Photo update, and life update

I feel like I haven't written about what's going on in my life for a while. I was looking through my pictures and uploading them and I think I'm going to share.

[caption id="attachment_340" align="aligncenter" width="300"] So... What do you get when you combine this stuff, pinterest....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_341" align="aligncenter" width="300"] scissors, and this handsome guy as your helper???[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_342" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Some pretty awesome wall art! It's pretty awesome if you ask me. I'm not done yet, but this was one of our date nights this month. Once I finish it I'm going to buy some metallic looking spray paint and paint it. Then I'll take a picture and put it up for all to see :)[/caption]

After we made the decoration...

[caption id="attachment_343" align="aligncenter" width="300"] We went out and got a caramel apple and hot chocolate! (Don't mind the picture... we got a good shot of the apple, but I cut our heads off)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_344" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Shot numba 2... good of our faces but we missed the apple :/[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_345" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Third time's the charm! Well... That'll have to do, we got the hot chocolate, the apple and our faces. :)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_346" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Then we went on a walk and talked about upcoming Christmas present ideas! We got some good ideas... but I won't tell you what they are ;)[/caption]

All in all, we had an AWESOME date night! It was so nice to break out of the mold of what we usually do and be a bit creative. It was really fun having Jonathan help me with the wall art too! He's got a good eye for how things should look.

Another thing that happened recently is I got my hair cut!!! It was way overdue!!! I am happy to say that I no longer have a mullet! I was surprised with how much I liked it! It's always scary to give a new hair dresser free reign, but I told her I wanted to grow it out, and she assured me that she was really good at helping people grow out short cuts. I trusted her, and she gave me a hair style that I like better than my original short cut! What do you guys think?





and here's the back...





I really love it! It's funky, and feminine all at the same time! It's a bit quirky, and unique... all things that I want in a hair style. The only thing is it's not that diverse, meaning I can't do it very many different ways... but that's ok. She said I'll keep this same style till the top layers grow out to the bottom, and then we'll play with it and get it into an A-line! I'm so excited!

Gratitude Day 22

Day 22: I'm grateful for this time of year. I'm grateful for this time that we have to reflect on our blessings, and to stop and be grateful for them.
On our way up to uncle Howard's place, we thought of categories and then tried to think of ten things each within the category that we were grateful for. It was a really good thing for me. I was able to express my gratitude for people I don't often thank, and for things that are so common (like a kitchen table, or a comfy bed) that I often take for granted.

Gratitude Day 20-21

Day 20: I'm grateful for coupons :). Today I went to Target to start my baby registry (crazy!) and I got a boat load of coupons just for being willing to play with their fun scanner guns :). I'm excited to use the coupons too. This makes me want to register EVERYWHERE! I don't even need to tell people I'm registered at all these places... I just want the coupons ;)

Day 21: I'm grateful for the consideration and kindness of Uncle Howard in inviting us out for Thanksgiving! We're heading out today and I'm SO EXCITED! They also said they wanted to treat us to a show on Friday night, so not only do I get to hang out with family for the holiday, but I also get to go out, and see a play!!! I'm so excited!!!

Gratitude Day 17-19

Day 17: I'm grateful for good music. We went to a symphony on Saturday night and I really enjoyed listening to the music. I had a lot of time to think, and ponder about life. I'm grateful for talented people! Both composers and people who share their musical talents. Every time I go to the symphony I have a desire to start practicing violin again. I had that same thought this time too, then it changed to learning the cello, since we already have one, and I have a teacher that would teach me for free... then it changed to piano. I have a piano and I would get more use from knowing how to play that then any other instrument.

Day 18: I'm grateful for cooking, and family. Sunday we had some of Jonathan's distant relatives over (one of his mom's cousins, and some of his second cousins) and even though that was the first time we had ever met them, it felt good to know that we have family close (our second cousins, Kari and Kenneth, are going to Purdue as well). I decided to try a new recipe, and I must say, I'm so grateful for the internet. I can read enough reviews on the recipe I want to try, that I can be confident enough to make it for the first time when company comes over.
I had a really good time cooking with Jonathan, we made Panda express! We had chow mien, and mandarin chicken with rice and steamed broccoli. MMM it was so good! The new recipe I tried was the chow mien. It was a success.
I realized last night that I love hosting dinner parties. I love making fancy meals, and having people over. I'm grateful that we are in a position to be able to do that.

Day 19: Today I'm grateful for advice! I put up on facebook asking people to let me know all the best products out there for babies. Within 12 hours I had over 20 people respond with advice. Today my goal is to do my research for all the baby supplies I should register for, and because so many people were willing to put their two cents in, I have such a better place to jump start from. (feel free to also put in your two cents in about the best baby products out there)

Gratitude day 16

Day 16: Today I'm grateful for sleep, and for feeling rested. Sleep is something that I have struggled with in my life. I either wake up feeling rested, or tired. But I'm so grateful for the days I feel rested. I'm also grateful that on the days that I wake up tired, I can go back to sleep and try again. I know that won't be the case forever, so I'm enjoying it now, while I still can :)

Blowing my mind

Every Friday (the day of my "one week older in pregnancy") I get blown away with how far along I am. 26 weeks... that's a lot of weeks! This pregnancy seems to be flying by!

I'm so grateful that I am pregnant! It's a miracle and a blessing, and I thank my Heavenly Father daily that I am pregnant.

On a completely not relevant note :) : I felt my first sciatic nerve pain yesterday. That was an experience :)

Oh! And I just have to mention. I got the best sleep that I have had all week last night.

Gratitude Day 15

Day 15: Today I'm grateful that I can sew. I get enjoyment out of it, and it gives me something to do that makes me feel accomplished. If I didn't know how to sew, then I would be quite bored waiting for this baby to arrive.
I love to bring people joy, and I feel like I can do that through sewing.