"But since I came here felt the joy and the fear...

...finding myself making every possible mistake." New Soul by Yael Naim.

Hello lovelies!

Image via Free Pretty Things For You

Sorry (again!) for the extended absence! We made it safely to our new hometown - thanks for all your prayers and support!

I'm seven weeks out from baby Charlie's due date, and we're in the midst of buying a house, getting all the new insurance/car registration/choosing doctors/etc. that comes with a new move, and my sweet husband is working crazy hours with his new job and doing all the paperwork for the various things listed above (since if I did them at this point I may not even spell my name correctly. Helloooo, pregnancy brain!).

I've got a couple projects going on (ha.) beside the moving and baby stuff, so I'm afraid this blog may have to go on hold a little longer. Rest assured that I will bring you all up to speed once we get back into a regular schedule and a house of our own. :)

Thanks for sticking with me!

Love!

"From Atlantic to Pacific...

...Gee, the traffic is terrific." There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays by Perry Como

Hello lovelies!

Baby-boo and his Great-Grampa

Apologies for the extended absence! We have had a full and delightful autumn season with birthdays, anniversaries, family visits, morning sickness, job interviews (everything went well; still waiting to hear a decision!), the holidays beginning, and my sweet offspring getting two new teeth this week and on the verge of walking! He is getting to be such a big little boy, and such a clever child, if I do say so myself. I fear that he will outsmart me before too long.

I have a whole slew of posts I can't WAIT to share with you, among them my DIY advent calendar ESPECIALLY for Mamas with little ones! Naturally it's not completely done yet (um, I got the first two finished so I have two more days to complete the set, right?) and it will only take one more trip to the dollar store plus my sweet husband doing a tiny little spray paint project for me.

On a more personal note, regarding jobs, my husband has had two interviews back in my homeland, and both of them went well, and pending final tests/background checks/supervisor approval we have been told that we might move as soon as Christmas, and definitely (if accepted) by mid-January. Naturally this is thrilling news since we've been apply for jobs and pounding the pavement for over a year, now! Back on the east coast, he also has one definite job lead, with similar holdups pending, and they would be ready for us in April! There's a lot of uncertainties about all of these options, so any prayers you could spare for wisdom and the right job to work out in God's good time would be such a blessing! We would love to move as soon as possible, because the longer we wait, the bigger I get with our new baby...and the harder it will be for me to do anything with the move! (Oh yeah, I did mention that we're expecting again, right? Yup. Due in May. Woohoo!)

With all this indecision and possibilities in then next few weeks or months, it begs the question, to decorate, or not to decorate?

Those of you who know me, know that my year is divided into the usual four seasons: Christmas, post-Christmas, un-Christmas, and pre-Christmas. ;) The possibility of living a year of my life where I don't decorate never even entered my mind! At least we have to go get some mistletoe...and put up one of the little trees...and maybe a garland or two...candles...centerpieces...

And speaking of finding out NEWS, on Friday we will have an ultrasound and find out if this baby is a boy or a girl! Too exciting!!!

I hope your holidays are less in limbo than mine, and you get to slow waaaaaaay down and enjoy the season! But even if you feel as hectic about all the details as I do at present, don't miss all the joy coming your way as we celebrate the birth of the King!

"Love...

...was made for me and you." L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole.

Hello lovelies! We made it back, and I have a special post for you today! This was the rehearsal dinner for my brother-in-law and his wife, who tied the knot last weekend! My mother-in-law did a fabulous job coordinating the rehearsal dinner, and I was so delighted to be a part of it, doing the decorations! 

We hosted the event in the beach house where we stayed for the wedding, in Folly Beach, SC, which was absolutely fabulous. We had about 35 guests, and a very kind friend of the family actually served the food (which the family prepped and my MIL planned) so we could enjoy the evening (which I certainly did!) 

We did a romantic beach theme, and I went totally crazy because I LOVE beachy stuff (since it's all new and fascinating to this desert girl!). Below are photos of all the decor. 

Photo courtesy Holly Wolking

Photo courtesy Holly Wolking

Photo courtesy Abigail Wolking 

Photo courtesy Abigail Wolking

Photo courtesy Holly Wolking

Photo courtesy Abigail Wolking

Photo courtesy Abigail Wolking

(All unmarked photos are mine.) It was such a blast to decorate for! Congratulations, Matt and Alisa! I'm so happy for you both!

Love!

"I said I wasn't gonna lose my head...

...but then POP goes my heart!" Pop Goes My Heart, by Hugh Grant from Music and Lyrics.

Hello friends. I've gotten lots of questions about my sanity in this somewhat crazy busy time, and I'm just here to assure you that I am maintaining. Not that I'm doing a perfect job of it (the roses the Fiance sent me to cheer me up are proof that I have had at least one bad day...) but I think we are keeping our little noses above the water.

For any other brides out there attempting to stay sane in the middle of this craziness...or anyone who is stressed, I'm going to share a few of the things that keep me grounded and (mostly) happy. Some serious, some...not so much.

First: Bible study and quiet times.

This one is most important. The Bible study I'm doing is a book my pastor recommended (the Fiancee is also going through the book with me) and it is so good because it is helping me remember that we're dealing with a marriage here--not just a big party. Besides that, the quiet times are so good because it is a time to push all these details out of my mind for a time and center on something else that is much more permanent than a single day...and also helps me remember what marriage is all about anyway.

Second: Organization and Display

I know organization can be over-rated, but for me, it's crucial to have lists of everything and schedules written down. And I can't do any of that digital stuff either (though I use it as supplement and aides...) but I need written, paper, physical copy of things so I can flip through and remember what is going on. And I like to have stuff to scrapbook with later. :)

Third: Things that Sparkle.

This includes my darling "little girl" chandelier...

...and my my many sparkles that I have been wearing every single day...

...and other shiny things like lipgloss...

...and of course, my lovely ring. :)

So yes.

Those are my fabulous tips for today. Stay tuned for more...:P

No but seriously.

Tomorrow I go to a wedding expo in Abq, and then Monday it's meetings with some of my wonderful helpers who I haven't gotten to talk to yet and guestlisting, and by Tuesday I hope to be smacking down the invites so that by WEDNESDAY...I can be actually ready to call on some of the sweet people who have offered to help out!

Ok, off to sleep, because I'm going to early church tomorrow..

"If it's a crime, then I'm guilty.......

...guilty of loving you." Guilty by Billie Holiday

Hello friends! I have finally finished our little wedding website, so I am giving you all the inaugural link. There are touches and of course changes that will be made as we get closer to the date, but it's at least operational! The Knot is kindly hosting our site, and I'm quickly becoming the hugest fan of The Knot's wedding planning aids, as well as Bed Bath and Beyond's registry program.

Also: Big News! I've cut my hair! Not much, don't worry--just got some very awesome layers and a nice trim that makes me feel much less scroungey. :)

I also want to take a few lines to thank everyone who is being so patient and understanding and helpful with me. I am being (unfortunately) the classic emotional bride, and everyone has been simply marvelous! Also, the number of people who have offered to do various things has made me just cry. Before we started planning I was simply pulling out my hair to figure out how we were going to get it all together, but thanks to you all, the wedding may actually happen. :) Thank you all!

Love!