Sunday Blessings (er, well, Monday Blessings)- Perspectives

Well, I'm a day late. But I have good reason, promise! More on that later...

This week has been a hard one for me. I haven't felt well all week. In addition to the constant exhaustion that I am growing accustomed to, I am now being hit with "morning" sickness...all day. It isn't so bad, just very annoying. It is like being car sick- all the time. With waves of true, blue (or green) "where is the bathroom." So Sunday we didn't go to church because A. I was so tired, B. I felt really bad, and C. Cole had drill. So he went to work, and I slept in. Then about 11, my parents came over and we got the kitchen countertops and the bar backsplash tiled! Yea! Of course, when I say "we" I mean "they." I had to rest numerous times. But I didn't take a nap! That is a positive thing. I think. Of course by 8 pm I could barely hold my eyes open. Oh well...

So between all of the craziness in my life this week, it was hard to see the blessings. Last night I was praying that God would allow me to be thankful for all He has given me. And that is when I thought about the reason for my tiredness, and sickness, and all of the other crazy pregnancy symptoms that I have been "blessed" with...there is a precious, precious baby growing inside of me. A joy that I am so thankful for, that I have prayed for, and that I know that many women do not have the pleasure of experiencing. So I am going to do my best to not complain about feeling badly, because he or she is worth every moment of suffering that I have to endure.

Cole left for Ft. Rucker this morning. Sigh. He will be gone for several weeks, and I am not looking forward to going it alone (well, sort of. I have the dogs and my family...) during that time. But I am hoping that there is a noticeable change in my belly when he gets home. How cool would that be for him! He has been so cute, always rushing around making sure I am okay and comfortable. He is just giddy! I didn't expect that from Mr. Cool Pilot Man. Ha!!!

I did something crazy this weekend too. I went to Babies R Us, and while I was there, I was looking at bedding with my mom. I noticed that the baby boy bedding I like (Pro Flyer) was almost all gone. So I asked the lady, and she said it had been discontinued. UGG!!! No!!!! So I asked the return policy. 90 days. Well, I might know the gender in 90 days. So I bought it, thinking I can just return it if it's a girl. Crazy, huh?!?! Oh well. We knew we wanted it. We had it picked out before we were pregnant. I couldn't get a hold of Cole, so I just went for it! He didn't seem to mind!

I promise I will post pics of it soon, as well as kitchen progress, and my yard sale finds from the weekend soon. Maybe even today. But for right now, this little mama and baby need some lunch!!!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Show Us Where You Live- Foyers and Entryways

Well, here we are again...another exciting edition of Show Us Where You Live over at Kelly's Korner. I am a little later than I like to be, but oh well! Hope you enjoy the tour...Welcome to the Brewers!!!

This is our entry way as you walk up the sidewalk to the house. I haven't decided if I like it or if it is cluttered. Thoughts?

The great front door "wreath" that I got at Scribbleitonline.com for only $10!!! Can you believe that!!! If you get married, this is going to be a wedding gift from us from now on!!! ;)

Our beautiful Gerber Daisies that are so happy! They are a variety (I don't remember the name) that have pointed petals instead of rounded ones. So cute!!

My latest Tuesday Morning find. It was only $15! I couldn't pass it up!!! The rug is Home Depot or Lowes...can't remember which!

The star used to be above my fireplace, but I wanted something out here, so I got a little hanging basket that has a Texas star on it and some fake foliage, and presto! there it is.

Now on the the interior of our home...the foyer. This foyer opens up to the living room. Here is the before picture of the foyer. Very plain...except for the nice brass tiny light fixture!!!

It was hard to take a good picture of the whole foyer, so I hope you get the idea. We painted above the chair rail red (I don't know the exact color, and preggo is too lazy to walk to the garage to look, but if you have to know, just ask!) and below the chair rail is our Bradstreet Beige from Ben Moore. We used Bradstreet or Brookline Beige (one shade deeper) in our whole house. Great neutrals!

This is my Cross Wall. I have seen this done in other's homes, and loved the idea. I finally got the time to do it. Thankfully, HobLob was having a 50% off sale on ironworks and ceramics, so I literally spent half of what I could have! Hubs liked that. I had two already...I think the whole project cost me about $45 or so.

Notice our beautiful bamboo floors that we put down recently! I love them. We laid them in every room except the bedrooms (which we kept carpet) and the laundry (which we kept tile). The light fixture is part of the collection that our dining room chandeler and the light above our bar came from. My dad (who is 6'6'') hits his head on it all the time. Everyone else loves it!

Here is a picture with the light off, so you can see the fixture a little better.

Hope you enjoyed the Brewer's home!!! Come back and visit any time!!!!

Rachel

And Baby Makes Three (Sunday Blessings Edition!)

We have an awesome praise and big news to share... That's right, my blogger peeps, Cole and I are expecting a baby!!! We figure the due date is sometime in late February or early March, but we won't know for sure when I go to the doctor on July 23rd. We are very excited, nervous, scared...all of the feelings that you expect to have when being pregnant for the first time. This is something that we have been praying about and hoping for, but now that it has happened, I am still in shock! I just didn't expect it to happen this fast! We have only been trying for about 2 months...well, let me back up and start at the beginning...

Cole and I knew we wanted children. And we knew that we wanted to be married for at least a year before we started trying. We had planned on waiting until we had celebrated our 2nd anniversary, but we got word back in the spring that he might be going to Kosovo next year. We knew we didn't want to wait three years. So we decided to move our plans up a bit, and go ahead and try. I talked to my doctor, started taking prenatals, gave up caffeine, and started getting back in shape. I told my mom (and a few other people...I'm not so good at keeping secrets!). I was told by several people that it would take a while, probably 3-6 months. So I went off birth control in late May. I had one normal cycle the last week of May (I hadn't had a cycle since going on the pill...sorry, a bit of an overshare I know!), and then this month I was late. Well I had been keeping a period tracker calendar on my handy-dandy iphone, and I knew that I was supposed to start. So about two or three days before I was scheduled to start, I just didn't feel right. So I took a test. Negative. The box said that there was an 85-90% accuracy rate at that point, so I figured it was right. So I waited. And waited. And waited. And by Friday June 26th, still nothing. Cole was home and I told him that if I hadn't started by the next day, that I would take another test. Well Saturday morning rolled around, and 5 am, I got up to use the bathroom. I thought why not?! So I pulled out another one of "the most sophisticated pieces of technology you will ever pee on" (we like the digital read out...no questions!) and did my business. I was washing my hands and about to head back to bed, when I figured I would check it, although I had convinced myself that it was negative. I looked...and it said "Pregnant." Just like that. There it was. The first words out of my mouth were "Oh my gosh. OH MY GOSH. CCCOOOOOLLLLLEEEE!!!!!" I was at the bathroom door at this point, and the hubs shot straight up in bed. He whipped around and said "what's wrong?" "I'm pregnant!" was my simple but life changing reply. Needless to say we didn't go back to bed after that. We hugged, kissed, read our books, talked. Just...what do you do?!?! Well being Saturday, I couldn't call my doctor, so I had to wait. Monday came and I called my normal GYN who doesn't deliver. I had an appointment to check some abnormal cells on the 20th (I have these sometimes, but my doctor never seems concerned, and the internet says they are extremely common) so I called and canceled that appointment. Then I called my OB, Dr. Wiedower. Her daughter was in my class last year, and I just love her so much! I go in during my 8th week, July 23rd at 1:15. I can't wait, although my sister has warned me that you get poked and prodded and stuck a bunch the first appointment. And she warned me that I might be having morning sickness by then too. Great.

So far, I haven't missed any symptoms! I am extremely, and I'm talking DOG, tired. All the time. I don't sleep well at night. Heartburn, excess saliva, metallic taste in my mouth, mild cramps. I never really thought that being pregnant would feel like this. Not sure what I expected. But I am sure that my "pregnancy glow" is just a term made up to make us feel better about the bags under our eyes and crazy hair that we were too tired to fix, and the bloating that makes none of our clothes fit right anymore. Nice.

So I know I am only 6 1/2 weeks into it at this point, and there is still a significant risk for a miscarriage. So why am I announcing it to the world? Well, a couple of reasons. #1: I am excited and I don't keep those secrets well. #2: I have faith that this baby, if he or she is meant to be born, will be. and #3: you are all my friends, even if just online. and I wanted to share it with you!

I will keep you posted and update on this. But, for now, some pictures of what I think will be our nursery furniture...



Hope you all had a safe and happy 4th of July! This soldier's wife did!!!

Happy 4th of July!

My husband's favorite toy..the UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter. This is what he flies for the US Army.

Happy 4th of July!!!! This is one of my favorite holidays, for MANY reasons. But here are a few...

1. It's summer! I LOVE SUMMER! I know...it's hot, sticky, the sun blazes. But I would rather that than the dead cold of winter!

2. It's fun! Hello!?!? Fireworks! Snocones! Cookouts! All of my favorite two part words right there in one holiday!

and..
3. It's patriotic. As the wife of a US Soldier, daughter-in-law of a US Marine, granddaughter of a US Soldier, and granddaughter of a US Marine, it makes me proud that this day, we take a moment to celebrate our freedom and the men and women who fight and sometimes die for that freedom. I think sometimes we, as American's, take for granted the freedoms and liberties afforded to us, and the cost of those freedoms and liberties. My husband has served in Bosnia and Iraq. My father-in-law served in Desert Storm and Bosnia. My grandfathers both served in WWII. They, and the millions like them who, throughout this nation's history, have fought to preserve the ideals that this country was founded upon, are the ones that I choose to remember this weekend.

So as you go out and have your barbecues and fireworks and parties, please remember to take a moment and ask God to bless our troops and their families, because it is they who risk it all to give you that freedom.

And if you are as lucky as I am, to know or even be married or related to a man or woman serving in our military, don't forget to tell them how much you love them. And don't waste one moment that you have with them.

Happy 4th of July, and God Bless America!!!
Rachel

Sunday Blessings

It's Sunday, and time for me to share more Sunday blessings and praises!

Cole is home for two weeks! That is a major praise! I miss him so much when he is gone, and it is so nice when he is home!

We went to dinner and watched a movie with our friends S and E, and their new baby last night. She slept in my arms through the whole movie...it was great! Cole fed her- that is so sweet to watch! We showered her with gifts that I have been collecting, which was so much fun! I just love her so much!!!

Have a wonderful Sunday, and praise be to God!

Rachel

FREE PAINT! FREE PAINT! FREE PAINT!!!

So I woke up this morning, and turned on good ole' DIY Network, and what to my wondering eyes should appear? An ad for free paint, from Glidden!!! Just go to Glidden.com to request your free quart of paint in your choice of colors. Now I must warn you, I am apparently not the only person who saw this magnificent, recession friendly ad, because I am having a tough time getting the page to load. But the offer is good today through July 2nd. Hey, it's FREE! Worth the trouble!

I plan on ordering a quart of willow leaf to paint my accent wall above the fireplace. What will you paint with your FREE PAINT?!?!

***Eggshell Finish Only***
Rachel

MAJOR PRAISE!!!! AMEN!!!

Tonight, I am thanking God for answered prayer! Many, many prayers in fact! You might recall that a few days ago I posted about our good friends, "S and E" and their new baby girl. Well today at 5:00, the adoption became FINAL! That's it! She is officially "their" daughter, although she has been theirs all along to us. We are so thankful that God has blessed them with this precious gift. She is a miracle, and we are so happy for them. So is Babies R Us and Target...I think they are going to survive the recession just fine with all of the cute baby things I have been buying from them lately!!! :)

I had a good friend in high school who was adopted, and on her wall hung a saying that her mom had given her. It touched my heart, and I wanted to share it with you because I think it is the best way to describe adoption...

"Most children grow in their mommy's tummy. But you, my dear, are so very special because you grew in mommy's heart."

How sweet is that!!! I tear up every time I think about it. This precious little baby is so blessed to have parents like S and E. They are loving, compassionate, dedicated, and caring. I know that they will be great parents, and that the baby will grow up to be a wonderful woman who serves and loves the Lord, and is a good person. Congratulations, S and E! And thank all of my wonderful blogger friends (all 10 of you) who prayed for this sweet family.

Have a good night!
R