sunday funday.

knowing this will be our last hoo-rah until Bella arrives, jr, aislynn, and i headed out on sunday for some F-U-N (before the craziness begins)!

fun day, and fun for all!

its hard to believe, that in just a few months, we're going to have a tiny little one along for the ride.


our day went a little something like this:

thrift shopping.
bowling.
movies.
dinner.

^^thrift vintage chair^^

i dunno whether to use it as a prop, or use it in Bella's room.  

either way, $20 well spent.

^^thrift vintage lamp shade^^

i loveeeee the vintage feel... cracks and all!

gonna hang this from a corner ceiling over a nice arm chair in Bella's room. 

ps. she gave me this fo-free as a "nursery gift". SO sweet!

 ^^bowling^^

^^yes, aislynn won. hehe^^

^^movies | saw the Lorax^^

^^dinner @ Cheddars^^

ps. this is me at 25 weeks. 

(ignore the funky shade that highlights my already bubbly nose. lol)

hope you all had a fantabulous Sunday as well!

Faith & Love,
Casey

24 weeks

i'm a bit behind here, but better late than never. yes? =]

How far along? 24 weeks
Maternity clothes? Yes, but SO in love with Maxi dresses, right now. =]

Stretch marks? Nothing yet. Not even the dark line... hmmmm....

Sleep:  Oh, how I miss those days. =(

Best moment this week: Getting new clothes! i so needed them! oh! And getting new insurance! Such a blessing!

Miss Anything? not so much, but i'm dyingggg to head to the beach!

Movement: yes, she punched jr's hand. funny!

Food cravings: Sweet, sweet, and more sweet!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Chicken or meat... bleh. Unless, its in sandwich form (weird, I know)
Have you started to show yet:  I'd say! Seems like my tummy has grown lots and lots in just a week.

Gender: Princess
Labor Signs: Nope, but Braxton Hicks contractions started this week. joy.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On. <3
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to:  Moving and preparing for Bella's arrival!

Size of Baby: length of an ear of corn.

Faith & Love, 

Casey

and that's a wrap.

lordy, this week has been crazy.
super busy, and super busier.

TGIF!

hallelujah!

thank ya, Jesus!

with all the craziness this past week, aislynn and i headed to the park to chill with the ducks, soak in some sunshine, enjoy the breeze, and just simply relax.

we brought a blanket.
sat in the shade.
ate chick-fil-a.
fed the ducks.
read a book.
swung on the swings.
pointed out the differences in each duck. (hilarious, if you really sit and do this)
and then headed home.


the day was beautiful!

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

-- Psalm 118:24 

Faith & Love, 

Casey

i dont want to raise a GOOD child.

not being able to sleep has caused me to browse my facebook newsfeed a zillion times over and over until my eyes cross and i fall asleep... something about scrolling and seeing the same status over and over again, sometimes does the trick.  other nights, i "like" just about everything anyone posts.  and other nights, i actually read each article that pops up.

2 nights ago, in particular, i came across this article:
http://devotions.proverbs31.org/2012/03/i-dont-want-to-raise-a-good-child.html

this mama needed to read it, and read it, i did.

aislynn is something else... a hoot and then some!
she isn't your "average" child, and although she is sweet and caring, she is a complete free spirit.
her independence gets stronger the older she gets.  i mean, she was only 6 months old when we took her off the bottle, and i'm sure our persistence as parents had something to do with it, but her little tiny ambition sealed the deal, and we were soon purchasing sippy cups instead.  

these days, getting her ready for kindergarten is a task, much like i knew it would be when she was only 2 years old.  the independence just drives her.  however, sometimes, i believe it hinders her ability to learn more.  #1 reason i'm excited for her to be going to school this upcoming fall.

jr and i both, although yin and yang, have very strong personalities, and boy when she does something, we're quick to say, "oh! that is definitely YOUR child!" and then nod in agreement.  my mind was/is more creative and flowing, while Jr's was/is tightly knit but very much full of "eyes on the prize"... and then, at times, we switch!

her imagination is nothing like we (or others) have seen in any child... its pure crazy at times, i will tell you, but i will also tell you, mine hasn't always been the sanest, either... i just never voiced it much like she does and has done.

anyway, i could go on about her special little personality, but the real reason of this post, is the real meaning of the posted link above...

yeah, Aislynn is crazy (she's actually adopted the name "Crazilynn Aislynn"), but she is also so very sweet and caring. yeah, she's bold in her words and thoughts, but like many others in the Bible, that's a lot of what propelled them to bring outsiders to Christ. this was one of their many gifts given by God to do the works of His kingdom. "be not afraid..." -- Jeremiah 1:8

some days, she'll misbehave, and when misbehavior includes talking back or catching attitude, no, there is no excuse. (this, we are working on) HOWEVER, there are certain ways of dealing with it... every parent has their tactics.  i think it just boils down to knowing exactly which tactics to pair with your child's personality, and knowing this, can be done through prayer...

we are all fearfully and wonderfully made... each unique. God loves us all the same, yet He knows exactly HOW to love each of us individually.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

-- Proverbs 22:6 (NIV 1984)

Faith & Love,

Casey

the to-do's of tomorrow.

geez. louise.

i know i've said this before, but i'm real glad God created a pregnancy to last 9 months.
if Bella were to arrive any sooner, i'd cry.

the next few months are going to be cuh-razy, and that's an understatement.

i say understatement, because there are literally a zillion and one things to accomplish before her arrival.


* this month is soon to be over, and soon enough, Easter will be there, Jr's birthday, work in between, and then of course, whatever fun stuff that pops up.

* we're looking to move, however, we're in a bit of predicament that won't allow us to move until hopefully early June.  either way, we have to be out of this house before Bella arrives.  due to a scheduled c-section, there is no possible way i would be able to travel up and down the stairs, especially with a newborn, and ALL bedrooms upstairs.  camping on the couch isn't really an option, although it may very well be.

* plus, Bella needs a room to sleep... her and Aislynn will NOT be sharing a room. maybeeee when they're older, but right now, i would not like mommy if i had a crying whiny baby in my room 24/7. for the most part,  i always had my own room growing up, and i thank my parents sooo much for it.  my sisters on the other hand practically lived together, and could have married each other, however, they were only a couple of years apart vs. almost 6 years.  i don't want my girls to pull each other's hair out. ha!

* baby shower planning...
its begun, but its far far away from being actually planned.

* baby Bella shopping... whatever we don't have, but need, we'll have to get. including Bella's customized bedding. (yes, i'm dead set on this)

* we also need to move soon enough to enroll Aislynn in kindergarten. last thing we need is to live here, and her go to school there.

* then, there is school shopping, which for the most part needs to be taken care of BEFORE Bella gets here, because I doubt I'll be able to get out much after my c-section, and daddy shopping for Aislynn can be a very scary thing.

* praise God Jr has superbbbbb insurance with this new job... but with that said, ALL of us need to see just about every doctor under the sun.

* maternity photo shoot is in April, and I am uberrr excited!! a special friend of mine's mother is hand sewing my attire, and i know its going to be super fab! BUT, i also have to find something for little miss to wear.  plus, hopefully schedule a birth photo session when the big day finally comes!

* jr's birthday is april 13, and he wants a really neato mosquito tattoo, but i want to take a mini vacay (somewhere (::cough:: Galveston. lol), we can just relax on the beach and not worry about a dang thing)... however, there seems to be only enough time to get ink'd and call it a day.
yes, i'm jealous, btw.

* i'm finally going to invest in a sewing machine and learn just exactly how to sew....
heaven help me, i can't even hand sew a button, so this should be very very interesting. but i like handmade looking clothes... stuff you don't see in stores. plus, the money you save is an added bonus.

* packing...
ugh. 'nough said.
at this point, i'm so tempted to just get rid of just about everything, so i don't have to see or deal with it all. blah.

* i have a major major case of preggo brain...
sometimes, i wonder how i even make it through the day without burning down the house.
so, i'm sure i forgot something listed here... much like 2 weeks ago, i forgot to throw away the EMPTY box of Raisin Brand that TODAY was sitting so mouth watering on my pantry shelf waiting for me to devour this morning with slices of banana.  {fail}


so basically, our weekends until Bella arrives are completely booked, its crazy.
i sure hope momma can manage her sanity.

pray for me? yes?


in other news, i purchased this new lipstick, and wow... ah-mazing!
SO in love with the colors, and it lasts superrrr long!

 Lip Color :: Blast Flipstick

Faith & Love,
Casey

diy easter wreath

last week, my sweet Aislynn was superr excited by the hype of all the bunnies and chocolates everywhere, so i decided to go ahead and decorate for Easter.  plus, with all of this dreary Houston weather we've been having lately, mama needed some COLOR!

i made this wreath 3 years ago, and it was superrr easy.
if i can do it, anyone can!

materials:

* hay/straw wreath in desired size 
* feather boa in desired color
(the size of your wreath will determine the quantity of boas)
* large or small plastic Easter eggs
* ribbon/fabric to hang wreath when complete
* glue gun
* lots of glue sticks

how-to:

1) wrap your wreath with your boa, gluing every now and then to secure.
(i recommend keeping the wreath inside of its original plastic wrapping in order to avoid sending your vacuum on a cleaning spree)
2) pop open your bag of pretty Easter eggs, and glue to your now, feathered wreath.
(you're going to use a significant amount of glue in order to secure the entire egg, otherwise, they will hang from the feathers instead of being placed in/on the feathers)
3) for sanity purposes, double check to make sure all items are secure on wreath.
4) grab your snazzy fabric/ribbon, but before cutting, be sure to measure where exactly you will hang the wreath on your door.
(i made the mistake of guessing, and ended up wasting quite a bit of fabric.) 

ps. i found it easier to prop your wreath against a wall while working on it. 


TA-DA!
that's all that's to it!

see? told ya it was simple!

don't forget to get creative with it! feel free to change it up, but remember to have fun! =D



faith & love,
Casey

23 weeks.

17 more weeks to go... 16 more weeks until she's here! <3

How far along? 23 weeks & 4 days
Maternity clothes? Yes... a few shirts, and jeans (which are still too big)

Stretch marks? Nothing yet. Not even the dark line... hmmmm....

Sleep:  Getting more and more difficult... but once I'm asleep, I knock out.

Best moment this week: Eating pasta again... didn't sit well with my tummy, but my taste buds temporarily enjoyed it. ha!

Miss Anything? The SUN!! Houston has been so emo, lately.

Movement: She's got her own Olympics going on in there!

Food cravings: Sweet, sweet, and more sweet!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Chicken or meat... bleh. Unless, its in sandwich form (weird, I know)
Have you started to show yet:  Most definitely... although, some days my tummy is smaller than other days. (again... weird, I know.)

Gender: Princess
Labor Signs: Nope, but Braxton Hicks contractions started this week. joy.
Belly Button in or out? In, and I prayyyyy it stays that way!
Wedding rings on or off? On. <3
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to:  Moving and preparing for Bella's arrival!

Size of Baby: Loaf of bread. =]

Faith & Love,

Casey

the carriage before the horse.

the other night, jr and i were laying in bed having our nightly pillow talk.
in between the silence, i looked over to him, and noticed an intense stare.

asked him what he was thinking,
and he simply said, "of all that we've been through... and all we have to look forward to."

i always have these thoughts...
randomly, much like he had that very night.

to fall in love everyday over and over again, that is us.
everyday, i feel more appreciative of him, of our love, our family...
its surreal, sometimes, or really... most of the time.

and now, being pregnant, when just months ago, was something we wanted to wait for until the time was "right", but then suddenly realized there is no "right" time... our marriage will never be perfect.

so here we are...
a family of 3, soon-to-be 4.

i never knew being pregnant and loving your spouse so much could make your heart leap SO far for joy.  some days, i imagine myself with my hands around his neck... other days, i imagine myself with my arms thrown in the air shouting from the mountain tops just how wonderful and special he is. but everyday, i embrace the reality of what is now, what was then, and what is soon to come. blessed.

many of you know, i got pregnant with aislynn after only a month of dating jr.
we weren't married in any form or fashion, and we didn't truly love each other... we were merely infatuated. we were surviving each other, and we rarely looked into the future... it seemed so hopeless many days, and other days, it was just any day.  there was no faith to carry us through the tough times, and no amount of humble and thankfulness to cradle the good times. 

but today....
a completely different story.

i never knew that patience with love could pay off the way it has....
i never allowed myself to know, because i was young and "in love".
i'm so glad we decided to wait... decided to wait until we had a good (not perfect) foundation before we continued to grow our little family.  this has been such an exciting time in our lives, and we are embracing and loving each and every second of it! when we once were questioning if there was even going to be a future, we now actually have hopes and dreams for the future we know is awaiting us.

and please do not thinking i'm blogging all of this to toot my own horn, because, obviously i've been on both sides of the fence, but this is a {true} story jr and i want to one day share with both Aislynn and Bella... that true love does wait.  with Aislynn, we only wish we could have experienced that journey the way God intended to, but nonetheless, He carried us through those times, and it is just another testimony to add to our novel.


thankful for a God of second chances...
to love and experience all over again, but this time, in a different light... in HIS light.
<3

{our wedding day 2008}

Faith & Love,
Casey

old times and new beginnings

this has been on my mind so much, lately....
i know i possibly can't be the only mother who has thought these very thoughts, but i can't help but wonder.

aislynn and i have been hanging out since the day she was born.
pretty much every.single.day.

we have little inside jokes, and quirkiness that can only be shared between the two of us.
aside from her 15 yr old attitude and her lack of filtering her words (ha!), she is such a blessing.

this child....
she is sweet and kind.
she's selfless and loves everyone... always reminding herself and others that Jesus loves them, and made the toy they are playing with (we tell her Santa and Jesus are very close friends)
she neverrrr colored on the walls when she was small (except once. promise, i'm not lying)
she's never spilled any drinks on the floor... we've always left everyone home with nice and clean carpets.
she's thoughtful.
she makes her bed in the morning and cleans her room, everyday.
she says, "please, thank you, and excuse me"

i could go on and on...
i always get compliments on what a little lady she is.
(sometimes, i wonder if they're referring to my child or the kid behind me. ha!)

i guess i'm a little biased because she is mine after all, but i've never treated her like a baby...
she's always been so grown up....
even the way her mind works... it amazes me, and amazes others.

but, i can't help but wonder...
what if Bella isn't like this?
what if she colors alllll over the house, and throws food at me and on the floor?
what if she pushes and shoves other children and/or calls them names?
what if she terrorizes our pets?

i know when Bella comes, its not just going to be Aislynn and I anymore...
we're no longer going to be the tag-team duo we are now.
we won't be able to sing crazy loud in the car to OUR song, or will we?

so many questions...

has anybody else ever felt the same?
would LOVE to hear your thoughts and experiences!

Faith & Love,
Casey

it is what it is

{going through my computer... pictures, emails, and so forth... came across this blog post that i never published... so here we go!}

i was raised by two very head strong parents.  both taught me the value of standing up for what i believe in, persistence, and boldness.  and partially because of this, i've always said what's on my mind and how i feel.  not necessarily always to a point where i am being rude or disrespectful, but yeah, a lot of what's rolled off of my tongue in the past, never should have in the first place.

"that's just who i am."

i'm not sure if some realize this, but do we really know and understand how selfish, arrogant, and ignorant that sounds?

do you remember the phrase, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

hmm... yeah that was hummed back in the sandbox ages when life revolved around what brand of crayons was the best, and which swing we were going to fight to the death over come recess time.  and nowadays, that phrase is becoming known all too well as a kindergarten hyperbole.  but man, kids nowadays, and we've all seen it on Ellen and all over the news front... the bullying, the fighting, and even death.  and for what? all because of the words that pierce like fiery swords.


three years ago, my husband would refer to my own mouth as a machine gun with no safety.  i didn't care what i said or who i said it to.  "it is what it is," i always told myself before i lashed out and spat such ugly venom.  "they need to hear it from somebody..."  okay... and who's to say i'm that somebody?  who's to say you're that somebody?  or he is that somebody?  or she?  who are we to say, "it is what it is."?

now, take a walk in their shoes.  is it really, "it is what it is", or is there more to the story?  is there perhaps underlying issues or a battle which this person is so desperately fighting, and one which we are blinded to?  and what did we just do?  we knocked them when they were down.  just by our words.  whether they be words of harshness, words of ignorance, or maybe words of doubt, or bossiness.   we knocked them when they were down in order to build up our own insecurities and self doubt. 


sometimes, not everything always needs to said or verbalized.  but instead we should love, support, and encourage.

and in circumstances where the Lord is really pressing it on your heart to "be real" with this person, the gift of discernment is highly favorable.  speak with LOVE, or otherwise, to simply put it... don't speak at all.

What are your thoughts on speaking out to people?



Faith & Love,
Casey

21 weeks

this month, i've been more pregnant than evar!

major heartburn. (i normally don't have this, so i'm a big baby when it comes to it)
soreness all over (and i mean all.over.).
sleepless nights.
shortness of breath.
sharp pains in my pelvic area.
i'm officially wearing eye glasses 24/7... even in the shower. oopsie! (worked as an optician when preggo w/ aislynn, and never ever thought this would happen to me. ha!).
frequent trips to the restroom, and before i was a trooper at holding it, but now, she's a UFC fighter hammering away at my bladder.
my pre-preggo izod undies are screaming, and i can't find new ones ANYWHERE, so motherhood maternity's bogo sale saved the day!
... and finally, my feet are starting to swell.  (well, at least one foot is. i'm praying its because of last July's foot surgery.)


other than that, we're rockin'!

baby registry is complete.
although, i admit, it wasn't as fun the 2nd go-round.
it amazes me what they come up with...
sorry, but personally, i don't need a bottle warmer, or a wipe warmer. (both of which we got for aislynn, and used ummmm once. lol)
we also got the diaper genie.  (dear lord, please ban those things! nothing worse than lifting the lid and being punched in the face with poo. bleh)

hmmm...
other than that, i dig a lot of the new stuff...
not so much the pricing of it, but the idea.
people are very clever these days, but i'm clever enough not to buy into the hype of a $500+ stroller.

okay okay... maybe Jr is, however.
he's dead set on one that nudges $400. (that's wayyy more than the jenny lind crib i have my eyes set on)
that scares me, but its pretty much the only thing he has picked out, so i really can't complain, especially with a c-section in my future, and the hours Jr is going to work, mama is going to need something light weight, height-sized right, and easy to maneuver. maybe, we can find it on super sale, somewhere?? ::crosses fingers::

anywho... i won't complain, because he took these loverly photos of me at 20 weeks. <3
he's such a hoot, and such a trigger-happy photogropapa.
love you, sweetie. <3

and here's a new 21 week photo:

Faith & Love, 

Casey

in the middle

time is flying by.
each week feels like a new month of vacationing in preggersville,
and each day, like a new week.

my stomach is super pregnant one day,
and just plain bloated looking another day.
jr has been home the past week a half, and wondered where my belly went on a few occasions. ha!


march is here, and soon june will be here, then july.

june 29th, i go in for some pre-op blood work.
july 2nd, Bella will be here.
(if she doesn't come, sooner)

she'll be sweetly wrapped in our loving arms.
its so surreal.

last night, watching videos of Aislynn, made my lack of patience lack even further.
i remember when Aislynn was just a tiny little thing, and now, she's 5 going on 15.
i can't wait to experience having another little blessing running around the house, getting into things, screaming at the top of their lungs, throwing food at me (ha! Aislynn never did that, so one can only expect this one to), and well... just loving me, and us loving her.

i pray for a healthy pregnancy, and pray for her healthy debut to the world. <3

<3

Faith & Love, 

Casey