Fabulous Friday Finds - Inchbug Name Tags

So its been awhile since my last Fabulous Friday Find. But I'm back now! I honestly can't take the credit for this find, because I have several friends that already have them, but at the same time, I can't not write about them, because they are so awesome and there are still a lot of people who don't know about this awesome invention.

Are you tired of writing on your bottles and sippy cups with sharpie?? Or tired of being worried about your child coming home with the wrong bottle or cup from daycare or the church nursery. Here is your solution:

Aren't they so cute! And his whole name fit on it. These are dishwasher and sterilizer safe. They can be left on the bottle while they are in the sterilizer! They also fit most bottles, sippy cups and even water bottles!

They come in all different colors and you choose how you want them personalized. Check them out here. And don't forget to search for a coupon code if you decide to order some - I found several for 10% off. These are going to be just perfect for when James Bradford starts Mother's Day Out in January and will be great for the church nursery!

Happy Fabulous Friday!! Hope you have a great weekend!!

Some Progress Finally - 39 week appointment!

This morning I had my 39 week checkup. 39 weeks - Oh my! Can't believe we have made it this far!! As I have said numerous times before, I thought he would be here now going off of our family birth history! God has a way of perfect timing though! And he is showing us that, because Cory is now through with his traveling for the next couple weeks - Woohoo! So, no more worrying about James Bradford making his arrival while Cory is out of town or tearing up the highways trying to get back!
We had a 10am appointment today. I always try to get the earliest available - just because I feel like the later in the day the appointment is, the harder it is to find a parking spot and the longer you wait for the Dr. I was right about the parking this morning - Cory and I made our own spot in the deck! But we didn't have to wait long at all to see the Dr. We were in and out! Before leaving work though, I told the other ladies in the office that if I hadn't made any progression and I come back crying - James Bradford wont be here until 41 weeks!
So did I come back crying? NOPE! Thank goodness. I had some progression - not a ton, but enough not to get upset over. I am now 60% effaced (was 50% last week) and 2 cm dilated (was 1 cm last week). And I measured right at 38 weeks, so he has dropped. Plus he is in great downward position for delivery. The Dr. reported he could come any day now. So that was great news. Although I still had to make an appointment for next week.
Making that appointment for next week was hard. Why? - Because Lisa, one of my best friends from high school, (see blog post below) is getting married next weekend. Seeing all of her wedding festivities on my calendar along with that 40 week appt, made me sad. I know I prob. won't be able to make all the wedding festivities or be able to stay long at any events if James Bradford is here, but I still can't imagine not seeing her walk down the aisle and seeing her marry the love of her life. But like I said earlier - God's timing is perfect in all situations! So we'll just have to wait and see what happens!

An Exciting Email!

Yesterday I received such a fun & exciting email. Here is the picture that was attached in the email:

One of my closest friends from high school got engaged this past holiday weekend!! Our friends Casey and Paul live in New York City and they went to the Catskill Mountains for the weekend and this was the outcome!! I am totally pumped for my sweet Casey!!

The "Fab Four" will all soon be married - Casey, Christine, Lisa & Me. We call ourselves the Fab Four - because we were all friends in high school and still continue to be close - although we are miles apart - NYC, Texas and Birmingham. Everyone will be coming to Birmingham in less then 2 weeks! They will be coming to Birmingham for Lisa and Chris's wedding -another member of the fab four.

Here are all the soon to be newly weds - when we went to NYC in January - Chris, Lisa, Casey & Paul . Cory and I are hoping and praying to be able to make it to Lisa's wedding next weekend - as long as we aren't in the hospital with James Bradford - we'll be there! Cant wait for the fab four and our spouses/fiance to all be together and to celebrate everybody!!
This picture is a couple years old - but its a picture of the complete fab four (plus our four sweet boys) at Camp Collier. (the Halls, the soon to be Ritchies, the soon to be Whittimores and the Stoops)

Congratulations Casey & Paul!! We are so excited for yall. Welcome to the group Paul (not that you weren't already a part!)- we love you!

38 Weeks & Happy Labor Day!

"Our bags are packed, we're ready to go . . " Oh we're ready to go alright, but no sign of baby yet!! I thought James Bradford would be here by now - but hello week 38! Today I am officially 38 weeks pregnant! I am still feeling great, but I am very ready to have this baby! I have had a fantastic and easy pregnancy, but feeling uncomfortable and huge is starting to get tiresome. And plus I cant wait to meet and hold this precious life that God is going to so graciously bless Cory and I with. Sorry to the 7 people that voted we would have the baby this past week - here's to hoping the 10 people that voted for this week are right!!

At 38 weeks, James Bradford should weigh approximately 6.8lbs and be 19.5 inches long (like a leek!). His organs have progressed and his is now able to live outside of the womb successfully and he even is able to grab things with his little fist! - I cant wait for the little fist to be able to grab my finger! So come on James Bradford - hurry up, we can't wait to meet you!!

Labor day must be a day for laboring! We got word from 2 friends that they are in the hospital having their babies. I keep telling James Bradford - wouldn't it be fun to share your birthday?! One of our friends went in yesterday and another one of our friends went in in the middle of the night. Cant wait to meet these precious baby boys! Maybe after meeting them in the next day or so, James Bradford will be wanting to make his appearance and meet us!

This weekend was a relaxing one, and I'm glad it's not officially over yet. I love 3 day weekends. Saturday was such a fun day, filled with lots of football. For Cory though, unfortunately though, this was the first Bama Home football he has missed in 3 years. Poor Thing! Oh well - we set up our own tail gate, had friends over and grilled out and still enjoyed a big Bama win!

Next week Bama plays Penn State. Cory has been looking forward to this game for 2 years now. It's the only game he cares about seeing all season - So I am hoping James Bradford arrives before or after so he is able to attend! Although, of course he is more then happy to miss if James Bradford chooses to make his arrival - its me, that really hopes that Cory is able to go!

Quick Week 38 Appointment Update

Just wanted to write a quick update about my 38 week appointment today. I went in thinking "This is it - James Bradford is coming this weekend." I thought there was going to be much progression and I was super excited about the appointment.
We go in and see the Dr. - no change! NO CHANGE?! Are you kidding me?? No change, in the past 2 weeks?! Still 50% effaced and 1cm dilated. Next appointment - next Thursday. Bummer! My Doctor is going to be out of town this week, so that's the only plus of him not coming this week - I really want her to deliver him.

On a more exciting note though - Bama kicks off their season opener tomorrow. ROLL TIDE! Who knows why, but why would the current #1 team in the nation be televised on pay per view?! Oh well, we don't care! We are setting up our tailgate with our fellow MLA tailgaters and gonna tailgate right here at home and watch the game. Tent, Outside TV, Grill, Lucky Shakers and all!

Hope everyone has a great weekend and that are your team wins tomorrow. (Unless of course you are a San Jose fan!)

Surprised and Spoiled!

Today at work, my coworkers surprised me with a baby shower lunch. I was told this morning that the office was going to order in lunch for everyone because it had been a "bad week." I didn't realize it had been a bad week - but I would never turn down a free lunch. Olive Garden or my Lean Cuisine?!- I think I will go with Olive Garden and save my Lean Cuisine for tomorrow!

While I was on the phone chatting with my sister (Ellen - were you told to call me?!) they were setting up lunch in the conference room and putting out this cute cake.


We had a yummy lunch and a delicious and adorable cake. ( I did not have my camera, but one of the girls took pictures on her IPhone for me)


They spoiled us with a Bama bib (James Bradford needed one of these for game day tailgating with the MLA tailgaters) and with a generous gift card to Buy Buy Baby. Now to decide what to get! Maybe James Bradford's big boy car seat or maybe even indulge in a jogging stroller!

Over these past 6.5 years at Baxley Dillard - they have treated us so well. I am so thankful for this job and that they are so willing to accommodate me part time after James Bradford's arrival. Thank You everyone at Baxley Dillard Dauphin McKnight & James!!

Monograms, Appliques & More

As most of you know, I never had a middle name until I got married. I always loved things that were monogrammed, but without that middle intial, my monogram, just didn't look right. Now I am obsessed with monograms! And of course I am passing this obsession on to James Bradford. (He will prob. look back and think he had a crazy mother for always putting him in monogrammed outfits and having everything with his name on it!)

Anyways - I wanted to pass on some great websites for purchasing monogrammed and appliqued items and gifts. I have some really great friends that are entrapenuers and I am so proud of them!!

1 - http://www.fivefrenchhens.com/ - My friend Emily has been sewing and monogramming for years. She recently just started an online store full of precious monogrammed and appliqued gifts. She does beautfiul work and has done numerous things for our family. Burp Clothes, Bibs, towels, blankets - she has it all! Plus great prices and fast turn around time - just order away and she has all the supplies. If you live in the Birmingham area, she will reimburse you for the shipping. Best of all - All items come wrapped in a cello bag with ribbon - perfect for gift giving and accepts PayPal as payment!


2 - www.sewmanydesigns.blogspot.com - If you are looking for someone in the Birmingham area to monogram or applique - check out my friend Lindsey's blog. She too does beautiful work and has done numerous things for our family. I have had her monogram hostess gifts, daygowns, and my mom has used her numerous times for appliqued shirts and burp clothes. She has lots of cute designs to choose from. She too has great prices.

3 - www.themonogramswap.com - Lauren, one of my friends from college, started this business awhile back. Its a great concept - you can sell your monogrammed items on there and/or purchase monogrammed items. It's sort of like ebay, without the bidding, but only for monogrammed items. This website has even been featured on some famous bloggers blogs - other then mine of course! Ha!