miscellaneous.

1. the new miss america's name is "caressa." how cool is that? don't let me fool you into thinking that i actually watched the pageant. no thank you.

2. whenever it is a special season (i.e.- christmas, valentines, especially easter) and there is candy to go along with it, i always want it. it is not a good thing. i think i probably gain 5 lbs during easter season.

3. i wore green eye shadow today after i found it in my make-up bag. i had forgotten about it's beauty and have fallen in love with it all over again. if you ever want to freshen up your face, change your shadow.

4. my best friend, julie, deserves full credit for thinking of the name, "sage." she thought of it last spring as we were walking around downtown one day. i told her she couldn't have it and that i wanted it. i got it.

5. my husband used to have long long long hair. don't believe me? see for yourself:

circa 2005. we both liked it at the time. now we are glad he actually gets haircuts. the funny thing is, we went to brazil that summer for a mission trip and all the kids thought he was "shaggy" from scooby doo and wanted his autograph.

6. speaking of look-a-likes, apparently there is a trend circulating facebook and people are replacing their profile pic of their celebrity look-a-like. i refuse to. but, i have always been told that i look like jennifer love hewitt. and i'm not going to pretend that i don't like that. whenever you're told that you look like a famous person, it makes you feel pretty. you know it does. don't lie.

(disclaimer: this picture of me is a complete joke.)

who do you look like?

7. i know i am a few weeks (or days) away from breaking out the maternity clothes. goodbye fashion and hello comfortable.

8. i haven't gained much weight yet, which makes me want to eat junk. lately i have no desire to eat veggies or fruits. it's not good. all i want are those darn valentine's chocolates.

9. i need to read a good book. and don't say twilight. i'd rather it not be fiction. any recommendations?

shades of green.

i love green. the color. almost every single room in our house is painted some shade of it. so, as a green lover, it struck me by surprise to realize that...

i am married to this:

my son is this:

my daughter will be this:

and a complete stranger is the one who pointed all this out. that's right, i am married to kelly. my son is hunter. my daughter will be sage. all shades of green.

so yes, our little miss has a name now. after a day of calling her "she," we couldn't take it anymore. she needed to be someone. she will be sage christiana graham. sage, because we love the name. it also means prophet. christiana, because it means follower of Christ, and because it means Christ is gracious. hunter's first and middle names are john hunter (kelly is really john kelly and we wanted to pass down john - it's a family name on kelly's side) and john means God is gracious. so both hunter's and sage's names have similar meanings. which is sweet to me.

i also wanted my daughter to have part of my middle name because my middle name comes from my mom and it is also on kelly's side of the family. such a nice way to kill two birds with one stone. my middle name is lee ann. so, this way sage's middle name has a form of ann in it.

besides, the names hunter and sage just sound so darn good together. or maybe i'm just biased?!

the room that is reserved for sage is already painted a shade of sage. coincidence? i think not.

we love our sage to pieces! i hope you like her name.

bring on the...

...pink, posies and polka-dots!

we will be welcoming a little...

i am beside myself.

and in love with my baby girl already.

we have to get another ultrasound to check her heart and brain once more, so be praying that our little miss is completely healthy!

every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the
Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

- james 1:17

today, today, is a very important day.

yay, after waiting 22 weeks, we get to find out who will be added to our family...

-or-

what do you think???

i think it's a girl.

i'll let you know for sure, very soon.

and sweet baby, i can't wait to catch a glimpse of you!

good news.

good news, of course, is the best of news. i have some to share with you. my grandpa was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. the cancer was spreading rapidly (he went from having none to it being virtually all over within 4 months). he was given 6 months to live. he underwent chemotherapy with no side effects except for maybe some dry skin. that in and of itself is a miracle... he is pushing 80. he had a pet scan last week and is completely cancer free. did you hear that? he has no more cancer. none. not anywhere. that is a miracle. after losing my dad and grandma to cancer, i really didn't have much hope. but the Lord healed his body and we are way more than thankful!

life is beautiful.

january 22 was the 37th anniversary of roe v. wade. i, along with many of you desperately hope that it will one day be overturned. until then... we can celebrate the beauty of life and cherish it. life is beautiful. however young or old... life is from God. it is a gift. and for believers, the more beautiful thing is that real life awaits us in the next life to come.

watch this video about a beautiful child, whose life seemed to be cut short, but really, he just got to see Jesus sooner than most of us. and his life has brought and continues to bring much glory to God.

99 Balloons from Igniter Media on Vimeo.

after you've dried your eyes, go cherish life. and don't ever forget to give glory to the giver of life.

the taste of reality is sweet.

in my head i have hours upon hours every day to work on my blog design business. and then, i step out of my head and into reality... i taste laundry, cleaning the house, a broken computer, and a chubby baby bootie that needs endless changing. - i saved the best for last. but you know what? i wouldn't have it any other way. i adore taking care of my man, my little man, and our household. i read this article (thanks to liz) and was challenged to the extreme. you should read it. no... you must read it. i never again will ever feel bad for putting my family first. after all, it is my calling and it is pure sweetness.

although my broken computer (too bad it broke in the middle of me designing my friend, beth's new blog. all the goodies are stuck as images on my practice blog; we can only see what it could've looked like. it was cute. boohoo.) with my beloved microsoft publisher - i know, i know... adobe and indesign are where it's at, but i don't have bookoos of bucks - isn't going to allow my blog business to take shape, that is a-okay. in four short months i will be busier than i can even comprehend - taking care of a newborn and a 15 month old, that will hopefully and prayerfully be walking. remember, hunter is at least 26 lbs now at 11 mos; he must walk by then!

nevertheless, i am going to enjoy this time alone with hunter and soak him up. and get sleep while i can.

speaking of going from one child to two - if you're there or you've been there, what was the easiest thing about it and what was the hardest thing about the new addition?

churches helping churches.

who will help rebuild the churches in haiti? churches helping churches is determined to care for the needs of the churches in haiti. when the earthquake struck... churches fell down, pastors and parishioners perished. the flock is now scattered. yet, those who remain are finding their joy in the Lord:

now that is a joy unspeakable. pray for the church in haiti. pray that in the midst of suffering, the church would be stronger than ever. pray that worshippers will be all the more eager to share Christ. pray that the church would be nourished. pray for our brother's and sister's in Christ. if you are able, give to the cause of churches helping churches.

also, this calls for rejoicing! remember the howerton's? they're the family that had been in the process of adopting their haitian son for over 2 1/2 years. and now, he is in their arms. how beautiful. our God is good.

pretty party papers.

if i ever have a party decor business...

i would call it pretty party papers.

i know, not super creative, but it's what i came up with.

anyways, i don't have a party decor business.

but, i am making some pretty party papers for hunter's birthday party.

today i made a party hat.

he got to wear it at his smash the cake photo shoot with amy prikazsky.

she is a fantastic photographer.

the session was super f-u-n!

take a look at all the cake smashing. so stinkin' adorable.

back to the hat....

i used scrapbook papers, zots clear adhesive strips (they keep the paper bonded the best!), scissors, and a number 1 sticker.

finished product.

my grandma bought this bib.

it will be so perfect for hunter to wear at his party.

i still need to make a banner.

my super cool aunt is making some cupcake inserts.

if there's anything else that i must make,

to make the party cuter,

tell me.

it's trimming time.

in 1 day and 1 week...

i will do something that i haven't done in almost 6 months.

i'm stepping foot in a place where i go maybe 2-3 times per year.

it won't be a cheap thing.

it'll cost me $35.

just thinking about the cost makes me want to chicken out.

and not go.

but, i have to.

my hair is making me.

it no longer has just dead ends...

my head of hair has become a tangled web, full of dead endage.

so, yes... drumroll please...

i am getting my hairs cut.

you have to help me decide what to do.

i am wimpy though;

there's no way i can pull the trigger on the v.beckham cut.

but, i have some other options for you to help me with.

you better help.

pretty please?!!!

or i really might chicken out.

here's the drill: look at the pics below,

decide which is the most awesome,

look at the number next to it,

and leave the number as a comment.

option #1 - it wouldn't look nearly this good on me.

option #2 - short and sassy.

option #3 - a complete joke.

as in, don't you dare vote for this one. it ain't happenin.

option #4 - short and kind of boring.

option #5 - same old, same old. it's safe this way.

option #6- oldschool jessica.

take your pick...

have fun choosing from these 6.

a little paper...

plus a whole lot of fun = making your own invites.

started with this.

ended with these.

now i am pleased.

this is the design up close.

after much too much procrastination, i finally made them.

nothing fancy.

i used some scrapbook papers, tape, scissors and my favorite design program.

total out of pocket cost = $0.

i did have to buy a few stamps, though.

i used leftover envelopes from our extra christmas cards to mail them.

if you are a family member and you don't live near us,

i didn't send you one.

don't feel bad, i just figured i'd save a stamp.

we still love you.

oh yeah, and if you're our friend,

we didn't send you one either.

it's a family party.

it's cheaper that way.

sorry.

now on to making a party hat and a banner.

how fun.

i am so into making things.

are you crafty?

what do you like to make?

do tell...

...into dancing.

"you have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. o Lord my God, i will give thanks to you forever." -psalm 30:11-12

today i am rejoicing with katie, for the Lord has indeed turned her mourning into dancing. after losing her daughter just days after birth this past august, she is now pregnant again. what joy after such heartache!

and then i think about all my mournings the Lord has turned into dancing... i am thankful for all that God has done.

i also think about those who are in the midst of mourning. i have dear friends who are dealing with infertility, marital struggles, and the loss of a child. family members who are battling cancer and serious health issues. i am convinced that the Lord will restore to them gladness and will turn their despair into joyousness. i can't wait for that, for them.

moving on to my tuesday...

hunter is napping right now, i am about to work out. my plans for the day totally changed. i was going to Bible Study this morning but a little boy woke up several hours earlier than usual and would be in desperate need for a nap by 10 am. i didn't want the nursery to have to deal with mister crabby. i feel guilty for not going; i have now missed the first two studies, so it seems silly to go and start the 3rd week into it. i guess sometimes being mommy calls for a change of plans and putting the needs of your child before plans.

speaking of Bible studies and such, as a sahm (stay at home mom) i often feel like i have to get so involved in several different things. it's almost as if, i don't feel like raising a child is enough. if you're a mom, do you deal with similar thoughts? it is completely untrue... i know that my greatest calling right now is to be a wife, mother and to maintain my household. i think it is just plain good to be less involved with this and that in certain seasons of life.

stellar.

sorry... i've spared you from coupon speak long enough.

today my love for coupons was re-established. i had been suffering from coupon fatigue. i missed several sunday papers. i had a low coupon supply. nothing i wanted was going on sale.

then, i suddenly received an envelope that was worth more than gold from the publix baby club. it was loaded with several profitable coupons. yay. i was thrilled.

hunter needed diapers and formula (hopefully this will be the last formula purchase... he will be one in a little over two weeks and moving on to cow's milk. hallelujah.). so, with a little clipping, printing, and a tiny bit of brainpower i figured out a way to get these necessities for cheap. i mean really cheap. cheaper than ever.

+

+

+

+

=

$21.70.

normally, this all would've cost $75.95. how??? the beauty of stacking coupons.

let me lay it all out.

for the formula i stacked these coupons:

store coupon: $7 off two containers of enfamil from the publix weekly ad.

publix baby club coupon: $10 off two containers of enfamil.

competitor's coupons: food lion - $3 off one container of enfamil, (i probably could've used two of these coupons since i bought two containers. oh well.) rite-aid - $5 off $25 purchase.

manufacturer's rebate check: $4 off enfamil.

totals: $29 in savings.

cost before coupons = $37.98

cost after coupons = $8.98 - that's 2 cans of formula for $8.98!!!

for the diapers i stacked these coupons:

store coupon: $3 off huggies box of diapers from the publix weekly ad.

publix baby club coupons: $5 off box of huggies diapers. $1.50 off huggies wipes. $2 off huggies overnites.

competitor's coupons: food lion - $0.50 off huggies wipes (publix doubled it to make it worth $1.00) & $1.50 off huggies diapers, target - $1.50 off huggies diapers, rite aid- $5 off $25 purchase.

manufacturer's coupons: $2 off huggies box of diapers. $2 off huggies overnites. $0.75 off wipes.

totals: $25.25 in savings.

cost before coupons = $37.97

cost after coupons = $12.72

note: i didn't include the tax in these figures to make the calculations easier for myself.

this is flat out stellar. God provides through coupons... i'm telling you!

a haitian boy and his american family.

yes, two posts in one day. that must mean this is important. it is.

a family has been in the process of adopting a gorgeous boy from haiti for the past 2 1/2 years. i would tell you their story, but they do a better job of telling it themselves. so, go read it.

can you imagine how heart-wrenching it must have been leaving your son behind in a land of sheer destruction with the imminent threat of food/water shortages and airborne diseases?!

oh, and go here to read/watch a video of their son being held by diane sawyer the other night as she visited and reported on the orphanage. caution: you might cry. i did.

sorry my posts have been heavy and serious lately. but, this is serious stuff. prayers are needed. pray for the Lord to move mountains so this boy can come home.

will you commit to praying for this family with me?

yes, i put on a sweater.

last night...

my mom, who is the sweetest thing since cherry pie,

offered to watch hunter so we could have a date.

we used a gift certificate to go out.

so, it was a cheap date.

those are the best kind.

since i looked halfway decent dressed for our date...

i figured it would be a great chance to finally get a belly shot.

here's the belly at 20 weeks.

the babe is the size of a banana.

how cute.

banana's are yummy.

baby's the size of banana's are not yummy.

(just had to be clear)

predate kelly and i. yes, i put on a sweater.

the sweater just wouldn't have been flattering for the pics.

we were going to coast restaurant.

when we arrived, the door said:

sorry. closed for repairs.

why didn't they say that on their website?!

those stinkers.

instead we went to another place,

where we also could use our gift certificate.

hunter played with grandma and his kid aunt

(kid aunt = my 9 year old sister)

and had a grand time!

they must have worn him out.

he slept in this morning until 9:30am.

that was a real treat.

especially on a saturday.

playing away...

on an unrelated note:

i wish my carpets were this clean in real life.

the camera does wonders for the carpet.

having much too much fun...

the stench of death.

photo from foxnews.com.

this was someone's son.

someone's brother.

someone's husband.

someone's father.

someone's friend.

the images from haiti are plaguing my mind.

so much anguish, affliction and heartache,

as the stench of death fills the air.

lord, come quickly.

may the Gospel fill the lives of the hurting with hope.

may we be in constant prayer...

for believers in haiti,

for missionaries there,

doctors,

aid workers,

and the lost.

go read this blog about a family adopting a completely adorable little boy. the boy lives in haiti. kristen was there visiting him when the earthquake struck. she is still there and may be stuck for awhile. without her husband. and when she leaves, she has to leave behind her haitian son, as the adoption isn't finalized. can you imagine? pray for this dear family.

"rejoice in hope,

be patient in tribulation,

be constant in prayer."

-romans 12:12

a short subject.

this is the shortest my hair has ever been in recent times. {i won't tell you about the time i got a boy haircut in 4th grade and then on picture day i was called "son" by the photographer.} i cut all my hair off and this was the result back in september 2007. my hair takes ages to grow and it is finally back to the length it was before this haircut.

we were watching {of course} american idol the other night. every year i say that i am done with it and am not going to get sucked in again. and then, what do you know? i watch every single episode. i don't feel too bad though... besides the office, it is the only show i ever watch.

{this puzzle will fit together in a sec...}

little miss beautiful was the guest judge.

have you ever noticed that she always appears to be doing this almost lip puckering thing? strange.

anyways, kelly told me that if i ever get my haircut short, it should be like hers. i should've clarified and made sure he knew that just because i'd have a haircut like hers, it wouldn't mean i'd look like her.

the fact that kelly even suggested, on his own will, that i would look good with a really short haircut is a huge deal. after all, he made me cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye promise that i would never cut my hair short again.

kelly has mentioned it several times since watching the show. i think he is coming to terms with the fact that once we have a newborn and a 15 month old, my hair is going to be the first thing to go.

i can't be certain that i'd actually have the guts to go through with it. but, what say you? do you like v.beckham's haircut? would you like it on me?

horror in haiti.

haiti.

a country ravaged by

extreme poverty,

rampant aids outbreaks,

frequent hurricanes,

and now an incredibly atrocious earthquake.

this country needs our prayers.

more than money,

more than disaster relief,

more than medical help,

they need Jesus.

as we are going about our day today,

in our comfy jobs,

or our nice homes,

let us be quick to remember

the horror in haiti.

let us be quick to go to the Lord in prayer.

pray for the missionaries serving there.

pray that through this devastation,

the light of Jesus will shine brighter than ever.

traveling is good with cake.

we were gone this past weekend to the mountain country of lake junaluska, nc. i should say hill country. sorry nc, but your mountains are more like hills. i hope you're not disappointed. it was very pretty especially with a dusting of snow. i would like to show you pictures of hunter's first snow excursion... but, i am a lousy mom and didn't take any pictures. honestly, we didn't even really let him touch it. the only times we were outside was while making a mad dash to get inside the car or the lodge... with the windchill factor it was -3 degrees. burrrr-itos! i remember thinking that i loved cold weather particularly because i am from the mountains and am used to living in 6 feet plus of snow in the winter. well, i think i forgot how cold cold really is.

so, why nc? kelly was asked to lead worship for a medical campus outreach (mco) retreat. let me first tell you that mco is an amazing ministry of our church and the leaders of it are just flat out awesome. if you think about it, those practicing medicine have unique opportunities to share the gospel. they are the ones telling people, "you have cancer," or "you only have a few months to live," or "i'm sorry, but there's no cure." can you imagine carrying the burden of news like that to people? i certainly can't. the doors for ministry are wide open in those situations. it was refreshing to be around a group of people that are serious about sharing the Gospel. the messages were all about how to share the Gospel in practical ways (or at least that is what kelly told me they were about... the evening sessions were way past hunter's bedtime and during the other messages he decided to be talkative = hunter and mommy's quick exit.). i think it is great learning about the practicality of it all because we so often are afraid of what to say, however it is all really simple. especially when you realize that someone's salvation is dependent on the Lord's work in their heart and not you.

i am now worn out. when you go on a retreat with a baby, it ceases to be a retreat. i didn't realize how busy i was this weekend until i stood on the scale this morning and realized i lost 5 lbs. ummm, when you're pregnant, you gain weight. so, yeah, i guess i was a bit busy trying to accomodate hunter while {attempting to} attend all the worship and teaching sessions.

for kelly's service this weekend, mco gave us a gift certificate (which we were so not expecting or deserving! it was a blessing for them to even invite us!) that can be used at a few different restaurants downtown charleston - either rue de jean, coast, or virginia's on king. any suggestions? we haven't been to any of them and want to pick the best place! i am superbly excited about going out on a date! i think i talked about it yesterday on the way home for at least 30 minutes. and then i would routinely refer to it until we reached our front door. oh yeah, mom, do you mind babysitting? : )

on the ride home, we took a big piece of chocolate cake that was leftover from lunch. we shared it bite by bite all the way. it was a really big piece. and now i have determined that one should never travel without it. because traveling is good with cake.

with gladness. and thank you mr. or mrs. anonymous.

i often worship the Lord out of duty instead of delight. as much as that thought repulses me, i have to be honest and confess to it. it is not just about walking into church and singing songs, either. i want all of my life to be about worshipping the King, with gladness. it is a joy in knowing that we, as christians, have access to the Father through Jesus and oh, what a taste of glory divine! that alone calls for complete joyfulness.

"worship the Lord with gladness." -psalm 100:2

"worship coupled with cheerfulness is heart worship, and therefore true. take away joyful willingness from the christian, and you have removed the tent of his sincerity... cheerfulness is the support of our strength; in the joy of the Lord we are strong." -charles h. spurgeon

may my worship be full of gladness and delight!

on another note, one that is worthy of much gratefulness... thank you mr. or mrs. anonymous. if, by happenstance, you are reading this, we are amazed by your kindness.

eat more chocolate...

... as long as it's dark and it's at least 70% cocoa. according to health magazine, it is on the top 10 list of superfoods for females. our pastor's wife is a huge fan of dark chocolate and has told me several times... "well, would you rather eat a vegetable or some dark chocolate?" obviously i would choose the chocolate any and every day.

i was reading about the superfoods for 2010 and have decided that i want to start eating most of them. apparently the foods change every year, since these ones are for 2010. i'm sure that as new studies are done "they" dispel the superfoods from the previous year only to tell you that everything "they" told you to eat before is now considered bad for you, if not deadly. {"they" being the experts.} regardless, they have me believing them for now.

so, i know you are dying to know what the superfoods are so you can live longer, have better skin, and, in a nutshell, turn into eva longoria, beyonce, or jessica alba. go eat some of this:

wild alaskan salmon. yumm. i love this. i only wish it was cheaper. it has to be wild because the deeper the water from where the fish are caught, the more the omega 3's will abound. salmon boosts your mood and reduces inflammation. does that include bloating, too? i hope so.

olive oil and avocados. again, yumm. i eat entire avocados at a time and then feel guilty because they are high in fat. but, they are high in the good kind of fat. so, no more feeling guilty after i indulge in an entire avocado.

blueberries and broccoli. i love blueberries. broccolli makes me so gassy. does that happen to you? they are both full of antioxidants, so they help fight cancer and will boost your immune system. i guess i would take gas over cancer any day.

red beans and oatmeal are good sources of soluble fiber, which is the good kind of fiber. i don't mind red beans and i don't mind oatmeal if it is topped with brown sugar. - i think the way i eat oatmeal completely negates any positive nutritional value it has. shame on me.

walnuts. they have a ton of protein, fiber and vitamin e. i would rather just eat some peanut butter, have some fiber one cereal and take a vitamin e pill. sorry, i am not a fan of nuts. especially walnuts.

fat-free greek yogurt. i wonder if it has to be greek? i am just fine with yoplait. health magazine says you should eat it every single day because it is so rich in calcium, protein and vitamin d.

and, don't forget the chocolate. {not that forgetting chocolate is ever remotely possible.}

thanks health magazine for helping us frazzled females stay healthy. you rock.

hungry hunter is a copycat.

or at least he wants to be. every time i eat, there is a 26 lb. sack of sugar staring back at me with his mouth wide open, hoping and waiting for a piece of my plate. he wants to eat exactly what mom and dad get to eat. hunter's hindrance? two things - first, he only has four teeth and secondly, his newfound allergy to eggs (he also can't eat peas). i am asking all the momma's out there, who are walking wealths of information to give this momma some new ideas in the food realm.

obviously, its not like hunter is starving. so, i am not worried about him not getting enough food. he eats yogurt melts or puffs with every meal. and could eat them all day long. the excitement that fills his face whenever they are in sight is priceless. i think i sometimes give him extra yogurt melt snacks just to see his absolutely adorable reaction. can you tell that i am smitten by this boy?

anyway, his daily meals go something like this: (believe me, they are pretty much the same every. single. day.) baby food fruit mixed with rice cereal and then he eats a "real" banana, and a vegetable for lunch and dinner (he eats two jars of stage two for each of the meals). hunter can't stand any of the baby food meats (i can't blame him. who would actually want to eat pureed chicken or beef? nasty.) or any of the chunky baby foods.

as far as real table food goes... i give him black beans, green beans, cheese, rice, and potatoes. That's it. We've tried other things - the tiniest bite of an egg which sent him to the hospital (way to go, me!), cheese quesadilla (thanks beth for the suggestion), meats, carrots, and hot dog. all of those, minus the egg, end up stuck in his cheeks. and mommy ends up digging them out. apparently, four teeth aren't adequate for such things.

so, here's where you come into play. help me think of other table foods we can feed him; they have to be eggless, pealess, and easy to mash because i'm not particularly fond of digging out bits and pieces from his cheeks. i want to save money by taking him off baby food. and if you're thinking, "why doesn't she just make her own baby food?" i'll tell you why. for 8 months i was a milk pumping machine (literally, i had to pump. 6-8 times/day.) and i don't have any desire to be tied to another machine like a food processor to feed this boy.

thanks in advance for your good ideas!!! i am counting on them. : )

oh, and thanks also for your overwhelming kindness in regards to a blog business. it looks like i have my work cut out for me. time to get started! : )

you must...

~pray for sweet fabiola. pray that she would experience a peace that passes all understanding in the midst of this heartbreaking situation and that her body would heal.

~read this post from my friend who is completely admirable and all inspiring. trust me, you will be full of encouragement after you read it. and, who wouldn't want that?!

~tell me if you think the following is a good idea. but first, let me set up the story. alright, i know there are a bunch of blog designers out there. some are too country-ish, some are too cutesy, some are too modern, some are too southern (at least for this non-southern gal!), and some are just absolutely adorably perfect (like the design girl, penny lane designs and fabulous k creative). except for one thing... custom blog design comes with a pretty price. some designers offer premade kits, but overall there aren't a whole bunch of premade kits that are great looking. so... this is where i need your thoughts... i love blog design. i am learning html little by little. should i open an online design business? it wouldn't cost anything (as long as my 10 year old computer holds up) and it would be a chance for me to earn some much needed moolah while being able to stay home with hunter. oh, and it would be much much cheaper than all the others. i would create five or so designs per month and sell them (not sure for what price - probably around $25) only once. so, it is like getting a custom design (no one else will have your blog design) without the pricetag and long turn around time. i even have a name picked out for the design store. tell me your thoughts. (oh yeah, i remember saying i wanted to start a party decor online store where i would make a bunch of party decor with scrapbook papers. well that idea isn't a good one... start up costs for the supplies i would need are too expensive.)

~now, i must...
go get ready so i can head to harris teeter to participate in the couponing delight of super doubles. i need to fill in my 2010 calendar (i waited to buy one until yesterday because they were 50% off - i got one for $6... well worth waiting a few extra days into january for!), oh, and workout. and take care of a cute, chubby lil' fella.

happy wednesday to you!

stop this train.

it's moving way too fast.

could this really have been 10 months ago? this used to be mommy's chance to take a shower.

now it is a lounge chair for him that he gets in an out of. by himself.

and, oh, this was only 9 months ago. he would lie below his lil' animals and stare at them forever.

or just fall asleep. pure sweetness.

now he inspects his animals and is so very interested in them for about two seconds.

he also likes to take his toys apart.

look at that chunky hand. with the sunken in knuckles to the likes of dimples. i could seriously hold them all day long.

i still can't believe hunter is just weeks away from turning one. can you tell?!!!

i guess all these pregnancy hormones are having their effect and i'm super emotional about my baby growing up!

pray.

wait, before you read my post below for the day...

please click here to read a post from my blog friend, fabiola. it is so sad and if you pray, she and her husband need our prayers.

home clothes.

you know you have them. everybody does.

you wouldn't dare wear them out in public. unless you're in college.

you wouldn't dare wear them in front of your boyfriend. until he becomes your husband.

speaking of college... this post is going to be bullet point style {just without the bullets}... which is not how i took notes in college. if you ever borrowed notes from me you probably hated them because i took notes in essay form and wrote down every single word the professor spoke.

speaking of note taking... jessica, if you're reading, i used to love borrowing your notes because i liked your handwriting a whole bunch. and, if you were absent from history of christian missions i would try to make my notes really cute since i knew you'd be borrowing them. just thought you should know.

oh, and maribeth, if you're reading, i loved your handwriting too and thanks for all the fun memories from our thousands of poli sci classes. which reminds me that i miss barsha.

back to clothes. home clothes. the comfy kind of clothes.

so today was a home clothes kind of day. you know, the kind of home clothes that you've had for years upon years. i have some black polar fleece 2000 pants that i love. they are so warm and cozy and 10 years old. hey, at least they still fit. what is the oldest piece of clothing you have? do tell.

i was so tempted to wear my home clothes while i worked out and would've then continued to keep them on all day.

but, kelly was home sick today {poor guy! he lost his voice yesterday in the middle of the worship service and he is the worship leader!} and told me that i would be disgusting if i did that.

so, i actually did take a shower today. normally on home clothes days a shower is not on the agenda.

but, speaking of showers or not taking showers... my friend informed me of a super cool trick. if you put baby powder in your hair it keeps it from looking greasy. i am going to try that one soon. i can't believe i haven't yet. have you ever heard of that?!

hunter got the privilege of wearing home clothes today too. only he is allowed to go out in his. he's way cuter than the rest of us in home clothes.

hunter isn't looking at me in any of these pictures because from the time i push the button on my camera to the time it actually takes the picture is like 30 seconds. and hunter turns his head within those 30 seconds every time.

this post has gone a million different directions. are you lost in the maze yet!?