Whirlwind of a week!

Among other things....Amos got a haircut. The barber loves to put a bandanna on him after he is freshly cut. I have let him keep the bandanna on this time. Brad threatens to put toothpaste in my socks if I don't relieve his dog of my insanity. I actually like the bandanna this time. I am certainly not one to dress my dog in any type of clothing....though I did think he made a good Rudolph for the 45 seconds he wore his antlers....Nonetheless, Amos got a bath and tidy last week and I am so happy for him. When he is all clean and neat I let him cuddle with me (even on the bed sometimes! Don't tell!) and you can just tell he feels a little better about himself. He can't stop looking in the mirror in our bedroom when he trots by....just like his daddy. I love it!


It was a good thing Amos had a busy week with friends and hair cuts though because it was a mess around the household. I will have to spare the specific details but within a 24 hour period Brad really had some big decisions to make regarding his career. I sent him away to the mountains in the middle of the week so he could get to his happy place where he could think. This he did...he went and he thought and he forgot to sleep (which came in to play as the week intensified). I was really praying this whole week that he would find clarity and peace in a decision. This was one of those weeks that I know we will point to years down the road. It was also the first time we really had to make the best decision for our family. In our young age it is easy to be swayed by everything around you and everyone around you. This was one of those times where we just couldn't look to what was around us but we had to trust that God was before us and that He had a plan....even though it seemed so foggy. The whole scenario still just blows my mind.....since we found out we were expecting we have said that "there is more to come." We both knew it. We knew God would be right before us aligning our foot steps. Admittedly, in the midst of a growing belly and a failing economy it seemed hard to trust what we had been saying. Sure enough....as He would God threw some opportunities in front of us when we least expected. I am truly blow away by God's hand in the details of our lives. My heart is so full yet so light.

We ended our crazy week in the booming town of Selma, Alabama. Brad was in a wedding of one of his dearest friends. He was a hot groomsmen I tell you. I am not sure if it was the new found confidence coming from a week like I just described or his new haircut but I loved watching him march down the aisle in his tuxedo. Don't you just love a boy in a suit and a bow tie? We had such a good time catching up with old friends from Athens. Irnoically, 90% of the wives of the weekend are expecting a little kiddie poo in the spring, too, so that was fun to talk about babysitters and diapers and growing belly's. I was happy to be able to be a part of the conversation. What is happening to me??? I am growing so attached to my morphing middle. I love seeing my body change and I can do nothing to stop it...nothing! This is a completely different tone than a month ago but a welcomed tone. Oh, God is so in the details of our lives! After a week like last week Brad and I are ready for some hopefully peaceful few days before Christmas....the kind of days where you turn the cellphone off, heat up some spiced tea, and just watch the lights twinkle on the tree and feel at ease.......

Lemon to an apple to an avocado!

From my most recent babycenter email:

Hello, Betsy!
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length . Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too.

**And PS - they say "he" sometimes and "her" sometimes but they don't know yet either.

I am ready for a little belly. Come on little belly....bring it on!

Brad, please employ me as your housewife!

I must be quick. The chili is cooking and the muffin timer is about to ding. I thought I would start my campaign early in hopes of a successful outcome....
You see....I have grown to love doing chores around the house. Today I have some of my favorite tunes on the ipod speakers. I am still in my pajamas (well, Brad's over sized t-shirt if that counts) and I am cooking and cleaning. I just love having things to do around the house and having the time to do them. I know often you hear of many women talking about needing 25 hours in a day. I don't necessarily need more hours - I just need to stay unemployed. This week is my last week before I start working again. I have had 6 weeks out of the working world and sadly, it took me 4 to just to realize that I had nothing to do and to start to enjoy it. I am on my 3rd load of laundry. The tree is mostly trimmed and I have been making some of our our favorite chili this morning (compliments of my dear friend Meredith). I've done half of our Christmas shopping and when there are chores to be done I have myself scheduled to volunteer at the front desk of the church. I know this job doesn't pay and, yes, I feel uber guilty about not contributing to the family budget right now but can I just confess....I am happiest at home...making it cozy, hanging things, mixing things and planning things. And, this my friends is a HUGE statement! 5 years ago when I was fresh into the financial sector you couldn't have paid me to stay home by myself and clean the toilets or cut coupons. Thankfully, this little thing in my tummy and God's goodness in just helping me be content right where I am have contributed to this welcomed mind shift. So, for your enjoyment....here is a pic of me at home....doing what I do....cutting onions with ski goggles on. Hey - does anyone know a better way to keep from crying when cutting onions? Please share. And...lastly, a recipe from sweet Meredith. Yummy!

Sincerely,
Happy at home

Mere'sTurkey Chili

1 lb ground turky

1 med red onion diced

3 cloves garlic/minced

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 red pepper chopped

2 cans diced tomatoes (w/green chiles)

2 cans pinto beans

1 tsp cumin

2 tsp chili powder (I usually do 1 1/2 cuz 2 is really spicy)

pinch of salt & pepper to your taste



Saute onion, garlic, and red pepper in oil for 2 mintues. Add ground turkey until all turky is cooked through. Add tomatoes, beans, and all spices. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Add salt and pepper.

Bored in substitute land so posting funny videos

Thanks to my sister who showed me this 4 minutes of joy. I did this stuff, too, when I was 12. Really, ask my mama...I took videos of me doing flips on the trampoline for hours. Oh gosh, and I made people watch them! I'll post one someday. Then I would video myself acting out a part in a book. I loved Cecily from Ann of Green Gables. Even better, I would make up dances in front of the camera but somehow the level of the camera only caught me from my knees to my neck. The most humiliating was my video tape of me practicing my toe touches for cheerleading in middle school. I wasn't really a flexible little girl but I thought I was and my whole family told me I was great. I stunk. I mean, I stunk bad. I could barely get my feet off the ground so of course there was no way I was able to bend down and touch them 3 inches off the ground all while jumping. Anyway, I don't blame my mom though....what cheap entertainment for a 'tweenager. Give her a camera and let her go.

So, in honor of my years in front of the camera.....Check this out!

My 2nd trimester goal

I may have never had or lost the curves that Beyonce has in her newest video but nonetheless, mama, buy me a black suit and get me a video camera! I am just slightly obsessed with the dancing in this video. What girl wouldn't be? You don't have to be single to hear this jingle and want to jiggle! I know about three moves from this video just from seeing it played over and over on the today show (the men of the Today show had a strong fondness for Beyonce's latest creation too. Funny, even men like this video.....hmmmm) So, every 3rd day or so when I am feeling spicey (meaning the sun is shining and I wouldn't mind dancing the day away) I will drop a few of these moves in the living room just to get Brad's take. I think he is a fan. Anyway, seriously, I won't let a little growing abdomen stop me from this goal! Mark my words....by the end of the 2nd trimester I'll be singing to all the single ladies, too, or atleast to Brad. I am sure he loves getting to be my cheerleader for all of my sporadic endeavors. That's what husbands are for, right?

I need a few back-up dancers. Anyone?

Oh My Darling, clementine!

Take me to Spain. Take me to the land of the most perfect cousin of the orange family! Take me, take me, take me! There is a commercial that tells me my latest joy comes to me straight from the orchard's of Spain (I can't find the commercial but it's so catchy. You'd like clemmy's too if you saw the commercial). I've been to Spain...many a time...but ne'ry do I remember my dear clementines adorning the trees. Needless, I hear they are from Spain and that makes me love them even more. I have an unusual fondness for Espana. I love the people, the pace of society...just a few steps slower than en los estados unidos. I love the food and the sangria and the nightlife. I love Dani and Tamar and my other amigos from Villanova.
Before Mr. Brad swept me off my feet I had some extraordinairy-not-from-me type desire to live in Spain for a season. I told Mr. Brad from date one that I would be leaving him soon for who knew how long in order to live in Spain and be as much of a Spaniard as I could be. At the time, my church, had began a partnership with a small church outside of Barcelona. I just knew I should go and live and be a part of this church. Well, you know the rest of the story....Brad swept me off my feet and I did get to visit Spain with 12 other amigos but only for a short time. Since then, my heart belongs in Spain.

Anyway, I love clementines just as much. I am substitue teaching today for hopefully the last time ever. Sorry, kiddos...."Mrs. Bagwell" just isn't cut out for babysitting all day. Anywho, all I can think about is the bittersweet smell of my clementine friends. So easy to peel....so easy to eat. Yesterday I ate 5. Today I have none left. All I want for Christmas is endless orders of clementines straight from Espana. Brad has been waiting on me to have a pregnancy hankering. He says it would be much easier to go out and get me what I am craving like a super hero than to try to guess at something that might sound good to eat. You see, the pregnancy hormoneys have made me hate food.....all but the clementine and mashed potatoes that is.....
Literally, I have a food aversion to food. But baby's gotta eat so I eat clementines all day. Now, I know this isn't the most hearty snack for the growing "apple" in my belly but it is all I can swallow. So, Mr. Brad....listen up.....clementines are what my heart desires. Muchos y muchos clementines!

The bell just rang and I see that I have a 45 minute planning period. I know just the planning I will do. Clementines to the rescue! I'll be back! Oh my darling....oh my darling....oh my darling, clementine........