What a Difference a Year Makes

I came across these pictures on the computer the other day of Bryson's very first day of Mother's Day Out. I can't believe he's been in MDO for a year. Where has the time gone?

He looks so small! I remember him being so excited to carry his backpack.

I thought I would take a few pictures today on our way to MDO to see the difference a year makes.

Oh! These pictures make me want to cry!! My little boy is growing up SO fast. I can't imagine what he will look like a year from now.

28 Weeks {Baby #2}

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 28 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby W is the size of a melon
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 13.5 pounds so far.
Maternity Clothes: Yes!
Gender: It's a BOY! Jaxon Clay
Movement: ALL THE TIME!!! :)
Sleep: Much better this week. I think last week I was just anticipating and nervous about my OB appt.
What I miss: Nothing! I think I'm in the honeymoon stage, so I've got lots of energy!
Cravings: I'm loving anything and everything this week. Hence the 2 pound weight gain. Ha!
Symptoms: Still having 3-5 contractions every day. Nothing too serious. But it helps when I can lay down and just relax.
Best Moment this week: Finding out that I haven't dilated. YAY!! That my fetal fibronectin test came back negative. WOO-HOO!! And that I will be able to take off one day during my work week! I'm still waiting on the results from my liver U/S and LFT's. I hope to hear about those results some time today.

project 365: week four

I have got to get better at posting these on Saturday. I always have every intention to, but get caught up with other things around the house and never get around to posting. I think I'll start writing each days description on that day, so all I have to do is upload this pictures.

We had somewhat of a laid back week. After having some contractions over the last two weeks I've decided to try and not do as much. That's SO much easier said than done. Ha!

January 22: I let Bryson take his matchbox cars with him to the bathtub. The best thing I have ever done! He has had so much with them this past week; it's all he wants to play with now.

January 23: Due to the tornado's that hit our state early Monday morning, Bryson didn't have school due to them closing for the day. He was enjoying watching Octonauts which by the way is his new favorite show. He wants to watch it everyday when he wakes up. Thank goodness for DVR :)

January 24: I really wasn't in the mood to cook on Tuesday night and I found this crock pot potato soup recipe that was Um-Um-Good!

January 25: I had my monthly visit to the OB on Wednesday. Me and Jaxon waiting on Dr. H.

January 26: Thursday was pajama day since it poured down rail ALL DAY! Can I just state for the record how much I HATE rainy days!!!

January 27: Clay and I have been itching to see The Grey with Liam Neeson (who has become one of my favorite actors) and of course it did not disappoint! Without saying too much, Clay wasn't very happy with the ending, but I kinda' liked it. We had a great date night! Love getting to spend time with my man!!!

January 28: My brother and SIL came up to my parents house and brought sweet Anna Katherine. I could not get over how sweet Bryson was being with her. He was so gentle and sweet. I'm hoping that is a small glimpse into our future. I was so proud to be his mommy!

Baby #2 Update

Yesterday I had my monthly OB appointment. I had been dreading this visit for the last 3 weeks. I found out a few days after my last visit that my liver enzymes are starting to increase. I mentioned a few posts back that this same thing happened when I was pregnant with Bryson and they got so elevated we had to deliver 4 weeks early due to early stages of HELLP Syndrome and Pre-eclampsia. Ever since I found out about being pregnant with Jaxon Clay and I have been praying that we would not have to go through all of that again. My OB told us that she could not guarantee that I would make it to 36 weeks with my next pregnancy. That has been in the back of my mind these last 6 months. So when I got the call 3 weeks ago about them being elevated all my fears came back. And on top of that I have started having 3-5 contractions a day for the last week and a half along with some cramping (and that's after taking my meds).

Of course Tuesday night I couldn't sleep a wink. I was trying to make sure I remembered all the questions I needed to ask Dr. H and praying that everything would be okay. When I got to the office I had to start the dreaded Glucose test. Surely someone could invent a better drink than that nasty orange stuff. And drinking it on an empty stomach is even worse!!

Me and Jaxon waiting to see Dr. H

After I finished the test I went in to see Dr. H. We talked about my enzyme levels, the contractions and a some other concerns she and I have. She thought it would be a good idea to do the Fetal fibronectin test to check my risk for preterm delivery. I also had blood work drawn to check my liver enzymes and just for safe measure had an ultrasound of my liver to make sure it looks good. Jaxon's heartbeat was good, 158 and I'm measuring great! She also checked my cervix and PRAISE the Lord I'm closed and high!!! She also thought it would be a good idea for me to take a day off in the middle of my work week which I think will be another blessing and I promised her that I would do better at resting on my week off and let Bryson stay with my parents and Clay's grandparents a couple of days during the week so I can get some rest.

By the time I finished everything I was at the doctor for over 3 hours. And when I left I was starving. Ha!!! So I thought I would treat myself to Momma Goldberg's and a little retail therapy.

My favorite sandwich, Momma's Love with the Momma's Nachos and a cherry coke :)

I also stopped in one of the local baby shops next door and picked up a few things for Bryson and Jaxon. Did my grocery shopping for the next two weeks and then came home and crashed. I updated Clay on everything that had happened since he isn't able to go with me to my appointments and we are just praying everything turns out okay.

Late yesterday afternoon I got a call from the lab and one of our prayers had been answered. My fetal fibronectin test came back NEGATIVE!!! Now we are just awaiting the results of my liver enzymes, glucose test and liver ultrasound.

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

project 365: week three

I'm a few days late getting this post up. I haven't been sleeping very well this last week, so any extra time I have I've been taking advantage of it and getting some sleep. This week was somewhat difficult to get pictures. Mainly because I work at night and sleep during the day for seven straight days, so I'll warn y'all that on my weeks to work the pictures might be a little boring and may even repeat themselves. Ha!

January 15: Bryson is never in a hurry on Sunday mornings. For some reason he always has time to sit down, watch cartoons and eat his breakfast. Ha!
January 16: Ever since my parents gave Bryson the Woody doll he goes everywhere with Bryson, even nap time.
January 17: Playing with mommy's iPhone while I get dinner ready.
January 18: Since Clay has started his student teaching, I have to leave work early so I can get home before he leaves so Bryson isn't by himself. On this day Bryson had MDO and while I got my shower he sat in our bedroom, ate breakfast and watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
January 19: I was so excited to see this in the mail on Thursday. I can't believe I was able to snag a pair of these VS pajamas in my size! I'll be wearing these to the hospital when we have Jaxon.
January 20: My parents kept Bryson on Friday and my mom had to take my grandmother to the doctor. He looks like he's having a good time in the waiting room.
January 21: Our TV that Clay has had for over 10 years finally decided it was ready to kick the bucket. I took this picture Saturday right before it got hauled off.

27 Weeks {Baby #2} & a Name Change

Pregnancy Highlights


How Far Along: 27 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby W is the size of a head of cauliflower
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 11.5 pounds so far.
Maternity Clothes: Yes!
Gender: It's a BOY!!!
Movement: He's moving non-stop. If this a sign, of my are we going to have our hands full!
Sleep: Not so much this week.
What I miss: Being able to tie my shoes. Ha! Bending over is getting harder and harder to do.
Cravings: This week it's been Arby's cherry turnover. I think I've had 4 or 5 this week.
Symptoms: My Braxton Hicks contractions are getting a little more intense. And I've started to have some mild cramping with them. Hoping having a week off will help this week.
Best Moment this week: I don't know if this would classify as a "Best Moment," but I have my doctor's appointment this week and I have a lot of questions and things to discuss with her since I saw her last month. Oh, and I get to see our little man on the screen too. :)



After talking it over with Clay we've decided that we are changing Jaxon's middle name. We really weren't set on Marcus and had some reservations about it since we talked about it. So baby boy #2's name is.......


JAXON CLAY

We are really excited about the name change and are looking forward to his arrival real soon. Good thing I haven't had anything monogrammed with his whole name just yet. Ha!!!

Bryson's Favorite iPhone Apps

If any of you mom's are like me (and I hope there are a few of you out there), my toddler loves playing on my iPhone. So I thought I would share with y'all a few of Bryson's favorite apps.



I would say Monkey Preschool Lunchbox is by far his favorite of them all. Every time he has my phone he will go straight to this app. It teaches about colors, shapes, counting, letters, matching, etc. His favorite is the matching game. Right now you can get this app for $0.99.



This app might be a little more for boys since it has to do with Cars. It's the Lightning Was Here: My Puzzle Book. It features several different puzzles, a scavenger hunt for stickers and a way to record your own child's voice reading the book. This app is also $0.99.



Now I wouldn't call Netflix and educational app, but it has some great uses when Bryson is wanting to watch Veggietales or Toy Story 3. This has been a lifesaver at the grocery story or when we are waiting at the doctor's office. Netflix is a free app however you have to be a member in order to use it.



Peekaboo Barn is another one of our favorite apps. The barn bounces up and down and then the doors open and an animal appears. Each time the doors open a new animal pops up. Bryson is always shouting out the animals he knows. Peekaboo Barn is $1.99.



Jumpstart Preschool Magic is an app I just downloaded a few weeks ago. This is a great app for preschoolers. It includes games that practice colors, shapes, numbers, pre-reading skills, etc. It is available for $2.99.


I hope there are a few apps that I've listed your child might enjoy. And if you have any suggestions please leave me a comment so I can check them out. Hope y'all have a wonderful Friday!!!

Gonna Give it a Whirl

Source: colorinc.typepad.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Those of you that don't know me personally or do not follow me on pinterest probably have no idea that I am obsessed with everything photography. A BIG thanks to my dad for this obsession! Ha! With the birth of our second child on the way, I've been going back and forth about having maternity and newborn pictures done professionally. The big factor in all of this is of course $$$. Which is something we are lacking at this time with the hubby in school. And I need to be mindful of what we can/should spend our extra dollars on.

So yesterday I casually mentioned to my mom about taking my own maternity and newborn pictures. To which she replied "Oh yes, I think we can do that. If I can sew the bedding for Jaxon's nursery, then we can take these pictures!" And thus began my search on the internet for taking good newborn pictures.

After researching off and on last night I really think this is something my mom and I can tackle. I found some great websites with some very good tips and suggestions that I think will help. My mom and I both have good DSLR cameras (mine is a Canon EOS XSi and my mom has a Nikon) and I still have a few more months to get more familiar with my camera and learn a few more tricks.

I will tell y'all that I'm extremely nervous about doing this. I have high expectations when it comes to photography (which is a fault of mine I know). I'm nervous that I won't do a good job and then years down the road I'll regret not having them done professionally. Especially knowing that this is probably our last baby :(

Pictures are priceless and capture so much in a small amount of time. Years down the road I want to look back and remember every detail of that moment. I don't want to have ANY regrets! Because when your babies grow up, move away, get married, and have families of their own all you have are those pictures to help you remember those special moments that we sometimes forget about.

Jaxon's Nursery - Inspiration

I kinda' had an idea of what I wanted to do for Jaxon's nursery since I found out I was pregnant. Something modern and completely different from Bryson's room. Not the typical boy colors (blue & brown).

Of course I've looked to the internet for inspiration. And thank goodness for pinterest! I don't know what I did without it. Ha! I'll admit that I'm a little nervous about how it's going to turn out. But I'm really excited about making the plans!!!

Source: sew4home.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

This Michael Miller Citron Gray fabric was the beginning of my inspiration for the nursery. I immediately new this was what I wanted and my mom was quick to order it and has started working on the bedding. She's finished the fitted sheet and pleated skirt so far. And it looks amazing! I'm so thankful for my mom and her taking the time out to do this for us. Thank you mom!!!

Source: chiccheapnursery.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I love this chevron accent wall.

Source: etsy.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I really want to incorporate something with "You are my sunshine" in his room. I have found several canvas prints and a few DIY's that I might could pull off.

Source: teamturnbow.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I think the stripes are more of what I'm going for. And how cute is that wall print?

I'm loving all these ideas and am really looking forward to starting on Jaxon's nursery.

26 Weeks {Baby #2}

Pregnancy Highlights


How Far Along: 26 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby W is the size of a English cucumber
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Lost 1 pound this week. Total is 10 pounds so far.
Maternity Clothes: Yes!
Gender: It's a BOY!!! Jaxon Marcus
Movement: All the time :) I can tell where is head and feet are. I get kicked a lot on my right side. Ha!
Sleep: It's getting better. Taking a few naps on some days.
What I miss: Feeling more uncomfortable. But it's all worth it!!!
Cravings: Haven't really craved anything this week. I'm just eating like a horse.
Symptoms: I started having a few mild contractions on Saturday. And I've had a few more since then. Hoping that if I go up on my meds it will help some. I've just got to find a way to take it easy. Easier said than done.
Best Moment this week: Clay will be starting his FINAL semester in school. Yay! We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can't tell y'all how proud of him I am. He has worked so hard these last 4 1/2 years and I cannot wait to see what all the Lord has in store for us this year.

project 365: week two

Well I'm two weeks in! I have to tell y'all I'm pretty proud of myself. Some days when we are just hanging around the house (which is alot these days), it's hard to get a picture that will tell about our day. And I think the in the winter months capturing a picture with a toddler can be a little difficult. That's my cue to bring on spring and summer. Ha!

January 8: Sunday Bryson thought it would be fun to brush Mr. Potato Head's hair after mommy had attempted to brush his. He's been doing alot of pretend play these days, which I find so adorable.
January 9: Monday night was the college football National Championship game. Even though we didn't have a dog in the fight I thought it would be fun to have something good to eat. So I found these easy little snacks on pinterest that were a big hit! And I added some vanilla ice cream to ours.
January 10: My mom has been working hard on Jaxon's crib bedding. I try and go over to my parents house a few times on my off week to help her out. She's been working on the crib skirt this week.
January 11: This is how my life has been with a two and a half year old the last several months. Oh my goodness has my patience been tested. For me this has been the hardest age so far. Tantrums after tantrums.
January 12: Bryson loves getting on Clay's shoulders. It's there new favorite thing to do together.
January 13: I have been craving some crazy things lately. Friday's breakfast of champions was chips and salsa.
January 14: Bryson is a bottomless pit. After getting haircuts for the boys we hopped over to O'Charley's for lunch and I think Bryson ate every roll that was brought out. I don't know what I'm going to do when he gets older.

Flashback Friday

I can't believe I haven't blogged at all this week. We've been on the go so much that I really haven't had much time. But yesterday I was organizing Bryson's pictures on the computer and came across these from a year ago.




Oh that Handy Manny ball pit brings back a lot of fun memories :) It was last years Christmas gift from Pawpaw and Nana. It didn't quite make it a year. And if I remember right, it got a hole in it and had to be thrown away. Bryson had so much fun playing in it and I'm glad I took pictures to remember this time!

25 Weeks {Baby #2}

Pregnancy Highlights


How Far Along: 25 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby W is the size of a rutabaga 
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 11 pounds.
Maternity Clothes: Yes!
Gender: It's a BOY!!! Jaxon Marcus
Movement: All the time :)
Sleep: Was pretty good, given that it was my work week. I do toss and turn a lot though.
What I miss: I'm starting to get a little uncomfortable. I can't sit for long periods of time. I can't imagine what I will feel like at the end.   
Cravings: Pancakes, bacon and honey roasted peanuts. 
Symptoms: None.
Worst Moment this week: I got a call from my OB office last Monday and they told me my liver enzymes are elevated again. To say I'm nervous is an understatement! I didn't blog about it very much when I was pregnant with Bryson. But we ended up having to deliver at 36 weeks because they got so high (I developed HELLP syndrome and borderline pre-eclampsia). My prayer is that I can at least make it to 36 weeks again, but with a second pregnancy that's not guaranteed. I don't ask this very much, but your prayers would be much appreciated during this next few months.


I looked like a "hot mess" when Clay took my picture, so that's why it's only a belly pic. Ha!

Hope Y'all Have A Happy Monday!!!

Project 365: Week One

I can't believe I'm getting on the bandwagon and committing to Project 365! I have to be honest, I'm really excited about the challenge and I know looking back I'll be so glad I did this. I'll go ahead and give this disclaimer... most of my pictures will probably consist mainly of Bryson; he's pretty much my life at this point. But I know there are several exciting things that will be happening this year that I'm sure will make it onto this project! :)

January 1: For New Year's Day we went over to Pawpaw and Nana's house to eat dinner. Bryson and Owen were having fun playing together and cutting up!

January 2: Bryson's new favorite place in the house is our closet. It is SO disorganized!!! Probably because I have to share it with Clay.

January 3: Bryson started back to MDO this week. He was really excited to go back. Mommy was too!

January 4: Bryson and Daddy before bedtime

January 5: Laundry...the story of my life. I try so hard to stay caught up, but by the looks of this pic I haven't been doing a good job. Ha!

January 6: Bryson eating one of his favorite foods...PIZZA!!!

January 7: Bryson got an Cars electric toothbrush in his stocking this Christmas and loves brushing his teeth now.

This was a lot of fun to do this week. I think there are many ways you can get really creative with the pictures you take. I hope I can stick with this through the whole year! I guess we'll have to wait and see.

The storyboard I used was from The Coffeeshop Blog. She has a lot of great templates and some really good tutorials using storyboards.

Baby #2 has a Name!!!

I know, I know! I've been telling y'all for weeks that I would post baby #2's name. It's been crazy around our house with the holidays and me working every other week and Clay coaching two basketball teams. We haven't really had time to sit a talk about names. Well, FINALLY, Clay and I have decided on a name for baby #2 (I THINK!!!) We've had his first name picked out from the beginning, but are struggling over his middle. So don't be surprised if I have another blog post sharing a different middle name :) 

Without further adieu..............................................

(This picture was taken almost 10 weeks ago, but it's the best one I have of him!)

Jaxon Marcus

The meaning behind the names... Jaxon is my grandmother maiden name on my mother's side, but spelled the traditional way (Jackson). I have always loved this name and if Clay hadn't been so determined, Bryson's name would have been Jaxon. Marcus is Clay's middle name and was actually the first name we picked out when thinking about middle names. Clay has been going back and forth on the middle name. I'm not so sure he's sold on it yet.

I have to tell y'all I'm getting really excited about being the mother of TWO boys! I have loved being a "Boy Mom!" And just thinking about my two sweet boys growing up together and becoming the best of friends makes me smile!!! I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for these two little monsters :)

Projects for 2012

There are several projects that I've seen on pinterest and while reading other blogs that I want to try this year. But with the birth of our son in the coming months I didn't want to overload myself, so I thought one project a month sounded doable. Some of these projects might take me a little longer than a month, but I hope to get many of them completed before the end of 2012. Here are just a few I hope to accomplish...

• Project 365 - I've been wanting to do Project 365 for a while. Since I don't do monthly posts on Bryson I thought this would be a fun way to document our lives during the week. I know this project is for the ENTIRE year and I hope that I can say at the end of 2012 that I completed it! Sarah over at Life {Sweet} Life posted about where she gets some of her designs for Project 365. My parents got me the Bamboo Capture for Christmas and it came with Photoshop Element, so I'm uber excited about using some of the templates for this project that Sarah posted!

Source: joelens.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

• Freezer Meals - Since we will be adding a  new addition to our family very soon, I want to designate a month to making freezer meals so that we will be stocked up when baby #2 arrives. With a toddler around the house and I'm sure ALOT of late nighters, I know I'm not going to want to be in the kitchen all evening. I have found several websites from pinterest that tells you all the DIY on freezing meals.

Source: my3boybarians.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

• Taking Better Pictures - I've had my DSLR for almost two years and haven't gotten up the nerve to shoot in manual mode. For some strange reason it scares me to death to try. But this year I'm determined to learn!

Source: icanteachmychild.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

• Memorizing Scripture w/Bryson - This was something else I found on pinterest and I can't wait to start doing this with Bryson. I know he's no where near the age to memorize, but I want to start teaching him about scripture and how important it is to know for everyday life.
• Love You Because Message Board - Sarah blogged about this message board she found on pinterest and created some cute FREE printables.

Source: bystephanielynn.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

• Family Framed Handprints - I thought this would be adorable to hang up in our bedroom and it looks fairly simple (that's if I can get Bryson to sit down long enough to trace his hand)

Source: projectnursery.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

• Handprints & Footprints - can y'all tell I'm slightly obsessed with hand and footprints? I think this would be so sweet to have in baby #2's nursery.  

Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

• Reading Wall - we are in the process of turning Bryson's room into a BIG BOY ROOM! I've completed part of this project that I blogged about here. There are just a few more finishing touches to add, then his room should be complete. I can't wait for that post!!!

Anna Katherine

She's here!!! Well she's been here for 3 weeks, but I'm just now getting around to posting. Anna Katherine SURPRISED us all with her early arrival. But we are all happy she is here and are loving every minute with her! My brother and SIL are adjusting well and I am so proud of them. They are going to be AMAZING parents to this precious little angel.


She is such a doll. And you can't tell from this picture, but she has lots of hair :)


The new family of three!


A VERY excited Aunt! I can't wait to spoil her rotten!!!


Bryson was such a good sport the entire day we were at the hospital. I love watching him with the babies! I just hope he's this good with his brother.


Proud Pawpaw and Grandmaw!

I am so excited to welcome this little new addition to our family. I know she is going to be loved very much by both her cousins. And they will probably be very protective of her too.

Michele and Tommy, I am so happy for y'all. Parenthood is an amazing journey and quite the roller coaster ride. Enjoy every moment!!!

Balancing Life as a SAHM w/a Full Time Job

I get asked a lot by family and friends how I balance my life as a SAHM one week and a full time RN the next week. Just a little background, I work 7 on 7 off (night shift) as an RN for the last 4 1/2 years. I love my job and what I do. It is one of the most rewarding jobs, besides being a mother, that I could never see myself giving it up. Right now night shift works best for my family and I get to see my son and husband the most with this particular schedule. I will admit it's VERY difficult at times and there are days that I don't sleep as well as others. But really, what mother doesn't?

I will admit that the first 18 months after Bryson was born were extremely difficult. I give a lot of credit to our families who helped us out and are still able to help out to this day. You might ask why we chose not to put Bryson in daycare? Well, financially it wasn't the best option for our family at the time. And not to mention I love spending time with him on my week off and I couldn't see paying the $$$ for him to go only part time. I do feel like it's important for Bryson to be around other children his age, so in February of last year we decided to make a few sacrifices and get him into our churches Mother's Day Out Program. Y'all this has been one of the best decisions we have made! He has grown so much and literally "loves" going to school! And this also gives me a few hours in the day for myself. Which I believe every mother needs!!!

So to break down my weeks... on my work week our families will take turns keeping Bryson on Tuesday - Friday during the day while Clay is in school. He's in the process of graduating from college in May. YAY!!! This also allows me to sleep as much as I can during the day. On the two days that Bryson has MDO, Clay has him ready for school so that when I get home I can take him to school and then whoever is keeping him that day will go and pick him up.

Just last week a few of my co-workers found out that I cook about 3-5 nights out of my 7 that I work. During my work week I try and make meals that we can have leftovers for the next day. This keeps me from having to get up an hour or two early to prepare/fix dinner. And I have found that this also gives me more time to spend with Clay and Bryson.

This past year I discovered Erin's (from Blue-Eyed Bride) post on her home organization notebook. Y'all this has been a lifesaver and has helped me more than I thought it would! The meal planning section is by far my favorite section. My notebook helps me stay on track with all that I have going on during the week. For the longest time I felt like our life was a little chaotic. But now that I have designated days for laundry and have my meals planned out in advance I don't seem as overwhelmed. Whether you work full time or are a SAHM I highly recommend creating your own notebook.

Ever since we brought Bryson home from the hospital we have had him on a bedtime routine. Now there are a few special occasions where it might vary, but it's important that I have him in the bed by 8 or 8:30. This way I am able to spend about 2 hours with Clay before I go to work. As husband and wife I cannot stress the importance of spending time with one another. We implemented a no electronics rule during this time so that we can focus on each other. I will say that this has helped our marriage tremendously!

So that is a typical work week for me. Like I said, we are so thankful to our families for what they have done for us. We are extremely blessed to have them so close by and that they are willing to help out so much.

During my week off it can be just as stressful at times. I am just like any other SAHM during my week off. I take Bryson to school and pick him up. On the days he's in school I will take one of those days to do my grocery shopping and run any other errands that I can get done during that time. Whatever chores I didn't get around to on my work week, I will finish those up also. Sometimes I come home after taking him to school and chill out and catch up on my DVR. Those days are very few!

My meal plans are pretty much the same as they are on my work week. Sometimes we might take one night to go out to eat or go over to a friend's house for dinner. And Bryson's bedtime routine is also the same. Once a month Clay and I will have "date night." This could consist of going out to dinner or watching a movie and having popcorn at our house after we put Bryson to bed. Again, my marriage is a big priority!!!

Another great thing I get to do on my off week is meet up with my small group. We are about to start back this month. This is another thing as a mom and a woman that I feel is really important. Just getting out of the house for a few hours to talk to other moms and have some adult conversation can make the rest of your week so much better.

The most important things I try to do on both my work week and my off week is trying to stay consistent. I have found that consistency is what works for my family the best. Especially with Bryson. One thing I didn't address was what we do on Sunday's. On my work week it's really hard for me to get home and get ready in time for church, so Clay and Bryson will go without me on those weeks and then on my weeks off we go as a family. This is probably the one thing I do hate about my job.

With baby #2 on the way I have NO idea how life will be. That's another reason I didn't allow myself to get caught up in making any goals for this year. I do hope that in the near future I can decrease my days at work that way I can spend more time with my family. Life is short and I want to enjoy every moment that I can.

Well I hope there are a few things you can take away from my life as a full time RN and a SAHM. I love getting advice, so if you have tips or suggestions you would like to give, please fill me in! Us mom's have to stick together.

24 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 24 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby W is the size of an ear of corn
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 8 pounds.
Maternity Clothes: Yes!
Gender: It's a BOY!!! I promise I will post the name this week. Clay and I have been going back and forth with the middle name, so I hope we can lock it down this week. Ha!
Movement: SO much! Thankfully I don't ever feel him during the night. I think he knows momma likes her sleep :)
Sleep: Has been great this week! Bryson has slept til 9am almost every day this past week. Which is NOT then norm. But it's been great catching up!
What I miss: Not having indigestion! Oh my goodness, I don't know if it's a boy thing or what, but the indigestion is terrible. No matter what I eat I can get away from it.
Cravings: Anything and everything these days!
Symptoms: I started cutting back on my blood pressure meds (my doctor wanted me to taper off of them) and noticed that I'm having more cramps. So at my OB appt this past week, my MD said I need to go back to taking it twice a day and can take as many as 4 a day. I'm just glad there is a medicine out there that can help!
Best Moment this week: Watching Bryson come home to his new BIG BOY room! We aren't quite finished yet, so I hope to post about it in the coming weeks. But he was so excited today and I can't believe how fast he's growing up!


I can really tell in this picture how much bigger I am the second time around.