Help a sista out!

So if you click on that button above, you will find the sweetest blog! She is hosting a giveaway for a $50 visa gift card and we all know that this would be a huge blessing to each of us. But I'm going to be bit greedy (forgive me Father) and ask that you all go "like" Baby Belly Spa, go into their photos (Beautiful belly photo contest) and link her picture in which she posted on her giveaway blog! Once you do this you can also come back to let me know that you did it, so I can add in some extra entries. =)

Not to much to ask now is it? haha.

You can also go on over to her blog and put in some entries for yourself!

Strange Text Msg

On Saturday, after CB's softball practice I came home with a horrible headache and not to mention a sunburn from being at the town festival all morning. I took a nap on the couch and woke up to a text from a cousin that lives in the Chattanooga, TN area saying that a family member had said that my (real) so called "father" was killed in the April 27, 2011 tornado.

Let me first say that this is a man that I have not seen since I was very young age, nor have I talked to. It is a man that I do not respect in any certain way. But I have always wondered how I would feel when this day came, and how it would happen.

I am not an emotional person, but I wanted to find out the truth. For not only me, but my family members in that area as well. So I got online and researched his name, in which I did find that there was a person the exact name that was a victim of the tornado.

To be honest, I still had no emotions at all about this. But I looked up the number for the Sheriffs department in that town and called. I spoke with the lady and told his full name, but I was not sure of his date of birth because I didn't exactly now him. I'm sure it was hard for her to understand, but the lady remembered taking the call of the man's death, and was able to make contact with the family. After calling me back, she was able to confirm that this was indeed not my so called Father. I'm still not sure how I will feel when that day comes, I just know that it was a very strange feeling for me. The dispatcher was a very sweet woman and done her job very well, but I can also tell that she could hear in my voice that either way I was okay. Calls like this are always hard, and I am sure that my phone call to her, took her back to the devastation of last week.

If you are in this situation and have had someone to walk out of your life, to do such awful things to your family that I will never talk about on my blog (for respect to my actual family) then you will understand where I am coming from.

Although, while I was waiting on hold for the dispatcher, I scrolled through the list of victims, which included a 3 month old baby in that town, my eyes filled with tears.

The point of the matter is there are so many victims that are still unable to be found, and so many family members still trying to get a hold of loved ones. I can not even imagine how they feel during this tragedy. This disaster is far worse than I could of ever imagined, while watching the twister live on the weather channel. Bless their hearts. I just ask everyone to remember all of the victims and ones that have been effected by the tornado - including emergency responders. My heart aches for these people and all that they have lost.

This is a video that I seen posted on a blog:

Youth Group Egg Hunt

Easter weekend the church held their yearly egg-hunt for the children, and thankfully I was able to attend with CB. I've rarely ever gotten to go do to schedule conflicts with my work, so it just delights my soul to be able to go to events like these.

Mrs. Shannon the Youth Group director is one of the hardest working women that I have ever seen. She does such a wonderful job with these children and helping them learn all about the Lord. It's such a blessing to have her!

The children colored egg sheets, made crafts with a cross and stickers. It was such a great lesson for them to learn the connection between hunting eggs and Christianity.

CB was way to busy to stop and let me get a picture of her smiling face! So the side shots and crazy faces will have to do for now =)

Softball Chick!

Since I was a child myself I can always remember the thrill of playing softball. It's a sport that I never wanted to give up and one that I should of worked a little harder at. Whenever I found out I was having a girl, I was thrilled at the fact that one day I would be getting to watch her play softball. Finally this year, she is big enough to play!!

So far her team has had a few different practices but the crazy weather that Spring has brought on has made for several cancellations. I'm not sure when games start, but I'll assume that it is soon. She is not the youngest on her team but sure does look like it. Being that the this is her first year, she is having a hard time with the whole "step and throw" process and not throwing to the side. She is really working on it hard, and concentrations all while saying out loud step and then throw. I am very sure that this is going to be a sport that she loves just as much as her Momma does!

11 weeks & 2nd appointment

How Far Along: 11 weeks, 3 days

Total Weight Gain/Loss: - 2 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Not yet, but wearing comfy clothes.

Gender: ?! ( I put a poll on the right of my blog)

Movement: None yet

Sleep: Pretty well, some nights I wake up 2-3

What I miss: Nothing really

Cravings: yuck, nothing.

Symptoms: My days are pretty up & down. The morning sickness seems better than it was but it still is rough most days which is something most do not understand.

This Monday, Curtis & I went to our 2nd appointment together and got to hear Jelly Bean's heart beat for the first time. JB's heart beat was very strong, so precious to hear and was 174!!Surprisingly, I had lost 2 lbs since my last appointment even though we had been to a few Easter dinners the day before. My Dr. was concerned because of how my eye looked (3 weeks and it's still healing but looking so muc better) so he called in more Zofran and phenergan gel. The morning sickness seems to be having it's ups and downs throughout the day but it is slightly better than it was! Yay!

Not only is my sister due on Oct 25 (3 weeks before me), one of my good friends Jessica is due 4 days after me, and my friend Krystina that I went through my last pregnancy with is due on Dec 13! How exciting!!

Less than 45 days until the wedding!

Princess Party (5th birthday)

Charli Beth's 5th birthday Princess party was held on April 9th for her and her friends. With out my Mom, the help of a family friend Shannon and her daughter Emily this party wouldn't have happened at all! This party was so adorable and such a fun time for the children. We had the most perfect weather and the day couldn't have been anymore great for CB! =)

WILW!

I thought I would link up with Jamie's blog this week

I'm loving all sorts of things this week. But since I have made so much progress lately with the wedding then I figured I would just love on it some more ;)

I'm lovin' these signs that I may be copying =)
I absolutely love this scenery. Although, my ideas are a little different, I just love this unique touch.
I'm totally lovin' this handsome fella with that bad a' of a k9 that made the local paper this week. (I swear he is the best dog, ever and has a different personality at work. Which is great!) I am so very proud of these two and all of the hard work. They are quiet the pair together.- I heart the fact that in the last week we registered at 3 places for our wedding shower(s) - Kohls, Maceys and Target. Only one more to go which is a local antique store!

- I'm also loving that in less that one week Curtis and I will get to hear Little Jelly Bean's heartbeat for the first time! We are super ecstatic to hit that milestone as well!

& who can forget about this precious 5 year old princess?
until next time...

Mother's Day 2011

Making the decsion to have a child - it's momentous.

It is to decide forever to have your heart walking around outside your body

- Elizabeth Stone

Mother's Day is such a special holiday for not only us Mommys but to celebrate the love for our very own Mother's and Grandmother's as well. Each day our love shines for these special people in our lives, but Mother's day is a day that we want to make the feel extra extra loved. Maybe it is just another "Hallmark Holiday" to some of you, but to me..I personally love it and love being able to treat these people who are so wonderful to me throughout the year.

I will be honest and say that I have always felt like a horrible gift giver. I just stress way to much - that it isn't nice enough, it is not pretty, and so forth. But after finding Shutterfly's website while blogging, I know the most perfect gifts to give these lovely ladies.

Here are some of my ideas for this years gift(s):

Photo Cards to give with gift cards or along with your other items.

^ You can also upload your artwork to add to a card.

photos via shutterfly

My Most favorite item that Shutterfly offers are the Photo Books! These are so handy, unique and fun to have seating on the table. This is the best idea, ever!

photo via shutterfly

Know a coffee drinker? This is another cute little idea!

photo via shutterfly

Or even better add chocolate with it!

photo via Shutterfly.

Are you a blogger and want the chance for 50 free cards from Shutterfly? Then click here!