Preparing for baby...

So yes, I've been a HORRIBLE blogger. When I started this blog I had full intentions of documenting my random thoughts...well apparently that's easier said than done. Time seems to slip away, especially after you spend your first 8hrs of the day on a computer at work so the last thing you want is to come home and get back on it.

Anywhoozle, so a few updates on our end. I'm about 26 weeks along now so very close to 6 months. Belly is definitely growing and I'm just starting to get uncomfortable. Daniel says I need a graveyard of pillows at night to get comfortable, which basically puts him on the edge of the bed hoping he doesn't fall out.

In case you haven't heard, the baby's name is Charles Elijah Schrall AKA "Charlie". I released control and let Daniel name him so he picked Charles, from his dad's name and Elijah since it's his favorite old testament prophet. Our goal is to finish the nursery, or at least most of it, by the end of the month so we have a whopping 2 weekends left! I am using an unusual pattern for the curtains - sort've a funky paisley - floral pattern - so it lends to funky colors in the room but I think I can pull it all together: olive green, lime-ish green, light blue, cream and red. There are some skeptics out there (Jenny) but I'm sticking to my design plan and hope it looks cohesive. I'm not much of a "theme" kind've gal so we'll see how it turns out. Pictures to follow in a few weeks...

We also registered yesterday. PHEW! Who knew there was so much STUFF! Daniel was a trooper and didn't complain one little bit and was very helpful. He even carried my purse around since my back was hurting. Thanks, honey! :) So we are officially registered with Babies R Us and Target. I have a few things to update but otherwise that's one thing off my "to do" list. We have our first shower in September and another being planned as well. Two others have expressed throwing showers but we haven't firmed them up yet. I already feel blessed that so many people are helping provide for Charlie!

Well, those are my updates for now. Time is flying by! More to come as the belly grows...

Month 2...done!

Well, for those of you following that don't know...I'm pregnant! :) We went through some fertility treatments at the end of January and by God's grace it happened the first time for us. Currently I'm a little over 9 weeks. It's still early but so far so good. A few random thoughts:

I am extremely shocked at how fast I out-grew my pants this time. Technically this is my 3rd pregnancy (but our first child together) and my poor pants buttons get further and further apart by the day. Jaime may be right, I may be in maternity clothes shortly after my first trimester! YIKES! But can I just say at how much I love the clothes in Ann Taylor Loft this season? All flowy and long - perfect for a newly prego who doesn't want to go into maternity clothes yet. I have plenty of room in them to last hopefully till at least mid-summer.

While I have been nauseous morning, noon and night...water gives me heartburn along with most everything else...I have the nose of a bloodhound (not good in a public restroom by the way)...I live to sleep on the weekends...and maybe just a LITTLE (and by little I mean alot) moody - it's still an unbelievable blessing. I'm very thankful God chose to bless us on our first try.

Daniel has been so supportive, even though he has no idea why I dry heave at random times or why it's triggered. Glad he wasn't in the Publix parking lot yesterday when everyone was staring as I was doubled over! He even got up at 4:30am the other morning and got me cranberry juice from the grocery store when I got a bladder infection. He's going to be a good daddy.

My friend, Missey, is 2 days behind me so we talk at least once a week comparing our sad little symptoms. We pretty much mirror each other so it's sort've comical.

Well, that's my only update this week. Maybe I can write more when I stop sleeping so much!

XXOO

~Anna

Lost

I don't really watch alot of TV...I have a few shows that I really like like The Mentalist, Criminal Minds, Grey's Anatomy, CSI NY and Castle. Mostly crime dramas. However, there is one show that I absolutely cannot miss - LOST. Is anyone else obsessed like I am wondering who the "others" are or wondering each episode what the heck is going on? I highly encourage you to start at the beginning of the seasons if you haven't seen them. They are a little cooky but go with it...it's really good!

~Anna

Paintballs and Candy...by Stella

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Stella...Stella Marie if I'm in trouble, which is fairly frequently even though I try really hard. I want to share with everyone this great new candy I discovered called paint balls. Ever heard of them? I hear my dad uses them in a gun to shoot at people and they go "splat" - such a waste if you ask me. My big brother, Jackson, and I have even chased after them when he shoots them in the backyard at a box - although we never seem to catch them.

Anyways, I have FINALLY found where they hide them! Score! It's almost like when my dad finds the hidden cookies or ice cream in the middle of the night that mom hides. I found them in the "man room" in a bucket. I had to really work hard to reach down in the bucket and pull the bag out. But once I got it, I tore a hole in it lickety-split! These paintballs are like yummy little candies but they have this rubbery shell over them that I have to bite through, then the delicious liquid center squirts through. I got in trouble the other day when I found them and ate several. The liquid center sometimes gets all over the floor because it all won't fit in my mouth...so I bite them and move to the next one. A little messy but delicious! Blue is my favorite but I'm not picky! Try them!

~Stella, The Pug

P.S. my mom wishes she had taken a picture of me when my face was covered in blue streaks but I escaped her!

Best design tip...

I learned this trick from watching various deisgners on HGTV and specifically Karen McAloon's show. So if you are trying to decorate any room, use these tips.

1. Pick a main color. This color will be your primary color and usually is your wall color since that is the largest space it will cover. This should be a color you love, not something you think you will love.
2. Pick an accent color or two. This color will compliment your main color. The best accent colors are those that are either on opposite sides of the color wheel or adjacent to your main color on the color wheel. You may opt for just one accent color or you may opt for two (or three if you absolutely can't narrow it down...but any more and it can look too busy or disjointed)
3. Pick a metal finish. This metal finish can be brushed nickel, bronze, wrought iron, silver or gold. This will be the finish of any metals you pick for the room.
4. Pick a wood grain/tone. This will be the shade of all your wood tones for the room. The easiest way to pick this if you don't have samples is to go to your local hardware or home improvement store and look at the stain samples.

Viola! You have everything you need to go shopping and decorate your room! When you are shopping for furniture, accents, rugs, fabrics, pillows, lamps and other items, make sure that they fit in the parameters you have selected. It's helpful if you take samples with you shopping. For example, my living room choices are: pumpkin orange or brick red (similar in shade often times), sage green, dark wood, bronze metal finish and light khaki. My bedroom is blue, green, black/wrought iron and white.

Never buy anything you don't LOVE. If you like it and buy it because it "matches" then you won't love it later and will likely get rid of it if you change your room. I have a variety of fun prints in dark wood stained frames. The dark wood frames match the wood grain I have in the room. All the prints are my tastes and I love them but they still go with the room since I kept the frames similar in shade.

Happy decorating! As always, you know where to find me if you need specific advice.

~AWS

What a week!

So I finally had a few minutes to sit down and chronicle my past 7 days...boy has it been a doozy! Monday started with a doctor's appt that ran late - not a big deal but it just meant I had to make some time up at work. They had me start on some different meds for my PCOS which has wreaked havoc on my system and stomach, not to mention that it apparently affects my restless legs. I now take tylenol pm every night.

By Thursday morning, after 2 nights of restless legs, poor nutrition and meetings for church, I manage to make it out to my car so I'll actually be to work on time. (a miracle in itself!) I noticed that my glove compartment was open...hmm...odd...then I look around and in my mind think "I think someone went through your car last night" but I couldn't really process it so I kept on with my normal routine. I get a block down the road and my alarm goes off that the back hatch is open. Then it FINALLY registers...someone DID go through my car! Apparently someone broke into my car (well it was unlocked) in my driveway. They took everything out of all the compartments then took a box of race shirts and posters, packed random items from the floor board and put it across the street. The only thing they took was my drivers license, which is probably in the bushes somewhere. Nevertheless, I had to go get a new license and I now lock my car doors in my driveway.

So that was my Thursday...then Friday hit. Friday was payday. Yippee! Until I couldn't log on. I patiently wait for 25 minutes on hold with Wachovia customer service to find out why. Turns out, I was part of a phishing scam. I received an email earlier in the week from Wachovia said that I had been compromised and to click on the link to check my accounts. Looked leggit so I clicked the link. The hacker could then follow my key strokes and get into my accounts. Fortunately, nothing was taken and Wachovia shut my accounts down before they could get in to them. However, I have to open all new accounts, new debit cards, new online access, change all my direct deposits, autodrafts, etc. What a pain!

So, what's the lesson? Lock your car doors always and never click on any links that ask you to verify any accounts (bank, email or otherwise!)

What's the blessing? We didn't hear the burgler so Daniel didn't go chasing after them with me following...who knows what would have happened! Nothing was stolen and no money was taken out of my accounts. It could be worse! All in all, it was just a pain.

Let's hope this week brings better tidings than last! I think I have had my fill for a while!

Pics of new additions to living room

Pics of the recently updated living room to "add color" for my husband. I only added a new rug, valances, a few new pictures and a floor lamp - not a total revamp - but it made him happy and I have to admit it does look cozier.