Pins I can Can Check Off the List

With my addiction to Pinterest in full speed due to the big b-day party for the little man, I've decided I should create a new board of pins that I can actually say I've done!

For Easter, I made this incredibly delicious...and easy...ice cream sandwich cake. I've made it twice now, and it keeps getting even better. Here's my version...

and here's my inspiration

Source: thyhandhathprovided.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

from here!

Speaking of the party...here's what came today in the mail.

The push up holders for the cake came as well, but they're not as cute for pics!

Less than 2 Weeks

I can't believe that Parker will be one in less than 2 weeks. Time really does fly! Just like last year, his birthday is while we're on Spring Break, so I should have lots of time to get things ready for the Par-tay! It's going to be an Uno party...you know, because he's turing Uno. I've made the invitations, but we haven't printed them yet. Of course, this is a great chance to spend hours on Pintrest pinning away at birthday ideas! The best part about this theme is that we can just go with primary colors! Here are a few of the ideas I'm thinking about right now...

Source: tumblr.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: jacolynmurphy.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: blogs.babble.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Throwing parties for little people is so much more fun than throwing parties for 30 year olds! :)

Easter Pic

Well, I'm still having issues uploading more Easter pics, so I'll just put this super cute one on here...

Easter!

First, let's pretend that it hasn't been a year since I updated this...now, on to business!

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. What a great time of friends and family, but more importantly to celebrate our risen Savior! I was thinking yesterday how exciting it will be to share the Easter story with Parker when he's old enough to understand.

Here are some highlights from the weekend...

On Saturday, we had a fun egg hunt at Tim's parents' house with his sisters and their families. Parker was getting sleepy when we went outside, but he was a good sport...except when we tried to hold his hands for a cute picture. Instead we got a fit on film! We always have tacos, and they were as delicious as ever. I made an ice cream sandwich cake, which was pretty good too, if I do say so myself!

Saturday night was prom, and Tim and I went for a little while. It's always fun to dress up and have a hot date. We went to Outback for dinner when we left.

Over night the Easter Bunny came and left us each a fun basket with lots of yumminess for Tim and myself!

After a great church service, we came home and had our own little photo shoot in the front yard. We got several cute shots of Parker and even managed some of the 3 of us!

Then, we headed to my parents' house for lunch and a little hanging out/ napping time!

What a great weekend!

I'm having issues adding more pics, so I'll try on another post later!

A month of Thanks...

In honor of Thanksgiving, I'm trying to focus on one thing a day that I am thankful for. God has blessed our family so much, that this will be easy...but getting on the computer to update is another story!

Day 1-This is a tough one...do I pick husband or baby first??! I'm going with...husband!

I'm so thankful for Tim! I was telling a student today about he and I got together. God had a perfect plan for us coming together; it was in His timing, and at a place in both of our lives when we were ready to find each other. One thing I love is when people ask how we met, and I can say church. I want people to see that Christ is the center of our marriage and now the center of our family.

Tim is so thoughtful and always wants to do what's best for me. He puts Parker and I above himself. He's working so hard to finish school, and I'm so proud of him for that.

There's TONS more I can say about him...but it all comes down to how much he loves me. I never doubt this, and that's one of the bazillions of reasons why I'm thankful for Tim!

Day 2- Parker!!!

You always here that a baby changes everything...and it's so true! Sure, there's the lack of sleep, stress from feeding and changing, and all the other baby-things...but there's so much more. There's the first smile, the point when the weight loss (or whatever your baby is struggling with and you cry about every day) finally turns into a gain, now comes the rolling over and the almost crawl. It's pure joy! Parker brings a smile to my face just thinking about him. When I'm at work, everyday I get a PPoD (Parker pic of the day), and it gets me through to the afternoon. I love learning all of the little things that he likes/ dislikes, things that make him laugh or smile, but more than that I love watching him learn things. I've been so impressed with him this week. If you move something, he looks for it. He knows where to look...so hiding things is starting to be a new favorite activity. I could keep going on and on and on...I just love him so much!

Day 3- My Mom...

The older I get the more I appreciate her, but now, as a mom myself, it's doubled (probably more!). She is the reason Parker doesn't have to go to day care, and for that I will forever be grateful. She has taught me so much, and there are so many things that I hope to pass down to Parker that she has shown me!

It's about time...

I guess a 3 month break has been enough. I mean since I last posted, I HAD A BABY! How could I not have put that on here yet??! We finally have Internet at our house, so I have no excuse for no updates...plus, I've taken over Tim's Mac, so I enjoy using the computer :) I will be blogging again. I have an AMAZING son that I need to keep people posted on. He's too awesome for me to keep to myself! So, blog world, this is a promise...at least once a month, I will be writing on here! I have so many things to catch up on, so I will begin my next post with Parker's birth story and then his monthly updates with lots, and lots, and lots of pictures! Here are a few to hold you over until I write again...

35 Weeks and a Shower Surprise!

Wow! 35 weeks...it's CRAZY to me that things are going so quickly.

People keep saying that the nesting feeling will start soon, but I'm still more into the sleeping. This is causing a problem because nothing is ready. Our poor "nursery"...I use the quotation marks because at this point nothing about it resembles a room fit for a baby...is a disaster. Tim did stain the dresser today, so I'm going to say that his nesting phase is beginning! The dresser does look amazing! Anything with cherry stain is good to me :) My goal will be to have the room cleaned out by the end of the week so Tim can paint next weekend. I'm writing that

on here so people can ask me about it and I feel a little accountability!

About us at 35 weeks...We went to the doctor on Thursday. For the past 4 visits, which means 8 weeks, I have measured to the day the correct size. I've loved it because each midwife we've seen during those visits has used the word perfect! Sadly, the chain of perfection ended with this visit. I measured 35 weeks and 3 days...3 days ahead of where I actually am. Tim tells me I'm being ridiculous, but I told him I'm just being pregnant! Everything else in the visit was great! We actually saw an intern instead of a midwife this visit. We have met with her before and think she's great. We really hope she's at the hospital when the time comes. She's the person who let us hear Parker's heartbeat for the very first time several months ago. This visit, Parker would not stay still long enough to hear the heartbeat for an extended amount of time. Quick little beats, then he or she would jump around. When I say jump, I mean jump! Tim said it was the most he had ever seen my belly move. I let him know that it happens all the time, he just doesn't see it because I'm usually not laying down! She also told us that Parker is not very big. She's guessing he or she won't be much more than 7 pounds, but he could be long. This marks the visit where we will begin going every week. That scares me a little because I know that means we don't have much longer.
Other things that are happening at this point in time...
hiccups-they happen all the time...and I love it! That's one thing that Tim can see from across the room. We both think it's great!
heartburn/ acid reflux-AWFUL! The doctor told me to give up on the Tums and Rolaids and go straight for the Zantac. It has helped a lot along with the 3 pillows at night!flip flops-I got a doctor's note to wear flip flops to school...woo hoo!!! The feet swelling is at it's worst in 4th and 5th periods, so even though it sounds silly, I know the flippy-floppies will help!Pictures-we had maternity pics made by a friend of mine last weekend. We haven't told a lot of people so it will be a fun surprise when we get them back!

Now, the shower surprise...
This year, I am only teaching freshmen, but for the previous 2 years, I have taught sophomores and juniors, many of the same students. They're amazing. I was their class sponsor last year, and I just bonded with this group of kids. Well, they surprised me yesterday with a baby shower after school. Tim even came! They planned it all themselves...pizza, cake, drinks, decorations...I was totally impressed! I felt honored to be their teacher!