Home Organization Week 1 Challenge: The Kitchen

While I don't necessarily believe in New Year's resolutions I do believe in starting the year off on the right foot. In preparing for baby Wimbish, and just wanting to have a more organized house, I have decided to join the lovely ladies here and complete the Home Organization 14 Week Challenge sponsored by A Bowl Full of Lemons. This challenge takes you through room by room, helping you organize each nook and cranny of your house. I can't wait to start Week 1: The Kitchen! Will you join me?

It's A...?

Well the moment Mark and I have waited for for so long is here... We had our Gender Reveal party today! We had so much fun with our family and close friends (and youth).  We had a cake made for the big reveal... whats inside that cake will change our lives forever. I'll let the pictures tell the story...

Are you Team Pink or Team Blue? Guests had to vote when they arrived. I included some Old Wives Tales for fun... according to them baby Wimbish is a girl? Let's see how true they are... We also had a little photo booth where guests could take a picture with our lips or a mustache. 

My tissue paper pom-poms that I hung from the ceiling. I also have numerous paint samples left over from a previous Craft Night so I added some 'falling confetti'.

It's hard to see the centerpieces but I slid an ultrasound picture in a square glass jar and added some pink and blue marbles.

Mommy and Daddy are totally sporting the mustaches and are definitely Team Blue!

Aunt Christy is hopeful for a girl...

Uncle JD is wishing for a boy...

Great Grandma and Grandpa aren't in agreement... but then again are they ever?

The proud grandparents... My dad said he was Team Pink but that there was no way he was wearing lips :)

The moment we've been waiting for... Mark is cutting the cake!

And Baby Wimbish is...

A boy!

I don't think I realized how much I wanted a boy until I realized that's what we were having. I can't wait to read him stories, play with cars, clean those muddy clothes, make superhero capes, etc. I pretty much have his childhood planned out on my Little Man Pinterest board... go see for yourself: http://pinterest.com/mylifeashiswife/my-little-man/

For those of you with boys, any suggestions?

Making Your Home a Haven: Week 1 Challenge

I am very excited to start the 'Make Your Home A Haven' challenge. I have been getting so stressed with all the cleaning and organizing and cleaning again... Sometimes I feel like our house will never be our home as there is always something to do. Along with tackling a small area at a time I have joined this blog challenge hoping to set the homey tone in our house as well.

Week 1: Lighting candles is nothing new in our house. In fact, if I don't have a candle lit Mark usually lights one. We have one special candle that we usually favor... On our honeymoon in Hocking Hills, Ohio we went into this little shop and they had lantern candle warmers. While it was more than we would usually pay we decided to splurge as it was our honeymoon. I am so thankful that we did because we use it constantly. And, two years later, we are still using the same Marshmallow candle that we bought that day as well. The living room seems to be the hub of our home so our lantern is placed in the corner right by the front door. It is my prayer when I see the candle glowing that our home is not just a home to us but to our baby that we are expecting in April. I pray that while we still have so much to do, finish the kitchen, finish the basement, and plan a nursery from start to finish, that we can do it together and with a joyful heart.

18 Weeks

I'm 18 weeks today and so excited... I took my first 'preggy' pic because a few ladies at church told me I looked just adorable. I have to admit... I am liking all the maternity clothes my friends Sarah, Jessie, and Mari gave me. 

How far along? 18 weeks... the time is really flying by because I have been so busy. I can't believe I am almost half way there!

Movement? Well, I think... not really sure because I don't know what I'm looking for. I haven't felt a kick or a jab but it does feel like things, like my organs, are being bumped around. Really looking forward to that first kick though!

Maternity Clothes? Like I said, I am really enjoying the new wardrobe I have from my friends. Its like going shopping in my closet every day. And my mom bought be some new jeans! Still loving my old sweats though... gotta be comfy!

Best Moment of the Week? Last week I got to wear my cute mommy-baby skeleton shirt for Halloween... everyone loved it and it made me look forward to dressing the little one up next year.

Worst Moment of the Week? Still getting sick every now and then...

Sleep? I'm definitely losing sleep... I have a hard time falling asleep then when I finally do it is usually time for a potty trip... ugh! Luckily I can still sneak in a nap midday!

Cravings? Still craving fruit... apples and oranges

Miss Anything? Diet Coke. Diet Coke. Diet Coke. {One of the youth from our youth group promised me a case of Diet Coke after I have the baby... I. Cannot. Wait.}

Looking Forward? I have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming 2 weeks... This weekend Mark and I are going on a BABYmoon to Berlin, Ohio (Amish Country) and I am so excited. We are going to spend the weekend shopping and eating :) And next week is my doctor's appointment. I am so excited to see my baby again... its been 10 weeks since the last ultrasound. I am eager to see how big he or she has gotten. And, speaking of he or she... hopefully we can find out!

Operation Christmas Child

Today I had the privilege of going Christmas shopping for two very special children. Two children who otherwise would not receive anything for Christmas. Two children who don't get to make Christmas lists or circle the toys they want in the ads. Two children who are as grateful for the bar of soap and toothbrush I bought as they are for the toys I placed in their box as well. Mark couldn't shop with me so I got to buy for a little girl and little boy. I had so much fun picking the exact toys that I thought they would like. It is my prayer that through this gift they can come to know the gift of God... the true meaning of Christmas!

99 Reasons...

While browsing Pinterest today I found this great pin with an equally great challenge. The pin was titled "99 Things You Might be Thankful For About Your Husband". The challenge was to tell you husband one reason why you are thankful for him each day of November. Now Mark is great at always telling me why he loves me, appreciates me, and things he likes about me. In fact, I would say he does it at least once a day if not more... he is always bringing a smile to my face. But this got me thinking that maybe I don't tell him how thankful I am enough. So... challenge accepted. Will you join me?

Happy Halloween

17 weeks

Happy Halloween from Mark, Carrie, and Baby Wimbish!

Trunk or Treat

Well Trunk or Treat ended up more like Table or Treat because of rain, rain, and even more rain. We had a very wet night and ended up inside... that didn't ruin our fun though. We had a great turnout and lots of fun. I think the adults had just as much fun decorating as the kids did getting the candy. Here are a few pictures of our 'tables'...

Rachel and Addison at the farm... The sign says "Caution, some animals may bite"

Lydia and her friend down on the farm

Bill and Janice with their Fall Fest theme... and lots and lots of candy!

Ms. Debbie, or the flower child

Snow and Iron Man, our greeters

Burt and Ernie passing out some free Frosty coupons

Dr. Seuss inspired table... The Cat in the Hat, Cindy Lou Who, and Thing One and Two

Uncle Si is happy, happy, happy

Mark and I, the tourists at the beach... Watch out for the shark!

Somewhere over the rainbow this brother and sister actually get along

Duck Dynasty & Camo Cupcakes

For the season premier of Duck Dynasty, one of Mark's new favorite shows and the show if which we have a son he will be named after, I made Mark some camo cupcakes that I found on Pinterest. 

 First I mixed a vanilla cake mix and a chocolate cake mix. Then I separated the mixes and added green food coloring to create the camo effect. For the lighter green I used the vanilla mix with 13 drops of food coloring. The nasty green was vanilla cake mix, some chocolate mix, and 10 drops of food coloring. The lighter brown was a combination of vanilla and chocolate mix. The darker was chocolate mix and some blue and green food coloring. 

 Then I dropped the mix into the cups using a spoon. A dollop of one color, then another. Once full, I marbled them using a toothpick. 

 For this pan I used smaller drops and left them alone. I think this worked best!

 This is how they turned out after the came out of the oven.

 My handsome hubby enjoying his cupcakes while watching Duck Dynasty!

They turned out both cute, although Mark will argue that camo isn't cute, and delicious and we enjoyed our night. I do have to admit I love this show too! And yes, if we have a boy his name is Jase!

Happy Anniversary

And So Our Family Begins

Mark and I are so very excited to announce the addition to our family come April! Baby Wimbish is set to arrive around April 8th and we could be more happy!

"We prayed for this child and the Lord has granted us what we asked of Him"
1 Samuel 1:27

August Craft Night

Well, August came and went and I never posted pictures of our Craft Night so here they are... We made back-to-school totes. Even those of us who aren't school aged had a blast. Many made the "no sew" ruffle tote (idea came from here) while some decided to use the doily and paint method (found here). We also had some very cute Pinterest-inspired snacks thanks to Bev and Kay.

Thank you to all the ladies who came out and joined us! Especially our first-timers Lisa and Janice! I look forward to Craft Night each month and truly have a great time and good fellowship with all of you! Here comes October...