Making our home Christmassy

1. Adding tea lights to mason jars and setting them about the house. // 2. Made a banner out of shiny red and silver paper (more on that soon.... and better photos). // 3. Made square snowflakes to hang over our dining room table. // 4. I love how they look with the lights on (especially at night). // 5. Added snowflakes over our couch. // 6. Still needing some new pillows, but I absolutely adore easy homemade decorations. // 7. Tea light lights.

We don't have a lot of Christmas decorations and while I have been on the hunt for some, I have made a few to keep my heart happy during this season. I more than likely wont be getting any until they go on sale or people start getting rid of more at thrift shops, so its a process. And I really want Cody to be involved in this process. 

Having a small apartment with not a lot of space as it is, it can get hard to have a tree and other things. What are some things you do to decorate during the holidays?

#thankful

Right now is the time to gather as friends and family around a deliciously hearty meal and give thanks. A lovely tradition that started years and years back when the pilgrims sat with the Indians. Our families don't have any major traditions and I know that gives Cody and I plenty of opportunity to start traditions with Alexander. I think one of the traditions that I want to start is having a basket that sits somewhere in the house and throughout the year we write what we were thankful for at that time. Then, around the thanksgiving table we take turns grabbing ones out of the basket and reading them off. I think it would be a fantastic reminder of what it is we were actually grateful for all year round, not just during the season of feeling thankful. I know Alexander wont be getting into that tradition until he is a little bit older, but I'm excited nonetheless. 

Here are a five of the things that I am thankful for:

1.My loving significant other who does everything and anything he can to support his family and show he loves us.

2. I'm extremely grateful for a roof over our heads even if it isn't exactly what I want in a home.

3. I'm thankful to have such loving and supportive families that will treat Alexander just how he needs to be.

4. I'm thankful for a job and having the ability to blog and share our lives with other people.

5. I am thankful for my womb-mate who will grow into a lovely young man. It was an unexpected and pleasant surprise and Cody and I are both very thankful.

What are some traditions that you and your families have? What are you thankful for?

Bits and Pieces // Dining Room

Our dining room is basically a cluster of whatever I feel like putting on the table and on the walls at the time. I'm still in the process of finding artwork and printouts because I am considering starting gallery walls with the empty space in there. I love any kind of artwork to put on the walls, but finding what works in our home has been challenging. When we first moved in together, I didn't really care or pay attention to what we got, which ended up being the wrong thing to do because most of this stuff I don't like or that I can get stuff that I like to work together. So, through a long process I will wean that stuff out and bring new stuff in. 

We don't usually use our dining room to eat in, it normally functions as my office space when I work from home. But, with a baby on the way, we want to start using it as a family dining room. Eventually, when we get a larger space I want to get a bigger table, so we can old our own events such as friendsgivings and family Christmas'. I'm really looking forward to the future.

31 Weeks

I've been extremely fortunate this pregnancy to not have too many crazy symptoms. I am extremely happy that we made it this far and only hope to make it all the way to the end of this pregnancy complication free. I love this little boy inside of me, his kicks and movements. As I write this, he is kicking me in the ribs reminding me that soon I will be growing more to give him some room. Pregnancy is an absolutely beautiful thing and the gift of life is even more wonderful. I'm very excited is for his arrival (: 

Snapshots

1. Alexander loves good music (at least I hope that's what all the moving meant) // 2. My baby belly at 29 weeks 4 days // 3. One of the photos I got on Saturday - Our family shoes. // 4. My absolute favorite photo from the shoot. I'm amazed at how small these little shoes are. I'm also very excited for him to be here. // 5. Playing with the low light setting on my camera.

I don't think anyone understands how excited I am for this little man's arrival. I absolutely love my baby bump, most of the time. I can't wait for my baby shower and to celebrate our son's life with our family and friends. What's your favorite thing about newborns?

A New Goal

My new goal is to figure out how to work my camera in low light settings. At some point during the day, the natural light goes away and some of the most magical moments happen in low light. I'm not a fan of flash, I don't like how it takes away from the natural light of a photo, so I want to figure out how to use the minimal amount of light without a long shutter speed and making it blurry. 

i want to be able to capture my fast moving animals or my son when he starts to move around more (they aren't newborns forever, ya know). I'm not an expert on my camera, at all. I haven't sat down with it long enough to learn everything there is to know about it. So, I decided that I'm going to start. Starting with the low light settings. Once, I figure it out, I will share some photos with you about it. Anything your working on with your camera?

Bits and Pieces // Baby Section

Sometimes we take advantage of things. I took advantage of space. We have had homes with two bedrooms, two living rooms, a larger kitchen and I have grown accustomed to that. Well, when we decided that we didn't need all that space because we didn't have roommates anymore, we downsized to a one bedroom apartment not knowing that I was pregnant. Well, come to find out that we were expecting and stuck in a 12 month lease. So, that meant that we would have a few months with the three of us in a one bedroom, which I was totally fine with. These pictures are from his corner of the room. He has his crib and a bookshelf (which I need to get baskets for) and also a chest for toys, which isn't picture. I must say, we are very excited for Alexander's arrival and the change our lives are going to have. January is a promising, yet changing month and we are going into it as new parents embracing the gift of a new child.
I absolutely love waking up in the mornings and staring over at the crib. It is against the one wall in the bedroom with a window and the way the light lays on the crib keeps me in awe. It's the perfect place to give our son. I just hope that I can give him the best.

Today is..

...chilly. It is very nice having a break from the heat, unfortunately it wont stay like this for long. We will be back in the 80's by Friday. Sometimes Florida just stinks. 

But, today has been nice, and I am definitely enjoying it. I'm taking advantage of wearing a sweater, scarf and jeans. And, I definitely have my windows open! But, as it starts to get windy and the sun goes down, I may have to close them soon. 

What are some of your favorite things to do while it is cold? 

Bits and Pieces // Living Room

Yesterday, I posted the first post in a new series called Bits and Pieces. I've decided that I wanted to share parts of our apartment and share a little bit about my style. 

On this wall, our apartment has 3 windows. Two in the living room and one in the dining room, so when the windows are open it makes the apartment very bright and full of natural light. I absolutely love it. But, we live on the first floor, which is kind of really awkward when the windows are open and people walk or drive buy. Therefore, I've gradually started putting up sheer curtains. These curtains are perfect because no one can see in and it still lets the light in. I absolutely love it. I still need to get a few more for the dining room, but I am happy so far.

I love to read, so a lot of the things that decorate our living room are books. Books that I have read, that I want to read. I try to buy bargain, used, or thrift and I love setting them about. I also have a chinese bookshelf that I have tons of books on and records. I also have another book shelf underneath our television that has movies, video games, board games and eventually child books and baby things.

I have a record player, therefore I have records and I like to display the album artwork. I think its fun. Also, I love having pictures of us and things we like around. Then random string art. Oh, and I love pillows. I'm still searching for pillows, but these are what I have as of current. If you know of any place to get pillows on a budget, leave it in the comments.

This is my spot. This is where I sit, relax, do work and everything in between. I also knitted that blanket (: I need to get more blanket. I love blankets. 

Do you have a link to your living room or your favorite parts of your living room? Leave it in the comments.

Bits and Pieces // The Kitchen

Living in a one bedroom apartment, things can be limited. As in what you can do design wise and how you can change things, so on and so forth. 

So, with that in mind, I can't really do much to our lovely little galley kitchen, except add a pop or two of things here and there. We have a lovely window with a window sill over our sink, which ads a lot of light to our little kitchen. That's where I will put flowers (real or fake) and some random thrifted trinkets, depending on my mood.

Currently, I have these lovely sunflowers in the window. I've been looking for different flowers to put there, even eventually a few herb plants or succulents. Except, around here, it is hard to find quality and in good health plants. I have a lot of goals when it comes to making everything functional in our small apartment with a little one on the way. I really need to get on to that, at some point (: 

Thrifted gem.

So, that big ol' gray box is attractive, right? I really can't stand it. But, this is our back wall in the kitchen between the two sets of cabinets. I made a little calendar so we could keep track of the days we were working and our ever growing hectic schedule. I love having pictures everywhere and I plan to keep putting them everywhere. I'm pretty cheesy, but I enjoy it making anywhere we live homey. It gets challenging sometimes, but I enjoy the challenge. 

I love having things displayed on the counters, but without taking up too much space, especially when you have very limited space.

First Pair of Shoes // 29 Weeks

Alexander's first pair of shoes! They are so little and cute. I absolutely can not wait to put them on him. They are Carter's up to 3 months and I really hope he is ok with wearing them for little outings here and there. I've really had to control myself going out and constantly buying clothes and cute things for him. And I have been doing relatively well so far. My mom, on the other hand, is having a hard time controlling herself. I think it is absolutely adorable. I would constantly spend money on him, but I know there are tons of people that are going to spoil him rotten and I have to keep that in mind because little babies grow so quickly and I don't want him to not wear the clothes that he gets. 

I am anxiously awaiting his arrival. I have anywhere from 8-11 weeks. I have been looking forward to his arrival and starting our new life together as 3 (plus 3 animals). It will be a trial, but it will be something that we will have to adjust to and I am looking forward to that. 

Tea Time // Hospital Etiquette

I've realized that I haven't exactly been on my A game lately when it comes to this blog. Pregnancy has really thrown me for a loop and now that I am finally adjusting to it, it is getting closer to the end. Now, I still have 12 weeks until my due date, but time is seriously flying. 

Anyways, I've decided that I want to start something called "Tea Time" where I just sit an talk and imagine that someone is reading (and maybe even responding). 

Today's topic is hospital and birth etiquette. 

As it gets closer to my due date, I have thought about a lot. Mainly baby stuff; co-sleeping, breastfeeding, family, my birth plan and lastly but definitely not least, do I want people visiting me at the hospital?

I'm at the point that I'm unsure. I've hear a lot of different opinions on it, but as a first time mom, I'm scared. Scared of all these people being around my brand new child, touching my brand new child, seeing me after I have given birth and am extremely tired, seeing me in my most vulnerable state, and I'm adjusting. And it isn't just me adjusting, it's my Other Half too. As new parents, the hospital gives us those moments to have professionals around while we have questions and while we are adjusting to the new person in our family. And I don't know if I want people bombarding us while we have that time. Even if it is family, especially since a lot of times family wont text or call first.

So here are some pointers:

1. Respect the new mom and dad's wishes. No offense, but they may not want you there. And don't get so easily offended by it. It isn't about you. It's about them and their baby. 
2. Text or call the new mom or dad before you head out. If they don't respond, they may be sleeping or already have visitor's. They will get back to you, so don't be pushy. When they text you back, ask if there is anything that they need or want. If they have pets, ask if someone has been by to check on them. Be helpful, you'll get your chance to see the baby.
3. Don't stay longer than needed. Especially if the new parents are allowing visitors. That means that they will be having a constant influx of people coming in and out to visit. Say hi, ask how they are doing, visit with the baby and carry on. Once the new parents are adjusted, you will have plenty of time to see the baby.
4. Don't bring children. This should be self explanatory. Just don't. 
5. Don't give advice. Unless asked. The new parents are just starting out. They don't need you to tell them to do this and that. Let them figure it out. If they want your advice, I'm pretty sure they'll ask for it.

These are just a few things that I know will irritate me. It may sound rude, but boundaries are needed at certain times in life. Do you have any tips on how to let family members down easy? What's your opinion? How'd your hospital stay go?