Christmas Shopping Part 1

How are you doing?

Usually, by this time of year, I'm done. However, with my hospital bills, Lainey's hospital bill and countless other hectic "stuff", I am still proud to say that I am about 1/3 of the way done!

B and I never really buy each other Christmas gifts, we typically buy our own gifts because we want to get exactly what we want. I know, I know, boring.

I am SEW excited about my gift! I ordered it yesterday and it should be here on November 9.



Photo from Amazon.com

Brother CS6000i Advance Sew Affordable 60-Stitch Computerized Free-Arm Sewing Machine

I can't wait to get it in. I've even ordered my first pattern and am going to attempt to make Lainey's Christmas Day dress. I've ordered her dress for Christmas Eve service and HOPE that it comes in on time.

For Lainey, here are a few things I am looking at:

Princess Cozy Coupe® 30th Anniversary Edition

photo taken from Littletikes.com

Little Tikes 3 Corners Playhouse

 

photo from littletikes.com

Our backyard is ALL pool so we don't have much a play area back there. In February, we are going to be fencing off the pool leaving us with a small area for dining and play. We had this great little spot that the previous owners filled with concrete and rocks (they did SO many weird things to this house!). So, this weekend, as part of her Christmas gift, we dug it up and planted grass so Lainey can have a little area of her own. We are on the hunt for the perfect little house or kitchen for it and I think this might be it.

 

Bobby really wants a new iPod, some bluetooth headphones for the gym and...something else that I can't remember. Wife of the year, right!? Ha.  Like I mentioned, we usually just go shopping and get what we want, so I'm not concerned. :)

 

I love Christmas shopping! It makes me insanely happy. I think because I never spend money like this during the year. And partially because I think I may possibly have a shopping addiction.

 

By the way, I have NOT been sleeping well. Of course I got excited thinking it was a sign I was pregnant because I never slept while I was pregnant with Lainey, but it's not. Anyway, I tried the Celestial Herbal SleepyTime Tea. It is so yummy!! Have you tried it? I love Lipton Sleepytime Tea but they didn't have it at CVS so I grabbed this and it was SO good! Even helped me sleep a little...though...I did slip into a weird dreamy, partial conscious state that scared the piss out of me. Wonder if it's from the tea...Interesting. Didn't even consider that until I started writing this....Oh well.

Regifting...Yes or No?

Such an ugly word this time of year, but be honest do you regift? 


I will admit that I have. And I will again.


I think the trick to regifting is that the gift still has to hold meaning and be something that the recipient would actually want.


For example: My mom got a Chanel clutch from her well-to-do boss. My mom would prefer a power tool. Her daughter (ME!!!) was the proud regiftee. I mean, it actually came with a certificate of authenticity and everything! 


Technically this wasn't a regift as she just asked if I wanted it, but it would have made a wonderful regift, right!? Be honest, you would have accepted it in a heartbeat!


That said, I think that you should always  add a little something else to the item you are passing along.


I was give a bottle of perfume from Bath and Body Works, however, with a newborn, I'm not wearing perfume. So, for Christmas I put together a little "pamper" gift for my younger cousin who is in junior high and who I know would love it! I used the perfume, added two bottles of VS body spray that I purchased for her during the semi-annual sale, a brush, some girly hair pins, a lip gloss and a purse mirror all from Target...for less than $15.


See, it makes sense for the one receiving the gift.


Another thing I always regift is wine. I looove wine, but I am not a fan of Merlot or Cabernet. So, anytime I get a bottle, it often gets taken to other events as a hostess gift. 


Obviously, as a new mom, I recently had lots of baby showers. One of those showers was a diaper shower. I also recently hosted a baby shower. At my diaper shower I received a lot of Huggies diapers...which didn't work for us. For some reason, they never fit Alaina the way they should. We are a Pampers family. At the shower I hosted, the momma-to-be was requesting Huggies. So, I regifted a box of 96 Huggies. And diapers ain't cheap! However, I would never give her that alone. I also purchased her changing pad and two covers, as well as an outfit. So, for a $90 gift, I only paid about $60. Works for everyone, right?


So, yes, you should always be grateful for every gift you receive, and believe me, I am extremely grateful anytime anyone thinks of me, or my precious little one. But there is no reason for money to go to waste, right?


So tell me, do you regift? What are some of the things you have passed into better hands?


Don't forget to enter my giveaway! And be on the lookout for another one next week! :)

Randoms

We are gearing up for some busy, busy weekends. I think we literally have something every single weekend until September. That stresses me out just a little...

I have way too many baby showers being planned to even mention. To be honest, It's kinda crazy how many I'm having. But I have a huge family and everyone is divorced so we have to have one for each side of the family...

I need to buy hostess gifts for everyone throwing said showers and have no clue what to get. Any ideas? Please, please, please help me think of something...Something that won't break the bank but is still cute.

Anything...

We decided that we are going to do maternity pictures. A friend of mine does photography as a hobby and has offered to do the pictures for us at no cost! Um, ah-mazing! I am going to take them in Galveston where we got married and maybe a few on the beach. And then she and I will spend the afternoon shopping and having lunch. I am pretty nervous about this because I'm still not sure how I feel about maternity pictures but, she offered, so I figured, why not?

Today my mom and I are spending the day together updating my registry, picking out invitations for my baby shower and just hanging out.  I'm excited! This is pretty much our last free weekend before the madness starts.

Happy weekend, friends!

xxx

Mother's Day

This weekend was a tad bit crazy. We went on a four hour road trip to visit B's grandparents and then headed back at 5 a.m. Sunday morning to see my nephews be dedicated to the church and then to celebrate Mother's Day with my moms.

After church I went with my mom and stepdad to have lunch at a local Mexican restaurant. Even though I ate my weight in food, it was nice to spend time with the family.

After lunch I headed over to my grandma's house to see my stepmom and my dad and the rest of the gang.

Mother's Day has always been a time for my family to get together, eat too much, swim (30 minutes after eating), and just hang out. This year was different to me. Being a soon-to-mommy, I really felt the meaning behind Mother's Day. It was the first time that I felt something more than just "Oh, let's celebrate my momma today."

You see, when my mom was pregnant with me, she was advised by several doctors that pregnancy was not a great idea for her. She had some medical problems and lost 2 babies before me and one after me. I am her only child. While I have always been extremely grateful for her choice, this year was different.

We've always had issues but with me having a baby on the way the way I see things has changed.

She literally put her life up for mine before I was even born. Suddenly, all the "bad" things she did growing up didn't matter. I am so thankful that I do not have to make that decision. I love my unborn child more than I could ever have imagined imagine.

This year, for the first time, I really sympathized with what it meant to be on bed rest for 9 months, to gain 70 pounds and to wish for something so badly to work out.

-----------------

Surprisingly, I actually received some great gifts for Mothers Day.

As well as this text that had me sobbing at 7:45 a.m. Sunday morning:

"The moment you started carrying that baby in your

tummy you became a mother. Happy First Mother's

Day my precious Stevy Lou...I love you."

(My name is not Stevy Lou, but this is what my aunt has always called me.)

The first book is from my sister for me to read to the baby. The second is a set of bible studies I got from my own mom.

I got this super cute stella&dot bracelet from my grandma as well as the Willow Tree person below.

The Sea of Magic necklace is from Bobby. He was so sweet and I was beyond shocked. Honestly, when he said he got me something, I was fully expecting a gift card for maternity clothes or something like that. Not a white gold diamond and pearl necklace. But he did good! He went to Jared. ;0)

And this is my beautiful Goddaughter, Amelia Grace. She is absolutely precious and I love that child like there is no tomorrow!

I hope you all enjoyed your Mother's Day!