Absolutely nothing. Well, preparing for baby Jack...but thats about it :)

Yep! We finally settled on a name a few weeks ago...




...but we will be calling him Jack :) Thankfully we didn't have near as many issues choosing this name as we did with Presley. I had a list of about 5-7 names that I liked, but my top two were Wyatt and Jack. Clinton wasn't a fan of Wyatt, and my mom and sister hated it. So that made it pretty simple since we were left with only one other choice. However, Clinton wanted to name and call him Jackson instead of Jack...of course.

So after much discussion and compromising, we decided to name him Hunter (after my dad) Jackson, but call him Jack. This suited me just fine since I felt like Jack by itself sounded so weird with every other name we paired it with.

I'm 24 weeks right now and so far this has been a much better pregnancy. I'm still throwing up in the mornings, and sometimes I have a few episodes where I get sick randomly, but for the most part my nausea has subsided all together. Ive gained about 10 lbs which has totally worked me into a tizzy. I know thats not bad at all to most people, but at my weight I can't really afford to gain anything. I also know that the majority of that weight is due to my eating habits, not the baby. So I'm really trying to make some better choices from here on out.

Other than that, I've been on an inspiration hunt for Jack's nursery. I had such mixed emotions on decorating his room. I knew I didn't want to do all the baby, baby stuff, but I also didn't want it to seem too grown up for him either. I searched high and low for fabrics, but couldn't find anything I liked. I looked at every website known to man for bedding collections, which is totally out of my norm. I typically don't like the idea of a theme or collection...I want different textures, fabrics, etc.

Well, it just wasn't happening this time around. I dont know if its because I'm having a boy, or if its because he's my second, but I just didnt feel like going through all that mess this time around. So I came across some bedding in Pottery Barn...the Hungry Caterpillar Collection by Eric Carle.


I dont know why, but I just loved it the second I saw it. I loved the bold colors, but it seemed so different, too. It wasn't the typical boats, cars, or sports theme. It was still childlike enough for a baby, but not too grown up for a little boy. Now, I'm still not going for the whole shebang...I'm just getting the skirt, bumper pad, and sheet. From there, I'm taking advantage of bringing in lots of bold colors through artwork, other fabrics, and accessories.
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I did get an idea from a show on HGTV where Sarah Richardson, from Sarahs House, framed a bunch of black and white animal flashcards. So the only other "themish" thing I'm doing is framing some of the Eric Carle's animal flashcards that I found on PB, too. Honestly, I'm only doing it for some cheap artwork and pops of color.

Yes, yes I'm still alive and kickin'! I can't believe its been a month since I've blogged...and probably just as long since I've even logged in and read any!

I've been slacking for a few reasons. I really just needed a break from the computer most of all. But I was really going through a rough patch with my "morning sickness," and I just couldnt make myself do a dang thing once I got home from work. So I really wanted to catch all of you up on whats been going on in our world this month...its definitely been a crazy one!

First and foremost, we found out what we're having! I kinda wanted to do a revealment party, but felt silly since it was our second baby. Then again, it might be our last so I wanted it to be special. Well Clinton completely nixed the idea of inviting all of our closest friends, and drew the line at family and best friends only, which was perfectly ok with me.

So real quick, here was our plan...I wanted us to find out with everyone else, but I wanted to do something different from the typical balloons and cake revealments. So I went to a local childrens boutique, which happens to belong to my boss' family, and picked out a precious little sleepsack for a boy and a girl. When Clinton, Presley, and I went to the ultrasound, we didn't let the lady tell us what he/she was. Instead she told one of my nurses, who text the results to my sister. Since my sister lives in Phoenix and couldnt be here, I really wanted her to be a part of the revealment. She was so excited to know before everyone else, including us! So she called the store once she received the results, and she had them wrap the appropriate outfit

Well, everyone was a great sport and came all decked out in their pink and blue!

I have finally reached my first trimester. Praise the Lord...Hallelujah. Not that it has made much of a difference in my energy or morning sickness, but I'm waiting patiently.

For those of you that don't know, my first pregnancy was awful. I know some people think I shouldn't say that because all pregnancies are special...which is true...but there is just really no other way to explain it.

I was "sick" at 4 weeks with Presley. I say "sick" because I really had no idea what sick meant at that time. I was really just nauseous 24 hours a day. Then 6 weeks came along and I was throwing up about 5-7 times a day. By 8 weeks, it was every hour on the hour. Week by week I prayed and prayed that it was almost over. My first trimester felt like an eternity because I was so anxious to stop getting sick. Little did I know that the first trimester would mean absolutely nothing in my case haha. Finally about 5 or 6 months along I slowed back down to about 5-7 times a day. Then by 8 months it was only twice every morning...until the precious day that sweet little Presley joined our lives.

Needless to say, the thought of getting pregnant again was not very appealing. It took me about 2 years to even consider the idea. Thankfully God is in control and surprised us with baby #2, or I just might have continued to put it off.

So with this pregnancy, I only get sick 3 times in the morning...thats right, exactly 3 times every day before I walk out the door...but I'm still nauseous throughout the day. And honestly, there are some days where I think nausea sucks and can be just as bad as throwing up. But then last week I had two spells where I was sick around the clock, and I quickly remembered that nausea is absolutely nothing compared to actually getting sick haha!

Needless to say, I've been very thankful for this pregnancy. Its not only easier on me physically, but also mentally. I've just recently shared with Clinton and our parents just how bad I was with the first pregnancy. I was extremely depressed and miserable. Thoughts that I'm ashamed to admit were running through my head on a daily basis. I wouldn't say that I was suicidal by any means, but there were definitely times where I longed for something bad to happen to me so that I could end the misery. I share this now only because I realize more than ever just how bad off I was, and nobody really knew it. It all came out a few weeks ago because Clinton said that this pregnancy seemed "worse" because I complained more than the first time around. Well...first of all, I barely spoke the 3 months that I was extremely sick. And second of all, I knew that anything I said would be awful, and I was very ashamed and embarrassed of how I was feeling.

I'm so grateful that God took care of me despite my moments of depression and despair. And I know that there are many women that would've taken my pregnancy any day just to be able to have a child, and I'm grateful that I realized that sooner than later.

I guess I just felt led to share this because as women, we all have our struggles, and sometimes they are struggles that we are embarrassed to admit. But take it from me...it would have been so much easier had I opened up to my family and friends and asked for their support, instead of wondering if they would think I was crazy for admitting how I felt.

So if there is anything laying on your heart or your mind, find someone you can trust and open up to them. You don't have to carry the burden alone.

Sorry for rambling and getting off on a tangent! In other news, we just might have decided on some baby names...at least some strong possibilities! And I'm thinking of taking the house off the market. I know it was quick and has only been about a month, but I cannot find anything out there that I want...at least in the area that I want. And frankly, I'm just tired of worrying about it. I've really been praying for guidance on whether we should keep moving forward or just put it on hold. I just have a huge fear we're going to get a contract on our house, and have to settle on something else.

Well that is obviously enough for today. I'm apparently making up for lost times in the blog world. Hope you ladies are doing well, and I cant wait to catch up on your lives, too!

How was everyone's weekend? Mine was great! Clinton's side of the family was in town for an annual golf tourney they always play in, and the girls held a baby shower for my SIL! I can't wait to welcome little Max into the world...only about 6 more weeks to go!

After the shower, a few of us went to see "Something Borrowed." Oh. my. gosh...best movie I've seen in a long time! I LOOOVE the book and I really felt like the movie lived up to it.

Hall bathroom

No I'm not one of the ones that woke up at 3:00 to watch the famous Royal wedding....but you better believe that I have about 16 shows recording as we speak!

I couldn't resist getting Online at work today to sneak a few pictures, and they did not disappoint! How unbelievably AH-mazing did Kate look? I would cut off my right arm for a wedding dress like that!