"Oh, hello."

"How are you today?"

"Mama and daddy love me thiiiiis much!" (and then some)

Anna Ruth adores her playmat. :) Sometimes I'm able to set her on it while I cook dinner. She is able to randomly hit the ball and rattle now! She's not running short on self-confidence either-a few times after she's hit them I've looked down to see an enormous smile on her face. :)

Last weekend our sweet neighbors hosted a shower for Anna Ruth at our house! We have the kindest neighbors around. One of the ladies made this quilt for Anna. So precious.

Anna Ruth got so many cute clothes that say so many precious things. This one says "Daddy loves me".

Oops-this picture got in the shower pictures. I covered the back of the armoire/now turned china cabinet. The verdict is still out if I like it or not. :)

Our neighbors across the street, Jim and Hazel Bowerman. Hazel is the one that made the quilt.

Anna Ruth was adored and fought over the entire time. :) I've never had so many offers for a babysitter!

Occasionally Jim sneaks across the street to see Anna Ruth :) and tells his wife afterwards who he got to see!

We also went to Fayetteville Farmer's Market last weekend. So much fun! There was this man painting....the Human Society has dogs walking around, there are food vendors, musicians playing, lots of veggies and flowers, and a whole lot of people. We almost always see someone we know which is fun!

I sure do love Brett.

Anna Ruth loves it when her daddy comes home from work!
Brett is loving his new job....the people and type of work are such a blessing to him. He's being challenged, learning new things, and excited to go to work each day. Thank-you Jesus!

Anna Ruth is almost 7 weeks old. She still sleeps in her seat (similar to this one) at night, but without the swinging motion or vibration. I've started trying to put her in the crib when she's sleepy during the day but so far it usually wakes her up. We'll keep trying! Her sleep is getting better and better at night. Last night she slept a 4 hour stretch (is that the Hallelujah Chorus I hear?)!

We've also started her on a bottle at night.......sweet times for she and Brett and a mini break for me. (She's a gulper...so I emphasize the "mini" part) :)

I lit these candles on our mantle the other evening and they smelled so good and looked pretty too.

A potentially unflattering photo, yet I just can't resist putting it on here. Anna Ruth is becoming much more active and doesn't like to cuddle quite as often as she used to. When she does cuddle though sometimes she wraps her little arms around me and rubs on my side. Does it get sweeter than that?

Haircut tomorrow! Now you see it...tomorrow you don't! I'm going short. :)

This week I made greek wraps for dinner one night.....Called Grilled Greek Tacos, courtesy of www.ourbestbites.com, as always! The pic above is of the dressing, creamy mix made of greek yogurt, as well as some other things.

It was great fun to try a new recipe! The wraps had chicken on them I marinated and cooked on the Foreman grill. Plus we had plenty of leftovers :) . I like to arrange our food to look "pretty" when I get the time...That's how my brain works, I enjoy it, and I read somewhere one time about not just waiting for company to make things special or look nice! Good advice, if there's time. :)

We also eat salad about once a week in the summertime...complete with tuna, egg, artichokes, etc .......and once again, plenty of leftovers for lunch!

I rearranged a bit in Anna's room! Thank-you Jana for her picture frame!

Books and toys just waiting to come to life as soon as those beautiful blue eyes open!

I took down her name I made because the letters wouldn't stay properly connected...Now her neato initials are displayed instead.

Pretty, sweet girl enjoying bath time with mama and daddy

Where her name used to hang (above her window) I hung this branch type thing from our wedding with some fabric.....This is the kind of stuff my mind keeps busy with while I'm feeding Anna Ruth!
We are headed to Branson this weekend to celebrate our anniversary, having friends over Saturday night,and Brett's last day at J.B. Hunt is tomorrow!!!!! He starts a new job next week, Praise Jesus!

"A few of my favorite things"

I got to meet Becca and the kids this week!

What a treat!

This BEAUTIFUL quilt was made by my sis Becca for Anna Ruth. I adore it :). The colors, pattern, every bit of it. Don't worry-you'll be seeing a lot of this in the background behind sweet Anna once she gets here!

Becca gifted me with a few of her favorite things for little ones....including these two bath goodies !
and this very neat book.....I can't wait to read it to Anna Ruth!
(for those who are wondering...I am 38 weeks.....the Dr. says she thinks Anna will be a big baby..maybe around 8 pounds? Having a few contractions here and there..nothing to get too excited about yet)
a whole new meaning of "rain boot". :)

Also, a new meaning of going "out" to eat. This is where we dine, with plates balanced on the back deck. Someday we'll get a tall table and chairs, but for now this does just fine. This view never gets old.
My "movers" (Brett and Jack) moved our armoire into the great room last night! :) We are now using it as a china cabinet..
Banner I made...
I also made Anna Ruth's name to hang in her room...First I printed out the outline of big letters on the computer...then cut the letters out of posterboard.
Next, put spray adhesive on the posterboard letters....

and press the letters onto your material of choice!
Once the fabric is applied to the letters, cut around the letters again...then use fishing line and hot glue to connect the letters together on the back.
Last, glue ribbon, string, etc. to the ends of the banner and hang up!

I'm back. :) with a random catch-up post

"For this child I prayed and the Lord has granted what I asked of him".
In the "mommyhood" club I've found myself a part of...talks of sleepless nights, changed marriages, and negativity seem to outnumber the positive. I refuse to start life as a mom with other people's thoughts "raining on my parade." I am thankful for....my sisters blogs...as well as heather and stephanie's (two college friends) who give a realistic, but so blessed view of being a mom. We can't wait to meet Anna Ruth, tired nights and all!

Let's get this party started! A month without a real blog post is too long :) Brett's work had a shower for him today and this is how he found his cubicle this morning!

I was unable to attend but stopped by after I got off work. He had fun opening all the girl things on his own :)
Relaxing evening at home.....
This is from my shower at work with two of the other THREE expecting teachers this year...four of us in all. They say not to drink the water around Westwood.... :)

Anna Ruth's cute stuff!
Having fun flying with Uncle Brett. (Can you tell he's excited for his own little gal?)
Books, books, and more books....
This is our backyard..
My girl and I

We hosted Mother's Day lunch at our house. :) I loved being able to do that and having everyone over. I missed my momma though-she and my dad have been in Mexico this week-wahooo!
You just never know what little surprises might show up at Uncle Brett and Aunt Sara's house...
Just how I like it...a full table with great fellowship and good food! This truly made our house feel like "home"..
Anna Ruth's room is already a popular place :)
35 weeks...
Our country casa
Anna Ruth's pinwheels..Part of Anna Ruth's nursery..

Her nursery opens up to the great room with french doors..

Her nursery looks so dark here-booo. It's really not! It's a bright, cheery room...can't wait to have the little girl to go in it.
Roses from Brett for mother's day..

Later on I'll post the rest of the house....craft room, study, Master bedroom, and upstairs!
Childbirth class tomorrow-bring on the fun!!