tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069554149941325032024-03-04T23:00:58.970-06:00Stephanie JordanStephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.comBlogger399125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-68339942363347605452013-04-29T12:59:00.001-05:002013-04-29T13:10:27.175-05:00Baby BlessingsI ran into an old friend at a wedding this weekend who mentioned my blog. Oops. I told her there was no way to catch up on the past five months, so I most likely needed to start afresh. Really, there's no better time to do so than now.<br />
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There are so many exciting, wonderful things happening right now. My heart must be growing to hold all of this in. In June, my brother Chris and his wife, Ashley, are expecting a little girl ... Whitley Kay. We showered Ashley this weekend, and I loved seeing her experience the joy that comes with having a baby. To have friends and family show up for you and give so generously for your family is heartwarming. To imagine what Whitley will look like in each little outfit. To be hit with the reality that the car seat, stroller and bouncer will soon hold your most precious gift. Life becomes something so much richer. I simply cannot wait for her arrival.<br />
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In 14 months time, our Netherton family has been blessed with three little girls. Landry, Tilly and Whitley. I can't wait to see what life has in store for them. As part of Ashley's shower gift, I worked a little magic and had these t-shirts made. When we were younger, my family owned a construction company and all us "Netco" kids had these t-shirts, and we wore them constantly. How cute are our little girls going to be wearing these, too. <br />
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In addition to the great, big special occasions, we are have the best time with Tilly each day. She is changing so quickly and her personality emerges more each day. I'm so thankful that she's always such a happy, easy going little girl. </div>
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{Wearing our sweet bubble made by Mrs. Lesa Caldwell. Such a sweet outfit on such a sweet girl.}</div>
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{Dressed and ready for church a few weeks ago. Look at that strawberry hair!}</div>
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{Walking in our first palm parade on Palm Sunday. She didn't quite understand why mom was so excited about waving a branch around.}</div>
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{Digging into her first Easter basket. She really went after it! I hope her Christmas pjs didn't cause too much confusion!}</div>
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{Playing outside while Daddy washes Mommy's car}</div>
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{Hanging with some of our besties, Molly, Knox and Lila.}</div>
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{Knox and Tilly love to share just about everything. ... at least for now!}</div>
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{There's nothing sweeter than the relationship between a little girl and her Daddy. These two are thick as thieves, and I hope that never changes.}</div>
<br />Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-63084538254325615192012-11-28T18:27:00.000-06:002012-11-29T09:28:04.540-06:00Tilly's BaptismTy and I decided before the craziness of the holidays, we'd like to go ahead and have Tilly baptised. It was such a special day for us. No matter your religion or how you go about things ... dedication, sprinkles, full immersion ... to me, and for the sake of this blog, that's just details. For all parents, the moment symbolizes the same thing. Me and Ty, our families and our church family are vowing to raise Tilly in the Christian faith, to be an example to her of how Christ calls us to live and to teach her about God until she is of the age to be confirmed in her faith and accept him as her Savior. Whew, that's a lot of responsibility! <br />
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For the first part of the service, Ty and I made our vows to Tilly. As we were preparing for this day, I wanted to get a christening gown for Tilly to wear. I didn't know of a family gown, so I thought we would start a tradition with Tilly's gown. Ty's mom, Margaret, surprised me with something so special! She had saved the gown Ty's great aunt Helen made for Margaret's baptism, and Ty's sister, Mandy, was also baptised in the gown. It is a gorgeous, delicate linen gown that dates back roughly 60 years. I love that Tilly got to wear it and will be able to pass it on to her own children one day. <br />
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Next came the water. Let me just say, Brenda St. Andre sets up for our service each week and she is heaven sent. For each baby's baptism, she has the water warm so the reaction is more soothed than shocked. Tilly stuck her tongue out for most of her baptism, but aside from that and a few whimpers, she did great. </div>
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Following the baptism, JoAnn carried Tilly down the center aisle as the congregation sang a sweet lullaby to her called, "God Claims You." I've never managed to make it through a single baptism without getting teary eyed. The song says,<br />
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Tilly Ann, God claims you</div>
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God helps you, protects you, </div>
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and loves you, too. </div>
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We this day do all agree, </div>
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A child of God you'll always be.</div>
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Tilly Ann, God claims you, </div>
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God helps you, protects you, </div>
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and loves you, too.</div>
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After the song and an inevitable room full of teary eyes, the church prays collectively for Tilly and makes their vows to her. We are so blessed to attend a church filled with young families. After all, it takes a village!<br />
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Following the service, we had several friends and family members over for lunch. <br />
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I find any occasion worthy of cake pops and cookies from Alyson Foreman at <a href="http://www.alybsbakery.com/index2.php#!/HOME">Aly B's Bakery</a>. She did precious pink, sparkly cross cookies and circular white monogram cookies.</div>
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I put out a few special childhood mementos from mine and Ty's childhood, such as my first "real" jewelry that my parents gave me as a little girl, and Ty's thumb trophy that he was rewarded with when he stopped sucking his thumb. <br />
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I couldn't resist putting out Ty's scuffed up baby shoes, too. </div>
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We were so grateful to have the Taylors there to help us set up so everything would be ready as friends arrived for lunch. Doesn't Knox look like such a mini-Marcus? </div>
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The Guletts also came over for lunch. Just a couple of weeks before Tilly's baptism, we got to take part in the baptism of their third child, Cooper. I cried at this service, too. </div>
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Of course, Aunt Mandy and Ruby Belle came over. Everyone says Tilly looks just like her cousin, Ruby Belle. I can accept that. RB is such a pretty little girl and is growing up so fast. </div>
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Tilly fell asleep soon after we got home, missing most of her party. Thanks to my aunt Robbie for changing her and putting her down for a nap. Once that was done, Ty was free to head things up at the kid's table. Other than being slightly too tall, this is where he belongs! Following lunch, the kids all filed into the backyard to pick limes off our lime tree and toss them in the pool. My favorite part was seeing Georgia Gulett (pictured above in the orange bow) kicking limes off the tree in her Sunday smocked dress. You gotta be rough and tumble to hang with the boys sometimes! </div>
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Our friend Kristen described watching your child's baptism as magical. It was nothing less than just that. I will never forget those special moments with our friends, family and church family. We are blessed to have such an amazing support system, people who love Tilly and are invested in raising her as a child of God. </div>
Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-90019781593662085712012-11-20T16:07:00.002-06:002012-11-20T19:30:45.955-06:00Three Months and a BabyI'm back! <br />
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You'd all but given up on me, I'm sure. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Let me start by saying, this time off has been wonderful. I have fallen madly, deeply, head-over-heels in love with my little girl. I will be unable to recap the past three months for you, but I'll do my best to give you a synopsis. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Tilly Ann was born Aug. 7 at 2:04 p.m. After three days of contractions that would progress to the point of getting ready to grab my hospital bag and then they would suddenly stop, I called Dr. Tynes and said, "Let's do this." We went in at 5 a.m. that morning, they induced me and things went well and quickly all day and then there was Tilly. It sounds far more simple than it actually was!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4_upysjhLkqhbyoAirJtgLgz_GylGszPDFaMCAfDm35sC-uHxJEW_YCX048oGhVZLADuyBhyAFQ4WWi7i2JSGou0d4rw0FUSPYcIEZiLezDXqLPv5DISTCNfM802vP8_IWn41_NfF2k/s1600/DSC02195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4_upysjhLkqhbyoAirJtgLgz_GylGszPDFaMCAfDm35sC-uHxJEW_YCX048oGhVZLADuyBhyAFQ4WWi7i2JSGou0d4rw0FUSPYcIEZiLezDXqLPv5DISTCNfM802vP8_IWn41_NfF2k/s320/DSC02195.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{This was taken right when we got to the hospital. You can't tell, but I was a nervous wreck!}</span></div>There were a few delivery room debacles. The nurse telling Ty to call Dr. Tynes because we were ready for her to come deliver, like immediately, and Ty dialing the wrong number! The anesthesiologist getting ready to administer my epidural and accidentally cutting himself on the glass vile. Thankfully, he is one of our good friends, and we can now harass him about this to no relief. <br />
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After Tilly's birth, we spent the first hour alone, just the three of us. The hospital plays a sweet lullaby over the hospital's speakers to announce the arrival of a new baby. It was music to my ears! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF9xmDwk2PGY-OTI2lMJ_6dYPXUPJZkErTQT6mYyGJ1J8rpafVf-AAo3D2dWFK2f-I40TOilujoJPZkLt5endgGInsJDRo-qyymtbxNVxfErkKEC1cP2_TR4GbZnQ38nnnwbTzVhH4F0/s1600/DSC02202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF9xmDwk2PGY-OTI2lMJ_6dYPXUPJZkErTQT6mYyGJ1J8rpafVf-AAo3D2dWFK2f-I40TOilujoJPZkLt5endgGInsJDRo-qyymtbxNVxfErkKEC1cP2_TR4GbZnQ38nnnwbTzVhH4F0/s320/DSC02202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrwnh3H7NXRxAAISJOY8AQdtjUuavg_rAC9LicFi_Ld1apAsQMNB-Ug3JpWv9M5u_RWEzlnZB7Fcs6WDC-ykNVf2jr586xyb6-OAI2J2aAwhAzC9WsbeDLWzapqn5fcPSP0MzeUkqNNA/s1600/DSC02209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrwnh3H7NXRxAAISJOY8AQdtjUuavg_rAC9LicFi_Ld1apAsQMNB-Ug3JpWv9M5u_RWEzlnZB7Fcs6WDC-ykNVf2jr586xyb6-OAI2J2aAwhAzC9WsbeDLWzapqn5fcPSP0MzeUkqNNA/s320/DSC02209.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I wouldn't trade these moments for the world, but I knew I wouldn't be able to hold off the Netherton and Jordan families for much longer. Our room was full of family and friends to celebrate. People sent flowers, cookie cakes, clothes. ... and good thing on the clothes. As much preparation as I had done, I wasn't ready for a six pound baby. None of the clothes fit, so we needed some preemies. Tilly was completely healthy, just one day shy of her due date, but small. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzttPiomn9iImAJ1w56UOmNA_pZfDdCnjiYMTIUrfp7OTv3qgOmlqLc53pGgGKTVmU-9bpAd0s8hu_EInuAC98DZ3yQqVrc5FjtiR0roWPvP56Dr8tYnF9VXY5oQASWjvNlhMfK1f4gnI/s1600/DSC02229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzttPiomn9iImAJ1w56UOmNA_pZfDdCnjiYMTIUrfp7OTv3qgOmlqLc53pGgGKTVmU-9bpAd0s8hu_EInuAC98DZ3yQqVrc5FjtiR0roWPvP56Dr8tYnF9VXY5oQASWjvNlhMfK1f4gnI/s320/DSC02229.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{I'm amazed at the amount of stuff we acquired at the hospital}</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUNxZHEkaWtfPl35HknZddThICzy5vflc2i5mJAtcTG9e1HJwzyWZcjAUiBUIQneyPl9ivumQT6Fbm-wA2T4DsfYxcmxMta2mAZcYIfJk4Zw4YmrRzMcvrQKstWpnVZkB7er-qcPHyLY/s1600/IMG_0288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUNxZHEkaWtfPl35HknZddThICzy5vflc2i5mJAtcTG9e1HJwzyWZcjAUiBUIQneyPl9ivumQT6Fbm-wA2T4DsfYxcmxMta2mAZcYIfJk4Zw4YmrRzMcvrQKstWpnVZkB7er-qcPHyLY/s320/IMG_0288.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{Our precious cargo couldn't hold her little head up for the car ride home}</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now for the fun part -- coming home! I've loved, loved, loved becoming a mom. Trying to figure out bath time, nap time, sleep schedules, breast feeding -- those are stripes I've earned in the past few months. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love Tilly's sweet cuddles, her smiles and giggles. It's the most rewarding job that not even the stinkiest diaper can phase me! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love seeing her experience new things and grow and change. A newborn will make you realize how quickly life moves. Someone told me the other day at church that Tilly changes every time he sees her. It's so exciting, but makes me a little sad, too. It's going by too fast. I want to hit pause and hang out here a little longer! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But, life doesn't afford us a pause button, so I'm doing my best to savor each moment. The frequency of my blog may suffer, but I'm a little wrapped up at the moment. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now, I'm about to do the crazy mom thing and show you a million pictures from the past few months. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_u88jXeSnS27CX-iNPRCILablEb4fG9_b8c9VVkVi6HsjDe3iupdF4MUmy0SizvBEIkzEOMAHweg4c3146kMyNrtGkngyhlvjbg_OrFzKlUKZnSl-RmcDxKtAaXlV5qiCaMSg3bR7iyo/s1600/IMG_0295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_u88jXeSnS27CX-iNPRCILablEb4fG9_b8c9VVkVi6HsjDe3iupdF4MUmy0SizvBEIkzEOMAHweg4c3146kMyNrtGkngyhlvjbg_OrFzKlUKZnSl-RmcDxKtAaXlV5qiCaMSg3bR7iyo/s320/IMG_0295.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{Tilly getting some sun and napping in Ty's lap}</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_09l17AKtPEblj3w2YF05uj7Ma8Kesv3cWaaYB4-C0RJRfFv6_Oh8FaoKinfoJ-Os6zYVEle1VbDvq1orDZoI1DDD-hjOpSvxKM47JBXkvAljEbFxu-GhadzWcXdIAPpYn30jog6U5E/s1600/IMG_0301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_09l17AKtPEblj3w2YF05uj7Ma8Kesv3cWaaYB4-C0RJRfFv6_Oh8FaoKinfoJ-Os6zYVEle1VbDvq1orDZoI1DDD-hjOpSvxKM47JBXkvAljEbFxu-GhadzWcXdIAPpYn30jog6U5E/s320/IMG_0301.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{Bundled up after our first bath like a cute burrito}</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgVMGdyo_guxgA6OKoeXscQ0UOqGqnl2TrbAq5DxmMPh2OII-d1O_hn48FaybmougxVCkdCtdN2LRzF12k09SaZ_ah2psP1qsqdIJc6qbqX3bLfqDC5lwkwDFXtuvWgswsHWalXi1L44/s1600/first+walk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgVMGdyo_guxgA6OKoeXscQ0UOqGqnl2TrbAq5DxmMPh2OII-d1O_hn48FaybmougxVCkdCtdN2LRzF12k09SaZ_ah2psP1qsqdIJc6qbqX3bLfqDC5lwkwDFXtuvWgswsHWalXi1L44/s320/first+walk.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{Tilly and I going for our first stroll through the neighborhood. I never realized how many pot holes and uneven sidewalks there are in South Highlands until now!}</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguT50ddkwYDZoWdJt8iBIIa36ugZQrjdj_7ibnTt0JTnEhHvPjtY06hLrW-p-yGEnbsPzZq4VUk_1vy9JoWRwd3OsMcKbZzXa3pMacKtonSvmFAq2LHeaMTZc0if-UzGaGSlIQsJHsfRc/s1600/milk+drunk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguT50ddkwYDZoWdJt8iBIIa36ugZQrjdj_7ibnTt0JTnEhHvPjtY06hLrW-p-yGEnbsPzZq4VUk_1vy9JoWRwd3OsMcKbZzXa3pMacKtonSvmFAq2LHeaMTZc0if-UzGaGSlIQsJHsfRc/s320/milk+drunk.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{It was never difficult to tell if Tilly was satisfied after eating.}</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzJLoMG62v6P7TH8QCYq-yLXps51cvC5LvSTYhTH57qj1Mj0MYhDb9ves5ncLiIPVm9cuNlw2siyTX7h0Ar76jLnUm8-5_aKTBu-OIgi-wcCXdKBh8tuxwmEVQ2VTqjZFz2gBi4gLBlg/s1600/IMG_0310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzJLoMG62v6P7TH8QCYq-yLXps51cvC5LvSTYhTH57qj1Mj0MYhDb9ves5ncLiIPVm9cuNlw2siyTX7h0Ar76jLnUm8-5_aKTBu-OIgi-wcCXdKBh8tuxwmEVQ2VTqjZFz2gBi4gLBlg/s320/IMG_0310.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{Tilly and Knox meet for the first time. We laid them in Tilly's crib and they both started sucking on Tilly's hand. We were just happy to see them share. They are six weeks apart, but LJ and I were highly amused at the size difference.}</span> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOq3UByJgf5pzdLbuodNTVvZ9rUB2gI18Up_QImBDgGuTHSL_OVfcfIQTscHH72RUAoqPoCuF5n4cVqXbB2XAnz-bfRWEXPEeDRwS_c58_PzpH8VLv9hjKx6AkO7pEoFzoQDEFd-hOpSA/s1600/first+smiles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOq3UByJgf5pzdLbuodNTVvZ9rUB2gI18Up_QImBDgGuTHSL_OVfcfIQTscHH72RUAoqPoCuF5n4cVqXbB2XAnz-bfRWEXPEeDRwS_c58_PzpH8VLv9hjKx6AkO7pEoFzoQDEFd-hOpSA/s320/first+smiles.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{This is one of Tilly's first documented smiles. She would often smile in her sleep, but this was one moment that she melted my heart.}</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79NSoqPTicnGQg0RI0okf896WVLpUCPLWuSho-jT_ZC8xOFj1ELAQcYjoWBN4XwsgacWQtF4krA0krgKI15xyoJeURl8weR6PIgsOyFvuA3Lx9Z9lt433JQw7KsLVrftRVNbKu0zwOIs/s1600/after+shots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79NSoqPTicnGQg0RI0okf896WVLpUCPLWuSho-jT_ZC8xOFj1ELAQcYjoWBN4XwsgacWQtF4krA0krgKI15xyoJeURl8weR6PIgsOyFvuA3Lx9Z9lt433JQw7KsLVrftRVNbKu0zwOIs/s320/after+shots.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">{Two-month shots are the devil. I'm still not sure who cried more, me or her. But there's nothing better than sleeping on Daddy's chest when you don't feel good.}</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpMEEGyebwTcAit_sltAa1Txqj2DHJVnHJP8-uEHtjHdiL0Wjv2m1EOM6my0hViAgOVaBYdvdpC1bHCwq2WPhKQJwQBOOe6opsYMhwxtRAr08fwAjdT4DEMxtyjxwscl41GJD5ndNya4/s1600/cousins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpMEEGyebwTcAit_sltAa1Txqj2DHJVnHJP8-uEHtjHdiL0Wjv2m1EOM6my0hViAgOVaBYdvdpC1bHCwq2WPhKQJwQBOOe6opsYMhwxtRAr08fwAjdT4DEMxtyjxwscl41GJD5ndNya4/s320/cousins.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> {Tilly loves hanging out with her cousins Beckett and Ruby Belle. A few weeks ago, we were together with some of our other friends and their children. RB was quick to tell the other girls, "No, that's my Tilly."}</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPnSknZJPvev3twJ-hpOUDZaTA7RG2ko5rYDtbjQUQH9TOY5yWdKxvAsV3cel7JZ7Wo2IHfsELhaYobXdDExnCc02vHIUb4d3TiULuXGrjqydS4oB7u3cMU-QCWym3hkzYmW0Ca0gPwk/s1600/halloween.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPnSknZJPvev3twJ-hpOUDZaTA7RG2ko5rYDtbjQUQH9TOY5yWdKxvAsV3cel7JZ7Wo2IHfsELhaYobXdDExnCc02vHIUb4d3TiULuXGrjqydS4oB7u3cMU-QCWym3hkzYmW0Ca0gPwk/s320/halloween.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> {Tilly and Knox decided to coordinate Halloween costumes this year. It was great for this one photo, but Knox was sweating in his monkey costume and Tilly pooped in her banana, so that was short lived.}</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtuNghgC9hoWc3qetQVO1SatHDim97hMnnyIEqmkEGB9bgqIC3sz6DHkd2VAQi0I4ajNgirvAlkNVMrvE7llj2Xz24knqCh6XPI0yCbNVpSB5ipnX4CciqXI4EtKg2VAgI_pVzF3dDr0/s1600/tiger+fan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtuNghgC9hoWc3qetQVO1SatHDim97hMnnyIEqmkEGB9bgqIC3sz6DHkd2VAQi0I4ajNgirvAlkNVMrvE7llj2Xz24knqCh6XPI0yCbNVpSB5ipnX4CciqXI4EtKg2VAgI_pVzF3dDr0/s320/tiger+fan.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{You gotta start 'em young around here. Tilly decided to show her Tiger spirit for our walk on a recent game day morning.}</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivT9ZxMwIX8QYm5AT6WJsI_r7JT9-vYtJldhmScgFUraFRYikMSRyK9BTKg57rETH4BaMNPIKo52AXGcQtkaZ0O5zp2x7gzF88E-KNZU_Srn496n7-51vghKfPlw6IavZ99HkPjldvz0Q/s1600/Tilly's+baptism+069_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivT9ZxMwIX8QYm5AT6WJsI_r7JT9-vYtJldhmScgFUraFRYikMSRyK9BTKg57rETH4BaMNPIKo52AXGcQtkaZ0O5zp2x7gzF88E-KNZU_Srn496n7-51vghKfPlw6IavZ99HkPjldvz0Q/s320/Tilly's+baptism+069_crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">{This is just about the best feeling in the world. I love cuddling with this sweet girl.}</span></div>Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-71764433331237000252012-07-12T11:33:00.000-05:002012-07-12T18:54:33.271-05:00Tilly's Nursery is FinishedAfter hanging curtains Sunday, I'm proud to announce that Tilly's nursery is ready and awaiting her arrival. Working on this room has been a nice way to pass time during pregnancy, but with four weeks to my due date, I'm so glad it's done. <br />
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This is what we started with: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Js0kifpwIK9tPr76IIZrdFk1CWiGou_rsfcoJRDvbgLnCcnyCycoWml-DESiI5y5EBewkyt0uqaxd2jpTLuvqzSdkqAuHm-6O2z7Ul1hOeWz6NWGWkPOL7Hw3r6MAJTD6NPq-tqFe6Y/s1600/nursery_before_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Js0kifpwIK9tPr76IIZrdFk1CWiGou_rsfcoJRDvbgLnCcnyCycoWml-DESiI5y5EBewkyt0uqaxd2jpTLuvqzSdkqAuHm-6O2z7Ul1hOeWz6NWGWkPOL7Hw3r6MAJTD6NPq-tqFe6Y/s320/nursery_before_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And this is her room now: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU0N2ZoNaQwZFeDrFpSFkGGw4oebMTC01NM4QxdZOJst67LP1u4bEJj6sfExCq60gxbGu95E_OJhIi-37-Gqtyf4_zx6wpVNnCFoMtj5p16XE11GOFvyRfkmpH8orBT8lBLInB2WSyC8/s1600/instagram+7.11.12_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU0N2ZoNaQwZFeDrFpSFkGGw4oebMTC01NM4QxdZOJst67LP1u4bEJj6sfExCq60gxbGu95E_OJhIi-37-Gqtyf4_zx6wpVNnCFoMtj5p16XE11GOFvyRfkmpH8orBT8lBLInB2WSyC8/s1600/instagram+7.11.12_4.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's hard to believe we're even looking at the same space! We've ripped up carpet, repainted walls and ceilings, installed crown molding, painted cribs and furniture, picked out fabric and other accessories. This room is ready for our sweet baby girl to come home! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpoyr27ZFRoKDPRCIq0K9clv9I6vGnwtSbaKB73Y2lzMgKuRBsrPT97qr0wO9k7xvG1Ae7M2u_dp3duvGnnC0-HCUNH1qk2q7tIk8a01qOEzeTrkoEhXlpmBK3TPSOJGla0AXAbvrLKg/s1600/instagram+7.11.12_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpoyr27ZFRoKDPRCIq0K9clv9I6vGnwtSbaKB73Y2lzMgKuRBsrPT97qr0wO9k7xvG1Ae7M2u_dp3duvGnnC0-HCUNH1qk2q7tIk8a01qOEzeTrkoEhXlpmBK3TPSOJGla0AXAbvrLKg/s1600/instagram+7.11.12_5.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's hard to capture the whole room from one angle, but you may notice there's not much pink. I don't have a problem with pink, but I fell in love with these fun blue and green fabrics and the nursery blossomed from there. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSGschsJ1iw-_FVa1YGU_bGwNW-V2JJtH7T4w1v3lLj4mwHbgnwglWvCZGYeLQluibPXcyXVJG4zYBooyIrZ3oAwRI_8HmXbkbZ6yjNFv6QQe71MWOPpKy32fQ-AM8Q8lmVMb_eUpeWY/s1600/instagram+7.11.12_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSGschsJ1iw-_FVa1YGU_bGwNW-V2JJtH7T4w1v3lLj4mwHbgnwglWvCZGYeLQluibPXcyXVJG4zYBooyIrZ3oAwRI_8HmXbkbZ6yjNFv6QQe71MWOPpKy32fQ-AM8Q8lmVMb_eUpeWY/s1600/instagram+7.11.12_2.jpg" /></a></div>
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I love how her crib bedding turned out. It's somewhat non-traditional and funky, but looks so sweet and girlie with the light blue crib. Ty did a fantastic job painting it! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HqR-MW2o6XryZGr0jg1dNSrza95J6QbYD-G6yEV832vKIu-EoBm9Fes9ac8SssvxKsTJQj-HJRyhO6B6rC0skP2k4xQmOPrwt5WZiKdzICoi75VPuHgykqQV5nL2LxPD3zZ6CU74i7E/s1600/instagram+7.11.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HqR-MW2o6XryZGr0jg1dNSrza95J6QbYD-G6yEV832vKIu-EoBm9Fes9ac8SssvxKsTJQj-HJRyhO6B6rC0skP2k4xQmOPrwt5WZiKdzICoi75VPuHgykqQV5nL2LxPD3zZ6CU74i7E/s1600/instagram+7.11.12.jpg" /></a></div>
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The curtains were the last thing we added. The fabric is soft and delicate and doesn't take the focus away from the bold bedding. Tilly's monogrammed baby shoes could be my favorite thing ever! </div>
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There are a few other special touches that I love, too. </div>
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This was Ty's dad's hospital bracelet from when he was born. I had no idea this is what hospital bracelets used to look like!? Or that they were sealed together by a lead pellet! Ty's mom gave this to me several months ago, and I had it framed because I thought it was such a sweet keepsake ... even though the last name is misspelled! Did you notice that? I wonder if they would even let you take your baby home now days without a full-on investigation if this happened. </div>
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Aunt Ashley and I spent last Friday night making this wreath for the hospital door. We used fabric I had leftover from her room and a wood monogram Ashley had made for Tilly's shower. I love the little pop of pink in the middle of all the blue and green fabrics! </div>
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Only one thing is missing, and I imagine the stork will be delivering her to us very soon. </div>Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-665038820018093342012-07-03T13:56:00.001-05:002012-07-03T13:59:42.841-05:00Showered by Friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few weekends ago, my sweet friends outdid themselves by hosting an amazing shower for myself and Tilly. There were so many precious details, I will do my best to remember them all. <br />
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I'm so grateful for the girlfriends I've been blessed with. Four of us have been enduring this long hot summer pregnant together. Knox was the first to arrive, only three more to go ... and I'm due next! <br />
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This was one of my favorite details. Each of the girls brought their cups and rattles to hang above the food table. Unbenounced to me, they had a cup made for Tilly that was hanging with all of theirs. What an adorable, thoughtful idea!<br />
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The food and flowers were prefect. Amanda has mastered the art of flower arranging. I wish I could do that! <br />
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Lauren made mini blueberry pancakes, Kristen brought the most divine cheese grits (the leftovers were a hit in Sunday School the following day) and Nancy made my favorite strawberry salad. If only the plates were bigger! <br />
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Jenny made coffee punch and there was champs (I hope all of you that watch RHOC got that reference). The coffee punch made its way to our Sunday School class, as well!<br />
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LJ's mom, Mrs. Lesa, made these adorable cupcakes. Some were decorated with flowers, others with baby booties and some with Tilly's monogram. So precious! <br />
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LJ found these cute onesies to hang over the mantle. They so soft and sweet. I can't wait to see Tilly in them!<br />
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There was an insane number of gifts. I think I broke a sweat trying to get through them all, but we have so many things ready for Tilly now, and I couldn't be more appreciative of the generosity our friends have shown. <br />
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It happened that my longtime friend Sarah (Morgan) O'Bryan was in town from Savannah and was able to come to the shower. It was great to see her and our college pal Sara Stanford, who came in from Baton Rouge. We don't get together often enough! The last time was at my wedding, so I better keep coming up with huge life events if that's the only way to round us all up in the same place. <br />
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Sarah is expecting 10 weeks after me, and found out two days after the shower that she's having a little girl. I wish our girls could grow up in the same town. The trouble they could stir up! <br />
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We got everything home, unpacked, washed and put away! I realize Tilly could survive with much less, but it warms my heart to see there are so many people who already love her and are ready to welcome her into this world. <br />
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Only five more weeks!Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-7575113851650865842012-06-29T16:43:00.000-05:002012-06-29T16:54:49.306-05:00Knox Benjamin Taylor is Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday, my best friend had a baby. Sweet, handsome Knox Benjamin Taylor came into this world just after 12:30 p.m. after some hesitancy. I'm not sure where he gets those stubborn genes!?<br />
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He's not even mine, but I immediately fell in love. It's something about that strawberry blonde hair and those tiny wrinkly feet that render my heart helpless to him. <br />
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But you know what I love even more? <br />
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The picture above. <br />
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Two people I love and enjoy so many life moments with now have a son. There's now a third member of the Taylor family, a third person to love and a third person to share life moments with. <br />
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I can't wait to celebrate all the milestones Knox makes in his life. I can't wait to see him and Tilly play. There's so much to look forward to in his life that is just beginning. <br />
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But right now, my heart is perfectly content with this picture and the start of a new family. <br />
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Few moments can be better than this one.Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-7805679032651933182012-06-19T16:34:00.000-05:002012-06-19T16:34:51.680-05:00Family Baby ShowerWe have had so much going recently ... beach trip, baby showers, nursery prep, doctor's appointments, vehicle break downs, teeth falling out. All of those things have led to two weeks of silence on the blog. I promise to catch you all up the happenings. Especially the part about our teeth falling out. That is a great story! <br />
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But I want to start by sharing some pictures and stories from the baby shower, hosted by some very special ladies in my family, for me and Tilly this past weekend. <br />
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As many of you know, Ty and I are naming our daughter after my great uncle, Tillman Netherton. Tillman was his full name. Most people called him Tilly. Those closest to him called him Till. <br />
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Tilly and his wife, Ruth, lived two doors down from my grandparents, and Ruth still lives there today. Anytime Nana and I would go for afternoon walks or the troop of Netherton grandchildren would take over the street, you could count on finding Tilly in a lawn chair at the top of his driveway. We would always stop by and say hello. His vision had started to fail him years prior, but he knew us by our voices and was delighted by the visits.<br />
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You won't find Tilly's name in any baby name book or be able to look it up and discover its meaning. But this is what it means to me. When I knew him, my great uncle didn't have vision as we all know it. I'm sure many of those days he sat in his lawn chair, he couldn't really see the beautiful view of Cross Lake that stretched out before him. But he did have a different kind of vision for things eternal. He was loving and kind and generous and Godly, all the things I hope my daughter will be. I can only hope that when the things of this world fail her, that she can have the same eternal vision as my great uncle.<br />
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At the shower this weekend, Tilly's wife, Ruth, said she knew he was looking down on my Tilly from heaven and smiling. <br />
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What a wonderful thought! It has warmed my heart to think about that ever since. <br />
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Another favorite moment from this weekend's shower was getting to see sweet Landry and my cousin Casey again. I know traveling seven hours with a two-month old was probably less than desirable, but I'm so glad they made the trip. And even more thrilled was my Nana, who got to meet her great-granddaughter for the first time. Nana held her and sang to her for what seemed like hours. I asked her what song she was singing and she said, "I don't know. Just a song I made up and sing to Cookie each morning." <br />
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FYI ... Cookie is her pet shih tzu.<br />
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The picture above captures four generations of the Netherton women. We're still wondering where I came from since I missed out on the olive skin and dark hair.<br />
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I had such wonderful hostesses, including my aunt Robbie, Ashley, Casey and Becky. Thanks to these ladies, I've been living on the most delicious fruit dips, chicken salad and pecan muffins since the shower!<br />
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There weren't just Netherton women there. My mother-in-law Margaret and her sister were at the shower, too. People always tell me how blessed I am to have an awesome mother-in-law. She really is the best! <br />
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This was one of my favorite items from the shower. My sister-in-law Ashley went overboard! She found this Jenny Lind rocking chair and refinished it, adding her monogram to the chair's seat. Here's a close up.<br />
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Behind our heads is a bow holder she made, and she and my brother Chris even put together a slideshow of photos from mine and Ty's baby books. </div>
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Here are more of Ashley's cute creations!</div>
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Precious monogram door hanger.</div>
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Ashley knows how much I love whoopie pies. We gave them out as favors at our wedding, and I cannot get enough of them! Now, the <a href="http://woohoowhoopies.com/">Whoopie Pie Lady</a> makes baby whoopies, which made adorable favors for the shower. </div>
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I loved all the precious treats, good food and time spent with close family and friends. </div>Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-30965761285571746972012-06-01T08:42:00.000-05:002012-06-01T08:42:43.766-05:00City Life Magazine: June Column(I write for a local monthly publication called <a href="http://www.citylifemag.net/index.html">City Life</a>. I know some of you don't live near me, so I want to start sharing these columns with you here, too. You can <a href="http://www.citylifemag.net/magazine.html">click here</a> to flip through the pages of the publication, or just read my article below. This was my column for June.)<br />
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I can't believe June is here. Mostly because after June, follows July and then August. For us, that means a baby! I cannot wait to look at the sweet little person who has been karate chopping my rib cage for the past several weeks. Not to mention, it will be nice having her <em>not</em> karate chop my rib cage any longer! <br />
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In honor of June and Father's Day, Ty let me interview him about becoming a dad. We sat down and tried to do it face to face, but that didn't work. Instead, I sent Ty a list of questions and he answered them via the voice recorder on his iPhone and text them to me. I love how it turned out and the entire process became something very special from him to Tilly. Even though I wrote the article, I cried when I read it this week. I married one of the good ones! And what an incredible dad he's going to be! <br />
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<strong>From a Daddy to his Daughter</strong> <br />
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Being pregnant, there’s not a day that passes where you’re not reminded of what’s soon to come. Those reminders come often. Whether that be through a growing baby’s gentle kicks and turns, or the hands of strangers that seem to gravitate toward your belly. Your body – not to mention life as you know it – is no longer your own. <br />
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Throughout this experience, there have been moments I looked at my husband and thought, “What does he think about this whole pregnancy and parenthood thing?” <br />
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Right now, this expectant mom gets all the credit. But behind the scenes, there’s a dad-to-be who’s working diligently to prepare our home and lives for the arrival of our little girl. For the past seven months, my sweet husband has put my vitamins on my nightstand each night. He’s plugged in the heating pad when my back hurts at the end of the day. And although he may not feel the daily kicks and turns, he’s the ideal partner and a hands-on part of this experience. <br />
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I knew when I married Ty that, one day, he would make a great father. For his first Father’s Day, I asked Ty if I could interview him about what becoming a dad means to him. I know our daughter will cherish getting to read these words one day, and I know she couldn’t ask for a better father. <br />
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<strong>What does it mean to be a Dad? Who have been good examples in your life and what have you learned from them?</strong><br />
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Being a dad means being a good example and a role model for your kids. For me, obviously, my dad is the best example of this. It’s funny to see how he’s changed over the years. He used to be very hard and a no-nonsense kind of person, and now that he has grandchildren, he’s almost the opposite. <br />
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Growing up, my dad held everyone, including himself, to high standards, and I’ve never seen him vary from those standards. He raised us in a way that we knew what was right and what was wrong, and that made us who we are today. <br />
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As a coach, he touched a lot of other lives, too. It’s not rare for me to run into someone who had a kid on the swim team, or was on the swim team themselves, who tells me how my dad has made them a better person today. I’ve learned a lot from him and I hope to be the same kind of role model for my daughter. <br />
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<strong>When you think about being a dad, what do you look forward to the most?</strong> <br />
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I look forward to the day we bring her home and put her in the nursery. I think about us cracking the door to her room and looking in there to make sure she’s asleep and she’s doing OK. Beyond that, I look forward to her hanging out with me, talking to her and having her teach me about the things she likes to do and me teaching her about the things I like to do. I can’t wait to teach her to ride a bike and, overall, getting to see the person she becomes. <br />
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<strong>What are your hopes for our daughter?</strong> <br />
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I hope for what most dads probably hope for. I hope she goes to college, gets a good job and marries a nice young man. I hope she loves her dad, her mom and grandparents. Everyone always says, I want my kids to have more than what I had growing up. I don’t necessarily want that, but I want her to be happy. I hope she is, and I hope we do a great job raising her. <br />
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<strong>What moments have you enjoyed the most and the least about this experience so far and why?</strong> <br />
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I’ve enjoyed those little steps along the way, like finding out we were pregnant or finding out what gender she was. My greatest joy has been watching you, and seeing the people around us get excited. I remember going in the ultrasound room and them confirming we were pregnant, and you had tears in your eyes. <br />
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And then hearing the heartbeat. We were sitting in a little dark room and on the speakers you could hear the heartbeat pulsing. I looked at you, and you were wiping tears from your eyes. Moments like those have brought me the most joy. <br />
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My least favorite part has probably been the three months of nesting that I’ve found myself in the middle of right now. Everything from painting the office to completely redoing a nursery, to painting a crib, which is probably the worst thing ever, on down to yard work that had to be done now, for whatever reason. <br />
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<strong>If you could tell her anything right now, what would that be?</strong><br />
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I would just want to tell her “I love you.”Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-67058726014434525382012-05-30T11:25:00.000-05:002012-05-30T11:26:25.460-05:00Lake Bistineau Rib Cookoff<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
For the past two years, Ty and I have attended the Lake Bistineau Rib Cookoff. You've never seen people so passionate about ribs! People spend the day at their camps, preparing their entries, and then gather at the hosting camp for judging and awards. </div>
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This year, Ty's boss hosted the rib cookoff at his camp, so Ty spent the week prior creating something special for the event. </div>
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What you see Ty proudly eyeballing to his left is his frozen drink machine. I don't know how it works. I don't know why he was compelled to build this contraption. But I know my husband can accomplish great and curious things when he puts his mind to it. </div>
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Before the rib judging began, I got to spend time with two of my favorite little girls, Molly and Lila. They stripped down to their Pampers and went for a dip in the pool. There's no need for a swimsuit when you're hanging with friends at the lake. </div>
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I'm going to warn you. There are some seriously cute pictures to come. </div>
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Lila says, "Come on in, the water feels great!"</div>
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I had to leave the sweet babies to get down to official rib business. I was solicited to be a judge for this year's contest. I didn't tell anyone that I wasn't really much of a fan of ribs, but I did tell most of the people who entered where I was registered and that my opinion could be swayed by baby gear. </div>
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<br />The crowd gathered and the judging began. Each team's ribs were judged on appearance, texture and taste, and to my surprise they were all distinctly different. Some were traditional, some were saucy, some were sweet, some were ... this is turning into a Dr. Seuss rhyme. </div>
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<br />There I am in the bottom right corner, diligently focused on judging. I've also decided this will be about the only picture you see of me pregnant. I know, I look great for 30 weeks. The back of my head has hardly changed at all. </div>
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Also, may I point out, that I didn't know so many people would be watching me eat ... watching me eat ribs nonetheless ... while I'm big and pregnant.</div>
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These were Bertel and Walt's ribs, although I didn't know it at the time. When the boss' wife tells you to vote for her ribs, you rank them high, if you know what's good for you. Fortunately, David and Bertel love Ty like their second son, which eased my worries about my husband becoming suddenly unemployed if these ribs didn't win. Talk about pressure!</div>
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After much deliberation, the winners were announced with a newcomer, PhilipThompson, taking first place. Jeff Clark (right) attempted to bribe me with $7 and a pint of Gentleman Jack. Diapers or wipes may have led to better rankings for Jeff. <br />
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We spent the rest of the evening enjoying delicious ribs, an abundance of sides and some good company. <br />
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Molly just wished her friend Tilly was there to play, too. It soon became apparent that my friendship just wouldn't do. <br />
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Definitely, next year, Molly!Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-32009076602596905912012-05-25T11:50:00.000-05:002012-05-25T11:50:08.997-05:00I Called ItTy's good friend Eric (we actually call him Rock) came in town last night to stay with us on his way to Natchitoches for the weekend. Rock is known to pop in to town at the last minute, and we are always happy to accommodate his travels.<br />
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Rock is also known to leave our house in the middle of the night while we are asleep. I'm not sure why, it's just what he does. So now, I am conditioned to check the driveway first thing in the morning to see if he actually stayed the entire night. There's about a 50/50 chance his car is still there. <br />
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Yesterday after Rock rolled into town, he and Ty decided they would get in a round of golf at Westwood. With lights on half of the course, the boys could get in a late round after the sun went down. <br />
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I told Rock, "Today's your day for a hole-in-one." <br />
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He was doubtful because he said he'd never had one. I reassured him that tonight would be his night. Since more than half of the course is made up of Par 3s, odds were in his favor. Or at least more in his favor than usual! <br />
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Around 8:45, Ty text me, "Hole in one for Rock! 15."<br />
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I couldn't believe it. I thought for sure they were pulling my leg, so I called Ty only to find out it was true. <br />
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Rock made a hole-in-one on number 15, and among the first words out of his mouth were, "Steph called it." <br />
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It can probably be attributed to chance more than anything, like the circumstances surrounding most hole-in-ones. Most people have hit really solid shots and come really close in their lifetime, but whoever really knows why a certain shot decides to drop in the cup? <br />
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I've played more rounds at Westwood than most people. I've even had several close calls. But the ball has never dropped in the cup for me. <br />
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Fate's never been on my side. But maybe I should test my gift and try calling another hole-in-one. My brother said he would like me to tell him the same thing before his round Saturday morning.Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-84037998619393593322012-05-24T12:13:00.001-05:002012-05-24T13:19:09.576-05:00Bizarre Declarations of Love<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
There are little things I come in contact with from time to time that always take me back to the earliest parts of my relationship with Ty. Long before we were engaged, before we were even dating, before we even knew where our first encounters with each other would one day lead, I remember so many little things about him. This is where it all began, as bizarre as some of these things may seem. </div>
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<strong>Chacos.</strong> </div>
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I can remember the first time I ever laid eyes on Ty. We were both at The Cub. I was with my group of friends, he was with his. We were sitting at tables right next to each other, and I thought to myself, "He's cute, but I will never date a guy who wears shoes like that." </div>
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It's funny that I can remember thinking that. It's even funnier to look at where the comment eventually got me. </div>
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Somehow, I was able to look past his river shoes and come to love the man wearing them. And with the advice of a loving wife, he only wears these now to piddle around the house or, for their intended purpose, to wear to the river. </div>
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<strong>The Cuban.</strong> </div>
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Even after my first encounter with Ty, I was able to resist him (and his shoes) for a little while. I ended up dating someone in Baton Rouge, who was a mutual friend of Ty's, and that guy recommended that Ty and I ride together to Baton Rouge for game days. </div>
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I remember the first time Ty came to my house to pick me up for a trip. He put his hand out to grab my bag, and I extended my hand to shake his. He replied, "OK, We can shake hands, but I was just trying to get your bag."</div>
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I felt like an idiot, but a fast friendship formed. I was dating someone else, so there was no need for us to really impress each other. We could just be ourselves. For Ty that meant, we could grab dinner at a gas station, like he probably always did on his way to Baton Rouge. We pulled over at the gas station in Opelousas, where the only option for dinner was a sandwich called The Cuban. I was hungry, so I grabbed one of those and some cheese puffs, trying to acclimate to Ty's usual roadside dinner, and we quickly got back on the road. </div>
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What is in The Cuban? I couldn't really tell you. The sticker says "sliced pork," but I would say it was either bologna or bologna's nameless, mysterious first cousin. </div>
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On my recent trip to New Orleans, I stopped at the gas station in Opelousas. I did not actually purchase The Cuban, but I took a picture of it and text it to my husband with a caption that read, "where our love story began." </div>
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Sad, but true. </div>
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<strong>The Coasters.</strong> </div>
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With Chaocs and Cubans in our past, my friendship with Ty eventually evolved into something more. One of my best friends became my boyfriend. And as cliche as it sounds, I ran from that for along time because I didn't want to mess things up. Women are idiots sometimes, too. Or at least I am. I can't believe that I was ever willing to settle for anything less than him. </div>
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We were young and still in our "going out" phase, which often led us to our favorite karaoke spot, Tiki Tavern. I doubt I could hang there anymore, with my hatred of day-after-cigarette-smoke-bar hair and usual 10 p.m. bedtime. </div>
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This picture was probably taken the last time we were there. The night of our rehearsal dinner. We had lots of friends in town, and they always loved this little place, so we gave the people what they wanted. </div>
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That always included a duet of The Coasters' song, "Poison Ivy." </div>
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Life is much different for us now. <br />
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We don't eat at gas stations. Well, not as a family unit. I think Ty still frequents them for lunch. <br />
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We don't karaoke. Although, I'm currently dealing with the much worse, literal kind of poison ivy. My arms, belly and legs are covered in poison ivy from all the yard work we've been doing. <br />
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But even though life has changed -- and will continue to change -- more and more drastically, I like all the quirky things that brought us together and have turned into wonderful, strange memories.Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-68836507848978758162012-05-22T16:45:00.000-05:002012-05-22T16:45:26.820-05:00My One Night Stay in the Lap of LuxuryIn my day job, it is not uncommon for me to travel several times a year for company events and trade shows. I'm the person who swoops in to make sure things look good before an event. I'm also the person who gets the phone call if things don't look good when the rest of our team arrives. These phone calls have made me cry, so I typically like to avoid them altogether. <br />
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But in my very pregnant state, I've had to pass on some of my usual travels until baby Tilly arrives. After one very awkward dinner, where I was the only female in attendance (this is not uncommon working in manufacturing/construction), I learned that 15 grown men will talk non-stop about your pregnancy even if they're all secretly hating every second of it.<br />
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So, a few weeks ago, I packed up the company Tahoe and putt-putted my way down to New Orleans by myself for one night for my last work trip. It was our largest industry event of the year, and I wasn't going to risk something being wrong. If those "something-is-terribly-wrong" phone calls made me cry before I was pregnant, a full-on meltdown would happen now if I got that call.<br />
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After a long drive and several hours spent at the Convention Center, I was ready to get to my hotel, elevate my feet and not budge for the rest of the evening. The company's executive assistant, whom I love dearly, booked a room for me at the Windsor Court. This is a little nicer than my typical accommodations, but who was I to argue. <br />
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I checked in at the front desk and made my way to my room. I slid my plastic room key into the door, waited for the green light, flung the door open and immediately thought a mistake had been made. <br />
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My room was a suite. I thought there must have been a mistake when the room was booked. I thought the hotel must have made a critical error and placed me in the room reserved for my boss. I thought I better keep my mouth shut, act like I belong and enjoy every minute. <br />
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It was comfortable, stylish and very cozy. From the angle this picture was taken, my back was against a wall of windows with sweeping views of downtown New Orleans and the riverfront. <br />
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Near the front door as you enter the suite, there was a room designated specifically for bar goodies, drinks and snacks. <br />
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The bathroom was luxurious and beautiful. Not to mention the bath products that smelled so divine, like they were made from hummingbird tears. I was tempted to lift them, but resisted the urge in an effort to pretend that I was classy.<br />
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Across from the bathroom was a cute little vanity area for me to get ready in the morning. <br />
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And finally, in the back of the suite was this beautiful bedroom. When I finally tucked in for the evening, I called home to tell my husband that I was pretty sure the sheets had been ironed. <br />
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I spent the evening wrapped up in my Windsor Court bathrobe, watching TV and snacking on the pecan pralines turn down service left on my nightstand. And after I checked out and got back home, I spent the rest of the weekend telling Ty that I wanted to go back to the suite at the Windsor Court. <br />
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On my way home the following day, I finally spoke with our executive assistant and mentioned my fine accommodations. She said she wanted me to be somewhere safe and nice since I was traveling alone and pregnant. <br />
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I told her how much I appreciated it, and under these conditions, I would be willing to travel pregnant more often. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I was ready to plan my second pregnancy!Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-25923779740928938992012-05-11T12:00:00.000-05:002012-05-11T12:00:07.861-05:00Recently ... In PicturesSo much has been happening lately, I'm lucky to stay on top of things. And it's miraculous if I end up with a picture to document. But here are a few pictures I managed to capture in recent weeks, all via iPhone. I'm really going to have to work on getting a camera before Tilly arrives! <br />
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This is where Ashley and I stayed when we visited our cousin Casey in Arkansas. ... if only! I did find it enlightening all the strange things you see when you travel through the Natural State. I didn't know motel honeymoon suites still existed, but I'm certain there is a heart shaped spa jacuzzi behind door number 28. <br />
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Another interesting fun fact: We traveled through Delight, Ark., and read on the town sign that it was the home of Glen Campbell. <br />
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I asked Ashley, "What's the big deal with Glen Campbell? She's just a lady who used to be on the news in Shreveport." <br />
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Ashley roared with laughter, "That's GWEN Campbell. GLEN Campbell is the guy who sang "Rhinestone Cowboy."" <br />
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Thanks for clearing that up, Ashley. It makes more sense now. <br />
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Have you ever seen a schnauzer that <em>likes </em>the water? I take that back, <em>loves</em> the water?<br />
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I don't know if I've ever seen such a thing. But this is what happens roughly 10 seconds after we let Baxter into the backyard. He hops on the first step of the pool and dips his beard into the cool waters. Then he looks like a raggedy, wet rat until his hair dries out. And even once he's dry, he's nothing spectacular. <br />
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Baxter used to hate the water until Ty and I went out of town for the weekend, leaving my then 19-year-old brother in charge of our house and pets. We came home to reports of poolside beer pyramids and a schnauzer who wouldn't stay out of the pool. My brother is no Cesar Millan. If I had to guess, it looked more like waterboarding, but Baxter managed to overcome his fear of the water. <br />
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Do you think a mini schnauzer would make good hunting dog? <br />
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Here Baxter is again. Supervising my paint job on a dresser for Tilly's room. With those heavy eyebrows, I'm not sure he can even see, so it's easy to slip sloppy work past him. However, I am proud to report that B has had a haircut. His love for the pool has forced us to buzz him down for the summer months. <br />
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I knew I wanted a Jenny Lind crib for Tilly's room, so when my mother-in-law Margaret found this one at a garage sale for next to nothing, I jumped on it. <br />
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Let me just say, painting one of these is not an easy task. With all the notches, you would have to take a week off work to sand it down. Ty and I took the easy route. We primed it really well with some Kiltz premium primer and then used a paint sprayer to apply the new color. <br />
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Even using a sprayer, this was quite the undertaking for Ty. You have to spray from every possible angle to get it evenly covered. And it takes several coats. He finished it up last Saturday with a spraying of clear coat, and we moved it into her room. <br />
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I think it turned out so sweet! I can't wait to have her bedding ready and put it all together. Above the crib, we hung a series of six Shel Silversteen poems. <br />
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That's Mirabelle the Bunny hanging out in the crib, waiting on Tilly's arrival. She was a gift from our friend Knox. He's courting her already! <br />
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Moving the crib into her room made the nursery feel very, very real. Up until now, it just felt like decorating. Pretty soon there will be a baby sleeping in this crib! That's going to be the sweetest thing of all!<br />
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More room pics to come very soon.Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-11094028041647292702012-05-10T11:54:00.001-05:002012-05-10T11:54:46.834-05:00City Life Magazine: May Column<em>(I write for a local monthly publication called </em><a href="http://www.citylifemag.net/index.html"><em><span style="color: #999999;">City Life</span></em></a><em>. I know some of you don't live near me, so I want to start sharing these columns with you here, too. You can </em><a href="http://digital.turn-page.com/title/4426"><em><span style="color: #999999;">click here</span></em></a><em> to flip through the pages of the publication, or just read my article below. This was my column for May.)</em><br />
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For my column this month, I thought it would be fitting to write about one of the most remarkable women in my life, my mother-in-law Margaret. I've written about her on the blog before, but this expands a little more on what makes her so special in my life. <br />
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Happy Mother's Day to Margaret and all the other moms in my life! <br />
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<strong>A Mom For All Seasons</strong><br />
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I was a Mother’s Day baby, born in 1981 at Schumpert Medical Center on the day before Mother’s Day. <br />
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Growing up, each year that my birthday rolled around, it was celebrated hand-in-hand with Mother’s Day. There was cake and ice cream and gifts exchanged, but I always liked that it wasn’t just for me. It was a weekend that we celebrated all the women in my family. Moms, aunts, cousins, sisters and grandmothers were all honored in unison over one Brookshire’s butter cream sheet cake. I never minded sharing my birthday cake with such a wonderful group of women. <br />
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In the years since, I’ve learned that life provides all types of mothers. There are the mothers we’re born to, the grandmothers, aunts and family members who mother us along the way, and there are the other special women we acquire as mother figures throughout our lives.<br />
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One of the best parts about marrying the guy I did is the loving family I inherited with him. They would do anything for me and Ty, and effortlessly toe the line between being involved and overbearing. Many people don’t mesh so easily with their in-laws, but this has never been a challenge for me as I became a part of Ty’s family.<br />
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At the center of this wonderful family is my mother-in-law, Margaret. She’s the mother-in-law that a new bride hopes for. She’s thoughtful, generous, loving … and has her own monogramming machine!<br />
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Margaret is so petite that you may never realize how strong she truly is. But this year, we learned that strength comes in many sizes. Even in petite, athletic women like Margaret. <br />
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Right around Thanksgiving, Margaret was diagnosed with anal cancer. It didn’t seem possible. Margaret is the picture of fitness. She’s a fixture in the local running community, nevermind the additional yoga, Pilates and spin classes she teaches almost every day of the week. <br />
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And while I know cancer does not discriminate between age and health, it is difficult news to digest when someone lives such a healthy lifestyle and is diagnosed with such a monumental illness.<br />
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Over the course of six weeks, Margaret underwent chemotherapy and radiation. In the midst of her battle, she would text me to ask how I was feeling throughout my first trimester. It was a conversation we had many times, and each time I would think, “At a time like this, who really cares about how I’m feeling?”<br />
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I would always respond and ask Margaret how she was feeling, and even in her sixth week of treatment, when I knew she was exhausted and enduring physical pain, she would only say that “she was feeling a little tired.” <br />
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I guarantee there are people acquainted with Margaret who never knew she was undergoing cancer treatment. At certain times, I wondered why she didn’t mention it more. Surely, if I were put in similar circumstances, I would be coming unglued at the seams. <br />
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But I’ve rarely seen someone exhibit such grace in the midst of personal tragedy. That’s one of the things I love most about Margaret. She loves those around her selflessly, even if it takes every ounce of energy she’s got.<br />
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Nevermind the fear I’m sure she felt. Nevermind her physical pain and exhaustion. She was doing her best to shelter those she loves from her reality. <br />
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We were so blessed to receive good news several weeks ago that Margaret was officially cancer free. Other than annual check-ups, she could get back to her normal, active lifestyle. We never considered what the other option might be, but I know our family, and this world, needs someone who loves people the way Margaret does. <br />
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I love how she’s such a loving mother to my husband, and how she loved me instantly simply because I was his wife. And I can’t wait to see how she loves our daughter, too. <br />
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This Mother’s Day, I’m especially thankful for the mother I acquired through marriage, and the lessons I’ve learned just through being an observer of her life, in tragedy and triumph. <br />
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At my table, there’s always a piece of butter cream sheet cake to share with extraordinary women like Margaret.Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-62377183320457375912012-05-01T17:05:00.000-05:002012-05-01T17:06:11.677-05:00Our Visit with LandryI spent this past weekend driving more than 12 hours to do this. <br />
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It was totally worth every second. Baby Landry is actually my second cousin (I think) ... but in my family, we consider her my niece. She is such a sweet little girl who seems so attentive to everything going on around her. She doesn't want to miss a second of the action. <br />
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I tried not to hold it against her that she seemed to prefer Aunt Ashley. <br />
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Maybe my big earrings were scary? <br />
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We had such a good time cuddling, playing and participating in baby bath time, but we also crossed a few adventures of our list during the journey. <br />
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On our way there, we stopped in Fayetteville for dinner at Doe's. This was enough to put me over the moon, however soon after this picture was taken, we ordered more fries. I've never been so content. <br />
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We paid a visit to the original Wal-Mart, the Walton's 5-10. It wasn't too exciting, and I think I may have said while on the premises that I hate Wal-Mart ... but it was something to cross off the bucket list. FYI, Walton's is located in downtown Bentonville. You will not find it in downtown Rogers. Believe me, I tried. All of those Northwest Arkansas towns bleed together and sometimes you just end up in the wrong downtown. <br />
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And finally, what would our trip have been without a souvenir for Tilly? She got this adorable little outfit for next spring, and particularly for pictures with the Easter Bunny. We have a certain affection for him since Ty used to <a href="http://stephanienetherton.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-honey-bunny.html">dress up as the bunny</a> for all the church kids.Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-14459434702038148042012-04-26T11:00:00.000-05:002012-04-26T11:00:08.491-05:00Peanut Butter Sheet CakeI haven't had many food cravings or bizarre food aversions during my pregnancy. You won't catch me dipping dill pickles in vanilla ice cream, but there have been a few things that have sounded gotta-have-it-right-now delicious over the past few months.<br />
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During my first trimester, I couldn't get enough Posados flour tortillas. I wanted them every night, dripping with warm butter, my tool of choice for scooping up heaps of salsa. This craving was especially weird since I normally hate the sight, smell and taste of everything at Posados.<br />
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There was a hamburger phase. It's rare for me to eat a burger, and I never crave them, but I think at some point I polished off about three in one week.<br />
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My husband regularly catches me with the fridge door open, fishing out green olives from the glass jar. <br />
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And lately, my cravings have directed me toward peanut butter. I find myself daydreaming about peanut butter foldovers or packing a PB&J for lunch. We always have peanut butter around the house, but I'm rarely the one eating it. </div>
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Ty came home last night to find me in the midst of baking a <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/216876538275068569/">Peanut Butter Sheet Cake </a>that I pinned on Pinterest several months ago. My explanation, "I wanted something peanut buttery." He gave me "you're crazy" eyes. I don't think Ty fully understands the magnetic force that a pregnancy craving can wield over a woman. I'm rendered helpless by a simple jar of peanut butter. <br />
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After a little piece last night and another little piece this morning (breakfast of champions), this sheet cake is curing my latest craving. Even if you're not expecting and you simply classify yourself as a peanut butter lover, this sheet cake is a wonderful, tasty PB delight.<br />
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<strong>Peanut Butter Sheet Cake </strong><br />
<br />
Mix in pan and bring to a boil:<br />
<ul>
<li>1/4 cup creamy peanut butter</li>
<li>1 cup water</li>
<li>1/2 cup butter</li>
</ul>
Mix together the following and add to the above mixture:<br />
<ul>
<li>1 cup sugar</li>
<li>1 cup brown sugar</li>
<li>2 cups flour </li>
<li>1 tsp salt</li>
<li>1 tsp soda</li>
</ul>
Mix and add to the above mixture:<br />
<ul>
<li>2 eggs</li>
<li>1/2 cup buttermilk</li>
<li>1 tsp vanilla</li>
</ul>
Stir well and pour into greased or parchment lined cookie sheet pan (jellyroll pan). Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees.<br />
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<strong>Frosting</strong><br />
<br />
<div>
Mix in pan and bring to a boil:</div>
<ul>
<li>3/4 cup butter</li>
<li>6 Tbsp buttermilk</li>
<li>1/2 cup peanut butter</li>
</ul>
Take off stove and add:<br />
<ul>
<li>3 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 1 Tbsp vanilla. Pour over warm cake.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Source: <a href="http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/">The Girl Who Ate Everything</a>)</span>Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-41846717596839900032012-04-25T10:13:00.003-05:002012-04-25T10:13:55.044-05:00The Shoe FairyWe have a shoe fairy who frequently visits our house. You never know when to expect her, but she always leaves little "footprints" behind.<br />
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Yesterday, my husband found these by the back door next to his work boots. <br />
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This could warm the hardest of hearts. <br />
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Another time, she's left these for Tilly, along with a pair of espadrilles. <br />
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I adore these boots. It's great having a Shoe Fairy with such exceptional, stylish taste. <br />
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Another Shoe Fairy gave Tilly these when she found out Tilly was a girl. <br />
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I melt over these!<br />
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It's a sign of things to come. My sweet baby girl has four adorable pairs of shoes ... and we still have more than three months before she arrives!Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-79232667371687338552012-04-20T11:30:00.000-05:002012-04-20T11:30:45.180-05:00Blueberry Fields Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{Photo courtesy of Southern Living}</span></div>
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This time of year, I find myself obsessing over spring mix salad topped with fresh fruit and tangy vinaigrette dressing. There's a million different varieties. You can take a simple approach by grabbing a bottle of vinaigrette dressing at the grocery store and tossing it in your salad with nuts, cheese and berries of your choosing. But I find bottled vinaigrette difficult. It's hard to find a good one. <br />
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The real home run comes when you make your own vinaigrette, which is very simple.<br />
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This <a href="http://www.stephanienetherton.blogspot.com/2009/04/so-good-strawberry-salad.html">Strawberry Salad</a> is my absolute favorite. Make it and you will find yourself obsessing over its wonders. This is the only salad I've found to have such powers! <br />
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But this Blueberry Fields Salad is a close second. The vinaigrette is a little more tangy than the dressing used on the strawberry salad, but it pairs deliciously with crumbled cheese and nuts. And it's really pretty when it all comes together. This salad recipe uses some precise measurements, which I follow for the dressing, but otherwise, I find it suitable to throw caution to the wind and just toss the rest of the ingredients together. <br />
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<strong>Blueberry Fields Salad</strong><br />
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1 cup chopped walnuts <br />
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar <br />
1/3 cup blueberry preserves <br />
1/3 cup olive oil <br />
2 (5.5-oz.) packages spring greens and baby spinach mix <br />
2 cups fresh blueberries <br />
1 small red onion, halved and sliced (I skipped the onions)<br />
1 cup crumbled blue cheese (I used feta ... pasteurized for my pregnant self)<br />
<ul>
<li>Heat walnuts in a small skillet over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until toasted and fragrant.</li>
<li>Whisk together balsamic vinegar, next 2 ingredients, and salt and freshly ground pepper to taste in a small bowl. </li>
<li>Combine walnuts, spinach mix, and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl. </li>
<li>Drizzle with desired amount of vinaigrette, and toss to combine. </li>
<li>Serve immediately with remaining vinaigrette.</li>
</ul>Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-80197079265812254462012-04-16T16:15:00.000-05:002012-04-16T16:15:22.253-05:00Before & After: The NurseryI'm having a hard time getting used to referring to our old guest room as the nursery. Why is this so weird to me? I stumble over my words most of the time and end up calling it the "guest room nursery." <br />
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That does not mean if you are a guest in our home that we will force you to sleep in a crib. It just means that, for me, the word nursery may be a little scary. Somehow, I manage not to freak out when I see my swiftly growing baby belly. I cannot put any logic behind what freaks me out and what doesn't.<br />
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Anyway, when we get to the end of this blog post and you see the after, you will most likely say, "big deal, that looks like a normal room." In fact, it is a big deal that the guest room nursery looks normal, because it used to look like this. <br />
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We also used to call this room the LSU room. Not hard to see why. <br />
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It was explained to us that the previous owners let their grandchild pick out the color scheme. The carpet was in excellent condition, but ugly as sin. And the wall color reminds me of one of those three pre-approved colors that campus housing allows students to paint their college dorm rooms. Overall, this room makes me feel very sad, and nurseries shouldn't be sad. <br />
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Ty and I always said that we would get to this room when we needed it for a nursery. I believe that looking back, Ty and I will always say that we wish we would have done it sooner. It's one of those "grass is always greener" scenarios. <br />
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Our plan was three-fold: new paint, crown molding (there was something in place, but didn't look right), new carpet. <br />
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The plan extended into the nursery bathroom that was also painted the sad dorm room yellow color. The bathroom has some really cute, old blue tile that we wanted to keep. But it needed a fresh wall color and some crown. <br />
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Whoever previously stayed in this room must have had some behavioral issues because it looked like the walls had been stabbed to death and then patched. The patch job was maybe worse than the original damage, so we got a painter in to retexture and smooth out those rough spots. <br />
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Then Ty and I began to paint. <br />
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We went with a very light greyish neutral color for the walls since all of our nursery furnishings and fabrics are more vibrant. The change at this point isn't very dramatic, but it is an improvement. I think it was good for me and Ty to be able to splatter as much paint on the carpet as we wanted. It was therapeutic to show that carpet just how much we hated it. <br />
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Finally, last week our carpet was installed. <br />
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It's so normal. <br />
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And clean. </div>
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There are beautiful, original hardwood floors under this carpet, but we decided to preserve those for later. Plus, the carpet will help to keep our nursery nice, quiet and peaceful. </div>
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As soon as Ty walked in the door, I had him help me move Tilly's dresser into her room. </div>
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This will make a great changing table and is the perfect size for her room. </div>
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I'm so glad to have a clean slate with this room. I hope it will be enough to erase those LSU colors from my memory! I can't wait to keep putting Tilly's room together and see it all once it's completed. </div>Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-22392405199705206862012-04-13T16:24:00.000-05:002012-04-13T16:24:35.868-05:00Landry Kathleen Hicklin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We added a new member to our family today! Miss Landry Kathleen Hicklin was born in Rogers, Ark., this afternoon to my cousin, Casey, and her husband, Josh. <br />
This sweet little nugget weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and we were surprised she wasn't bigger since the doctor told Casey two days ago that Landry was measuring at about 9 pounds, 8 ounces. <br />
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She's such a pretty little girl. Just like her mom, born with a head full of hair and that deep olive complexion. It's more or less killing me that I'm not up there to meet my sweet new friend, but my cousin made me promise to stay put until I had someone who could make the trip with me. Apparently it is not wise to embark on a 6-hour solo journey when you're pregnant!<br />
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We'll be there to visit Landry very soon! <br />
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This day makes me think of lots of things, but mostly, it reminds me of all the joyful things to come. I hope our daughters, Landry and Tilly, enjoy each other's company as much as Casey and I have enjoyed being together over the years. We were inseparable throughout our childhood, and have remained close even when we weren't geographically very close.<br />
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We saw each other every Sunday at Nana's house for lunch, but that just wasn't enough. So for many years, we wrote to each other during the week. If we were quick to respond, we could get two letters back and forth from Shreveport to Bossier City before we saw each other the next Sunday. This gives me a good laugh now! We had such urgent things to tell each other. </div>
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When Casey got married, I was honored to be her maid of honor. I have such fun memories romping around in Dallas on the quest for her perfect wedding dress. Between me, Casey and my Aunt Robbie, we could always end up somewhere interesting. </div>
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When I got married, I was honored to have Casey as my matron of honor. Who else would have helped me take my shoes on and off about six times in one evening?! </div>
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My cousin has always been more like a sister to me than a cousin. I hope our girls have the same relationship because there's truly no greater bond than family. </div>
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We're so happy for sweet Landry's arrival, and in some crazy way (mostly just me being crazy), I think Tilly knew what was going on. Since last night, she's been non-stop wiggling and rolling and kicking, and once Landry arrived, my little girl has settled down tremendously!</div>
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What can we say for ourselves, we just can't contain our excitement! </div>Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-36547422220928397282012-04-12T11:07:00.002-05:002012-04-12T11:16:59.183-05:00Before & After: Our Home OfficeFor nearly two years, we've had this grubby little room off our kitchen. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jNwiT1rVA4g_orSpurkpSI09tFrcc_dPXDxpsYZKmsADPaTjsR5qIfbMW_cT_BI1kcofA5c4FcLy2j-Gc6-20nS6OSHumCuMB8qL_JeKe_2Hfc1zG0abPFdoDzbndHjZ6eI0MoisLX0/s1600/office_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jNwiT1rVA4g_orSpurkpSI09tFrcc_dPXDxpsYZKmsADPaTjsR5qIfbMW_cT_BI1kcofA5c4FcLy2j-Gc6-20nS6OSHumCuMB8qL_JeKe_2Hfc1zG0abPFdoDzbndHjZ6eI0MoisLX0/s320/office_3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This picture doesn't accurately convey the horror of this space. The walls you see are painted green, but the other walls were wallpapered green, as well as the ceiling. It's a design featured in three rooms of our home (dining, kitchen and office), for reasons unbenounced to me. It was a grubby little green dungeon that screamed "run for your life" rather than "welcome to our home."<br />
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It gave a horrible first impression of our home. The room serves as entry point from the garage, upstairs and backdoor walkway. But we've always justified its disgust by saying, "the people coming in through the back door are our friends. They don't care what the room looks like." <br />
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But it got to the point that we really cared. What a waste of square footage! Plus, with a little one on the way, this would be a great place to store her toys and let her play while I'm in the kitchen. I couldn't stand the thought of my sweet baby crawling around on carpet with murder scene-like stains all over it.<br />
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It was time for a fresh look, so we started by stripping the wallpaper. <br />
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It looks better already, but that funk-filled carpet had to go! <br />
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At some point, this room was converted from a porch to an interior room, so we decided to put down some plywood to keep the floor sturdy and in good shape for years to come. <br />
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The walls had to be retextured because of the wallpaper and new baseboard needed to be installed. <br />
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We painted the room in a light, neutral color. Because it is a small space, we wanted it to be bright and take advantage of the natural light. </div>
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This wood siding was the worst thing ever to have to paint. The fact that we were having to paint over extremely dark green didn't help with my sanity. I hope to never paint this siding ever again. <br />
We finally had the carpet installed yesterday, and I think the change is so dramatic!<br />
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I picked up some storage bins, so this room could still serve as our catch-all, but without being such an eyesore. <br />
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I think the space is so fresh and happy and a nice clean slate moving forward. Ty still has to change out the electrical outlets and put on new face plates. Other than that and decorating, we're done. <br />
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But here comes the real challenge. ...<br />
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Keeping our little gremlins (dogs) off the carpet for a while! I already see Baxter eyeballing the perfect spot that he's dying to mark!Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-3130295613364201692012-04-09T16:29:00.001-05:002012-04-09T16:29:22.464-05:00City Life Magazine: Pink or Blue?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>(I write for a local monthly publication called </em><a href="http://www.citylifemag.net/magazine.html"><em>City Life</em></a><em>. I know some of you don't live near me, so I want to start sharing these columns with you here, too. You can </em><a href="http://digital.turn-page.com/title/4426"><em>click here</em></a><em> to flip through the pages of the publication, or just read my article below. This was my column for April.)</em></div>
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<strong>Pink or Blue</strong><br />
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It’s a girl.<br />
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On February 21, I heard those words for the first time. The three little words that forever changed my life. There would be no more blind guessing or Chinese gender charts to consult. It was confirmed. Our baby was a girl. <br />
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I tried not to be the woman who sobbed uncontrollably in front of the ultrasound tech, but I cannot deny that my eyes welled with tears and a lump formed in my throat, making each simple swallow feel like a gulp. <br />
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This was the first glimpse of what our family would look like. <br />
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My husband, Ty, and I walked back out to the waiting room with full smiles but quietly absorbing the news. We sat down to wait to see the doctor when Ty broke the silence. <br />
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“We’re going to be so broke.” <br />
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Spoken like a true Dad. <br />
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I reassured him that it wouldn’t be that much more expensive. Of course, there would be hair bows and cute shoes and smocked dresses, but Ty’s head filled with the natural concerns of any new father. This would only be the beginning. One day there would be prom dresses and the never-ending desire for new clothes … not to mention an entire wedding.<br />
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Leading up to our February 21 appointment, Ty and I were not bashful about what gender we were hoping for. We thought we wanted a boy. <br />
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Ty and I hoped for a boy for different reasons. My husband wanted a son to romp around in the woods with and take to the duck camp on the weekends.<br />
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I wanted a boy because that’s what I knew. I have an older brother, and although he could torment me unlike any other, I always knew if anyone else tried to do the same, he would look after me. Part of me wanted the same protective older brother if Ty and I ever had a girl.<br />
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But if I’d thought beyond the surface things, perhaps a greater part of me wanted a girl. Having been raised primarily by my dad, I never had the opportunity to experience the special bond between a mother and daughter. <br />
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I had a wonderful childhood, filled with love and support from so many people who treated me like their own, but a mother/daughter relationship has always been the missing piece. It’s something that’s always tugged at me when I’ve watched my girlfriends with their moms. It was one thing I never had. <br />
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Having a boy may have been the most familiar to me, but having a girl is God ordained in my life. Hearing that we were expecting a girl was the first gift of many. <br />
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In the past several weeks, my mind has regularly flashed forward to all the gifts still to come. I think about all the things I wish for her life. I hope that she’s not afraid to get dirty and will love spending weekends with her dad at the duck camp. Even though I may not be her favorite person at times, I hope one day we will be great friends.<br />
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I hope I can be a strong example in her life and provide her a loving home. I can’t wait to see what she accomplishes in her life. I hope she loves her Dad as much as I love mine and has a close relationship with him. I hope one day she reads this and knows how much I loved her even before she was born.<br />
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Many years from now, Ty and I will watch her get married and this will feel like ages ago. I hope on that day, I can look back know I gave her my very best as a mother.<br />
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On February 21, I realized that I’m not just having a girl, I’m having a daughter. This relationship will be new to both of us, but I can’t wait to meet her and experience this world by her side.Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-30365145383624182782012-04-05T13:30:00.000-05:002013-07-11T09:27:29.222-05:00Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When it comes to vegetable sides, it's not really something I want to invest my time and effort into. Who wants to toil over a side of peas when it's never going to be the star? <br />
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Not me. <br />
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I like veggie recipes that are simple, quick and easy but still yummy and help the star dish shine. <br />
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Last night, our star was roast and mashed potatoes. A nice rib-sticking meal for my birthday boy. Some people like to cook their roast, potato and carrots in one dish. <br />
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Not me. <br />
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I like my roast with mashed potatoes and a cozy hole for some savory beef au jus. Au no jus didn't!<br />
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Au yes, I did. <br />
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That was so corny ... and here you thought I was going to talk about carrots. <br />
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That was corny, too. I will now attempt to focus on the post at hand. <br />
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So, even though I prefer my roast with mashed potatoes, I don't know if there's a more perfect veggie side for a roast than carrots, and this carrot recipe is simple but jazzy. It's savory with a hint of sweetness and will have you kicking those canned carrots to the curb. <br />
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The best part about this recipe, there's no washing and peeling since you use baby carrots for the recipe. You literally opened the bag of pre-washed veggies and dump them onto a cooking sheet. You do a little drizzle (no measuring needed), one good toss during the cooking process and have an amazing side of carrots that's neither overly crunchy or soggy. <br />
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<strong>Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots</strong><br />
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1 bag of baby carrots<br />
olive oil<br />
honey<br />
balsamic vinegar<br />
seasoning<br />
<ul>
<li>Place carrots on a cookie sheet and toss them with olive oil and seasoning of your choice (I used salt, pepper and garlic powder).</li>
<li>Roast for about 20 minutes in a 400 degree oven. </li>
<li>Remove carrots and drizzle with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 3 tablespoons of honey and about 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.</li>
<li>Put them back into the over for about 5 minutes. </li>
<li>Serve immediately.</li>
</ul>
Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-82150860229408235922012-04-04T15:51:00.000-05:002012-04-04T15:53:42.016-05:00Happy Birthday, Ty!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{I know I've posted this photo no less than four times, but it seems fitting for the day! And I just can't get enough of the sweet little boy!}</span></div>
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Today is my husband's 31st birthday. Happy birthday to Ty! <br />
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Last year, we had a big to-do for <a href="http://www.stephanienetherton.blogspot.com/2011/04/party-pics.html">Ty's 30th</a>, complete with adhesive mustaches, so this year he insisted on not doing much of anything. He told me he didn't want a fancy dinner and he didn't want a gift. So, naturally, I arranged to do both of those things! <br />
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We're going out this weekend for a nice dinner, but I wanted to do a few things today to let him know how special he is to me. <br />
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I woke up extra early this morning and whipped together some blueberry muffins and a pot of coffee for Ty. We are the kind of people who roll out of bed and go to work, so this took some effort on my part. Especially since I started sleeping with a pregnancy pillow about a week ago and each night I enter into some type of delicious REM coma. <br />
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I poured Ty a cup of coffee and walked to the bedroom with his cup and a card that held two tickets to the upcoming Hank Williams Jr. concert. He may not want a gift, but I know he would never have the will power to turn those down! <br />
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It wasn't much, but it was a little something for the person I love more than anything. And really, it's the little somethings that count. <br />
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Interesting Birthday Factoid: We read in Ty's baby calendar this week that it wasn't until April 6 that Ty was actually named Ty. Butch and Margaret spent two days mulling over names and their favorites included Eric, Christopher and Lane. They landed on Ty just before the hospital sent them home. I can't imagine him with any of those names!Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106955414994132503.post-44401012780092405172012-04-03T14:14:00.001-05:002012-04-03T14:14:16.955-05:00Nursery Wall DecorI've been working on some ideas for the walls in Tilly's nursery. I would say that so far, the room is somewhat non-traditional. By that, I mean that it's not exactly sweet and baby but more bright and playful. <br />
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Actually, right now the room has paint-splattered purple carpet and is more or less a construction zone. But in my head, her room is very bright and playful and little girlish. <br />
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Once the old carpet is pulled and the new carpet is put in, it will start to resemble what I have in mind, and in the meantime, I've been gathering some goodies for the walls. Pinterest has been a great resource for inspiration. <br />
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Before I knew the gender, I saw this quote and thought I would like to use it in a little girl's room. I think the first four lines (not necessarily the last four) sum up all the energy of a sweet little girl. <br />
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I may be projecting my own personality somewhat into this idea of my daughter. After all, the largest trophy I ever won was for a reading contest in first grade. <br />
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Everyone is good at something. My something was reading. <br />
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Since my favorite thing was reading, I thought these framed Shel Silversteen poems would fit perfectly into her literary inspired room. <br />
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Ty and I read through "Where the Sidewalk Ends" last night and laughed at some of the poems. We ended up settling on six of them that we both enjoyed, whether they be sweet or funny, that we'll frame for Tilly's room. <br />
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But it's not all words! I came across these beautiful watercolor prints on Etsy at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ashmae">Birds of Ashmae's</a> store and thought they were sweet and girlie without being too serious. She has lots of cute animal prints. I love her hippo, rhino and giraffe. But I fell in love with her florals. <br />
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Peony. </div>
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And lilac. </div>
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I think these will be adorable in her mostly blue and green room, and bring in some extra splashes of color. </div>
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Hopefully, we'll have our carpet in this week and can actually start moving her things into her room. I'm running out of space everywhere else!</div>Stephanie Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15499360901492573901noreply@blogger.com4