Ready

 

read·y

[red-ee]  read·i·er, read·i·est, verb, read·ied, read·y·ing

1. completely prepared or in fit condition for immediate action or use.

2. duly equipped, completed, adjusted, or arranged, as for an occasion or purpose.

I went shopping at the commissary a few days ago for groceries and I love it there. The people that work there are always so friendly and make sure I find everything I need. I ended up striking up a conversation with an older gentleman as he was restocking the potatoes. We were just making the usual small talk. "Where are you from? How long have you been here?" Etc. He retired here from the Air Force but originally came from Alabama. We both laughed in agreement as we concluded we missed the scent of pine trees as you walk outside and the predictability of hurricane's down south as opposed to the tornadoes dropped on us here. After a few more questions asked back and forth and "Really? Small World!" answers, he asked "Do you know what you're having?" I smiled (Since only recently have people been able to tell I'm pregnant) and I said yes, a girl. He asked me "When are you due?" And I paused for a second and almost freaked out as I said "Next month!" 

I AM DUE NEXT MONTH!

Am I ready? No. Even if all her baby furniture was finished, I would still not be ready! It's nothing like preparing to run for a race, you can train to physically prepare and you can learn the track you're running on. You train your mind to focus on everything from breathing patterns to cutting out the outside world. But parenthood isn't something you can go into 100% fully prepared for. Sure, I know how to dress a baby and change diapers. But am I prepared to have a little life fully dependent on me for everything she needs? Some days I can hardly take care of myself and my husband, it's a scary thought that very soon another person will be put into that equation. I know of course insecurities are normal. I've taken care of my friend's children growing up and recently more times then I can count, but it's different when I picture my own. 

While I have many doubts in my own strength and abilities, I have a peace about it that passes all understanding. A very supernatural peace can only come from One very irreplaceable figure in my life, the Lord Jesus Christ. Without
Him I can only imagine how much more overwhelmed by my emotions I would be. Anyone who knows me knows I am an emotional person and it's just the type of person I am. If I'm not careful I very easily drown in those emotions whatever they may be. BUT GOD pulls me out and puts me under His wing. I know that parenthood is something you learn as you go and mistakes are made, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and that, my friends, makes next month a very, very exciting new life chapter for me. Not only do I have God with me, but my amazing husband as well who has always supported me with encouragement and loving kindness. I can not wait to walk down the path of parenthood with him. We want to be full of love and guidance for little Rosalie and be the very best we can.

So I would like to thank the Lord God for this little life He has entrusted to me to carry for these short nine months and for many years into the future. I would like to thank my husband for being a reliable constant through this pregnancy who has comforted me when I felt like I couldn't do it and massaged my aching back when I asked. (: I would like to thank my mom for always uplifting me and telling me how proud she is of me. That may not seem like much but it renews my confidence and is irreplaceable. I would like to thank all of my family and my family-in-law for the support and help you've been in getting items needed before little Rosalie's arrival. I'd like to thank my friends near and far rooting for me and believing in me! To anyone who has been praying for me, no matter how often, even if it was only once, THANK YOU. I firmly believe in the power of prayer and it means the world to me that you took time out of your schedule to think of me and pray.

This has been a very "easy" pregnancy on me and I am so very blessed for it. My doctor has no worries and says everything is going amazingly well. Other than being anemic I am going strong and Rosalie is already a master mixed martial artist. (Just ask my husband, he gets a kick out of feeling her go crazy. Get it, kick?! Hahah, cheesy I know.) All-in-all I feel like the most blessed pregnant woman on the planet and I can't wait to meet my daughter face to face!

As always, thanks for reading - and God bless America and our troops!

 Rosalie Catherine Conner - Due to make her appearance 11-21-13

Redo

re·do

verb

rēˈdo͞o/ 

1. do (something) again or differently. 

 2.  to redecorate.

Okay, okay, you're right. It's been way too long since my last post. I agree with you! Sorry, the past month has been hectic. Between moving, having my brother visit from Alaska and redoing baby furniture I have been pretty busy! I am not completely done with the furniture but I have managed to complete a few pieces that I can show you today.

Now, I try my best to be frugal. The way I see it, if you can get a deal for something, and are capable of fixing it, then why buy it new? God has been throwing deals my way left and right for items I've needed and I have been overjoyed with it all!

First I found this chest of drawers. It was not pretty and was covered in stickers, but with a little paint and goo-be-gone it would work and for $15 I couldn't pass it up. But then my great friend Ele told me she'd give me her son's chest of drawers, which was in better shape and just needed some rough spots sanded and a coat or two of paint. It also was a more girly looking chest of drawers and was a lot less work for me! It was a huge blessing. Bye-bye troublesome dresser! Hello new dresser!

After a trip to Lowe's for the necessary supplies, I got to work. The redo was super easy and after sanding some edges and a few coats of paint, it was good as new!

Next I set my eyes on the changing table I bought for $20 from a yard sale. It was in decent shape but wasn't what I had envisioned.

The brown just didn't match the all white furniture I was selfishly seeking.

I have to say, I had no trouble hand sanding the dresser, but for me this table seemed impossible.....but God had other plans! I got a Lowe's gift card rebate from buying our washer and dryer, and it came in the mail. So off I go to Lowe's for an electric hand sander, and let me tell you, it is a-maz-ing! It was still an insane amount of sanding though, most had to be done by hand simply because of the tight fits and angles.

My brother had flown down from Alaska to help me unpack and get my decor hung on the walls and what-not. 

He was put to work! From hanging curtains and pictures to sanding the changing table and crib, he made life a lot easier for me straight after moving.

I was sad to say goodbye at the airport after his 3 week visit, it went by so incredibly fast but if not for him I would probably still be sanding this darn changing table!

After much sanding, it was finally complete! After a good washing to remove the sawdust it was time to paint, my favorite part!

I moved outside to our back patio because it was gorgeous outside! There is a sneak peek at the crib in the corner, and in the right corner is the shelves that go on the changing table. The bottoms were an icky brown so here they are after the first coat. One more coat and they are ready. I started the first coat on the top of the changing table but the husband came home for lunch so I stopped to cook!

But after a few days and 3 coats later, I'm happy to say it's finished!

Now, I don't know if you remember the brown fake wood pattern that was on the tops of the shelves previously, but I couldn't sand them and I couldn't paint them because of how slick they were. So after some internet research I was able to completely transform the shelves with just 3 things! All it took was Mod Podge, gift wrap, and a paint brush. After washing the surface of the shelves, I just applied a coat of mod podge, laid my gift wrap on top of it, and applied another layer of mod podge. Once it dried I added one more layer and that was all!

A completely different, updated look. Not bad for a $20 investment right?

It's all set up in Rosalie's room now and I must say, I am very happy with it!

In case you were wondering why I chose this gift wrap to refurbish the shelves with, it's because it matches the knobs on Rosalie's chest of drawers! If you look close enough you'll see.

I bought this at Goodwill for $8. My grandmother had made baby Rosalie a quilt and I had no where to display it but of course the teal just did not match the room at all! So I broke out the paint. (:

Good as new!

Next is the crib and the glider chair! Her nursery is coming together smoothly and I couldn't be more excited!

 Thanks for reading!