Happy Thanksgiving!

Well everyone, the time has come...

We are moving.  So long and farewell Tuscaloosa :0(.  I will miss everything about you tremendously!  Even still, I am confident God will meet us in Nashville with lots to look forward to.

We will be busy doing lots of things (as you can imagine).  Here's just a few of the things we will be packing into the next few days.

Eating Turkey, playing games, spending time with family, watching the IRON bowl :), celebrating MY birthday :), driving and then some more driving, packing, cleaning, moving, unpacking, and lots more things I'm leaving out.  All the while toting the babe around.  Please wish us luck and keep us in your prayers.  There will obviously be a blog break, but I will be excited to return with LOTS to update you on.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Love,
Melissa

Question?

What do you do when your cupboards look like this

and you need to bring a dessert to a dinner party?

Answer:

You go to your resourceful blog friends and find an
 easy delicious recipe like this.

I made Eric leave my trusty cupcake pan out of the packed kitchen boxes b/c I knew I would have to bake at least 1 maybe 2 to 10 more times before we left...... aaaand I was right. :)

Here's what you need for Salted Carmel cupcakes-
nothing homemade about this one, but you totally could make most
of it from scratch- if that"s your thang.

1. Bake as cake mix directs
2. Inject with salted carmel     

3. Ice cupcakes with frosting
4. Dip in crushed Skor Bars 

 

Try these Salted Carmel cupcakes if all you have left in your kitchen is a bowl, spatula, cupcake pan, and paper plates.  Or because they are AWESOME.

{MuSiC tO My eArS}

There is nothing better than a relaxing Friday night with great friends, great food, and some Elvis Presley classics.  Yes that's right.  Most every time we hang out with Kortnie we have a "jam" session.  She sings, Eric sings, I pretend to sing, and we all have a fabulous time.  Friday night was all of that and more.  Every time my ears are graced with Kortnie's gift of music I am reminded of God's goodness.  Not only is Kortnie a fabulous musician, lyricist, and featured on a Grammy nominated album- she is a Cancer survivor.  She inspires me in so many ways, but most of all by her incredible faith in the Lord.  I am so blessed to call her my friend.  We know Kortnie will be a life-long friend and we can't wait to have her over for a Friday night jam session in Nashville.

Luke enjoying his serenade

Dancing to the beat

Eyes locked on Kortnie

check out Kortnie Heying and her amazing voice here

Dear Luke, 5 months

Dear Luke,

This month has been... rough. 

To begin with, you had your 4 month check- up with the doctor in which she poked you 5 times and gave you one oral vaccination.  You were brave and I cried longer than you did.  FYI- this is just one of the many things I'll do that you'll find embarrassing.

You started teething this month.  You put absolutely everything in your mouth, you drool buckets, you are clingy, and you no longer sleep through the night.  I think we all need a big nap *sigh* after that sentence.  For at least a week straight you've woken up every 40 minutes screaming your head off.  We have given you Tylenol, but it hasn't seemed to help too much. Only this past week have you seemed to come back to your old content self (still no teeth).

Another trick you got down this month is rolling over.  You started rolling over last month, but this month you really got the hang of it.  You still only roll from tummy to back, but I know you'll have both ways conquered soon enough.  In these photos you are showing off your mid-roll/break dance/keeping toy in mouth move.   You so tricky.

You have mastered the mysterious art of pooping out of your diaper.  There have been more up-the-back incidents this month than I can count.  My favorite and most disgusting episode was when you were in your exersaucer.  When you...  went...   It was SO loud!  You gave me a silly grin to let me know-" it's a big one mom".  I checked your back because the force in which it came made me believe there was no way your diaper held it all in.  Much to my surprise there was nothing there, so I let you continue to play for a few more minutes.  When I took you out to change your diaper it wasn't until I saw you grab your feet that I realized-  It was all down your leg, completely covering both socks, and now on your hand.  GROOOOSS!!!!  After I cleaned you up and bathed you I checked the exersaucer and saw the puddle-o-poo you left at the bottom.  Luke, I feel the need to clue you in on something you may not know- That. Is. Nasty.

This month you have taught me something new about God's love.  I have never known the incredible love a parent has for their child until I had you.  I know God loves us infinitely more than I love you but, here is the amazing part of that- I can't even imagine it.  I love you that much and God loves you that much more.  Which leaves me to ponder what God must feel about me, about you, about all of his children.  "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Can you understand this kind of love?  I am learning more about it all the time.  Being your mom truly gives me a new perspective on God's love for you and for me.  And it's pretty amazing.  Just another reason why you make life so cool.

Love,

Mom

{ThAnKfuL}

For a God who draws me closer to Himself and reminds me that in my weakness He is strong.

For a husband who makes me laugh and loves me so well.

For baby Luke.  Every time I look at him, think about him, talk about him a BIG smile comes to my face.

For my family.  I get to move closer to my family.  How cool is that?

For health.  I am so THANKFUL for the health we are experiencing right now.

For our first home.  We are leaving it now and I am THANKFUL for the time we got to spend here and the wonderful memories I will take with me.

For a car that works.  If you ever had a car that didn't work then you know how THANKFUL you would be for a car that does.

For the opportunity to work for Hospice of West Alabama.  I have never enjoyed a job so much in my entire life.  I will miss it so much and I am incredibly THANKFUL for my time there.

For warm white chicken chili in the crock pot.

For my cozy old sweatpants, hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, and Luke's hoodie with bear ears :).

What are you THANKFUL for today?

How to sell a House... anyone?

Well, this weekend we had 3 people come and look at our house.  This might seem like a small number to most, but it was a grand improvement from the ZERO we had last weekend.  Selling a house is some stressful stuff fo reals.  You know why?  I'll tell you why....
1. You always have to make it look like it's the most immaculate place ever in which no one lives.   Except we do live in it and there is always crap everywhere.  I have a baby and a husband both of which do not pick up after themselves.  Ok that was out of line, I just called my baby out on the internet.  I apologize.
2. Every Saturday we begin the long drawn out process of deep clean (in which my husband helps tremendously:).  I am still shocked at how much there is to do at the end of every week and I am equally as shocked at how clean our house can be after said deep clean.
3. Trying to decipher whether or not the people walking through our house are actually serious buyers or just curious passerby's.  Today after one of the "passerby's" finished the tour she said, "I LOVE your house!  It is decorated so nicely! You did a great job staging it."  Ooo.. she got me with that last comment.  Was she trying to say, I watch HGTV too and I know your tricks? *sigh*  I even baked fresh chocolate chip cookies (which she ate).  I am trying everything people.  Well, keep us in your prayers as we continue this house selling journey.  We hope it will be a smooth and short experience. :0)

Recently I'm...

Procrastinating- Packing.  I am refusing to pack. 

Watching- My husband pack.  He seems to be more realistic about the fact that me are moving in T-minus 3 weeks.

Feeling- Sad.  As I write this, my husband is packing up all my baking stuff.  He is forcing me to take an Annie's Eats break and I am already feeling the cold sweats and shakes coming on.

Making- My Christmas list.  As usual, my older sister has posted her amazing Christmas list and demands that everyone have theirs ready by October.  I have failed this year yet again.

Loving- How Luke buries his little head in my arm pit when he is ready to go to sleep... so adorably silly.

Realizing- I no longer care about disgusting things like puke and poop.  The other day Luke was about to vomit all over my sister and I just reached my hand out and caught it all.  

Officially- A mom.  See above statement.

Buying- this and this.  I am so excited for Luke's 1st Christmas.

Wondering- Will I ever get an uninterrupted nights sleep again?  Moms out there, is there any hope?

Working on- A list of what I am thankful for.  Such a good exercise I don't do often enough.