Future Fertility {Problems}

Since Adalyn was about 6 months old we've been asked when we will have another. 

The older she gets the more real it becomes. 

And the more scared I get. 

Right now everyone around me is pregnant.

Seriously.

I can count on one hand who in my life is not pregnant. 

I can't help, but get a pit in my stomach when I think about trying to get pregnant.

I don't want to try. 

I don't want to be on that emotional roller coaster again. 

I just want it to happen. 

But when you're not on birth control and you're aware of your cycle...you know when you're fertile. 

And 2 weeks later you know that nothing happened. 

Even though you're not technically trying. 

But on the other hand, the more important hand, I know that God is in control.

I remind myself every single day, multiple times a day, that He hasn't given me a spirit of fear. 

{Which just so happened to be what our church sermon was about on Sunday- I felt like it was a nice reassurance for me.}

We are approaching the 2 year Anniversary to the Prayer Meeting that I believe the Lord healed me and opened my womb.

I know our faith was tested and strengthened.

But I really don't want to go through that again.

I know what we went through isn't even half as bad as what many do. 

But a negative test is a negative test no matter how long you try. 

I also know that it really doesn't matter what I want to happen.

What I plan. 

I know that I can only do so much. 

I know who holds my future. 

I do take comfort in that.

This time I have the expectation that it won't happen right away so I know that will help too.

But I'm still scared.

I'm still dreading it. 

I'm still trying really hard not to be fearful. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is the perfect verse to get me through as we approach this "trying" season.

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

{The Message}

Redbox

Redbox is always a fail.

It never costs me a $1.20.

Or anything less than $5, really. 

It's a trap.

We could rent On Demand for $4.99.

But why would we do that we can rent it for $1.20??

Why would we pay $4.99 for a movie that is readily available in the comfort of our home when we can go out and hope that a DVD is available??

Why would we waste our iTunes giftcard to rent it on AppleTV for $3.99 when we can get it at Redbox for $1.20??

If we rent On Demand or iTunes then the DVD won't have the luxury of hanging out in my diaper bag for two weeks plus one day. 

And that's just sad. 

Why would we pay $4 when we have the opportunity to $18 for a subpar movie??

That's just silly.

Do you know how much the movie cost on Amazon? 

$12.99.

So why would we do that when we can pay more and not own it??

It's obvious, right?

Yeah, Mr. B doesn't think so either. 

Redbox is always a fail for this forgetful mama. 

One day I will learn. 

Funky Frontloader- Help!

A new house brings lots of new purchases.

And lots of new patience.

Lots of new purchases can't be purchased all at once because there's not lots of money left in the bank. 

Boo.

So I'm trying.

Really hard.

To enjoy the empty spaces.

To know that it will come in time.

To not settle. 

But it's hard.

One big purchase I don't want to wait any longer for is 

a washer and dryer. 

Currently we don't have any. 

 I am bringing my laundry over to my parents' at Tuesday night dinners.

It's zero fun.

I'm over it. 

Here's the dilemma....

I'm torn if we should get a front loader or not. 

We had one at one of our other places and I wasn't a fan of the funky smell and mildew that settled into the ring.

I've heard that you need to leave the door cracked and it will be okay.

Good to know.

But is it worth it??

I like that they're HE, use less water, less detergent.

I like that I get more storage and have room on top. 

But I don't like the smell.

I've also seen new top loaders without the agitators and heard good things about those. 

I'd like the ability to have oversized loads and I like that these new ones offer that too.

At the place we were just at we just had a simple, older washer and dryer and had no problems. 

Is it worth spending the money for these special ones??

It's a big difference in price so I want to be confident in our decision. 

What do you have?

Do you love it?

Suggestions??

Pros?

Cons?

Thanks!! 

Giraffe Birthday Bash!

I decided to condense this post and stick to the surfacey details and mostly just pictures of Adalyn's first birthday.

It was getting too long when I added in my complaints the behind the scene details.

So I'll have this jumbled one, a DIY one and a whiney lessons learned one. 

I went back and forth on a theme for 9 months a while and finally decided to go with giraffe.

{this is the only picture I have of the invite (made with Picmonkey) right now. My Grammie framed it- it wasn't mailed out with a wood border ;)}

Her nursery kind of took on that theme when I got the Melissa and Doug giraffe and the obsession continued from there.

Two other contenders for a theme: 

1. Mickey/Minnie Mouse 

2. Farm.

I decided I'd save those for when she can fully appreciate all the details.

I knew she would appreciate a giraffe theme and it seemed easy enough to put together.

I found a few things on Pinterest, but didn't see the exact style that I wanted.

I went out to a few stores and just bought what I thought would look good.

My main colors: Pink, dark brown giraffe print and cream burlap.

Main Table: Cinnamon Kettle Popcorn, Snack Mix, Cupcakes, Peppermint Pretzels, Strawberry Waffers, Pink MMs and Rice Crispy Cake

{Popcorn Boxes from PartyMonkey}

{Giraffe Scrapbook Paper and Ribbon from Hobby Lobby}

Main Food Table: Chick-Fil-A Nuggets {easy, everyone loves them and yummy leftovers! I may or may not have shed a tear when I ate the last one.}, Chips and dip, Bean Dip, Veggies and dip, Caramel Apple Dip, Cookie Dough Bites and a triple layer cake. 

Kids Table: I wanted to have a little table for Adalyn and her friends- yogurt melts, pirates booty, animal crackers and some giraffe coloring pages.

I was in love with the ribbon topiaries!

Drink Table: Pink lemonade with mason jars and paper straws{can't go wrong there!}. I also served bottled water. 

I don't usually keep the drinks so simple, but this was prettier :)

Other Misc. Details:

{Monthly and favorite pictures}

{$1 Giraffe favors from AC Moore}

{Kids Table}

{Love the canvases I have of her}

Cake Time: So thankful I took cake pictures a few days before her party because she was so unimpressed the actual day! 

I love the middle pictures of her elbows just resting on the tray. 

It's only her first birthday...whatev.

She is one loved little girl! 

It was a great day and we are so blessed by our family and friends! 

 {Adorable outfit from ebay} 

Can't believe she is one.  

Technically since I'm two months late to posting this she's almost 14 months and that's even crazier.

And she already looks older.

Gah, slow down little lady!!!

More details to come...

New Year. New House!!

I have so much to catch up on.

I feel like I am too far behind that it will never happen, but I'm determined to do the best that I can in the next few weeks! 

Although I am so thankful for my phone and the fact that I can take a kazillion {not really because I seem to run out of storage all.the.time} pictures on a whim, I am always bummed that I don't take more pictures with my real camera. 

So these are pretty much all instagram catch ups, but it will do!

We celebrated Adalyn's birthday in Texas!

We had so much fun visiting with Mr. B's family! 

I love Texas! 

I loved our Christmas card this year and meant to post it:

Back.

Christmas was fun this year and makes us extra excited for the years to come!

We had a big snow storm and played in the snow.

A few days after Christmas we BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOUSE!!!!

We've been working hard on getting the house ready. Thankfully we didn't buy a fixer-upper like Mr. B wanted, but it was outdated so we've been working our hineys off with the help of our awesome families!

  It's come a long way in a short amount of time and we are exhausted!! 

It feels like an unending process, but I know it will be worth it!

 It already is! 

And of course, I really should've taken better before and after pictures. 

So bummed about that. 

Like, really bummed. 

That old saying "Don't blink"....

it's true.

Two of my maternity sessions from Captured. had their babies and I experienced my first newborn sessions.

Handsome Nathan...

And beautiful Emilie...

I fell in love.

It was so much fun and I can not wait for my other newborn sessions!!

Today the weather warmed up and we were able to enjoy some fresh air in our new backyard.

It was a nice break from all the house stuff and I can't wait until the warm weather is here to stay!

I'm going to try reallllly hard to stay up to date on here!

Looking forward to what God has in store for us in 2013 and we are thankful for the new exciting steps that have already been taken so far.

This year will be about making our first house a home and I'm looking forward to documenting it!

Etsy Props

I'm just about done with Captured. for the season!

It's all been completely unexpected, a lot of fun and also overwhelming at times.

I have a few newborn shoots through the winter and I'll pick back up in the spring with new priorities, packages and prices. 

I've had the honor of capturing these sweet mamas.

  

And soon I will be capturing their sweet squishy babes.

So excited!!

I'm really looking forward to it and also really nervous at the same time. 

I'm on the hunt for some baby props.

Not really looking to spend a lot of money, so if any of my awesome readers has an etsy shop, or knows someone who has one, and if you're looking for some advertisements/publicity/photos in exchange for an item please send me an email {thesmellylife@gmail.com}. 

Hoping to have Adalyn's details up soon!

365 Days.

Absolutely unbelievable.

It's completely crazy that this was 365 days ago.

Every detail still seems so vivid. 

I don't know how it went so fast, but I do know that it was the greatest 365 of my life. 

Filled with so many memories.

So much love.

So much joy.

So much thankfulness. 

Overwhelming in all the right ways. 

Overflowing in all the right ways. 

A complete blessing. 
Our miracle. 

A celebration then and a celebration now. 

So thankful for this precious life, 

for the Lord for choosing us to be blessed with this sweet girl.

I still can't believe I get to call her mine. 

Happy Birthday, Adalyn Faith!

These have been the best 365 days and we look forward to the next.

We love to watch you grow, to develop a silly personality and see you turn into the person God so uniquely created you to be!