So many things I could post today…

 

Today is a whirlwind of emotions – blame it on being 37.5 weeks pregnant or all of the life changes going on.  I could post about my doctor’s appointment yesterday, how work is getting the best of me the last few weeks I’m here, or what I watched on TV last night -  but I decided today was the perfect day to just simply post some picture from the best day of my life – August 1, 2009.

The day started out with blue skies and was absolutely gorgeous!!!  I surprisingly was as cool as a cucumber even when my husband-to-be called to say he left his shirt in Tuscaloosa, 3 hours away.  I was surprisingly calm (thanks to Kelsey on that one!), and at that moment happened to be passing by a J.C. Penney’s.  We wheeled in, full makeup, tiara and all to buy three white shirts, since I didn’t know how J.C. Penney brand would compare to his Jos. A. Bank shirt.  Good thing too because bless his heart, he was trying to rush and cut himself shaving on his neck and bled all over one of them!

Needless to say, we made it through the day and got married just as scheduled at 2:00 PM.  We went to the reception where we had desserts galore – and as Sam has coined, a “chountain” (that would be a chocolate fountain, but he was so excited about it, it came out “chountain”).

This was Elliott’s surprise groom’s cake.  Since he works for his family’s RV business we thought what better groom’s cake could there be?  It was too cute.

Throughout the entire planning process we had used to intertwining “R”s for Reed and Robbins.  Sara, the cake decorator, was able to recreate the symbol on our cake and our wedding surprise from our event coordinator (coworker and friend) Susan was a painting of the insignia. 

As the reception ended, Elliott and hopped in our “chariot” (ahem! golf cart) and drove off to our cottage, which from this picture looks just like the one in front of us, but ours was the second one down the street.

 

Just as we left it began to sprinkle and rained the entire rest of the weekend.  If we had gotten married any later, it would have been a complete wash out.  When we met with the people at Gorham’s Bluff they said they have never had it rain on a wedding – it’s rained before or after, but not during a wedding.  It was such a perfect day, I couldn’t have asked to have anything more or would have changed anything.

If you’ve never visited Gorham’s Bluff, I highly recommend it.  It’s where we got engaged, where we chose to get married and have spent another weekend there.  Don’t go expecting to do anything but relax.  I look forward to our next trip!

Happy Anniversary Elliott!  This has been the best year ever!

Who Moved?

 

Have you ever had those times in life where things are just “clicking,” ...everything is going along well, you’re centered with God and feel the Holy Spirit leading and guiding you, life isn’t perfect but you can see the pieces make sense? 

And then it seems like in one instant everything changes…your life is filled with anxiety and worry, God seems much more distant, problems seem to occur around every corner, and try as you might you can’t conjure up a remnant of the Holy Spirit. 

Who moved?  Did God suddenly move away from you?  Or did we move? 

Too often I find in those times when things are going great and wonderful, I started out dependent on God – praying, studying, and surrounding myself with Christian examples and friends.  The better things get, the less time I find I’m spending in my daily Bible study, or prayer time becomes shorter – before I know it I am pretty full of myself that things are going so well, I can just do it on my own. 

Guess who moved?  I did – I willingly moved myself away from God, putting more importance on my own abilities than on God.  Remember that God is never the one that moves from us.  Remember the foundations of a Christian life– priority, study, piety, and action.  Keep God close by keeping your foundations steady and solid.

Blessings,

Candice

Ridiculous Parenting Products

 

So by know you’ve figured out my life now resolves around all things baby.  I subscribe to several blogs and email lists to keep up with baby information, products and parenting ideas.  This article from Parenting magazine was one of the funniest!  The 20 most ridiculous parenting products.  I will highlight my top 5 below.  You can see the rest here…

Number 5: I present, the cardboard cot

Really, what is this?  Is this supposed to be cute???

Next up at 4: the Zaky Infant Pillow

Creepy is all I have to say…REALLY creepy!

Coming in at Number 3: the Swarovski Crystal Paci

Now I’m all about a little bling – but this is overboard, particularly the price tag!

And at the Number 2 spot: Sonogram Cuff Links

I have a hard enough time deciphering the actual pictures they give us, much less trying to see what it is on a one inch square – completely ridiculous!

And lastly…big drumroll here…for the Number 1 Most Ridiculous Parenting Product, our winner is…Potty Mitts

These oven-like mitts are designed to keep little ones hands from touching the toilet seat.  However, isn’t it hard enough trying to potty train without restricting their hands?  How about good ole fashion Purell wiped down with a wipe and lay some toilet paper over the seat?

Honorable mentions for grossness:

The placenta teddy bear

The tinkle tube

The Pee Pee Teepee

and The plush Pee and Poo Duo

What products have you seen that are completely out there?  Or those touted as Must Have items that were a waste of money?

Blessings,

Candice

Baby Shower Numero Dos…

 

Last Saturday I was treated again to a wonderful baby shower hosted by some of my dearest friends – I again was overwhelmed by the turnout and the generosity of everyone.  A special thanks to my coworker’s husband and two sons who made themselves scarce for the day to allow a little lady brunch to take place. 

First the table – like the tablecloth, cute huh?  Wanna know where you can buy one?  Well, you can’t – the gorgeous damask was made by none other than my awesomely talented coworker with some help from our office assistant and sweet students.  This is one of about 20 they made out of an enormous bolt of fabric.

 Next, the cupcakes – do you see how yum-o they look in this picture???  How cute are the cupcake wrappers, oh yeah – I didn’t get to eat one.  Baby shower number two with no sweets.  But it will be worth win M.E. gets here and she (hopefully) doesn’t weigh 10 pounds because of gestational diabetes.

Now for a few highlights from the gifts.  Apparently I had my head turned to all the picture takers and most of the photos are of the side of my head.  But I could do a highlight reel of my favorite Laura faces…this is one

 

And here’s another…

I’m not sure what we were saying about those burp cloths but it looks like a “that is super cute” moment.

On to the Alabama highlights.  Look how much I’m loving the houndstooth bow and “A” socks…

And how about our first little Alabama gameday outfit…could this be any cuter???

  Thanks Julie and Lillian, we will be wearing these often!

Some other favorite pictures capture my expression about all things “girly”…in addition to loving some Alabama attire, I also love cute baby socks – look at these precious ones…

Clothes are easy to understand, bibs I got, diapers – changed those before…apparently I needed some explanation on the bottle brush.  This is Laura trying to teach me how to properly use the bottle brush and the tiny brush in the handle…it was apparently enough to bring me to tears…

Alright girlies with cameras – send me your pictures because somehow I didn’t take a hostess picture with my camera, so I will leave you with a picture of two of my favorite ladies in the world…my Grandmother and Aunt who drove that morning from Haleyville and home again after the shower.  Love you both and can’t thank you enough for being there!

 

Blessings,

Candice

Circus Dog!

 

I’ll have a longer post later about the weekend Baby Shower, but had to share this funny picture.  We walked outside last night to find one of our Golden Retrievers here…

 Now, how in the world did he jump from the ground to the bumper, balance to jump over the CLOSED tailgate into the bed and then on the roof?  He must be able to jump higher than we’ve ever seen to be able to clear the tailgate!

More later!

Candice

Every girl loves pearls!

 

The following is an email forward my mother-in-law sent me one day.  As I read it, I stopped to have some self-examination on what things I clutch to. 

A little girl about the age of four was with her mother at a Five and Dime store when she spotted a pink foil box with a glistening pair of white pearls in them.  She wanted them badly.  Her mother looked at the price and saw they were $5.00.  She told her daughter, if she really wanted them, she could do some extra chores to earn the money and buy them for herself.  The little girl did more than her share of chores and her grandmother even gave her a dollar early for her birthday.  Before she knew it, she had the $5.00 saved up to buy the necklace.

She loved the necklace and wore it every day.  One night, the little girl’s father came to read her a bedtime story and asked her, “Do you love me?”  The little girl responded, “Yes Daddy, you know I love you.” To which her father responded, “Then can I have your pearls.”  The little girl was devastated and offered her father any other toy or jewelry she had besides the pearls.  Her father said, “That’s okay,” and went on to read her the story. 

The same scenario was repeated night after night until one night, the little girl with a trembling lip, handed the pearls to her father.  Her father reached out with one hand to receive the pearls, and in his other hand offered her a blue velvet box with a real set of genuine pearls.  He had had them the whole time.  He was waiting for her to give up her Dime Store pearls so he could give her a genuine treasure.

Isn’t it the same with our Heavenly Father?  As Brennan Manning says in The Ragamuffin Gospel, He is waiting for us to quit clinging to chards of brightly colored glass in order to offer us glorious riches of true value.  What are you clinging to that God could replace with something beautiful?

Blessings,

Candice