Just some thoughts...

• This summer is flying by. I cannot believe it is already almost the end of June. The weather in Cola has been ridiculously hot and the gnats and mosquitos are out of control. We have spent many days in the pool or having play dates inside. It is just too hot to be outside without water nearby. 
• We are heading out of town on Thursday for a very special weekend. My sweet brother is getting married on Saturday! We are looking forward to the festivities and celebrating with the newlyweds!
•  After the wedding weekend, me and the girls will be spending a few days at the lake before heading to the beach for the 4th. Sean's birthday is July 4th, so we always spend that week as a family beachin' it. This year, some sweet friends will be joining us for a few days to ring in the holiday. I'm looking forward to the sunshine, the salt air and some relaxation. 
• Speaking of needing some relaxation, I am officially exhausted. I was chatting with my mom the other day, telling her that I wasn't feeling quite right, and I think it's due to just pure exhaustion. We have been some serious road warriors this summer, and all the driving and traveling has really worn me out. 
• My sweet husband brought these home for me yesterday. What a nice surprise. I am loving sunflowers this summer.

• We spent the past weekend planting at our house and I love how it is turning out. Our yard makes me smile when I pull up :).
• My dear friend from college lost her mom to a 2 year battle with cancer a few weeks back. Please remember her in your prayers. 
• Anyone loving Pinterest as much as I am? I love having a place for great style and design ideas!
• Saylor has officially moved to her room 100% of the time. She is sleeping like a charm in her crib, both at naps and at night time (praying I'm not speaking too soon, ha!). She has a little snuggie she likes to hold when she goes to sleep. Too cute. Here she is after her nap yesterday. Love her. 

happy tuesday, friends, from our house to yours. 

Labor of love

This past weekend, my mom, dad, bro and husband worked their fannies off to get Saylor's nursery ready to roll. My brother happens to be quite the handy man (thank goodness), and brought his truck loaded with molding, paint, etc.  Here he is on day 1, getting started....

As Jake worked on the molding, mom and dad got started painting Chloe's room. They made quite a team and had her room pink and striped in no time. Jake was finished putting up all the molding, etc, so they moved on to Saylor's room for paint. My dad is quite the detailed painter...

I was pretty good at running errands for more paint and supplies, making lunch, making dinner... being staff. Ha. They worked all weekend, and here is the end result...

I am beyond THRILLED! It turned out so beautiful! We still have prints and the chandelier to hang, window treatments to put up and a glider to be covered, but we are well on our way. Thank you, thank you, thank you to my dad, brother, mom and husband for a weekend full of laboring for Saylor!

"...for this child we prayed" - 1 Samuel 1:27

Nesting!

Still working to get this house put together! Moving is a HUGE task! I'm tired of the boxes and ready to paint and decorate! I think they call it nesting!! :) 

What is the Nesting Instinct?
The nesting instinct is the name given to the distinctive urge to clean, tidy, and organize that occurs during pregnancy. One of the many pregnancy symptoms that you will experience, the nesting instinct generally kicks in around the fifth month of pregnancy, however it can also occur much earlier or much later. Many women acutely experience the nesting instinct in the final days of their pregnancy, and this can often be a sign that labor and delivery is close at hand. Nesting tends to vary from woman to woman; in fact, some women don’t experience the nesting instinct at all when they are pregnant. Others experience mild forms of the instinct while others feel the urge much more severely.

What Causes the Nesting Instinct?
The nesting urge in pregnancy is thought to be caused by both biological and emotional factors.

Most females in the animal kingdom experience similar patterns of cleaning and preparation when they are pregnant. From birds to bears, female animals appear to have an intrinsic need to prepare ahead of time for their new arrival. It is believed that females are programmed to experience this nesting instinct in order to ensure that their offspring will be cared for properly after birth. By having your baby’s room ready, all her clothes organized, and her meals planned, you are ensuring that your baby will have the best chance for growth and survival after birth.

The nesting instinct probably also involves emotional components as well. Pregnancy is a time of intense hormonal fluctuations, and these changes can cause you to act in crazy ways! As your hormones settle down in thesecond trimester, you may feel increasingly energized and excited about your baby’s birth. This can incite many women to begin cleaning, organizing, and planning for their baby’s arrival. Furthermore, social expectations also play a role in the nesting instinct. Parents are often expected to do special things for their baby’s arrival, including decorating a nursery, cleaning house, and purchasing new clothes.

Yep... that's me! Nesting away....