Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you have a happy thanksgiving. Enjoy your families and be truly thankful for how blessed we all really are. 

Wedding Anniversary: Advice From a 3-year Wife

Today is our anniversary. November 20, 2009. We were married when I was young. Like 19 young. So yes, do the math. You will conclude that I am a 22 year old wife, with a baby on the way. Pass your judgements quickly and get over some of the shock. Despite what my generation has led you to believe we are not all idiots. Yes, I was young and I did have to grow up during our marriage, but let me tell you -- I wouldn't have it any other way. I see it as we got a headstart on our life.

I will share what little wisdom I have learned in 3 years of marriage. I could be wrong with what I say, you could choose to let my age or my inexperience with life affect how you take what the rest of this post is about, but I will tell you that you could be making a mistake. I think we are called to share this sort of wisdom with each other so we can grow -- and grow closer to our spouse in return.  Here are my tidbits.

1) God First, Spouse Second. 
This is biblical. We have found that whenever we have our priorities straight, marriage seems easy and fun. When we put something ahead of God in the priority list, such as money or work, we tend to lose sight of what we are going for in this life and that's to serve God and then serve each other. 

2) Submit to your husband. 
I think this is where some will go "Whoa! Whoa! We are equals!". Yea, that's true in society, men and women are equals. And I'm not saying that men or husbands are better than women, I'm saying we as wives should allow our husbands to lead the household. I don't think this is a free pass for men to sit on the couch while we fix dinner and raise the children, I'm saying that in our culture we are taught to take control. In our society, women are considered weak if they don't control a situation, lay down the law with their men, or be the final word in all decisions. It's wrong. Our culture has taught us that husbands are the dumb guys that order the wrong cell phone package or get the wrong cheese. They couldn't possibly be trusted with getting the right cheese! Submit to your husband. Trust that every idea and leadership decision he makes is in the best interest of your family and you will see that when you allow your man to lead, he does just that. He leads. 

3) Talk About Your Expectations You Have For Him

We all have this image of the "ideal husband" in our heads. It's been crammed in there from when we were little girls. (My man will rub my feet every night and then gives me roses for everything). We all have these expectations. Ask your husband, I'm sure he has a few of his own. What I've learned from marriage is that if you never talk about your expectations with your spouse and just expect him to "understand your needs", you're going to be let down. Not that it's by any fault of your husband, it's because he literally doesn't know what you want from him. Talk. About. It. 

4) You should "come onto" Him Too

Wait a sec, did I just talk about sexy time? Oh, yes I did. It's scandalous, I know. But really, we women have been making men look bad for a long time with this. We just don't have the sex drive like men do. WRONG. We just don't have the same type of sex drive men do. Ours is definitely not a switch to be turned on and off in a moments notice, but it does go to the "on" mode. My advice is make the first move and see what happens. Stop making your man beg for it all the time and surprise him by "coming onto" him first. WOWZA! 

Well, that's all I have for you. I hope you enjoy. And I would love to hear what advice you have for me! I'm a really good listener, I swear. 

  

Coffee Date

Today, I'm linking up with Casey over at The Wiegand's. This is my first time on linking up with this post of hers so I don't know if you're supposed to write a different type of post or like what she has, so I'm going with like what she has. 

Coffee Date...

If you came to my house right now for a coffee date I would invite you in and you would instantly be greeted by my two dogs, Optimus and Janie. 

I would tell you that we have been working on their greeting methods lately, but they still get VERY excited while meeting new people. 

I would ask if you wanted coffee, hot chocolate, tea, or caffeine free pepsi. I would drink water. I have been trying to eat and drink healthier lately because of the baby. 

I would ask you how things are going with you. How is your walk with Jesus going? 

I would tell you that Jacob and I have seen so little of each other that we've been having mini bible study sessions through notes. He's always so sweet in the note and then he gives us a passage and talks about it. 

I would tell you that the baby is growing and how weird I've felt lately. I was so sick for a while and now that the sickness has passed, I almost don't feel pregnant. 

I would tell you that I have been thinking about the moment that I get to meet my child for the first time brings me to tears every time I think about it. 

I would ask you if you were comfortable. Our house is old and it tends to get really warm and really cold. Need a blanket? 

I would tell you that I'm going to start decorating for Christmas on Saturday. When are you decorating? Have you gotten all of your shopping done? 

I haven't finished my shopping. And as per usual money is a little tight around here this year, and I want to bless everyone with an amazing gift. I will most likely save money by making a few creative gifts. 

I would tell you my fears. I don't know how good of a mother I will be. I don't know what we're doing about daycare. We can barely take care of ourselves, how are we supposed to take care of a baby? 

I would finish with a prayer for faith. What can I pray for you about? 

I enjoyed our time. See you soon. 

Life In Cell Phone Pics

This week has been such an awakening for me. With a very inspiring blogger meetup and new-found energy to boot, I'm feeling great and ready to conquer the world! Can we say "second trimester attitude". 

Jake sent me this picture with the caption, "I'm too sexy to be out in public" or something to that extent. He's right, he's just too sexy to be on the streets. ;)

This is a VERY quickly made business card I did for the #OKBlogger Meet up on Friday. I made about 25 of them for about a $1.50. Not bad, eh?

I look tired and rough, but I had so much fun. I'm sure you recognize these two Allison from Feeding My Temple and Melissa from Pineapple Lily.

Jake was off on Saturday so we got to hang out. I have long weeks when he works night shifts. I was just too happy to see my baby daddy. 

On Saturday evening we visited Jake's folk's house. I saw this picture of the hubs as a brand new baby. He was only around 5 lbs! 

Seeing Jake's baby pic made me want to see mine and his side-by-side. So I dug this out today. Let's just say I was NOT a 5 lb. baby. lol, I was chubby. I'm thinking that our baby might have a little hair, who knows though. 

Well, that's the gist of my week. How was yours? Did you do anything fun? 


Be on the lookout for a few changes around my blog. I'm thinking about bringing back swap sponsoring! And of course, I think I need a new "look". :)

Talk to you soon. 

When Nothing Is Happening, Is Something Brewing?

Sometimes nothing is really going on in life. I mean yea, I have a baby growing at an alarming rate inside of me... but really no major events have taken place. 

This makes me wonder, if something is "coming". 

Do you ever feel that way? Like, wait a second... there should be something happening. Suspicious. 

This leads me to believe that something big is fixing to happen. Or is it? I mean, we have been going through major life changes pretty much since we got married (btw our anniversary is coming up). Where's the other shoe? 

All I can say is pleeeeeeaaaase don't let it be something horrible. lol. I don't know if this is a pregnancy thing or not, but I have found myself preparing for the worst. I have had weird anxiety dreams about horrible awful bad things happening in our family. Can a girl just get in on some unicorn dreams? 

I think it's the Walking Dead. We have been watching season 2 on Netflix, are you caught up? No spoilers please! But let me know how you are liking it. 

Well, I guess this was one of those filler posts. One of those posts that don't and won't move mountains. But maybe I can look back on this post and be like, "See, here is where I predicted that big thing that happened." 

Also, would anyone be interested in reading what I have to say on couponing or marriage?

What I Would Give to Be a SAHM

I've been thinking a lot about daycare lately. Or where my baby will be spending the days while I'm at work. I'm realizing now, even before the baby is born, that I would give anything to be a stay-at-home-mom. Unfortunately, we can't seem to work the finances where that would be an option.

Maybe there is someone out there that can offer me some advice. Are you a working mother? What does your baby do while you're at work? Are you a SAHM? How did you decide that was the best for your family? Is it a big financial hardship?

I genuinely feel guilty already. The baby is growing so much, inside me, and I can't imagine how much they will grow when they're out! I just want to be the one that gets to love on them, teach them, be with them.

I'm praying... But maybe you have advice? Will you share your story with me?

My First Letter to Little One

Hey there Little One, 

I've had a lot going on lately, and so many emotions filling me this week. I HEARD your little heartbeat on Thursday. I didn't know it was going to affect me like it did. As soon as my midwife put the "heartbeat wand" (my definition, clearly.) on my belly, I heard your heart. It's good and strong, and so perfect. It took all of my strength not to break down and cry with joy in the appointment. 

Oh Little One, I hope you can feel how much love I already have for you. I'm crying like a baby just thinking about it. Until now, I didn't think I would ever love someone as much as I love your father, but I know now that I was wrong. I love you so much. 

I've had lots of morning sickness up until now. I'm so thankful that I'm getting a rest from that. I can hardly stand how bad I want to know if you are a boy or a girl. We find out next month. I think you're a girl, and Dad thinks you're a boy. We don't care either way, we just want you healthy. But if you are a girl, will you please be a no-drama type of girl? That's our my biggest fear, that you will be half as much drama as my sisters and I were. If you're a boy can you please refrain from being a 'typical boy' and peeing on me and everything? (That's what we are getting when people talk about their baby boys! They just say that they pee... on everything.)

I just talked to your Aunt Chelsey and she thinks you are a boy too. She says she wishes that you are a girl so that Tinley will have someone to play with. I told her that even if you are a boy, Tinley will still have a younger cousin to play with. There are lots of babies in our family, Little One. Aunt Chelsey and Tinley, Aunt Lindsay and her baby boy, cousin Jezzni and cousin Melissa! So many little playmates for you. Family gatherings are going to be so fun! 

I could go on and on with talking to you. Just know that I love you so deeply. I can't wait to have you in my arms, Little One. 

Love you, Little One. 

-Mom (Ahh!! That's the first time I referred to myself as "Mom"! Ahhhhh....)