The Nursery...

Well, the nursery is completely done... (I think?).  It was a long time coming when you have a husband that really, I mean really, likes interior decorating and has a strong opinion about furniture, accent pieces, the room arrangement, etc - you name it!  But I wouldn't have it any other way.  There may have been some four-letter words, blood, a lot of sweat and an occasional meltdown (or more like 15) in this room during the past three months, but we survived and are still happily married! 

Brad and I love non-colored things.  Like our Christmas tree, no colored ornaments.  Our bedroom is black and cream.  We like very modern, clean-lined pieces of furniture and etc...  so I expected nothing less when it came to Ledger's room.  Yep - we settled on the boring good ol' grey and white.  (And it drives my Mom crazy that we have not one accent color! - but it is what it is:)  

I had a happy hour last week at my house for my 3rd grade team, and more than one smart woman pointed out that the nursery will never be as "white" as it is now!  Hahaha...I think that was the nice was of saying.... "Girl, you are certifiably insane to do a WHITE nursery!"  They did use the adjectives, "calm, serene, and fancy", but "practical" was not one of them.  And I know.  You live and learn I guess....

(*And luckily the walls were already grey, even though some of the pics they look tan.)

The bedding close-up from Restoration Hardware...

 My new favorite letters in the alphabet...

 A cozy, little table and our lil Ledger!

The cousin wall...  Knox, Briggs and Marlowe.  Ledger cannot wait to meet them!

Our wall art canvases...

 The comfy, grey glider with gliding ottoman that will be used all.the.time...

The dresser that nearly caused a divorce...  Came in three boxes.  Took a while.  Glad that is over with.  

Socks and hats in one apothecary jar and Ledger's blessing beads. 

One pop of color (You're welcome Mom)...  

A cute, fun elephant that came with a baby book for L.   

My most favorite (non-practical) piece in the nursery... Love.this.mirrored.bench!

 

And nothing is complete, without a white, fluffy rug....  (Some of my best girlfriends have said "That white rug is going to look great with pee, poop and projectile vomit on it".)  Sigh.....

Well, that is it!  Hope Ledger enjoys it as much as his Daddy and I do.  We find ourselves just going upstairs to look at it and dream what it will be like in less than 4 weeks with an actual baby boy in there.  We have no idea what we are in store for... but we do know we are so blessed and are so excited we can hardly stand it!

Thank you for checking it out!  Merry Christmas...

Love,

~H

Hallelujah...

WE MADE IT!....  What a crazy, fun, yet exhausting last week of school before those two glorious weeks off!  This might have been the longest.week.ever, but a lot of fun and some sighs of relief were had...

 Tree is up and decorated....

 Submitted my last assignment for Graduate School.  Now two principal's tests to take in the spring:  One for TX and one for LA...  What a relief it is pretty much OVER!

My last piece of advice from my favorite advice giver...  Sad about this one!  I looked forward to these every Thursday morning when spelling was due.  (And yes I am louder than usual these days...  due to my lack of patience and the week before Christmas with 9 yr. olds.  Isn't every teacher, pregnant or not?)

The Wainscott 3rd Grade Holiday Party is in da books - Thank you Lord...  A smorgasbord of  Domino's pizza, ring-pops, SweetTart candy canes, iced cookies, two types of cookie cakes, Capri Suns, etc.. You name it.  That combination of (not-one-healthy-food-item) was like "kid-crack" for any child under 10 to ingest.  And no, this is not a scary, green mummy; it is an 9 yr. old wrapped as a Christmas tree.  You have never heard so many shrills, screams and laughter from one activity.  It was a RIOT!

36 Weeks and counting...  Cannot believe this is almost over.  CRAZY how time flies.  Dr.'s appointment Christmas Eve to make sure this little guy has turned.  By counting the hourly numbers of jabs and kicks into my ribcage, I am going to say the odds are pretty good, I hope.

Debra, Brad's precious Mom, flew in this weekend from San Antonio.  We had a great time.  She spoiled us rotten with yummy meals, movies, shopping and buying cute little things for Ledger.  Sad taking her to the airport today, but she will be back in 28 days or less....  EEEIIIKKK! 

Debra brought a darling ornament for Ledger.  

Starbucks and Mom... What else does a boy need!?!?

Here is Ledger's shoe collection so far!  One of my students bought him the Nike's (the kid that gives me all the advice for "Ledgy", as the 9 yr. olds call him.).  And Dede, (Debra's Grandma name) spoiled us with the rest of his cute shoes and socks/booties.  Precious!

We thought a Southwest Gift Card would be a great gift for Dede to use in this spring...

Before leaving for the airport...

Thank you so much Debra for the great weekend!  Loved every minute of it... 

Well, the Wainscott's  have hit the "no travel" part of this pregnancy, so we will not be venturing west to Texas for Christmas.  Instead, we will stay put here in LA, working for some:(, and for me, enjoying my kid-free two weeks OFF for the LAST time!  (Oh dear.)  SO many people have been gracious enough to ask us over for either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinner...  (I guess they feel sorry for the non-traveling Texans!)  So so sweet to have such good friends here in LA.  

I was really sad about it at first, not being able to be with my family back in Texas, but then one of my co-workers reminded me that this was the LAST Christmas with just Brad and I!  She told me to take FULL advantage of not traveling, not having to cook or clean, or do ANYTHING strenuous...  She told me to just CHILL AND ENJOY.  Everyone reminded me that next year, will be a whole new ballgame!  I am such a "doer", so I am going to try my darndest to listen to her advice....  

I hope everyone has a restful and relaxing week celebrating Jesus's birthday with loved ones far and near.

Love,

~H

 

35 Weeks and A Sad Farewell...

Well, I am officially 35 weeks tomorrow.  WHERE did the time go?  This pregnancy has FLOWN by...  IT seems like it was yesterday when we were in Seaside, FL, and I spilled the beans to my whole family.  That was the end of May....  And here we are - It's December 10th!  I am not complaining one bit though... I can see the light as scary and exciting as it is....

 Week 34.5 before heading to the Saints game.  That was definitely my last trip up the Superdome ramp PREGNANT.  Whew... Talk about target heart-rate not even half-way up.  Ridiculous.

My cravings are changing quite a bit.  I can no longer look at a Kit Kat or Captain Crunch....  GAG.  I think I have eaten enough of those two for the rest of my LIFE.  

Now, it's all about this yummy mixture...

Cannot get enough of the pimento cheese sandwich.  HOLY COW.  I have plowed through some pimento cheese the past week.  AND it's the 'processed pimento cheese out of the plastic container in the deli section' of Rouses!  Aka... our local grocery store here in LA.  Brad can hardly look at me when I am shoving a PC sandwich in my mouth or devouring it by the spoonful.  Not the sexiest sight I am sure.   

On a sad note, there is depressing farewell that I am about to have to make...  

My nightly, BFF's:

My ear plugs...  I know, as dorky as it sounds and IS, I wear earplugs EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT.  I have become quite attached to these gems the past couple of years.  They go everywhere with me; honeymoon, summer vacations, trips back to Texas, holidays, you name it.

First off, I am a horrible sleeper... Always have been and probably always will be.  And, I hear everything!  I mean a water droplet in the upstairs bathroom, the dog five houses down the street, anything that produces a sound.

Let me preface this by saying that I do love my husband to death (never a good sign when you start a sentence like that:), but cannot stand to hear him breathe.  The raspy, deep breathing, heavy sighing, rustling of the covers, etc...  Hence, the earplugs.  Brad is not even a snorer.  Well, maybe some random nights... But for the most parts, no snoring - Just a breather, but aren't we all?....")

In about 5 short weeks (if not sooner), the earplugs and I will have to make a dramatic goodbye.  It's going to be ugly.  There may be more tears with the EP than when Mom and I say our goodbyes at the airport.  Who knows?  It's certainly going to be different without my silicon friends blocking out the noises of the fan, the passing cars, and the annoying raspy breathing in my ear.  

But all for the BEST REASON EVER.....

 My little bundle of JOY!

Thank goodness I have never been a good sleeper and required tons of sleep.  Someone please remind me of that in two months when my whining about being tired gets super annoying...

Goodbye earplugs....  It has been fun!

Love,

~H

Thanksgiving 2014...

What a great week off it was!  IT was definitely much needed.  Mom and Dad flew in on Tuesday night.  Yep, only their 2nd time and their 2nd time WITHOUT luggage.  Mom asked if Louisiana was trying to tell them something.  She blamed it last year on my Dad chatting it up with the Southwest lady that forgot to put the pink "Transfer" tags on their luggage.  But this trip, Sharon blamed it on their first leg of the trip being late and pretty much rushing to catch the NOLA flight.  

 But after we took Dad to Drago's and he devoured a dozen chargrilled oysters, he was OK and a lot more patient with a full belly.

All smiles before heading home!

Low and behold, there was a knock at the door at 11:58 Tuesday night with all three pieces of luggage...  WHEW!  Crisis adverted.

The next couple of days was running errands, a quick consultation with a pediatrician here in Mandeville, about 4 trips to Homegoods, shopping with Mom, Hobby Lobby, and eating more carbs than one person should ever be allowed to. 

With only four of us this year for Thanksgiving, there was really no need to serve every dish known to Thanksgiving.  A guy that works for Brad smoked a turkey for us and I bought a ham at Honey Baked Ham.  Mom and I, (well to be honest, Mom - No I involved) made homemade mashed potatoes, dressing, and corn.  

And let's talk about the dressing.  My mom told me that she was bringing some food items in her suitcase.  I guess I just ignored this statement, totally blocked out the absurdity of that statement or was completely was not listening, because low and behold, she sure did pull out these items from her lovely suitcase Wednesday morning:  

An onion, homemade corn bread, and a package of stuffing...  I am not even lying.  I about DIED!  I guess she thought Mandeville didn't have any grocery stores.  This lady is always prepared.  Only Sharon, only Sharon...

Yes...  We had not one GREEN thing on our plates people!  It was a carb-filled paradise!!!!  Finished off with a homemade Butter Chess Pie and a store-bought small pumpkin pie for Brad.  It was all so yummy!

Thursday afternoon, Mom and I went to see "MockingJay".  LOVED it!  This is what was happening when we left:

 

And I am quite sure they didn't move for the three straight hours we were gone...

And here is what we saw Thanksgiving night around 6:15pm after leaving the movies....

 Target was a complete zoo.  Mayhem at it's finest.  What could possibly be that important waiting in THAT LINE!?!?!  NOTHING!

And you should have seen Best Buy.  WOWIE...

Friday was spent at Oak Alley Plantation about an hour and a half away and on Magazine Street in New Orleans.  It was such a fun day to round out Mom and Dad's Louisiana Thanksgiving Trip!  

 

The trees are amazing...

Gorgeous!

 

Love this couple...

 

 My Dad eats on average 6-8 burgers a WEEK.  NOT even kidding.  How he doesn't weigh 500+ lbs., I will never know.  (Killer metabolism that I was not blessed with, I guess.)  By Friday, he was on Day 3 without a burger or red meat, so Brad and I took him and Mom to Port of Call in New Orleans.  It was so delicious.  Their menu is simple; burgers, a ribeye steak, and baked potatoes.  NO FRIES.  That's.it....  Dad was in heaven.

What a wonderful Thanksgiving Break it was and a very tearful goodbye...  Complete meltdown thinking that I could be a Mom and Ledger could be in my arms the next time I see my parents.  It's a little harder planning last minute trips when you are a state away.  And having no idea really when this baby will make his debut in this world, makes me a nervous WRECK.  But I know when he does arrive, it will be God's perfect timing for our little Ledger.  Thank the Lord Mom finally hung up her principal shoes and can hop flight at any given moment!  WHEW... 

Have a great week all!  

Love,

~H

Week of Surprise and Shower...

Was last week the LONGEST.WEEK.EVER for anyone else?  Holy Moly!  I guess the excitement of having this whole week off was just too much for everyone here in LA.  It drug on forever, but not without a few "HIGH" points...

On Tuesday about 3:50, I was in the hallway, herding cats   aka students for dismissal, and it was WILD.  Like I said, longest.week.ever....  When I saw something come around the corner and I couldn't believe my EYES!  I am rarely at a loss for words, but here was one of those moments.  My brother, sister-in-law Christy, and precious niece Marlowe with my husband in tow were walking towards me. 

WERE MY EYES PLAYING TRICKS ON ME?  No they were not!  My brother and sister-in-law had surprised me with a quick pit stop in New Orleans en route to Nashville!  Oh my lordie it was so so good to see family!  

Love this sweet, precocious little girl!  Best Tuesday ever in this classroom.

Love the Hodges Clan of Three!

 Precious MJ...

I still cannot believe that they flew in for about a 7 hour visit, but I cannot thank them enough!  What a special day it was.  Our time was WAYYYY too short, but hopefully they will be back soon.  Brad took them to the airport the next morning heading to Nashville...  

Thursday was my school baby shower!  One more time to shower Ledger with such love and  generosity, fun and much appreciated gifts, yummy food and the best punch ever.  (A bottle of champagne in the punch would have made it a "10", but I don't need to get arrested on an elementary school campus and Ledger would probably not have appreciated the bubbles.)

I swear, I have worked in 4 elementary schools during my time teaching and I have undoubtedly have been blessed with the best co-workers ever in all 4 schools.  Not everyone can say that I realize, but I truly can....  This Louisiana bunch is amazing!  We get along so well and laugh DAILY about something...

Love these women.  We are all from different backgrounds, states, religions, political views, and display a WIDE variety of personalities, BUT I couldn't love these ladies anymore.  

*Mary, how did we miss you in this pic!:(  So sorry!

How adorable are these?! And what is funny is that they are from two of the sweetest ladies that work at Woodlake:  One is a Louisianan and one is a Mississippian.  Who would have thought?  Thanks Sallie and Beverly! 

And this onesie...  So, so funny.  Not "Who Dat!".... "Poo Dat!"  Thank you Mary!  Anytime you want to come change a "Poo Dat", you are more than welcome.  Love it!

 32.5 weeks today...  At 19 inches long and 4 pounds, he is growing like a weed.  

(So is his momma - I blame it on the amount of Captain Crunch and Rolos that are being consumed daily!)

Feeling good and getting anxious about his arrival.  Not sleeping well at all, but I think God is preparing me for what is about to become the norm for the next 18-21 years of fun!  The nursery is ALMOST complete, diaper bag is ordered, closet is organized, clothes are starting to get washed with the EXPENSIVE detergent (Sheesh!), but I am sure I am forgetting to do something.  Since I cannot travel over Christmas Break, I will have lots of down time to finish up all the prep work for Ledger's arrival and just VEG...

Mom and Dad fly in tomorrow through Saturday.  Cannot wait to have them here for 4 whole days...  Lots of shopping, eating, and who knows what else!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.  I hope everyone has a blessed week celebrating, eating, relaxing and spending quality time with family and friends.

Love,

~H  

Whoa Baby and a Birthday...

Brad and I finally got to see little Ledger up close last Tuesday.  The day had arrived for our "on the house" 3/4 D sonogram....  We were SO EXCITED and hoping to get some clear pics of his precious, little face!

Our appointment was at 3:30 and we finally got called back at 4:21.  Awesome...  I love waiting.

At 3:40 the reception called me up to the front desk and asked me how I was going to pay for the 3/4D sonogram.  I think I might of laughed out loud, choked on my water and politely said:

"Ma'am, I spoke with your office manager Vikki about 2 months ago after our huge gender reveal ordeal DEBACLE with Donna, and this one is on the house."  She kindly responded, "OH...I remember that...  No charge!" 

But OH.SO.WORTH.IT...  I will spare you will all the pics, but here were some of the best ones....

 His hands and feet were both stretched back over his forehead.  Would NOT stop moving.  Lord... help me! 

Sweet baby with his button noes and big, full lips.  Where he got those lips, we are still wondering.  He already has a FULL head of hair.  He is still head up she told us.  His head is right by my belly button and his cute, little bum is sitting smack dab on top of my bladder.  That explains a lot... Cannot wait until he turns.  That is going to feel awesome.

Seeing these pictures sure makes it real...  And scary:)

AND...  It's my favorite guy's birthday today.  The BIG 3-7!  The Lord sure knew what he was doing when he thought our paths should cross that one day in March of 2012.  This guy is my best friend, my biggest cheerleader, my love, an amazing Godly leader of our family and the most patient husband known to man.  He is an amazing son, son-in-law, brother, uncle, grandson, husband and in 60 short days, will add the most important title of "Daddy" to his resume.  I.cannot.wait... Ledger is a lucky little guy to have such a wonderful Dad already. 

Thank the Lord my husband is an amazing cook...  Even if it's his own birthday dinner!:) I did the crescent rolls.  Whew... taxing I tell ya.  A meal is not complete without a Pillsbury crescent. (And a close second is a Cracker Barrel biscuit or a Cheddar Bay Biscuit from Red Lobster).

Brad's one request for birthday dessert was Winn Dixie Red Velvet Cupcakes (Ok at best, but the hubs favorite:) and homemade Oreo Cake Balls!  Easy enough...

Sweet Rachel and Greta, aka Ledger's first girlfriend.  Failed to get a pic of the guys. 

Adorable

 What a special gift!  Blessing beads for Ledger's nursery...  Love.these!!

Well, we have one week of school left before Thanksgiving Break, 5 1/2 weeks until Christmas, and 8 1/2 weeks until Ledger's arrival (hopefully)...  Ready or not, time is going to definitely fly by...

Have a great week everyone!

Love,

~H