It is what it is

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Bachelor Nick Week 4

This show is 15 years old…

That was the only season I didn’t watch. And now I have so many thoughts!

On to week four!

  • Vanessa is too good for Nick.
  • Nick you aren’t even being honest with yourself.
  • Seriously is all that Corinne does is sleep?
  • Corinne. Girl, you are privileged. And they are not obsessed with you. They were trying to give you a heads up to get your head out of your butt.
  • I don’t think Corinne goes home. I say she is here for another couple weeks.
  • Josephine got in with her song…serious side eye.
  • AHHH the suspense of this rose ceremony.
  • All the looks when he called Corinne’s name. This just got real…I could feel the whole room deflate.
  • I think Christen will be on Bachelor in Paradise.
  • Corinne’s fake speech while they celebrate with champagne gives me all the eye rolls.
  • Do they change the furniture in the main room? I don’t remember the couches being teal.
  • They are all so excited about Milwaukee. I mean I love the midwest, but they are all SOOOOO excited.
  • Where do they find these houses to stay in?
  • Nick’s parents give me the warm fuzzies. They are adorable.
  • It’s like these women have never fed ducks before…
  • Danielle seems really sweet.
  • This is so awkward with Nick’s ex girlfriend. But Amber is married/engaged, and she was really down to earth considering they have a past.
  • Nick is just telling Danielle all the places he fooled around with girls.
  • Danielle is me.
  • That is a large group date.
  • I love how these women dressed for the farm.
  • I mean if Corinne doesn’t want to shovel poop, I can’t really blame her. The whole thing isn’t really ideal.
  • That scrapbook from Vanessa’s students is precious.
  • Corinne approaching the women with that smile. And then Sara calling her out for her maturity.
  • Abraham Lincoln and Michael Jordan took naps?
  • It’s Corinne’s world and we are just living in it.
  • Corinne reacting to Kristina’s conversation was childish. She didn’t attack you Corinne. She told you how she’s sees it. I am not sure about the panic attack that she is claiming she had putting her in that peaceful slumber. I am not one to fool around with anxiety, but I don’t know how truthful that is.
  • Corinne, a relationship is more than just kissing. You are going to have to a lot of adult conversations if you get engaged.
  • I love when they show Bella, his sister, with Nick. They are so cute together.
  • Wow this is big that he chose Raven to meet his parents. I met Tom’s parents after a month dating, which is about the same time as this. However this is totally different circumstances. Big deal.
  • I LOVE ROLLERSKATING! Some of them are not taking it seriously with the rollerblades.
  • It is interesting that Raven had an experience with catching her ex cheating on her, but yet is going into this experience where she is dating someone who is dating 15 other people. Also this is very aggressive behavior. This stiletto business seems like a big alert.
  • Yes Corinne has said stuff behind people’s back to all of America. ALL OF AMERICA.
  • Taylor pulled the counselor on Corinne.
  • I also think Corinne will be on BIP.
  • UGH Seriously! Why are they keeping the rose ceremonies from me?
  • Also I agree with Alexis about Nicolas Cage. Seriously the worst.

Favorites:  Danielle, Rachel and Vanessa

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You Want a Girl, Right?

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“Do you want a girl or a boy? Are you hoping for a girl? Do you want one of each? No seriously, you do want a girl right?”

These are the most common questions that I have gotten since the day we announced we are pregnant. People just can’t help themselves. I get it. There is some curiosity. I am not at all offended.

Because I do want a girl. I have always dreamed of being a girl mom. I used to write lists of possible girl names in my diary when I was in elementary school for my future girl children. I envisioned braiding her hair and talking about books and nonsense giggling over a Friday night movie.

But that isn’t really all that parenting is, is it? (Since I am in the trenches of teaching someone how to not pee in their pants, I guarantee you that school-girl dream is not the gist of parenting.)

Anyway. Yes, I would love the chance to be a girl mom.

But here is the thing.

I love being a MOM. I want any baby God is going to gift me with. This is a BIG lesson that God gave me when we had George. I would be lying if I didn’t say that there weren’t parts of me that weren’t sad about the possibility of a girl slipping away, but God knew exactly what I needed when he gave me George.

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And I believe he knows exactly what I need with this next baby.

And not only me but what our family and what our world needs.

Never would I ever look at George now and say I wish you would have been a girl. I love him so desperately, and I know that he was made just for our family. There is no way I would love him more just because he came out a girl.

Babies are babies. I am going to love this kid no matter what sex it is.

I believe in God’s plan for this child and our family. Whatever we are blessed with, I am going to be grateful and love it with all that I am.

I already do.

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Would I love the chance to be a girl mom, absolutely. I would love to see George with a sister, and Tom doting on a daughter. I would hope to raise a little girl in this world of uncertainty to be brave and imaginative and break barriers that I couldn’t. I would want to bring her up so she can have the confidence to do great things, not because she is a girl, but because she is a gift from above.

Here is the deal, even if I have a girl, I have no idea who she will be. In reality I may miss out on all the “girl” stuff anyway. She may hate bows and princesses, and want to just wrestle with George in the dirt. George may continue his love affair with shoes or want to do dance, so I can live out my dreams of being a dance mom. And that is ok. I will love whichever way the tide rolls for my kids. There is no reason to say I can’t experience these things we say are “girly or boyish” with either sex.

They will be different because one is George and one is Baby Dubs, not because one is a girl and one is a boy. And they won’t be the same because both of them happen to be boys.

What I want is to be a parent of two bright, funny, caring, overwhelmingly grateful people who are able to share love in this dark world. I don’t need girls to have kids who are compassionate. I don’t need boys to have kids who are brave.The sex shouldn’t matter, it matters on how we treat them once they are here.

And that is a gift that I am eternally grateful that God has blessed us with.

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So how can I not just be happy that THERE IS A BABY IN THERE?!? I know I am. A real miracle.

Would I love a little girl? Yes. But I also would love another little boy. I honestly just want the experience of being a parent in whatever way it comes. I will love what I have and dote on this kid just as much as I do on George.

(And hopefully there will be as many pictures)

I have trust and content that there is a greater plan than mine.

 

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In 2017

I have never really been one to make resolutions, but as I sat watching my Clemson Tigers over NYE, I started thinking about all the things I want to accomplish this year.

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–>I may have stupidly signed up with Run the Edge to do “Run the Year.” This is to do 2017 miles in the year, which comes out to 5 miles a day. I know what you are thinking, aren’t you pregnant? Yes that is why I said I may have stupidly done this. But I think it will be good motivation to still be active while pregnant and then to get back at it after this baby is born. However, I am already behind…so we’ll see how it goes.

–>I want to learn how more about white balance on my camera. I really want to do better with my photography. I have been avoiding white balance because it seems so complicated. I will conquer it this year though.

–>We need curtains. This is the year we WILL fully decorate our house. We are adding square footage onto our house, so that means more motivation to get things the way we want and fully moved in. This is totally doable while having a baby and a little toddler running around right?

And that is where I am going to end my list. No need to overexert myself.

What are your goals for the year?

 

 

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Bachelor Nick Week 1

It’s back!

And so are my weekly thoughts on the show.

First of all, I have mixed feelings about Nick being the Bachelor. While I do think he redeemed himself somewhat on BIP, I also wonder how he still has a job outside of this franchise and think he may be milking it. However, I hope he finds his happily ever after, and of course I will be tuning in every week.

  • Nick hanging out with his younger sister was really sweet. I like seeing that side of him.
  • Ughhh. Why is Chris Soules still coming back for these pre-interviews?
  • How does Nick get time off from work to do all these shows for the last couple years? I mean it says he has a job, but who has that much time off?
  • This Corinne girl has a nanny? And she wants to be taken seriously for having a multi-million dollar company? I have a feeling she is going to be the “villain” of this season.
  • Jade’s friend, Liz, is going to make things interesting. She is constantly smiling about the fact that she was a one-night stand.
  • When Taylor said that her friends called him a piece of s*#t., I am thinking that was not the best way to introduce yourself. And she just kept on cursing…
  • Jasmine brought Neil Lane! Pulling out all the stops.
  • So does Nick not remember Liz and their night of passion? Ok wait he does. This sure is awkward.
  • The girl who brought the hot dog…I have no words.
  • Alexis is an aspiring dolphin trainer? So is she actually training to be one, or does she have another job? And that is definitely a shark costume.
  • Corinne going in for the kiss-so awkward. And the other women are losing their minds watching their kiss.
  • I think Nick had a fair question wondering why Liz didn’t reach out to her in the last 9 months. It makes you think she is only here for the limelight. Why call him off the show, when she can call him on the show?
  • Corinne seems very concerned about people’s looks. That is all she can mention besides having the hots for Nick.
  • YES TO RACHEL! I liked her from the time she stepped out of the limo. Her dress is also the bomb.
  • I like what he says at the beginning of the rose ceremony about everyone is deserving of love and apologizing for not being able to give that to them.
  • I would forget their names.
  • What are you supposed to say when you are rejected on the first night. They all are trying to not seem defeated with “It’s ok.”
  • I would be asleep if I were there. How do they stay up all night in addition to drinking alcohol. Out like a light on that couch.

My favorites are Rachel, Vanessa, Danielle M, and Raven.

I am really interested at how this show will go this season. I felt like it was really focused on the physical chemistry, and is somewhat vulgar. It just seems like there will be a lot more talk about sex this season. I mean I know that this show isn’t wholesome by any means, but they at least used to have some discretion. The previews just made me feel uncomfortable about the direction of things.

I guess we will see!

This show has become quite the game. ABC has a fantasy league now that you can win prizes like a trip to the “After the Rose taping.

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Christmas 2016

This space is a place to be a scrapbook of sorts for my family. I want to remember this Christmas because there were so many good moments.

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I want to remember riding in a limo with my family to go look at Christmas lights around town. I want to remember how George went nuts because he was car-seat free.

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I want to remember how excited George was when we put the Christmas tree up.

I want to remember that despite George having a fever and a respiratory issue, we managed to make all Christmases with very little tantrums.

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I want to remember how emotional I was singing in the choir and seeing the congregation sing Silent Night in A Capella during the candlelit portion.

I want to remember how George was very involved with his Nativity set and getting everyone like his Paw Patrol Pals and tractors to see the baby Jesus and Yo Mama (George’s name for Mary).

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I want to remember how I started to unpack and decorate the house then put most of the decorations back because George was climbing everything to get to the Santas-that are all breakable.

I want to remember that George got his first electric train, and that my grandpa (who is obsessed with trains as well) was there to see George’s face.

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I want to remember that George helped pass out presents, but then tried to open everyone’s along the way.

I want to remember that the first gift George opened on Christmas day, he tore off a small piece at a time and had to put each piece in the trash bag before pulling off another small piece.

I want to remember our first annual cookie decorating for our neighbors.

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I want to remember making my mom’s Breakfast Surprise for the first time on Christmas morning.

I want to remember that George had to play with every toy and read every book before going on to the next present.

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I want to remember that his favorite gifts were cheap tractors and a Thomas the Train puzzle.

I want to remember cousins at Christmas in matching get ups-jammies and public service.

I want to remember the moments in between the craziness.