The "Last" Weekend

Our last weekend before our baby girl arrives... can you believe it?   Now don't get me wrong... all weekend long I prayed that she would join us at any moment, but reflecting back... Colby and I had such a nice weekend together, just the two of us.  It was a weekend that I will always remember... and not because we did anything that exciting but just because it was us.. being happy, laughing, planning, working together and having fun.

Reading our "weekend re-cap", you may think... what was so great about that? But just trust me.. it was just the perfect weekend in my opinion.  Maybe it was the "thrill" of thinking that Lucy may arrive at any moment, or knowing that each "stop" could be our last time just to be the "two" of us... I don't know.. but I wouldn't change a thing in our little ole weekend... well I mean who are we kidding... I'd definitely add Lucy in the mix at any given time but considering that wasn't God's plan yet... here is the recap:

Friday night, after Colby finished campaigning for his step father, Ronny Lott (running for Supervisior District 2!) we went to eat dinner at Georgia Blues! We enjoyed a delicious steak dinner while listening to a great band.  We also knew pretty much everyone in there so it was fun to visit with friends and catch up. After this we came home and were tucked into bed with a movie by 10:00... it was fabulous. (I guess I have to add that before I got into bed... I had to try out the "old wives" tale about the full moon.  The theory is that pregnant women go into labor because of the gravitational pull, blah blah, so I decided to one up the moon theory and add "brisk walking" to the mix... "brisk walking under a full moon"  SURELY it would induce labor.. right... NO. No. and no)

Saturday morning, since we went to sleep so early on Friday, we both awoke bright and early.  I was actually up at  5 (back pains) but to my surprise Colby walked out of the bedroom at 7:15!  He decided he was going to go ahead and mow/edge the yard so I decided I'd get my 2 mile walk out of the way.  Upon returning from my walk, he had finished up the yard and we began to work on organizing/cleaning out the garage.  I don't know why this was fun... maybe because we were working at it together... but we had a good time. We laughed.. organized... discussed what Lucy would look like.. ha. It was actually great. I'm pretty sure I'll never say "cleaning out the garage was fun" again.. but this time, it rings true.
After our morning cleaning up the yard/garage... we came in and discovered it was just now only 9:30am! So... we showered... then got back in bed! WHAT?!! Taking advantage of nap time while we can!! At noon, we woke up from our nap... I fixed us lunch then Colby went to go shoot sporting clays and I went and ran some errands... (ran literally... hoping that my water may break. ha. no such luck)
Saturday night we were low key again, in case, hopefully, we went into labor... yea. no such luck but anyways.... we went and picked up pizza from "The Pizza Shack" (yummy) then headed over to my parents where we ordered the movie, "The Lincoln Lawyer", it was a great movie! You must rent it!
Today,  (Sunday) we woke up and went to church... went out to lunch at Newks.  Watched a little of the World Cup Soccer game (so sad USA couldn't pull out the W) went out to Turcotte and shot sporting clays (clearly I just watched my husband. rather than shoot) then we came home.  I went on my daily walk, fixed us dinner and we have been lounging around ever since.  P-E-R-F-E-C-T.

Like I said... I am not sure what made these little things so special.. but I am so thankful that they were.  This time next week... we will have our little girl here with us and I cannot wait for all of our "family firsts"! I am so excited... I have imagined her for 9 (well 10 really) months now and I just am thrilled to know that yes, possibly at any minute, but FOR SURE on this coming Thursday I will get to finally meet my daughter. 
Oh I get happy tears just thinking about it. This is the week I officially become Mommy!!! :)

Please keep us in your prayers.  Pray for a safe delivery, a  calm daddy and a healthy baby and momma.  I know God will hold us tight in His arms through it all.

Have a blessed week~ Go be MERRY!~

Before anything else, Love is Patient.

Lucy's mattress has been officially "wrapped"! Our BabeSafe Mattress cover came in Saturday. Yay. Safety precaution # 199 taken care of. Ha.  I also boiled all her bottles last night... not really out of concern like it should of been but more like.. I was bored... and so... boiling bottles before she uses them seemed like something I should do. Ha. Oh shoot... as I typed that I realized I probably should have boiled her pacifiers too! Yay, I have something to go on my "to-do" list :) haha.
Today's big task.. installing the car seat! Wish me luck...  I watched the "you tube" video of how- to... and I must say, it actually looks tricky! There's all this chatter over which side is the safest...unanimously rear facing in the middle of the backseat is recommended over and over again... and although it kind of seems like a hastle for me each time we go to get in and out of the car, I guess the middle is where I will "install" the seat.. safety 1st!

Other than being obsessive compulsive on safety issues for Lucy Lu... I have been working on my "back to school" theme this year...ready for it... Pirates!!
The bulletin board is already up (but covered)- I drew two children sailing in a pirate ship to a "beach" with the pirate treasure chest... I think the board will say: "Mrs. Mason's Kindergarten Treasure".  My plan is to take each of the children's pictures on "Meet the Teacher" day and then post them next to their names written on gold coins that I made... anyways... can you picture it? Pretty darn cute! Just wait for the pictures!
I am on maternity leave until mid-September but I plan on being at the school for "Meet the Teacher" (and of course Lucy and I will be there working a few days before to get my room looking good!)... Its going to be SO odd not being with the kids the first weeks!! But I know I'll love being home with Lucy. I cannot wait!


Anyways... I have a little morning devotional that I wanted to share this Monday morning... it may or may not be what you need to hear (read)... but the Lord definitely used it to speak to me so I had to share.


Love.  The last  few days I have looked at this area of my life.  I want to LOVE others... Jesus, my husband, my baby, my family, my friends, my neighbors, and STRANGERS... the way Jesus meant for us to LOVE. Years ago, I read the book "A love worth giving" by Max Lucado (highly recommended!). I came across it the other day while I was cleaning out a cabinet and flipped it open. Wow.  Look at the first thing I flipped too:
"God is being patient with you" (2 Peter 3:9). And if God is being patient with you, can't you pass some patience to others?  Of course you can.  Because before LOVE is anything else:  LOVE IS PATIENT.

Hello God. I love you and your subtle way of hitting me right in my core. WOW.

Now to think of how "impatient" I have been the past few weeks... and that impatience directly relates to how short I have been with my sweet husband, family and friends.. and I'm sure those "strangers" standing in this preggo's way in grocery lines,etc... oh and I have been demanding.. short tempered...and probably just yuck to be around if I'm being honest.  Is that the love I want to share with others?  Absolutely not.  I am so thankful that God doesn't treat us this way... his love is perfect.  His love is patient.  So patient even that when we venture off  His path, He waits with open arms for us to come back. 
Lucado states "Patience is more than a virtue for long lines and slow waiters.  Patience is the red carpet upon which God's grace approaches us."  Isn't that the truth?  We ask, and ask, and ask God to help us, save us, "do things" for us... but do we show him patience in our requests? I know I am guilty of the "now" prayer.  Help me NOW dear Lord... when really it should be "Lord, hear me and give me the patience to know that you are in control." It is all in HIS time anyways... patience should be our guide. Right? 
Love before anything else... Love is patient.

And after love is patient... Love is KIND. 
"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you"  (Eph.4:32)

I'll leave you with one of my favorite songs...

 "I know that you are for me, I know that you will never forsake me in my weaknesses.  I know that you have come now, even if to write upon my heart.  To remind me.. who you are.  SO Patient, SO gracious, SO merciful and true, SO wonderful in all you do."

Hope you all have a wonderful week!! Be Merry!!

"Nesting" Outdoors?

So... I've always heard of this "nesting" phase that mommys-to-be go through... I think it is safe to say, I'm there.  EXCEPT mine may be a little backwards... imagine that!
Instead of "nesting" inside... Yesterday and today has been about "nesting" outside... yes. even in this heat.  (DON'T FUSS AT ME.. Lucy and I are both still here, healthy as can be.. and yes mom... we drank plenty of water and came in for breaks)

It began yesterday morning as I was taking my newly adapted 2 mile (slow) walk around the neighborhood (remember... it helps with the inducing.. ha!) and I noticed how pretty all the yards in our neighborhood are... flowers are blooming... grasses are mowed.. it is just pretty and relaxing to look at.  So then as I am approaching our yard.. I get the idea(s)...
Our yard needs to be mowed... and edged... and our beds need to be weeded terribly... and I think we need some new "color" to the side beds.. and a new flower basket for my stand... and possibly new pillows for our bench... yes. Changes.. and they must occur asap.   (Poor Colby)

Entering the house, I am fully in the "we're going to do this" mind set (aka nesting: when things have to be "cleaned" immediately).

Colby leaves for work.. hehe.. Im so sneaky. so, I set off to work in the yard.  First I weeded all the flower beds... and boy did that help tremendously!!! Now.. I didn't do it all at once... remember I'm 9 months pregnant, people! I did it in "shifts" but needless to say.. its done!
So after that... it had cooled down yesterday around 6pm and actually felt nice out.. I decided that I could mow the yard.  So I push the lawn mower out to the yard, ready-set- pull the long string thing that makes the motor go and- nothing.  Attempt #2... nothing.  But what to my ears to I hear?? Colby's truck! He's here.. my hero! 
If only he shared my same "nesting" mood... I was instead met with something that resembled the following:
"Kristen! What are you doing?!! What is that pile of weeds on the street... did you do that? You are too hot out here.. Get inside. Why do you have the lawnmower out!? etc. etc. etc."  Blah Blah Blah. 
BUT here's the most important part... He mowed the yard for me! Ah. Sweet husband of mine.. worked all day then has to come help me "nest". Ha.  He also weeded with the weedeater and dug a trench around the flower beds because "Colby... I really want a separation between the grass and the beds" My O.C.D. may be more present than ever.  He deserves a medal.  We didn't even have dinner ready until after 8:30 either.. and he didn't complain once! Yes, I admit.. my priorities were a little skewed yesterday... but the yard was on its way to "pretty" so I was a "happy" nester.

This morning.. at around 6, (usually that is my time to go walking but today.. I had things to do) I went and finished pulling weeds from the other side flower bed that had grown up ridiculously.  Then I went to Garden Works when it opened at 9, bought all kinds of pretty plants.. and came home to plant them!  I did get to take a break this afternoon because Kel needed me to keep baby Weslee.. oh.. she is so precious and it made me so even more excited for Lucy's arrival!

Back to the plants.. they look so good.. and I am so proud of my "outside nesting"! Now let me clarify...  I am NOT a gardener...but hopefully I'll be able to keep these plants alive.  I did after all request "something I can not kill" from the employees at Garden Works... they wouldn't lead me astray now would they?

Here are some pictures of my now "pretty" yard!! It's all ready for visitors when Lucy arrives!

These are still our "old" pillows... new ones coming soon      :)

See the pretty new plant?!

Close up of my new "basket" plant...

 I wish I had taken a picture earlier.. it blooms nice and big during the day but closes up when its in the shade (or at night)

Same type of plant.. but I planted this one in the front flower bed.

Pretty lantana (in the back.. small... yea.. you can hardly see it.. but SOON it will be big and beautiful..right?) and our three red "new look" flowers ("new look" is the flower's name.. original... I thought so.)

See how pretty:  a "weed-free" bed with newly added color! SUCCESS!

(and yes... one of those "yard birds" is on the far left under the crepe myrtle tree.. our neighbor gave it to us...dont judge)

Another "weed-free" flower bed! With a pretty trench around it.. Thanks honey!

On the far right.. that's the yellow plant I put into the ground.. it is "supposed" to grow taller.. fingers crossed!

My ferns! I love these ferns... and I have actually kept these alive since the beginning of April! Go ME!!

I thought I should also include the following picture as an example of "nesting"... I'm just so sure this counts.

You can sing "All our bags are packed... we're ready to go" as you view it. 

Such a planner I am... Colby has only one "pile" to grab on our way out the door- you know...whenever it is "time" for us to head to the hospital! 

However, Lucy seems to be pretty comfy inside since we are still only at 1 cm... so.. it may be awhile before we actually need these. 

 (enter Mommy frustration here).

             "Nesting" includes SCRUBBING the inside of my house tomorrow... who's excited!!!???

Go be MERRY!!!