Baby Announcement Videos!

As soon as we found out we were pregnant I knew I wanted to tell the people closest to us in person and in a cute way. I also knew I wanted to record their reactions. Even though I know you are supposed to wait til after the first trimester to announce it but I just couldn't hide something so big from them! There were quite a few I didn't get the chance to record but those along with the ones I did record will always be so special to me. This video seriously makes me cry every time! 

 

1} The first one is my sister. We drove to her school and told her which explains all the screaming girls! I had taken a picture of myself holding a chalkboard in front of my belly that said "hi Aunt Meg see you in June!" (Which is coincidentally how I broke my camera) & also wrote on a piece of paper "only the best sisters get promoted to aunts" and that was in the smaller frame!

2} Paul's parents. They had been on a trip so when they came back we went to visit and I told his mom I had hid her a present in the kitchen. Cue the "bun in the oven"!

3} Paul's nanny! This one is what gets my waterworks flowing. She by far had the sweetest reaction of anybody! She is so special to me!

4} My grandparents. They ended up coming down to have dinner with us last minute so I ran and got two cards and wrote them each a letter explaining how special they are to me and how glad I am that now my child gets to have them as great grandparents! My Papa is a man of very few emotions/words so that big smile on his face means the world to me. My nanny knew the struggles we were having so she was in complete shock and proceeded to cry for about thirty minutes. These two mean more to me than just about anybody! 

5} Paul's best friend Ryan. I love the colorful language lol.

6} My cousin and Granny. Kristi has always been like another sister to me and I knew she would be beyond thrilled. My sweet Granny was so shocked but so excited. She actually FaceTimed me last night because she was having a bad day and wanted to see my bump! How cute is that?!

We also recorded Lauren and Codys reaction which was super sweet but it's on Paul's phone and for some reason it won't send to me! 

I am so happy to have so many people who love us and our little babe! And I can t wait to see them all this weekend at our gender reveal!!!! I seriously can not believe we are finding out tomorrow if our sweet little is going to be a handsome baby boy or a beautiful little girl! Idk how I'm gonna make it through the work day! 

I think I am going to start making my Wednesdays "bump day". Maybe that will motivate me to do more baby posts since I keep getting complaints for not keeping everyone in the know lol. See y'all tomorrow for Cheers To A New Year !! 

Week 10-13 Bumpdate Catch-Up!

Hey y'all! Instead of my typical Five On Friday post, I am going to do a Bumpdate today! As Lauren pointed out the other night I have been slacking on these but really not that much has changed and I don't want to bore y'all with the same thing week to week. But since my last post almost a month ago there have definitely been some changes!

 

 

 

**Disclaimer: My belly is not quite as big as it looks in this picture. I had just ate a huge supper and was poking it out as far as I could because with the shadows of the tree and everything my belly kinda blended & my sweater puppies looked way bigger lol. But I still think its a cute picture.

 

 

Baby Size: Little Baby Stephens is officially the size of a Georgia peach!!

 

 

Gender:  We find out next Thursday!! I cannot wait even though technically idk if I will be finding out or if we will wait til the gender reveal party on Saturday. Don't forget to vote in the poll at the top of my page!!

 

 

Weight gain: When I went to the doctor last week I was -4 lbs. so that's a total of -6 lbs. But my belly is definitely growing.  

  

Maternity clothes: My maternity jeans are still too big but my regular jeans are too small so I am wearing my maternity jeans, leggings and yoga pants most days.

Stretch marks: The little one on my belly button. Hey Moms, any tips on how to prevent these puppies? Favorite creams??

 

Belly button in or out: In

Sleep: I have been utterly exhausted and no matter how much sleep I get it never feels like enough!

Best moment this week: Hearing the heartbeat {technically last week}! It was in the 150's this time.

Worst moment this week: Exhaustion and I have started having some serious acid reflux which sucks!

Miss anything: Deli sandwiches & my tan!!!

Movement: Nope

Cravings: Still not really wanting food. Eating lots of pickles and sour cream & onion chips.

 

Queasy or sick: Just the acid reflux which makes me dry heave. Yuccckk

 

Looking forward to:  Finding out the gender next week and our reveal party!!!

Mood: Mostly happy but the mood swings have been pretty bad. I have been crying at the drop of a hat, then happy, then yelling and then back to happy. Crazy lady on board!

 
Doctors Appointments: I got really frustrated at our last appointment. We had to see a midwife and to be honest I just didn't like her. We were her last appointment of the day and it was obvious she was ready to go home. We waited in the room for her for 45 minutes and I could hear the nurses in the hall telling her over and over she had one more appointment. She finally comes in, asked if we had any questions, put the little thing on my belly, said "there it is, I think it's somewhere in the 150's", waited 1 more minute after I said I couldn't hear it, took it off, wiped the goo away, said thank you and she was gone. She was literally in there less than 10 minutes. Idk why but it just really irked me. Needless to say we won't be scheduling anymore appointments with her. But of course hearing the heartbeat was amazing as always even if it was only for a minute.

 

 P.S. I am sending out my Christmas cards this weekend so if you want to participate in the Christmas Card Swap I mentioned here and you haven't emailed me your address, do it today! I would really love to receive Christmas cards from all of my wonderful blog friends!!

 

Cheers To A New Year {April, May & June}

Hey y'all!

I am so excited for day 2 of our Cheers To A New Year link-up and thankfully today mine is going to be a little more interesting! These three months were jam packed with weddings, babies, graduations & hospital stays. I felt like I hardly had a moment to breathe but it was all worth it in the end! I apologize in advance this is going to be a loonngg post.

 

 

{April}

 

Hank fell in love with the 16 year old pit bull across the street and ran away from home to shack up with her for two days!

 

Then Lauren pretty much made my life complete when she told me she had two extra tickets to the sold out Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Jake Owen & Thomas Rhett concert at Sanford Stadium! Then her awesome hubby to be Cody sent my happy level over the top when he said I could have his ticket and sit with Lauren on the field and he would sit with Paul in the stands. Thennnn we got our seats upgraded to 5th row because there was a tv camera in our seats. We were so close it was ridiculous, I acted like a food screaming and singing {sorry not sorry}. It was an incredible night. (Miranda look how close we were to your Jakey!) To top it all off we met the Halstead family before the concert, if you haven't heard of them and their son's story you should go read about it here, their strength is so inspiring.

 

We ended the month with my Little's senior prom! She looked beautiful and like everything else during her senior year I cried like a baby.

 

 

{May}

 

In May my baby girl's soccer team made it to the first round of state playoffs!

 

 Me & the hubs celebrated our first wedding anniversary in Savannah!

 

 I turned 22 and celebrated with some Mexican food {of course}!

 

Me & my SIL threw our other SIL a baby shower!

Then I threw Meg & Blake a graduation party!

 

And on the last day of May my Little graduated and I bawled like a little baby. I am so proud of her I can't even begin to explain!

 

{June}

June began with the birth of this little blog with this post! I am so glad Lauren talked me into finally starting a blog, it has been so fun!

 

I got a job shooting my first big solo wedding. Lauren came with me and worked as the second shooter and I am soo thankful she did. She was such a lifesaver and after a 15 hour day we were just about dead.

My sweet nephew Branson was born!

 

My Little had her surgery on the 5th anniversary or our Mom passing and it was probably one of the most difficult days of my life. But everything went perfect and she recovered amazingly!

 

Well that is finally the end! I really hope y'all decide to link-up and share your year with us! If this is your first time linking up all you have to do is grab our button and enter your info below to link back to us! Y'all have a great day!!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://peachstateofmindleh.blogspot.com" title="Peach State of Mind"><img src="http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p771/lauren7maci/1aa234_zpsadbb16b0.png" alt="Peach State of Mind" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

 

 

 

 

 

Five On Friday!

Happy Friday!! Although I have been unbelievably busy this week and will continue to be for the rest of the month, I am in an incredibly good mood! I just love this time of year so much and there is something about this growing belly that makes it even better! Moving on, I am linking up today with the usual ladies for Five on Friday.
 

1} On Wednesday I mentioned doing a Christmas Card swap with anyone who would like to participate and I just wanted to mention it again in case anyone missed it! I love receiving Christmas cards and it would just make my day to see cards from some of y'all in my mailbox!! If you would like to participate email me your address and I will send you mine. Once again, I promise I am not a crazy! My email is athousandwords526@gmail.com

 

2} Yesterday was the first day of the Cheers To A New Year link-up that I am co-hosting with a few of my favorite ladies! Lauren came up with the great idea to link up every Thursday this month to recap our year! Don't worry if you missed it yesterday you can join us next Thursday to tell us about your April, May & June!

 

3} I know I am way behind on my bumpdates but I have been so busy lately it is not even funny. I can't wait to catch y'all up because this belly is growing! We also made an appointment at First Impressions to find out if we are having a sweet little girl or a handsome little boy on the 19th!!! I am dying to know before Christmas so I really hope baby cooperates that day. Annndd if all goes well we will be having a gender reveal party that Saturday!! I cannot wait, I still can't believe this is happening! If you look to your right, above my picture you will see that I have added a poll. I want to know if you think we will be buying tutu's or Tonka trucks!

it looks like this

4} Seriously, how cute is this guy all snuggled up in my favorite blanket!?

 

 

5} This weekend is going to be filled with editing, a nephews birthday party and finally getting our house covered in Christmas decorations!

 

Sorry this was a pretty boring Five.. But y'all have a great weekend!!

Cheers To A New Year!! {NEW Link-up}

Hey y'all!

Remember yesterday when I said I had some very exciting news today? Well I am so excited to say that I am joining four lovely ladies for a new link-up! When Lauren mentioned starting this link-up I was so excited about it and even more excited that I get to co-host it!
We will be recapping our year 3 months at a time throughout December starting today with January-March! Now for a few facts about our little link-up.

1. The link-up will be every Thursday this month.
12/5- January, February & March
12/12- April, May & June
12/19- July, August & September
12/26- October, November & December

2. Don't worry if you weren't blogging all year, we still want to hear about your year! This is such a fun way to look back on your year!

3.Meet the ladies!

*Lauren*

*Miranda*

*Kerri*

*Laura*

 

4. Make sure you add the button and link back to one or all of the hosts!
We will be recapping our year 3 months at a time throughout December starting today with January-March!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.peachstateofmindleh.blogspot.com" title="Peach State of Mind"><img src="http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p771/lauren7maci/1aa234_zpsadbb16b0.png" alt="Peach State of Mind" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Now for my recap! 2013 has been such an amazing year for me and I cannot wait to look back on it!

 January:

 

 

1. Paul & I made our first adult purchase a brand new car! We got a 2013 Kia Sorento and I love it sooo much! I knew I wanted a new car and I decided on a Sorento because I really wanted the third row. Almost a year later and I still completely love my car!

 

2. Hank did lots of cuddling with his goat before he ripped it to shreds. Love/hate.

 

3. We had my favorite photo-shoot to date with Valerie Shelton Photography. She needed a couple for a styled V-Day shoot and asked us to do it. I love love love these pictures!

 

4. And there was lots and lots of time spent with our nephews!

 

February:

1. We celebrated our first Valentines Day as a married couple!

 

2. Spent lots of time with family!

 

3. Took a road trip to Charlotte with two very sleepy co-pilots.

 

4. Got a new lighter hairdo (that didn't last very long).

 

March:

 

March was much more eventful!

1. Went painting with my sissy!
 
2. I watched my Little dominate her senior season of soccer and set all kinds of school records!

3. Every year I go to Gatlinburg with my cousin to help watch her son while she chaperones her youth group at a conference. I found this post on FB and it perfectly describes how I feel about that trip!

 

4. Lauren & I met in December but really started hanging out a lot in March. Little did I know the girl I hung out with at a surprise party one night would turn into such a great friend!

 

Well that is it for my first few months, not it is your turn!

Christmas Card Swap Anyone?

 

 

Hey y'all! Sorry I have been MIA lately, life has been crazy! Things are starting to slow down a little bit and I am finally diving head first into all things Christmas! Starting today with ordering our first Christmas cards. I still can't believe I never ordered them last year but this year I got my stuff together and got it done. I also may have ordered one twenty too many which got me to thinking, it would be so fun to do a Christmas card swap with all my lovely blog friends! I love love love getting Christmas cards so if you are interested I would love for you to send me your card and I will send you one of ours! I am so grateful for all of the wonderful friendships that this little space has cultivated and what better way  to spread holiday cheer {other than singing loud for all to hear of course} than Christmas cards from new friends! I thought about making this a link-up but quickly realized I have NO idea where to even begin with that so all you have to do if you want to participate with me is send your mailing address {I swear I'm not a crazy} in an email and I will reply with mine so you can send me your card! If you don't want to send a card but still want to receive one {or vis versa} that is fine too. My email is athousandwords526@gmail.com

I am so excited about this and I really hope you all participate!!

Come back tomorrow for some very exciting blog news! 

 

P.S. Through Saturday at Walgreens you can use the code CARDCALDEC & get 40% off your Christmas cards!

9 Week Bumpdate!

 

Baby Size: Baby has officially made its transformation from a embryo to a fetus!

 

Gender:  No clue but I can't wait to find out!

Weight gain: None that I know of I haven't weighed although my stomach has felt hard as a rock and like my muscles were stretching.

  

Maternity clothes: Bought my first pair of maternity jeans but they are way to big right now.

Stretch marks: I found what I think is a little bitty one last night. :(

 

Belly button in or out: In

Sleep: Sleeping better this week! Only waking up once!

Best moment this week: My cold clearing up.

Worst moment this week: Some really bad lower back & rib pain.

Miss anything: My clothes fitting comfortably.

Movement: Nope

Cravings: Nope

 

Queasy or sick: Nope!!  

 

Looking forward to:  The end of my first trimester!

Mood: Happy happy happy!

Doctors Appointments: Not til next month