progress

32 weeks today! I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is moving along! Norah's little body is growing and now weighs approximately 3.5 lbs. She still kicks, jolts, and spazzes, but lately I've enjoyed the progression to "belly waves." :) Caleb and I watched in awe last night as my belly would roll like a wave with her movements. I get the occasional bones pushing out but we haven't seen any actual hand or footprints yet. Due to my weird-already inny-outty belly button, I look like a turkey that has the red button popped out indicating "done." I'm feeling good, a little tired at times, but nothing too uncomfortable. I definitely feel pregnant, though. :)

I began working on her crib bedding yesterday and hope to finish this week...minus the quilt. I am so in love with the fabric. Her nursery still has a ways to go. We have three small pieces of furniture that need to be painted, and I haven't purchased any other decorations. I figured most of the baby necessities will take up room and then I would fill in the gaps as needed.

Caleb and I are taking a Baby Moon this weekend to Austin. I am soooo excited....except that I haven't booked a hotel. Kinda overwhelmed and not sure why. :)

March 31st is our shower in San Antonio. Super excited about that, too!

My mom visited for a few days last week over her spring break. We had such a wonderful time. She is my personal decorator. :) We had pencil marks all over the walls for Caleb to hang things, which he finished last night. I love that we are less than 3 hours from my parents. :) We also purchased our dining room table last week. WOOHOO! It's 10 feet long! I still need to pick out chairs (8 for the sides and 2 larger chairs for the ends), but hey, it's progress.

Other than that, life is great! Our to-do lists are always growing but we are still making progress....both inside the belly and the home. :)

cutting tags

Does anyone else still have tags on their bath and kitchen towels? One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing the tags sticking out of a hanging or folded towel. I am always tucking those suckers in. Why did it just occur to me to cut them off? It's not like I need to refer back to the care instructions for towels. I just purchased another pack of kitchen towels at Costco...my favorites...and did a large towel load. So I got the scissors and cut off each tag as I folded. It was WONDERFUL!

Oh the little things in life that bring joy. :)

it's been soooo long.....

So much has happened since my last post, and I just may try to add some posts on the last few months. Life is great right now. We are getting settled into our new home, all but three boxes in the house are unpacked, and the house is slowly getting decorated. I am trying to finish up some sewing projects, but unfortunately the list is growing faster than I'm completing them. I finished a friend's baby blanket, so now I am working on slipcovers for the two chairs in the living room. Then I need to figure out our drapes situation and tackle Baby Girl's bedding and quilt.

Speaking of Baby Girl, yes we are having a GIRL and I'm 99.9% positive that Norah will be her name. I have loved this name since before we found out we were expecting, and it turns out that the Hebrew meaning of her name is "light." Before we knew her name or gender, I was praying that this child would shine the "LIGHT" of God and be filled with so much JOY. We are almost certain on the middle name as well...but more to come on that.

I will be 25 weeks tomorrow!! This pregnancy is flying by and I am loving every second of it! She moves all the time and even more after I consume chocolate or Chick-Fil-A. :) Caleb and I have been playing tennis lately, which is much more comfortable for me than running...unfortunately. I have not done anything in her room, but I think I have a plan now. The only furniture we need to purchase is a crib. I will probably make her bedding, recover the glider cushions and paint the frame, and then I need to make her quilt. I'm assuming we need to register soon, but we will probably do that as the showers approach. I am still considering cloth diapers, so that will be a major research item. Does anyone have any recommendations, thoughts, or experience??

My parents visited this past weekend. We relaxed Saturday night and grilled out. Sunday morning we were privileged to have Natalie Grant lead worship at our church. It was absolutely unbelievable. I was in tears and so moved by the Holy Spirit during her singing. She did the most beautiful and meaningful rendition of "It is Well." Sunday afternoon we enjoyed the gorgeous weather and played two hours of tennis at our neighborhood courts. My parents kicked our tails three sets straight, but we had a blast regardless. I miss our friends and small town life in Dickinson, but I am soooo thankful to be this close to family again. Goodbyes are no longer tearful and weekend visits are an option. My parents are going to Hawaii next weekend, so I will be in San Antonio house-/dog-sitting for them all week. Hopefully I will be able to catch up with some friends while in San Antonio.

Thanking God for all of the many blessings....

Lindsey

summer summary

It's been a crazy hectic summer. Hopefully I can get around to posting more details, but here is a quick list:

• 9 months of winter actually ended in May
• Fargo Half Marathon. Ran the entire 13.1 miles. Looking forward to another one!
• Broke my hand in my first game of rec softball. Surgery to insert 2 pins, surgery to remove pins, and now therapy.
• My parents visited in June. Rented an RV, drove around Yellowstone, and white-water rafted.
• Early summer consisted of yard work: stained concrete patio, planted garden, spread river rock, plants in pots, new patio furniture, etc.
• Baby shower for Kraby's and baby Everett came in June
• Work work work
• Grillin'. Homemade Ice Cream. Peach Pie. Best Ever Homemade Lemonade.
• Unlike Texas, we have a record breaking spring with so much rain.
• Small town 4th of July rocks. Fireworks illegal in the city but no one listens. 180 degree view of fireworks followed by a professional show, all visible from our deck. Small town rodeo and dance and riding the Marathon float in the parade.
• Hills Alive in Rapid City. Awesome. Christian Bands. Shopping. Starbucks. Ice Cream.
• VBS Leaders at church with 5-6 yr olds....way out west in Discovery City learning 'bout Jesus.
• Softball champions
• Learning Photoshop but would really just like to take some classes.
• Rapid City for Caleb's birthday. Fly-fishing = 2 trout 24 and 25 inches. Ice Cream. Tally's Silver Spoon Breakfast. Alex Johnson Hotel. Sturgis.
• Tested and tried spiritually but feeling really good right now. God is revealing himself in many ways.
• 15 hours of sewing this past weekend. Finished quilting one of a few projects.
• Joined Pinterest. And oh so in love. Now all I want to do is shop, sew, craft, decorate...etc. So inspired.
• Took a last minute job coaching JV volleyball at a local private school. Exhausted but having a blast. Only in week 2 of practice.
• Colorado on Friday. Much. Needed. Just checked out 4 books on tape...CD... (one of which is Learn to Speak French) and so ready for the road trip.
• Lawn mowers in Sears have been replaced by Snow Blowers. Winter is coming.

God is good all the time. I am thankful He is teaching me constantly; I just need to listen more and fully trust in His promises. Faith. Contentment. Trust. Patience. Joy. Humility. His Purpose.

getting by

I just got home from a two-day Safety Leadership workshop for work. It was good to be out of the office. I heard many "poster" statements...you know, the ones you would normally see in a football locker room or something. Here are a few:

"Safety leaders are not determined by power or position; they are determined by action."

"Safety is an attitude."

"One word that defines leadership: INFLUENCE"

"A leader does not have subordinates; it has followers."

"Overcome ignorance by learning."

"Each decision we make will dictate our history."

"If I think I can or I think I can't, I am, in fact, correct."

Inspired? :)

Other than that, Caleb and I have been working on projects around the house. I FINALLY finished my slipcover, and I am soooo in love with it. I am already looking for chairs to slipcover, just as long as it's much less complicated than the couch. :) Caleb has been building a sewing table for me, almost identical to this Pottery Barn desk. All that's left is the painting!

This week we have been preparing for Caleb's parents to visit for Easter. A little re-decorating, picture hanging, deep cleaning, and organizing always get accomplished when we have visitors. We haven't seen family since Christmas, so this is much needed. :) We will have a 4-day weekend with them, and the weather just might be nice enough to sit outside around our chiminea.

Speaking of weather, we time-traveled back to January for a couple of days this week. It snowed and snowed and got cold....again. Fortunately, the sun is out today, but the high is in the 30s. I am having trouble looking at everyone's pictures on Facebook as they are sporting their new sun dresses and sandals and enjoying the green grass and spring blooms. I am trying my hardest to have a positive attitude, but you can ask Caleb how I've been doing, especially on the snowy days. :) I've heard that I can't expect consistently warm temperatures until June, so I have another 1.5 months to go.

And by the way, we have now had 8....EIGHT...ocho....consecutive months of snowfall. North Dakota spring is worse than a Texas winter. :) No more complaining down south about the cold weather.

Regardless of the weather and missing family, we absolutely love North Dakota. I am so thankful for the opportunity God provided us to live here. Our friends are genuine, loyal, and so much fun to be around. North Dakota is so different from Texas and Colorado, and it's hard to imagine what it's like here until you see it for yourself. So I plan to dedicate a couple of posts to life here. It's that special. :)

I pray this week you are focused on the Lord and giving thanks and honor to Him for the sacrifice He made for each of us. May His Name be glorified.

bangs

I ALWAYS play it safe with my hair....ALWAYS. Right after we got married, I chopped my hair like Victoria Beckham and dyed it brown. But that is the only time I can remember doing something a little different with my hair. After a few months of the stacked a-line, I was back to blonde and growing it out. So yesterday, I took a risk, darkened my hair a little bit and got bangs. :) I tried a new stylist, and she was awesome! I have layers, volume, a great color, and bangs. :) I feel like a totally different person, but I think I actually like them.

Yay for change!

happy three years to us

Caleb and I spent our three-year anniversary (just a few days late) in Vail with our cousins, Tim, Melinda, and Logan. It was the perfect escape from NoDak winter and sooooo good to hit the slopes again. I absolutely loved being back in Colorado. I can't begin to explain how much I miss those mountains, health food stores, ski racks, bike and running trails, and all of the other wonderful things big cities offer. After three perfect days of skiing, great food, and laughing over board games with family, we arrived back in Dickinson as 1:30 AM. The work week was pure survival mode followed by a relaxing weekend.

Work has been really good, but Caleb and I are both just so busy....which is a good thing! We are both so thankful for our jobs and even more importantly, the wonderful friends we've made here.

Spring is just around the corner for NoDak, even though everyone else in the country welcomed Spring weeks ago. Yesterday was cold and 50 mph winds, 20s all day today, but we are stepping above freezing tomorrow!! All week we should be in the 40s!!....yes 40s!!! Goodbye SNOW!

This girl is stepping out of hibernation! :)

We didn't snap too many pictures in Colorado, but here are a couple.

back home

So I traveled to Houston this past week for work. I was hoping to escape the winter weather but instead brought it with me. Grrr. It was warmer than Dickinson but the temperatures were below freezing almost all week. I was thankful that I had no cancellations or delays leaving Friday, especially since most of Houston was shut down and roads closed due to icy roads. Today has been a very lazy day. I have spent most of my time experimenting on Adobe Elements and editing the blog. Changing the blog is harder than I thought! I still have a lot more work to do, but at least it's a start. Caleb is building shelves in the garage.....woohoo!!! Our three-car garage may actually fit three cars after this weekend. :)

We're making Chicken Curry for dinner tonight. Yum! Probably going to watch a movie or catch up on Hulu. I'm thinking I'll close the computer for the rest of the evening and start working on my slipcover again. I really need to get that finished. :) I guess I've just been putting off the sewing of 25+ yards of piping.

Hope y'all are having a relaxing weekend and staying warm!

new year, new look?

Obviously I failed at trying to blog more, so we will see if this "New Year's Resolution" starts in February :) You may also notice the changes in the blog. It is totally not finished; I've been tinkering with the html codes. I also just installed Adobe Photoshop so I hope to have a custom header and signature. (Any help on that would be fantastic!) :)

Looking back, Christmas break was fantastic! One of my absolute favorites! Caleb, Bella, and I hopped in Caleb's new truck (woohoo for a 4WD vehicle!) and conquered the 24 hour road trip to TEXAS! It was so much fun, and we only stopped for a 1-2 hr nap each way. Total Road Warriors. We listened to an 18 hr book-on-tape, The Help. It was actually a great book and helped the time pass quickly.

We spent Christmas weekend with the McElroy's. Our days were filled with great food, fellowship, shopping, riding four-wheelers, and lots of Taboo and Spades. :) Bella and I traveled to San Antonio while Caleb stayed in Aledo helping his parents around the house. Mom and I shopped-til-we-dropped for two days. It was absolutely wonderful. She is the ultimate shopping buddy, and I can't begin to explain how much I enjoy time with my mamma. I was in awe of all of the stores and clothes and shoes and people and shoes and clothes and accessories and clothes! I also had a wonderful dinner with my parents and Chris and Britteny. Thursday before New Years we drove up to Lake LBJ to spend time with my grandma. Caleb and his parents as well as my brother and Britteny came to the lake for the weekend, too. It was so perfect spending time with our families for the last few days in Texas. I miss them so much already....and the weather. :)

North Dakota life is back in full-swing. (I plan to have another post dedicated to living here since it is totally unlike anything else.) I am actually sitting in the Bismarck airport right now trying to get to Houston for work. Due to sub-zero temperatures and snow all weekend, my first flight was cancelled, and the new flight is now delayed. Woohoo. Caleb and I are getting in shape to train for the Fargo half-marathon in May. :) (I noticed I have a "half marathon" label already, but I don't remember ever running one....probably that time I trained for 2-3 days?? Let's hope this go-around has a better result!)

Anyway, we are doing good and staying warm! I am sooooooooo ready for the snow to melt. It's piled about 4 ft tall in front of our house. Fortunately, each day is longer than the previous and one step closer to warmer weather....whenever that is....March, April, May??

I'll post pictures soon. I'm on the work computer so no access to pics.

love y'all

recap

I'm blessed by my new job! It's a totally new transition for me. I went from Susie-Homemaker to Career Woman! I barely have time to read blogs and dream of my next sewing project, which is actually a little sad. I know I will get back to balancing the two, but the past four weeks have been chaotic. I'll try to summarize everything in one post so I can start fresh from today! :)

WEEK 1-2:

WORK! After my first week of work, I flew to Houston that Friday, spent the weekend shopping with my family, visiting friends and shopping. That next week, I worked in the Tower during the days and chatted over dinner with Sara, Angela, and Eric and Mel afterwards. I was finally able to meet sweet baby CJ and hug Cas and Gina at Houston's First Baptist Church. Seeing CJ brought me to tears. It was a moment of overwhelming realization that our Almighty Savior is one of Grace, Compassion, Power, and Love. He is sooooo good and hears our prayers! Gina was also my inspiration for blogging. :)

I flew home to Caleb, Bella, and Sam Jordan, Caleb's good Corps buddy that came to visit us in NoDak! We left Saturday morning for South Dakota and visited Sturgis, Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, and the Black Hills. It was beautiful!!! I also celebrated my 26th birthday that Sunday on 10/10/10!!!

WEEK 3-4:

After Sam left Monday morning, Caleb and I had three days of work. Wednesday night Donna, James, Eric, and Melody flew in to Bismarck and spent the weekend with us! The boys went pheasant hunting Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and they were even sweet enough to let the girls tag along Friday to "scurry" up the birds. Bella joined, too, having the time of her life. Unfortunately, her paws were so raw and her legs so tired that Saturday and Sunday were spent sleeping, sleeping, sleeping. I have never seen her so tired. We even had to wrap one of her paws so she wouldn't lick it and irritate it so much. Fortunately, she's back to herself and good as new. :) The weekend with the family was filled with so much laughter, love, ping pong, and delicious meals. We thank the Lord for our families everyday and miss them all so much. We trust that we are where God wants us to be, but we also look forward to the days where seeing family doesn't require planes and suitcases. :)

This weekend we are relaxing, doing laundry, cleaning/organizing the garage, and just getting stuff done! Tomorrow I am playing in a volleyball tournament, and Caleb wants to finish the front of the fence. The weather is beginning to cool off....highs in the 60s and lows in the 30s. The grass is no longer green and most of the leaves have dropped. Winter is just around the corner. :)

Love y'all!

employed

Well, I started my new job this week. I am the "Training Specialist" at Marathon. Yep, Caleb and I work at the same company now. :) It is a HUGE blessing to have this job, and so far it has been great! I am actually heading to Houston this weekend and will spend a week learning more about my roles and responsibilities. (I'm sooooo excited to see my friends and family!!)

So....I apologize for the delay in posting. Hopefully, I can get used to this working thing again. I've had the past five months off! I'm two-for-two on getting coffee ready and laying out my outfit the night before work. Let's see if I can keep this going. :)

Love y'all.

new love

Meet The Duo...the best-ever-grinder and it's sidekick, the best-ever coffee brewer. Note: This machine doesn't "make" coffee; it "brews" coffee. :)

Our GJ neighbors had this lovely setup, which impressed the heck out of me. I didn't enjoy the coffee from the coffee maker we owned and neither did my mom. Caleb thought our coffee maker (yep, the old one was just a "maker") was fine. Fine? I don't drink fine coffee. Does he even know me? just kidding :) This grinder is a Burr Mill Grinder. Apparently, the correct way to extract the intense flavors from the bean is using a Burr Mill Grinder. So all you who have a grinder....you might want to check on this! Chances are you have a "blade" grinder. The fancy "brewer" doesn't have a carafe, but instead a tank with a push lever to dispense directly into your cup. :) It even has a gauge to tell you how much coffee is left in the tank. :)

Life has been much sweeter since The Duo arrived in Dickinson. (Well, actually since this morning....turns out I was double filtering my grounds using both the paper and the metal filters...novice.) Thanks mom and dad for the birthday/house-warming gifts.

Second new love: Bluegrass

I've heard some bluegrass music and enjoyed it, but I didn't appreciate this music until last night. Wow. I am still shocked that such fine talent stopped through the "Western Edge of North Dakota." No offense, Dickinson. We spent two hours last night in a tiny room with 75 other people listening to The Blackberry Bushes. They won 2nd place at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2009. I still can't believe Telluride was only 90 miles from GJ and we never made it down there. Grr. This band could play their instruments like nothing else and their voices harmonized so beautifully.

We bought 2 of their CDs and this morning I'm listening to the Bluegrass station on Sirius. I feel like buying an old, used pair of boots and a cute old-fashioned polkadot dress. :)

ramblings

Caleb left this morning for Denver, so it's just Bella and me until Thursday afternoon.

I have three pieces of furniture to refinish, but I'm not sure how or where to start.

I finished one pillow for my "new" couch and two more to go. The 20 yards of white denim arrived, so my goal is to finish the slipcover before Caleb returns.

I cannot wait to organize my fabrics in my display case. I might do that within the next few days.

I have a floor lamp to spray paint, but I'm not sure on the color yet.

Bella is sleeping by my feet in the small patch of sun peaking through the window. She is exhausted after having her friend Rufus over last night.

It is perfectly beautiful today. Blue clear skies, temps in the high 60s, light breeze.

We haven't used the A/C for two weeks.

My friend Ruth came with me to church today. Afterwards we came back to my house and grilled chicken and made a yummy salad. We also had a warm lemon and honey drink.

We worked on the fence yesterday and actually got a lot finished. Sprinkler system and patio should be installed this week, so sod next weekend. :)

We got our new mattresses Friday and have had the best two nights of sleep since then.

There are bees everywhere. No nests. Just bees...and wasps. I was told by a local that they come out at this time of year. Interesting.

I got a job. The drug test required taking 120 strands of hair from my head. I'm a little upset about that. I can't disclose the company yet but I will as soon as I can. I have a tentative start date for Sept. 27. I'm really excited to get back to work.

My mom comes in 1.5 weeks. I am really excited about that, too.

That's all for now. Guess I'll finish up the dishes and get my craft on.

Hope you're Sunday is as beautiful and refreshing as mine. Love y'all. :)