Think Spring!

Doesn't this arrangement just make you HAPPY? Spring is here! One of the girls at my work put it together for the baby shower they gave me this past Saturday. It was such a wonderful time and the shower was gorgeous. Unfortunately, I don't have pics from the shower on my camera but I did take a pic of this beautiful arrangement when I got home- I just couldn't help myself.

Baby Hoff's Nursery

So we have just started to change the "office" into Baby Hoff's room. So many decisions to make from the paint to the furniture to the bedding. We are coming along though :). I am so proud of my husband for completing this project... not easy people. Here is the progress so far.

We will be painting the room soon, but we haven't nailed down the color just yet. So far we have just applied primer to the used to be burgundy wall.

The naked walls awaiting bead board

Eric taking off the baseboards to put the bead board up

YAY! It's up and sticking to the walls!

Another view

Now we just have to puddy, sand, and paint. I'll update more as we go :)

Baby Moon Weekend in Chattanooga

Here is a short recap of our awesome "Baby Moon". There were lots more pictures but here are a few highlights... Enjoy.

Our lovely accommodations. We pricelined and got a great deal!

Eric and I at the top of "Look Out Mountain" Very touristy, but a lovely walk and view once we got to the top.

Our Amazing Lunch and DELICIOUS dessert :)

Key Lime Cupcake... sooo good.

The next couple are just some city sites

The Aquarium was awesome- a must see when going to Chattanooga

The first thing we saw when getting inside the Aquarium... sorry lady, had to do it.

Me touching Sting Rays!

With out a doubt the BEST breakfast we have EVER, I mean EVER, eaten. AMAZING!

Cookie the size of my head.

The goodness on a plate.

Sweet Fries!

We made these the other night and they were awesome. I had some left over Asian dipping sauce from FIG which made them even more amazing. I recommend a big fat burger with a slice of avocado on top and the taters on the side. YUM!

(Pic courtesy of google)

Mine looked just as good though :)

A Little Marital Encouragement

Yesterday my dad sent me an email containing some statistics about marriage. The information was thought provoking to me. Here are some highlights from the email-

Psychologists Cliff Notarius of the Catholic University of America and Howard Markham of the University of Denver discovered that none of the factors that one would guess might predict a couple's longevity: not how in love a newlywed couple says they are; not how much affection they exchange; and not how much they fight or what they fight about.

When Notarius and Markham studied newlyweds over the first decade of marriage, they found a subtle but telling difference at the beginning of their relationships.

Among couples who would ultimately stay together, on average 5 out of every 100 comments made about each other were put downs.


Among couples who would later split, roughly 10 out of every 100 comments were insults. That gap magnified over the following decade, until couples were flinging five times as many cruel and invalidating comments at each other as happy couples.


The researchers commented, "Hostile put downs act as cancerous cells that, if unchecked, erode the relationship over time, and in the end, relentless unremitting negativity takes control and the couple can't get through a week without major blowups." (US News and World Reports, February 21, 1994, p. 67)


This sounds remarkably similar to what the Bible says about the power of words in James 3:2, 5-6 (New Living Translation). "We all make mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way. So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. The tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life."


The article concluded with these thoughts-

Words can do great harm, or be a tool for great good. They can build up relationships, or tear them apart- not just in marriages, but in the workplace as well. A Tiny spark -5% more negative comments - can be the difference between success and failure- vocationally and relationally.


I hope this encourages you as it did me...... food for thought.

(article taken from: A Monday Morning Service to the Business Community from Glen Schneiders)

here is yet another "recently i'm" post

Recently I'm...

Hunting- BABY FURNITURE. Not cheap. I'm hoping that the price tags I'm reading are all a big fake out and I will find the real prices at the next store. The hunt continues.

Drinking- H2O baby. That's all I'm drinking. Last appointment I informed my Doctor, very proudly I might add, that I am drinking 3 24oz bottles of water a day. She looked at me and said, "I'd like you to do more if you can". Um... what? Her analogy to help me get he picture- Get in the bathtub with a straw. No problem, instead of getting up 3-4x's a night to pee I'll just sleep on the toilet.

Eating- Well mostly everything right now. I am finally feeling good and all of the sudden everything sounds good to me. Someone says Pizza- I want it. Someone mentions fruit salad-gotta have it. Getting the picture?

Growing- In lots of areas. On a serious note, this pregnancy journey has been full of ups and downs causing me to look up more often. I am humbled by the ways God draws me closer to Himself. There is truly nothing more awe inspiring than having this life form it's lung and bone inside me.

Growing- My baby bump. Aforementioned my appetite has improved greatly. Last night I ate a Cinnamon roll at about 8:45pm. I felt so full afterwards, I waddled around the house moaning and complaining that I ate it. Eric noted that my belly looked more "swollen" (good choice of words on his part) after my indulgence. This morning I woke up and my stomach had grown! Ladies and gentlemen, the amazing cinnamon roll baby. I'm sorry baby.

Enjoying- This 75 degree weather we are experiencing today. Spring have you sprung? I don't want to get my hopes up too high yet, but I am expecting you to stay!

Walking- in this 75 degree weather is AWESOME. Obviously I am going to have to keep up some kind of physical activity when I loose self-control again and cause my baby to grow due to a 10:00pm ice cream splurge. Again, sorry baby.

Contemplating- Natural birth vs. epidural? Any thoughts?

Hoping- to be inspired and come up with the PERFECT baby boy name.

Cleaning- base boards. Not a usual item on the cleaning list but, I can still bend down right now and feel that it probably won't be happening for a LONG time unless I do it now.

Impressed- my husband started P90 X at the beginning of this week and has not skipped a day yet. Way to go!

Hospice of West Alabama 5k run (update)

I work for this amazing agency called Hospice of West Alabama. I am a home-care social worker for those that are terminally ill. I have been blessed beyond belief doing this kind of work. It is a wonder to see how God uses all stages of life to continue to show his incredible love for us. Last weekend March 6th Hospice of West Alabama had it's 1st annual 5k run/walk. It was an AWESOME turn out, as you can see by the pics. It was a beautiful day and everyone who participated had a great time. Enjoy the pics!

Baby Bump at 23 weeks

I hate this pic, but I put the same outfit on so the growth is more obvious. I am going to take another one very soon as I feel my stomach grows more by the day and next Tuesday I will be exactly 6 months! Whoa!! Click here for previously posted baby bump pic.