Holiday Cheer for next year...

Last weekend we met up with friends in Key West for a wedding and my BFF IRL was able to met Abby for the first time, I was so excited! Although, I wasn't able to be there for their first meeting (I was at the rehearsal), it was special. I love any holiday, any reason to celebrate, I had Abby's Valentine Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter and even Cinco de Mayo outfits picked out before she was even born. Yes, I'm that girl, sad as it might be, it's the way I roll. I don't buy outfits unless I have a place or event in mind that I can wear it too. The good thing is I don't have many items hanging in my closet with tags on them. But getting back to my story, I love, let me repeat love the day after any holiday sale ( can't wait to get the heart shower curtain at Target on Feb. 15). But the day after Christmas I was feeding, changing diapers, and trying to figure out what it is I'm suppose to be doing and bearly knew it was Christmas, let alone go anywhere the day after Christmas and do any shopping. But this is what BFF's are for...



She brought all these super cute outfits for Christmas next year. Aren't they cute? She will have an outfit for every Sunday in December, the parade, the parties and seeing Santa.
She's an amazing friend and an amazing auntie.


"I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month."
-- Harlan Miller

A little peak...

As I've told before I hadn't finished Abby's room prior to her being born and though I was "nesting" though our 10 week stay in the NICU, I never seem to beable to get my thoughts together enough to put it into action and so now slowly but surely (by the time I finish, we'll be ready to move on) I'm getting it together. Here's a little sneaky peak at what I've been working on.

I've been looking for a mobile for awhile, I wanted something bright and cheerful with birds, to go with my "early bird" theme.
I saw this mobile at a thrift shop (Goodwill) for 2.99

And I saw these cute birdie Christmas ornaments on Esty
Lovahandmade

And together this was my end product.

And she will have outgrown it by Christmas next year and we have some cute ornaments for her tree!
Not too bad for less then $30.oo.

I don't have a before and after picture for my next project but you will get the idea, I have a real love for ribbon and saw a basket at one of my favorite stores in Delray, but it was $120, I loved it but couldn't see spending that kind of money on a basket for toys. But I kept thinking about it and while I was Homegoods I saw the perfect basket for $19.99 and cut up some ribbon I already had at home and this is what I got.

And my Granny made these cute curtains for her room.

This picture doesn't do them justice when I do a picture of the whole room, I'll get a better shot but they are sheer white with ribbon bows at the top, I love them but love them even more that my grandmother made them for her.


Always kiss your children goodnight - even if they're already asleep.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

I spy...

I've had my eye on these goodies from Old Navy since I received a email with their new spring line, this is something I look forward to every year, I always love their Spring dress and this year is no different. I love the bright colors and because the price is usually right and I always have a coupon, of course. So I went yesterday, hubby said he would watch Abby while I went and did what I needed to do, more or less, what I wanted to do...hehe. But I was disappointed when I walked in and didn't see what I was looking for. The sales lady said maybe next week...Uggg. Thought I would share what I'm loving.
And I can wear it with these
And this cute top
With Jeans or leggings
And this dress

And I've been waiting all Winter for these bad boys to go on sale and I'm still waiting, they aren't that expensive but I knew I wouldn't need them this Winter, so I'm waiting...
So if any of you see these items in your Old Navy, let me know, so I don't have to call everyday next week. I feel like I'm on house arrest!


Carrie: "Honey, if it hurts so much, why are we going shopping?"
Samantha: " I have a broken toe, not a broken spirit"
~Sex in the City

Happy Shoulda coulda Birthday, Abby!

Some time in the last day or two or next day or two, I should have been walking the halls of Boca Community Hospital...waiting. And then pushing and screaming til my little buddle of joy arrived. I have to be honest, I couldn't have imagined pushing a baby out... the thought still scares me. Guess I'll never have to worry about that.
But instead...I spent the days loving on this little lady.

On Sunday she was 6lbs and 19 in, exactly what I was when I was born.

And as of
Saturday we are completely off the oxygen and only the monitor at night.


I'm so amazed, she would let me put the cannula in and out of her nose and never cry or pull away, she takes the medication so well and loves the nebulizer, I think it was harder on me than her. She "took one for the team".
And tonight we put our first "newborn" outfit on!

I really think that God gives us children to better understand his love for us. There is nothing in this world that could have prepared me for the love that I feel. We are so blessed, I think more than we will ever know. We said a special prayer for the other babies in the NICU tonight and those waiting to become mothers.


Before I formed you in your mother's womb, I knew you and had a purpose for your beautiful lives ~ Jeremiah 1:5

It won't be like this for long...

Today we got a call from Abby's doctor explaining that the newborn screening test done before every baby leaves the hospital, showed one of her test levels high and they needed us to come in then go to the hospital to have some labs drawn. So we went the office, they tried to make us feel better, stating that she was doing so well that it could be a bad collection, made me feel a little better. But then they weighed her and she was 5lbs 10 oz, then I really felt better. I'm not sure the name of the test and the condition, but it had something to do with enzymes that break food down and because of her continued weigh gain they weren't too concerned. We went to hospital, had the test drawn, she is such a trooper and headed home to wait for results....

The only test that came back today was the one that would be elevated if it was bad and it was ...NORMAL.
Thank you Lord.

Here are a few pictures of the last couple of days and I have to tell you, she is almost too long for most of her preemie outfits, I just can't believe it, it seems like just a bit ago, I was waiting for her to fit into them.
I've got her oxygen down to somewhere between the lowest level and off, I need your prayers, I worry so much about it that I'm checking her levels all day long, worried about her, tomorrow the oxygen rental company's nurse is coming out to the house and I can't wait to get her opinion, you would think that being a nurse, I would have this all under control...yeah...no. I think it makes it worse. Hopefully this time next week, we are done with it. I don't know if there will ever come a time that I don't worry for her but I hope that these days of being on pins and needles, worried about her getting sick, her oxygen levels and every other little thing don't last too long.




"It won't be like this for long
one day soon
we'll look back laughing at the week
we brought her home.
This phase is going to fly by,
So baby just hold on,
It won't be like this for long"
~ Darius Rucker

Hotty Toddy

This is about all that's going on around our house today, making pulled pork sandwiches and watching the Rebels play.

Abby's getting to watch her first Ole Miss game!!

We need a win.

Hotty Toddy starts with the simple question - "Are you ready?"

The crowd responds:

Hell yes!
Damn Right!
Hotty Toddy, Gosh almighty
Who the hell are we?
Hey!
Flim Flam, Bim Bam
Ole Miss, By Damn!

\

Love is in the air

The Christmas decorations are down and time to get the Valentine's Day decorations out.
Here are some ideas I have planned to do...
I have a white tree branch "tree" that I use at Easter decorated with eggs that I'm going to use as a Valentine tree.

And decorate with felt hearts.

A banner such as this that says BE MINE.

And I love these.

Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart. ~Author Unknown