Avey's 1st Baby Shower.

Because I am from Louisiana, and reside in TN, Avey

will be having two baby showers!

She's one lucky and well loved baby all ready!

 

We the one in TN on August 15th, and I was blown away by the love that everyone shared

for this baby girl.

We received more presents than we could have expected and had a wonderful time,

with our family and friends.

We are so grateful!

My mom threw the shower and she did an incredible job.

 

 

Finding Inspiration.

 

I've never been a steady blogger, but I do enjoy it.

That's why even when I've gone months without posting, I've

never deleted this blog.

Just hoped I'd find the inspiration to blog again.

 

It's not quite here yet.

Being 8 months pregnant, I've been so exhausted.

The want is there, the drive is not.

 

 

I really hope when my little girl arrives I'll see

the inspiration in everything and have that need to blog.

I am so excited about what that little girl is going to bring to my world & I cannot

wait to share it.

 

In my life I have been a child, a bratty teenager, a careless college student,

a newlywed, and now I get to start this amazing journey as a mom.  

33 weeks and Avey's nursery update.

 

I am 33 weeks this week!

Only 7 more to go, God willing.

It's getting harder to find the energy to get things done as time goes on,

I love my little baby girl but she sure is an energy drainer!

 

We moved into our new 2 bedroom apartment this past Friday and now we have

a room for our girl.

 

I won't be nearly finished with it until after my first baby shower (which is this Saturday!)

but we put up the crib and my husband painted the changing table this weekend.

 

 

I can't wait to put everything together, and hang more things on the wall.

It certainly is a work in progress, but to get things

started makes me feel a lot better.

Her colors will be teal, coral & grey.

She's gonna have coral curtains and a coral bedskirt,

and it will not really have a theme but we will be adding

elephants, arrows and feathers in the décor!

 

I am so excited to meet my baby girl and bring her home.

 



Maternity Shots @ 31 weeks.

 

So I've reached 32 weeks with my baby girl.

I can't believe in 8 weeks or less, I'll be holding her and taking

her home. It's been quite a journey and we've had a few scares with

this pregnancy but it's also been a wonderful experience.  

 

My sister wanted to capture my pregnancy on film, so I agreed to let her

take our maternity pictures. She's so talented and she did a great job of directing

two very awkward people.

 

 

 

 



Babymoon trip to Louisville!

 

 

My husband and I had hoped to take a vacation this year!

That was one of our 2015 goals we made in January.

But on January 28th, I found out we were expecting a little one, and that

dreamed sailed away.

 

 

Thankfully, my amazing parents were planning on taking a trip to Louisville, and

they asked if we wanted to come with them.

I am so grateful for that, because we needed that vacation!

Even if it was just for 3 days. We've been so stressed with all

the changes.

My husband is going to school again in the fall, the baby is coming, we are moving in early August,

and I am planning a job change.

So YES, we've been stressed.

 

We weren't really sure what to expect from Louisville as none of us had ever been.

We stayed downtown at the Embassy Suites, and I would recommend that hotel to anyone.

It was fantastic. I loved the decor, the staff was friendly, it had a great pool, and a complimentary breakfast that I would have gladly paid for.

 

We visited nearby caverns in Indiana, which blew my husband away.

He was fascinated by them and had never seen them before.

We toured the Louisville Slugger bat factory downtown and it was actually

fun! Who knew learning about the production of bats would be entertaining but it

was, and they give you a great novelty mini bat with each tour.

My favorite part of the trip however was the fireworks show in Waterfront Park in downtown

Louisville. We picked the best seats, and took in an amazing show.

It was better than the one here in Memphis by far, and we didn't

have to deal with very large crowds.

 

We had an amazing time and I'd gladly visit Louisville again.

I'd love to take little Avey there one day!

 



Baby Bumpdate 26 weeks.

 

Weeks: 26 weeks, 2 days.

Official Due Date: September 30th.

Trimester: 2nd.

Gender: A little girl.

Name: Avey Charlotte.

Baby's Size: On Thursday, she was measuring 1 lb 14 ozs.

Cravings: Ranch Dressing, yesterday I had an overwhelming need to have pasta right away, and I have eaten at Taco Bell more in the last month than I ever have in my entire life.

How I'm Feeling: Heavy, I feel like I am carrying a bowling bowl with me every where I go. And at the night my back and rib pain gets so bad I want to cry. 



Movement: She moves all the time. I have had 4 anatomy scans trying to get shots of this tiny little gymnast. She kicks and rolls constantly, so if I go an hour without movement I get a little worried.

Worries/Thoughts: We looked at daycares today and kind of got shocked into just how expensive it is. I don't know what we were thinking it would cost, I mean we knew how much it was. I guess it just didn't set in until today and we both were a little shell shocked for the rest of the day.

 

 

 

Bass Pro Shops at the Memphis Pyramid.

 

 

Memphis recently revamped the empty-for-years massive Pyramid,

and turned it into the largest Bass Pro Shop in the world.

The location has a lodge, indoor ponds filled with fish, 2 alligators, a fudge shop, an

arcade, the largest freestanding elevator in the world with an amazing view at the top and a huge retail store complete with boats and atvs.

 

We went today to check it out, and were pretty impressed.

We paid the $10 a person to ride the elevator and the view at the top was well worth it.

 



Last Week in Pictures.

 

Blue and I got in lots of snuggles during a very rainy week.

 

 

Finally used my map/darts to pick our next vacation.

 

I loved looking at Hallmark's line of Fresh Ink cards.

They are so cute and funny, it was hard to choose just one

to send to my Sister in Law and Brother.

 

When the rain cleared I finally got the chance to clear all

the leaves off the back patio. Next step is getting

some cute patio chairs from Target.

 

 

 



30 Things To Do Before I'm 30.

 

Since I turned 26, 30 seems just around the corner.

I have so many things that I hoped to accomplish, some big, some small.

 

 

 

1. Have a collection of board games.

2. See snow in a northern state - I've never seen real snow, just the 2 inches the south sometimes gets.

3. Make breakfast a daily routine

4. Get glasses - I rely on contacts and my eye doctor keeps bugging me to get glasses.

5. Experience Mardi Gras w/Johnny - My husband has yet to see a real Mardi Gras parade.

6. Read my favorite blogs everyday

7. Hike in a national park or forest.

8. Go Apple picking.

9. Have a house

10. Go biking - beach or mountaint

11. Have a successful career

12. Visit a vineyard/attend a wine tasting

13. Visit another country

14. Have a garden

15. Get a new computer

16. Go rock climbing - indoor or outdoor

17. Own and see all the X-Men movies.

18. Stomp grapes

19. Finish a bottle of nail polish- believe it or not I have never done this

20. Throw a dart at a map and make travel plans. -Done!

21. See baby turtles.

22. Tie a message to balloon and release.

23. Be CPR certified

24. Be in school or have a new job.

25. Have a Disney movie all day marathon

26. Have teeth professional whitened.

27. Buy my own washer and dryer

28. Do the Gilmore Girls book challenge

29. Go to a drive in movie

30. Visit all local landmarks before we leave Memphis.



Blogs I've Been Reading.

 

I know I've taken a little break from this lately, I've had a bit going on that I will

write about in a future post.

But while I haven't been posting, I have been reading a ton of blogs lately.

It's hard to narrow it down to a few favorites, but I did.

Here's my favorite 3:

 

 

 

Freckled Fox

Emily from Freckled Fox is amazing.

She's gorgeous, has amazing style, and get this - is expecting her 5th kid!

I'm so in awe of her.

Aside from great style posts, she has awesome giveaways.

 



 

Life Oceanside

 

Hallie from Life Oceanside is also pregnant.

She's expecting her first.

She writes some pretty sweet posts, today she posted

one about her Mom that made me cry.

 

 

 

Rose Gold and Ringlets

 

I was introduced to Laynah's blog when she actually started following mine.

I'm glad I did, because her blog is great.

I love her DIY tips.

Including her tried and true acne cure.

 

 

I hope you check these amazing blogs out!

Happy reading loves.

Mel.

 

Happy Birthday, Mom.

 

 

Today, February 5th is my mom's birthday.

 

My mom, my nephew Deegan, and my Dad.

 

I know everyone says that they have the best parents.

Well, most people anyway.

I truly believe that if there were a Parent lottery, my siblings &

I came out as the million dollar winners.

My mom is the most selfless person I know.

In fact, sometimes she is selfless to a fault.

She would risk her life for any of her children, and honestly

probably a perfect stranger, because that's just who she is.

 

She has been there for me, and never judged me through my whole life.

And honestly, most times I didn't deserve it, but she was there.

I know if I ever needed her, she's a phone call a way, and she

would jump in her car and rush over, no questions asked.

 

Aside from her big heart, she's also the most creative

person I've ever met, a trait that skipped me, but

was passed down to my sister,

When they put their heads together, they come up with some amazing things.

 

She always made sure I had the best birthdays growing up, and even now

as an adult, she makes sure I do.

 

I just hope that I can give back some of what she has given me all of these years.

 

Happy Birthday Mom,

I love you,

 

Love,

Your Daughter.

 

 

 



To my nephew Deegan.

 

 

On July 30th 2013, after 8 years of trying my sister and her husband had a baby boy.

They named him Deegan, and our lives have been so different since.

He's 18 months now, and he's make our lives so much better.

My parents are overjoyed every Sunday when they get to babysit, and
their house is overrun with toys.
We all love seeing his personality develop as he's grown.
He's such a sweet, and caring child, he rarely raises a fuss.
He loves food and he's got his little happy belly to prove it.
He loves to pick up after himself, which is so cute to watch.
Last time I saw him, he was sad to see me leave, and he blew
me kisses all the way out the door.

I love my nephew so much.
I can't wait for these next years, and to see who becomes.
I know they are going to be amazing.