowlin last month. 

The background paper was a bit busy for a background so I whitewashed it and then added stamps and lots of ink to distress it. I really love how it turned out. 

Just wanted to share.

I hope you are having a wonderful Thursday.