Where has the time gone?!

Well, It's CHRiSTMAS BREAK for me, folks!

Can you tell I'm just a little excited?!

My maternity leave ended 3 weeks ago. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to start back to school before Christmas break. What the heck was I thinking?!

I teach first grade. It's my favorite age to teach. I work with some super fun, super sweet ladies & we have kept ourselves BUSY these past 3 weeks. Polar Express Day, Grinch Day (complete with a Who Feast :), Christmas Plays, Christmas Parties, Goodie Day, Tacky Sweater Day, the list goes on & on & ON! Being so busy kept my mind off of my sweet little baby girl ... for a few minutes at least. I know everyone got tired of me calling to check on her, but I can't help it. Who wouldn't miss this little face?

I can't believe how big she is! Justin swears she grows a ton from when he leaves in the morning to when he gets home at night. He's probably right.

She has started smiling ALL the time, now. Everybody loves it, of course. I'm pretty sure she can recognize my & Justin's faces. She spits/drools all the time. I don't know if she's teething or if she just likes to spit :)

At her last doctor's appointment she weighed 11 lbs. 4 oz. and she just started wearing a size 2 in her diapers. Also, she's trying SO hard to roll over! She hasn't done it yet, but I know she will soon.

We took her 3 month pictures. Here are some of them ...

Thank you to Sara Wise for these Ahhh-mazing photos. She's so great!



Thoughtful Thursday

I heard this song on the radio. As always, God knows just what we need to hear & when we need to hear it. I thought I would share the lyrics with ya'll ...

Laura Story: Blessings

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

I love this song : )
Happy Thursday!

What I'm LOViNG ...

I totally splurged on this blow dryer, but it has changed my life. A blow dryer? Yes, a blow dryer! I have the THiCKEST hair {not to mention it's curly, too} & it only takes a few minutes to dry it now. Also, I have broken my addiction to my flat iron thanks to this blow dryer. Good-bye flat iron, hello healthy hair!

I love these. Leopard goes with everything, right?!

Holiday Coffeemate Creamers - YEAH!

I want to be here. What do ya' say, Keri?! ;)

What I'm Loving ...

Here's what I'm loving at this moment ...

Oh, Sophia Grace, you've captured my heart! Isn't this the cutest little girl you've ever seen?! What a showstopper! I could watch this video over & over. What you might not know is Anniston was almost named Sophia ... maybe the next time ;)

I love this, too.

Christmas is creeping up on me & I want some holiday bedding to get me in the spirit.

That's all for now ... Happy Tuesday :)

Pink Partini 2011

Thursday night I attended the 6th Annual PiNK PARTiNi, hosted by the Hartwell Service League. The PiNK PARTiNi raises money for breast cancer. The theme this year was "A Mile in Her Stilettos". Each table at the party chooses a theme around which to decorate their table. Our table chose to honor none other than Mrs. Betty Crocker.

The members at each table also dress up to reflect the theme of their table. We wore aprons & high heels. However, I think everybody wore high heels. I've never seen so many heels in one room!

This night was also special for me, because my Grandmama was one of the Hartwell Service League's recipients. She is currently fighting breast cancer herself. She finished her chemotherapy treatments in September, and will begin radiation in November. Hopefully, she will ring in 2012 cancer-free!
Here's a pic of Grandmama & me at the PiNK PARTiNi ...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her!

Here are some of my table members ...

LOVE them, too! I've never laughed so much in all my life! :)

Even though I lost the silent auction, {I bid on a pair of silver sequined TOMs that were TOO CUTE} this made it all better ...

a RED VELVET CUPCAKE

Annnnnd here's a little parting shot for ya' ... This really made me laugh. Study this table very closely ;)





Buttery Biscuits

Tuesday night I had a craving for some big, buttery, homemade biscuits, so off to the kitchen I went. The first time I made homemade biscuits I was so intimidated. Justin and I had only been married a month or two, and my first attempt was a mess, to put it kindly. I made it my mission to master the art of a good ol' Southern homemade biscuit. I believe there are certain Southern staples that every Southern wife needs to know how to make and a biscuit is one of those.

Here's how we begin ... some flour, milk, Crisco, and a rolling pin.
Do you think Paula Deen's kitchen has a baby swing in it?! Just askin' ...

After 10 minutes in the oven ...

I must say, these are probably the best-looking biscuits I've made in a while. Delish!

And here's my Assistant Chef. She looks like a little biscuit, doesn't she? :)

3 Things You Should Know About Anniston

In the short 4 weeks she has been on this earth, she has formed her own little personality. I've made a list of things you should know about Anniston ...

1. She looks just like her Daddy. See ...

2. She snores. Sometimes it keeps me & Justin up at night, but it's the sweetest little snore I've ever heard!

3. She has an "Angel's Kiss". It's a red birthmark on her forehead & eyelids. It will eventually fade & it will be almost invisible. I love it, because it reminds me that we are all so different & as the Bible says, "Wonderfully made ...".

Anniston Paige Morris

On Tuesday, September 13 at 3:49 p.m., Justin & I welcomed our first born child. She is a sweet baby girl, who we named Anniston Paige.

The name Anniston is a fun twist on my & my grandmother's middle names, Ann. Her middle name, Paige, comes from my MIL's middle name. I hope she likes it :)

L & D went great! Who ever invented the epidural needs a medal. Anniston weighed in at 7 lbs. 5oz. and measured 20 inches long.

I never thought I could love someone I just met SO MUCH!

Sunday Morning Scene

Good Sunday Morning, Y'all!
If you were a fly on the wall in my house right now you would see me, still in my PJs, make-up on from the day before (gross), & the movie Sweet Home Alabama on the TV. I should be leaving church right about now, but I didn't wake up until after 10:00! I'm exhausted from this last week at school & I didn't exactly get to rest this weekend either.
We only have about 2 1/2 weeks (or less) until our baby girl decides to grace us with her presence. Now, we are playing the guessing game. How much longer? Will it be today? This weekend? Tonight? The simple answer is... She will come when she's supposed to. I'm leaving that up to God. I refuse to drink Castor oil, eat spicy foods, drive on bumpy roads, or some other ridiculous things that are supposed to cause labor. God has perfect timing & I'm waiting on that :)

Here is what my Sunday Morning Scene (SMS) looks like...

I have to put away all these sweet outfits & essentials before she arrives.

I also have to get a diaper bag to put all of this in. Otherwise, we will show up on the L & D floor with an Ingles grocery bag :) If that happens, I don't know if they will let us leave with her. What do you think?!

I've also been "nesting" a little, too. This Shark Vac & Steam really comes in handy!

I hope everyone has a restful & productive Sunday! Back to work tomorrow :)

It's Been A While...

I can't believe it's almost been a month since my last post! Hopefully when the baby gets here I will have a little more to talk about, but for now, here's what's been going on with me...

August 1st was my first official day as a First Grade Teacher! I have taught 4th grade for two years, so coming down to 1st was quite a shock, but...I'VE DIED & GONE TO HEAVEN! I can't even begin to tell anyone how much I love it! I have a class of 16 little sweethearts who are so eager to learn and to please. We are 9 days into the school year and I still can't get in the mindset of a 1st grade teacher. I still drift back into 4th grade, especially during bathroom breaks. I find myself thinking "Seriously?! Did it really just take us thirteen minutes to go to the bathroom?!". I guess I'm used to saying "Okay, 4th graders, two minute bathroom break. Let's hurry! We've got a lot to do!" I was also baffled that I had to remind everyone that the one came before the zero when we write the number ten, but I wouldn't trade my position for anything!

Sadly, we had to begin this school year with a sudden tragedy. One of our sweet 2nd grade teachers lost her life in a car accident on our 7th day of the new year. My heart aches for her family and our school. I pray every morning and night that God will comfort her family, friends, students, and co-workers during this time. When something unexpected like this happens, I realize, once again, how fragile life really is. I begin to wonder about my relationship with God, my relationship with my husband, family, and friends, and my actions and reactions in situations...
Am I really too tired to go to church this morning?
How can I find time to watch TV or check Facebook, but I forget to talk to God?
Should I really be mad because Justin forgot to pick up his shoes?
Is it worth it to waste my time on people I thought were my friends, or should I focus my time on those people that I know are my friends?
We never know when our time is up here, so I want to live each day being thankful for my blessings and being a humble, generous, and loving wife, mother, friend, and co-worker.

As far as pregnancy goes...ONLY 5 WEEKS LEFT!
Let the panic begin.
I'm still feeling pretty good, I can't complain. My feet swell (sometimes A LOT) mostly everyday, but it's unavoidable at this point in time. I'm very anxious about giving birth now. I wake up and think "Is today the day?". I really want to see her, hold her, and take care of her. I'm sort of tired of being pregnant now. There are a few things I'm looking forward to doing once this pregnancy is over:
   I want, so badly, to go shopping for "cool clothes" again! The same ol' dresses and that one pair of jeans is getting old.
   I want to drink a glass (or 3) of wine.
   I want to drink sweet tea (doctor said no more since I had a kidney stone).
   I want to get on a scale and see the number go down and not UP! :)

That's all for now.

Lots of Love,
Megan

What I'm LOViNG right now...

I might have introduced Justin to the idea of a "push present". For those of you who aren't familiar, it's a gift to Mommy-to-be from Daddy-to-be.

Don't you think this would be a GREAT push present?! It's only $1,500...

Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

This is more like it...and it's about $1,200 less :)

Coach Chelsea Signature Ashlyn Hobo



I'm also LOViNG these two ladies. They both are so classy, elegant, & have a timeless style that I am SO envious of. They are great role models for young ladies and women. I'm also LOViNG Kate's down-to-earth personality & Michelle's involvement w/ children and public schools.

Kate Middleton & Michelle Obama

My Sunday nights are spent watching these lovely, entertaining, & might I add, DRAMATiC, ladies of New Jersey. The Real Housewives of New Jersey is, without a doubt, my guilty pleasure. I invite you to watch it with me so I will have someone else to share the latest dish with :)

RHONJ

I'm LOViNG, LOViNG, LOViNG this iced mocha from McDonald's. I could drink one every morning, but I just won't let myself...

I am SO anticipating the arrival of this adorable outfit! I am a sucker for anything seasonal, so it's no surprise that I made this super-cute purchase recently.

I CAN'T WAiT to see her sweet little self in this!

The stifling temperatures outside have my longing for my FAVORiTE time of year...FALL!!! I'm beyond ready for cooler temps., pumpkins, Halloween, Thanksgiving, my favorite fall candles, beautiful leaves, flavored coffee drinks, the list goes on & on...

Here's a blissful fall picture to hold me over until that time comes... Ahhh, happiness :)

Pregnancy is a funny thing...

On Friday, July 8th I welcomed week 30 of my pregnancy. The 30 week milestone has scared me to death since I first learned I was pregnant. We are definitely sliding into the home stretch of this pregnancy! Lately I've thought a lot about the knowledge I've gained throughout this whole wonderful experience & I'd like to share it. You may find it helpful, but if not, maybe you will just laugh along with me :)

1. ADViCE: From day 1, begin using cocoa butter, baby oil, or whatever else you find to prevent stretch marks! Nobody wants stretch marks. I, personally, use it 2-4 times a day.

2. ADViCE: Eat/drink your fiber - enough said.

3. MY OBSERVATiON: A good friend  (who is also pregnant - 4 weeks ahead of me) & I talked recently & decided that people (mostly women) think they now have permission to comment about & touch your body. Some of the questions/comments I have received & overheard are as follows:
"How much weight have you gained?"
"What do you weigh?"
"What did you weigh before you were pregnant?"
"Your feet are swelling!"
"Why are your feet swelling?" (My answer to this question: "It's 95 degrees outside, I've been on my feet all day & I'm 6 months pregnant. Why are your feet swelling?")
"Your butt is getting bigger."
"All of her weight will go straight to her butt, just like mine did."
"Why are you bigger than her? Isn't she farther along than you?"

4. MY OBSERVATiON: Probably the thing that has bugged me the most throughout this pregnancy are the stories. Oh, the stories you'll hear! I will just about swear that most of these "stories" are what I like to call lies & urban legends. I will now share a few of these with you...

 This one is from my mother after I told her about a numbing shot they give you before your epidural: "They don't give you a numbing shot! When I had my epidural (25 years ago) they strapped you to a table and stabbed that needle in your back and dug around to find the right spot. I had a huge bruise on my back that hurt so bad!"

 "I was adamant that I was going to have my baby naturally. I pushed for 3 hours and the baby didn't move! They had to do a C-section on me. It was awful!"

"I caught staph after I had my C-section." (This one is true.)

"Well, I hope breastfeeding works out for you. I thought it would work out for me too, but...my milk didn't come in, I didn't make enough milk, I didn't make enough milk and I was starving my baby, it hurt too bad, etc., etc., etc." This is compiled from several stories I've heard.

This is the last one, and probably sums up everything. It's also my least favorite...

 "You just wait..."

5. ADViCE:  Drink water, stay hydrated - enough said.

6. MY OBSERVATiON: People also want to criticize your ability to be a parent before your baby is even here. Here are a few of those stories/comments:

"I hope your dog doesn't eat your baby. I think she might." This is from my grandmother, who genuinely believes that my dog might actually eat our baby.

"Is she REALLY going to sleep in the crib?" OMG, where else can we put her?!

"Don't waste your money buying a crib, they won't sleep in there anyway."

"You won't take your baby anywhere when you learn about all the germs and sickness they can catch." I'm a teacher. I KNOW about all the germs and sickness out there!

6. ADViCE & MY OBSERVATiON: The final piece of advice I want to give is also my observation. Pregnancy is the best experience I've ever had! Despite all the stories and criticism this is a beautiful time in your and your baby's life. Aside from all the horrifying stories, there are also some very sweet stories and genuine comments people make, like "How are you feeling?" & "You look so great!". All in all, I've decided that your pregnancy will be however great or awful you want it to be. If you want to complain and whine, it will be a miserable time for you. If you take the uncomfortable-ness and fleeting sickness, knowing that it won't last forever and that with it comes a truly perfect gift from God, this will be a rewarding experience for you, just like it is for me.

John 16:21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

It's Shower Time!

Today I had my first ever baby shower! My sweet friend, Erica, and my sister, Morgan, hosted the shower. The shower was absolutely PERFECT! I couldn't have asked for anything better. Everything from the delicious food, to the adorable decorations, to the super sweet presents was amazing! It was so enjoyable (and refreshing) just to sit, talk, and gossip with great friends and family. Much of my time now is spent making baby-related to-do lists, napping, and sitting around trying to mentally prepare myself for the upcoming delivery in 10 weeks! As I said before, this time was soooo- refreshing - a much-needed breath of fresh air!

Isn't this the CUTEST thing you've ever seen?!

All the DELiCiOUS food.

Mmmmm! I'll have another one, please :)

A few of my SWEET friends from the shower.

My sweet friend (& hostess), Erica.