I want (NEED) this!

Hi there,

I've been seeing some of the latest CHA releases and there are two scrapbook collections in particular that are going to find their way into my house very soon. LOL!

I cannot wait till they become available!

First up is Emma's Shoppe from Crate Paper (click on the link to see entire collection). It is perfect for little girls and absolutely divine :) Check out all this gorgeousness with vintage touches!!!





Click here for more sample projects (that printer's tray is adorable!).

The second collection that I will be getting is Countryside by Studio Calico. The color scheme, the embellishments, the wood veneer, notions and more are beautiful! (I'm having problems pasting the images on my blog but you can visit the links to view everything).

I'm also liking State Fair a LOT, but that one can wait a bit.

What do you think? Aren't these gorgeous? What CHA releases are your favorites so far?

P.S. I am 18.5 weeks pregnant!! Whoohoo!!!! Almost at the halfway point. A little swollen but doing well these days :)

One Little Word: FAITH

Thank you SO MUCH for your sweet comments regarding my baby girl!!! Richard and I are OVER THE MOON!!! I am 17 weeks pregnant now so I am counting down to the 20-week midway point. Hee!!! Everyone says this time just flies by, but for me it has not. I am learning so much about life and about myself these days and worrying a LOT (but that's just me — I'm a worrywart!). Praying every day that all goes well. Trying to enjoy this time. I cannot wait till I feel the baby moving!! Should be any day now... :)

That brings me to my One Little Word. I chose a word that I want to focus on and reflect upon in 2011: FAITH. It wasn't the very first word I thought of. Since I am pregnant, I first thought of nest, nurture and grow. But they didn't seem right to me. Something didn't click. Then I started thinking about what's most important, what I am feeling and what is going to help me through this exciting, but sometimes trying time... What will help me get through the loneliness, the dark times and the journey ahead?

My FAITH, that's what.

I loved this quote that I found online: "Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark." - Rabindranath Tagore

And this one by Martin Luther King, Jr.: "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

Definition of FAITH
(Taken from Merriam-Webster online dictionary)

1
a : allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty
b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
2
a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion
b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
3
a : something that is believed especially with strong conviction

I have faith that God will help me along on this journey.
I have faith that my parents and grandparents who have passed away are with me, guiding me and giving me strength when I don't feel very brave.
I have faith that I will make the right decisions and do the right thing during my pregnancy in order to stay healthy and strong for me and my baby.
I have faith that if today is not a good day, then tomorrow will be a better day.
I have faith that everything will be okay (even when I have my doubts!); that my angels are watching over us.
I have faith that this feeling of loneliness will eventually go away (that's the hardest part for me right now: not having parents or siblings to go to for support, for help, for encouragement).

My faith gives me the courage and will to thrive, to succeed, to be thankful, to be the best that I can be. Richard and I have a good life. We are truly blessed!

In 2011, FAITH will be my fortitude.

If you haven't heard of One Little Word, this is something created by the artist and author, Ali Edwards. Ali is so talented and so inspiring. Click here to read more about Ali's OLW idea. If you'd like to sign up for a cool OLW workshop, go to Big Picture Classes.

Enjoy your week!

Baby Girl or Baby Boy?

I was going to blog about my One Little Word, but something came up...

Today, Richard and I went in for an ultrasound. I am 16 1/2 weeks now. They checked the baby up and down. We saw the brain, the kidneys, spinal cord, belly, fingers, legs, you name it :)

The baby is doing well and growing fast now. I was told the baby is 8 inches from head to toe. WOW!

So exciting. Such a blessing. So real.

And then the technician asked us, "Do you want to know the sex?"

I answered, "We're DYING to find out!"

So she checked. Richard thought he saw a penis and said, "It's a BOY. You could see it." I thought I saw something, too.

Hmmm...

The lady then checked and said, "Looks like a GIRL to me! There's nothing hanging out there so I am pretty confident that it's a GIRL."

And she zoomed in and we saw her private parts and then I realized it really does look like a GIRL.

My beautiful baby girl. The baby girl my Mom always talked about before she passed away. My little angel girl.

How lucky are we? I'm thrilled and excited and just praying that I stay healthy and strong throughout this pregnancy and that our baby is healthy. I have a lot of faith and that faith gets me through each and every day...

6.2 miles

That, my friends, is the distance I can walk now (again!) and it feels GOOD. Before I got pregnant, my hubby and I would go walking often and we would walk 4-6 miles — usually in Key Biscayne, but sometimes we like to change it up a bit.

Then I got pregnant.

And, well, I did NOT feel so good. OK, let me be honest... I still do NOT feel so good!!!

I'm tired/sleepy, achy, nauseous and cranky most of the time. But I've tried to keep walking, even if it's just 2 or 3 miles, depending on how I feel and what my energy level is on any given day.

Last week, I was back up to 6 miles. Yippeee!!!

I am looking into prenatal exercise classes now to see what else I can do to try to keep myself healthy and not gain too much weight. I am especially interested in prenatal yoga and I have a contact that a friend gave me that looks promising so I'm excited! Wish me luck and say a little prayer for me and my little one :) Pretty please? I need it!!!

On a different note, I chose my One Little Word for 2011 and I will blog about that very soon... I've also been working on my December Daily album (at a snail's pace) and I am up to Day 21 (4 more days to go!). Photos to come soon. Promise.