August Fields

happy 11th birthday deanie.

deanie turned 11 in april and i forgot to publish this post!  
for her birthday party she decided to do black and white (for piano keys) and a little hot pink. 
instead of a cake she wanted this lemon and orange zest olive oil cake i had recently made at a cooking class.  i was a little sad that she didn’t want a dolled up cake but on the other hand am extremely grateful for the young lady she is growing up to be!

plus i really like this dessert!

the goodie bags were stamped with music notes and filled with a slap bracelet, some stickers, a small journal notebook and a few pieces of candy.  we tied music note ribbon to each one.

her favorites….strawberry licorice (NOT cherry!), strawberries, fresh pepper slices and cheeseburgers.

deanie is so content and continuously happy.  she can write a creative story or play like non other.  her determination in her piano, tennis and school work are extremely admirable to say the least….. she is a tender sister to her little brothers and helps immensely around the house.  her jokes are truly funny and she loves to go for walks in the woods.  she is smart and kind and generous.  best of all, she loves the Lord and she loves others.  
the next morning we surprised her with the nook simple touch.  the perfect gift for an avid reader.  

to keep the surprises coming….that weekend, daddy drove the whole family to the train station to send the two of us off.   deanie knew i was “sweeping her away” but had no idea where we were going or how we were getting there.

off to chicago we went for the weekend!!   this was her first train ride.

and her first cab ride!

we stayed at the whitehall hotel.  very quaint but nice.  perfect for the two of us 🙂

the price is right and the location is great.  caddy corner from the hancock building and water tower place.  

we mostly stayed around the water tower place to shop.

and of course the american girl store.  she was so sweet and wanted to make sure to buy a little something for each of her siblings with her own money.  treasures for the boys were found at the candy store and a little treasure for dancy was purchased at american girl.

the original pancake house is a MUST go to place for breakfast in chicago!  if you go at 8 you shouldn’t have to wait.  if you sleep in and go at 9 you’ll have to wait.  it is delish!

the tulips were in full bloom, unusually early, due to an early heat wave.  perfect for us because they were beautiful!

we ate dinner at the cheesecake factory.  she really wanted to go and i wanted to be the one to take her! it was delicious…the portions were so huge that we both laughed a good laugh when we were served. 🙂

it was a weekend we will both always remember with a lot of giggles and laughs and fun memories.  
i’m looking forward to “sweeeping” dancy away when she turns 11!

growing belly.

21 weeks.  still not contracting on a regular basis so i am sooo thankful!  i am experiencing mild braxton hicks but the consistent contracting that typically happens for me is holding off.
i’m loving the feeling of kicks and squirms inside of me.  i pray daily for a healthy baby and for those who desperately want to carry a child of their own.
children are a gift.  i have many friends who have gone through miscarriages and those who are going through the waiting of trying to conceive.  dear women who will make and who are remarkable mothers…..you are loved.  

pregnancy update

so much to be thankful for.  overall i feel great.  i am paying more attention to myself than any other
pregnancy.
this includes a daily nap (20-45min.), drinking a LOT of water with lemons and going to bed early.
i have experienced some headaches between weeks 15 and 18.  and some contractions…but none that go on longer than a day.  rest and hydration are good for me. 🙂
18 weeks.

20 weeks.

here are my previous pregnancy posts

we’re praying daily for this little baby and are so thankful for this blessing!

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october baby review:

my last post was encouraging you all to go see the movie October Baby.  well we went and saw it and the theater was packed!  it was VERY well done and i just loved how the movie was sensitive to those who have had an abortion…..the testimony told at the end of the movie during the credits was A.MAZ.ING.

if you have a chance to see this film i highly recommend it.

october baby. the movie.

this weekend is not about the hunger games for me.  its about october baby.

mr. daddy and i are driving to the closest theater that is playing the movie….i’m so excited!

this is a movie about forgiveness and REAL life situations.  i am close to several people who are adopted, who have adopted and who are waiting to adopt.  life IS beautiful.

if you have seen this movie i would love to hear what you think!  i plan on giving an update review after we see it tonight.  spread the word!  tweet #OctoberBaby.  go see the movie.

baby update:  feeling good!  tired at night but good 🙂  tummy is growing like its nobodies business, but thankfully the weather has been sooooo unseasonably warm so i can wear my maxi dresses.

have a great weekend.  hug your kiddos and tell them you love them 🙂

basement family room

i am so excited to add some pizazz to our basement family room space!

all with the help of the amazing darlene from fieldstone hill.  i have mentioned darlene before when i joined  her list of ‘master designers’.  (you can click on the logo to the right to read more about that)

here is our basement family room now:

its where we can watch movies together.  have large groups playing games and socializing.

its where i walk on the treadmill and my husband runs on the treadmill.

it is very functional but has not really had too much thought put into the decor.  these couches are 12 years old (still love them!) and and the tables, lamps, etc. all came with us from the move.

its almost been two years since we’ve moved so we were ready to call upon darlene for some help!

i was put on her wait list…………  and it was worth the wait!

this is what she came up with!!  along with a sketch (to scale) of exactly where to put my furniture, and a complete source list, with links, of what accessories to purchase, where to purchase them and where to put them in the room.

i’m chipping away at it.  i’ve ordered some prints to hang on the front of the bookshelves (i’ve saved pictures of this idea but never thought to do it!), purchased the paint color for the back of the bookshelves (doesn’t that look awesome?!) and ordered up the rug.

once i gave darlene all the measurements she needed (room, furniture windows etc.) she was ON IT!  i really appreciated the promptness and attention she gave me.  thank you so much darlene!

having someone help me come up with a complete look like this has been SO helpful!  i really enjoy design and doing this myself, but working with darlene was a huge treat.