I'd like you to meet: Isaac Joven

After my 3rd little man was born, we knew we wanted baby number 4 pretty quick.

In my own little fantasy world, we were going to have 6 kids.  The first 4 would be boys and the last 2 would be girls.  Now I knew and understood fully that this was simply a fantasy.  After having 3 boys, you sort of just know that you are fully incapable of having girls and any subsequent pregnancies would result in another boy.  I was okay with that.  Really, honestly, okay.  So when I say this was my fantasy... the part that was a fantasy was the 2 girls at the end.

It never really occurred to me that baby #4 could be a girl.

So at the sonogram I was on cloud9 that I was actually going to have a girl but also a bit bummed... this messes up my entire fantasy!!


 But it was okay.  We could just cut out brother #4 and go ahead with the 2 sisters. Right?

At my sonogram they told me that baby #5 was not a sister but another brother.  

I laughed.

I thought I would be sad or disappointed.  But I laughed.  I laughed because of course it was a boy.  I laughed because I realized how silly I was to get so wrapped up in my own plans.  I laughed because it was perfect, it was God's plan.  I laughed because I was happy.

On the way home from my doctors visit I thought about the story of Sarah and Abraham.  I thought about how she laughed when she learned she would become pregnant.  I instantly understood her laughter.  It wasn't just happiness that made her giggle.  It was just funny.  Of course she was pregnant now, when she was old and had given up hope.  She laughed because she realized that God had his own timing and plans and he was perfect.

I got home and announced the news to Mike and the kids with a box of donuts covered in blue frosting and sprinkles.

In September our baby was born.  We named him Isaac, it means "she laughed".

Today he is 6 months old.

He looks just like Mikey, Elijah and Olivia at this age.

He is our happiest baby yet.  He seems determined to live up to his name, laughing every time someone makes eye contact with him.

The Spring Fling Teaser!

Move over pastels! Pantone declared this bright and vibrant shade of pink the official color of Spring 2011.

they call it

Honeysuckle

Isn't it pretty! Don't you want to run out and find a bunch of it and beg spring to please please please hurry up and get here... please.

I do. 

Until then I'll just have to watch my little Livi Lu prance around in her honeysuckle pettiskirt and pretend it's already here! 

 

Gorgeous right?

Do you need one? 

Well... come back April 2nd and enter my giveaway for a chance to win one.  If you happen to be one of the unluckiest people in the world (like poor pitiful me)I'll be unveiling my wholesale shop where you can find American Apparel and lots of fun little pretties at wholesale prices!!

Now head over to Wildflower and Whimsy to see the rest of the Spring Fling giveaways!

Envy.

Yep... it's one of the 7 deadly sins... and it haunts me sometimes.

Right now my little sister is boarding a plane and headed to California.

Our last visit to California

She's visiting our grandma and showing off her beautiful little girl and will more than likely get to ride space mountain and the tea cups.  I hate her.  Okay maybe that's harsh but I'm very very jealous right now.  Boo.

So today, while pouting like a great big titty baby, I booked my family a mini vacation in Dallas.  I know, I know... it doesn't even compare but consider this:

While my sister and her 3 year old are braving the cold cold beach in their Target bikinis, my little Livi Lu will be dropping jaws in the heated pool with her vintage barbie tribute suit.

Booyah!

Okay so maybe it doesn't beat a Disneyland vacation.  Okay, you're right, it doesn't even come close.  But I love love love how it turned out!!

Here's a quick picture tutorial of how I made it using a $3.99 Goodwill maternity top!

So if everything about swimsuits has you scared... let it go!  This was so easy!  It took me under an hour!  You can do it!

Totsy

Have you guys heard of Totsy yet?

Yep it's another "exclusive" membership deal of the day sort of site... think Gilt,  Rue La La, Zulily just to name a few.  I'll admit to having a minor addiction to these sites but today I stumbled upon another.

It's called Totsy.  Like the others you have to be a member to get in on the deals that are offered for a limited time and like Zulily these deals are mostly for children's clothing, accessories and toys.

So why am I telling you about yet another deal of the day site?  Because Totsy offers something the others don't... Totsy is  100% eco-friendly. 

How so you ask?

They use recycled paper, renewable energy, less packaging, and pay close attention to what they use and how they use it.   "It keeps us environmentally conscious while our products remain environmentally friendly."

And if that's still not enough for you... get a load of this:  "With every purchase you make through Totsy, we will plant one tree in the name of your child" 

Pair that with up to 85% off and you've got as close to guiltless shopping as you will ever find! 

 

 

So go sign up and check them out and then invite your friends to do the same... not only will you get a $15 credit for everyone who signs up (and makes a purchase) but you can feel good about promoting a company that's doing their part for today's world and tomorrow's generation!

 

 

 

 

The Blog Guidebook

Today I stumbled upon The Blog Guidebook and wow... where have I been?

This site is like blog heaven!!

Why?

#1 How about a free ad and listing on their blog?

#2 Simple tutorials & blogging tips for things you didn't know existed for your blog!

- today I learned how to make my navbar (that thing at the top of the screen) disappear until you hover over it!  Cool huh?

Just enter this code into one of your html gadgets in your side bar:
<!-- DROPDOWN NAVBAR --><br /> <!-- stylesheet for FF2, Op9, IE7 (strict mode) --><br /> <style type="text/css"> #navbar {     display:inline;     width:100%;     position:absolute;     background-color:transparent;     top:-30px;     left:0px;     height:60px;     z-index:999999; } #navbar:hover{     top:0px;     height:30px; } </style><br /> <!-- stylesheet for IE6 and lower --><br /> <!-- (not supporting element:hover) --><br /> <!-- first, unhide the navbar through css --><br /> <!-- second, hide the navbar and mimic --><br /> <!-- the effect with javascript, if available --><br /> <!--[if lt IE 7]><br /> <style type="text/css"> #navbar {&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; height:30px;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; top:0px; } </style><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> var navbar = document.getElementById('navbar'); if(navbar){&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; navbar.onmouseover = function(){&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; navbar.style.top = '0px';&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; navbar.style.height = '30px';&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; }&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; navbar.onmouseout = function(){&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; navbar.style.top = '-30px';&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; navbar.style.height = '60px';&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; }&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; if (navbar.captureEvents){&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; navbar.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEOVER);&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; navbar.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEOUT);&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; }&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; navbar.onmouseout(); } </script><br /> <![endif]--><br /> <!-- end dropdown navbar --><br />  

#3 A one stop shop for giveaways and linky parties

-a place to find giveaways and linky parties all over blogland & you can link up yours... again... for FREE!

#4 Blog Critiques

-they have put together a team of designers that will come check out your blog and let you know what you can do to make it a bit better!

Extreme Makeover: Fabric Edition

A couple of weeks ago I posted my 9 Step Program to beating a Fabric Hoarding Addiction.

What would you say if I told you I could help you destash your giant mound of fabric and give you the chance to win some really cool prizes at the same time?

Well I hope you'd say "BRING IT!"

Next month April from Wildflowers & Whimsy and I will be kicking off the  Extreme Makeover: Fabric Edition and we need competitors!

So... Wanna audition?

Send an email to me or April and include:

Some pictures of your overgrown fabric stash

and

Your horribly sad sob story telling us how you need this 
makeover in the worst way and why

And that's it!  Sounds easy enough right?

Spring is in the Air!

And you know what that means right?

It means warmer weather, baseball practices, trips to the park, pretty dresses 

and

Wildflowers & Whimsy's

Have you heard about it yet? 

Imagine...

14 days

28 blogs

&

at least 28 giveaways

!!!! 
Isn't it exciting?  Oh and checkout the line up of blogs that are participating! I just signed up and I've got an super sweet prize that's perfect for this spring!

Stay tuned for more details!