Weekend Recap

This weekend was pretty-much-a-mazing!

Saturday- was our baby shower and we realized just how blessed we are. We are so thankful for everyone who came! It was great to see every family member and friend that could make it! Thank you all for you thoughtfulness!

Sunday- was a little different. I was in a funk for a few hours. I do believe I was just experiencing some pregnancy hormones, but still I was deby-downer for awhile. We refinished Alivia's changing table and accomplished a few more little things for her room. It is all coming together, and I will post pictures soon! We also had a good friend take our maternity pictures, and I am very excited to share them with you in a few days!

The next month is going to be so busy, and go by so fast. 40 days.

Remember the good times today.

**Just a reminder, this Friday is our First Friday Give-a-way! If you become a follower this week, your name will be entered into the drawing twice to recieve a free gift from us! Come back Friday to see what you could win!

Working Man

Confession:

The last few days there has been a lot of guilt on my heart. I know that staying home with Alivia will be the best-most-challenging thing I have done, but there is something heart breaking seeing Mr. Armstrong head out the door every morning with different desires in his heart.

He made the sacrifice for me. Supporting me in my school situation, allowing me to stay home and do what ever my little heart desires. So, isn't there some how to make things equal? Shouldn't he get the same opportunity as I do? How can I give him the same chance he is giving me?

These are questions that have consuming my mind lately. My desire for him is not to settle. I want him to chase his dreams:even if that means we live pay-check-to-pay-check every month until the day we die. There has to be a way we can both do what we are passionate about.

Have your cake and eat it too today.

Yesterday

Our world changed a little bit when Brandon received a call at 7:00 PM Wednesday night from one of his customers. They were out of coffee. The customer was polite and not upset, he just wanted Brandon to know that they were out of coffee, and that his 5:00 AM coffee business is what makes or breaks his business.

So, yesterday at 3:30 AM our alarm clock blared and we got out of bed. 3:30AM people. We were on the road by 4:15 AM and arrived at our destination a little after 5:00 AM.

We didn't find an empty-gas-station. We didn't find 20-men-waiting-in-line-with-their-coffee-mugs-and-frowns-on-their-faces-shaking-their-fists-in-anger... No, we found out that the coffee business was still booming at 5:00 AM, because sometime during the night they found coffee. 3 boxes of coffee. To say the least my husband was upset. He had rerouted his whole day for this stop (not to mention get his 8 month pregnant wife out of bed way too early).

The day was beautiful though. We got to enjoy the rain and each other. I am madly in love with a Henderson Coffee Salesmen and I would do anything in this world for him.

Do something for the person you love today.

Is this what it looks like?-His World

The other day I was cleaning some stuff out of our refrigerator. Not sure how long some of it had been there but there was one item I knew what it was. It was a small remainder of canned chili we had used to put on baked potatoes. As I was cleaning out the plastic container I thought for a second and then asked Megan, "Is this what it looks like?" You probably know what I am talking about.

Lately I have been finding things that I feel I probably really should know or have some kind of grasp on before Alivia arrives. We had the opportunity the other day to go to an infant eating class(which once again I was the only male in the room), we watched a video that showed proper techniques(which why would you have a DVD copy of an informative video that is 20 years old, time to update).

I started having several questions for Megan about the food and why you feed them this and what does it look like and when do they eat solids. Probably a good time to start learning, only 7 weeks away.

Learn new things today!!

freshHome

So, I wanted to share a website with you. This lady is a-mazing. Seriously, I cannot find the word to describe her and all that she builds. All I know is that I want to build things too, and I am going to use her to start my journey.

Her name is Ana White. I first came across her in an article I found in the Fall issue of freshHOME magazine(My-new-favorite-thing-to-read). Since then I have spent countless hours on her website-- dreaming. The picture for today's blog is just one example of her amazing designs.

Her website is : http://www.ana-white.com/

I encourage you to just waste some time looking at her beautiful creations. Maybe you too will become inspired.

Grab your jig saw today.

Checklist

Well, things are coming together. Slowly-but-surely. I am beginning to feel like Alivia's room will be done before her grand arrival. More and more things are getting checked off the to-do-list. All of the painting is done in the room, we just have a few pieces of furniture that need some work. The goal is to have all of the shelves painted by this weekend so there can be something hanging on the walls (even if they are just empty shelves).

Time is moving in fast motion. We can hardly believe that her due date is in 46 days. We only have 6 more trips to see Dr. K. Every weekend from now until April 9th we have plans, it doesn't look like time is going to slow down any at all....

I was wondering. What exactly are you supposed to pack in your bag for the hospital? No one has told me these things yet. Hopefully I can fit that into the schedule here pretty soon, and get another BIG check off of my list!

The Truth

A close friend of ours lost her father this past weekend. Within 36 hours everything changed for her family.

It blows my mind how uncertain this life is sometimes. It just takes a story like this to knock you down and put you in your place. We are not promised tomorrow. We never know what tomorrow will bring. We just have to trust daily that God's perfect plan will take place, and know that he will provide us with the strength to endure anything that comes our way.

It-is-a-scary-truth to face, but the truth is I may never get the opportunity to hold my little girl. Tomorrow morning when I kiss Brandon goodbye it could be the last. This truth breaks my heart, but I do know that every kiss from Brandon and every kick from my little angel will be cherished, and everyday when we go out in the scary world God's perfect plan will take place.

Cherish today.

Write Love-Guest Blogger- The amazing Janelle Keith

Dear Alivia

I am so excited for your arrival. You have probably heard a lot of ruckus these days with mommy and daddy making their best baby preparations with painting, cleaning, and with coffee deliveries. I am pretty sure that they have made every baby decorating arrangement known to new parents. I know you probably think it’s a little excessive but still necessary so that Mommy and Daddy can be completely ready for all baby-land scenarios. Everything must be just right…because you are special.

So today I asked Mommy and Daddy if they were ready for your arrival? Mommy said “No, I don’t know if we will ever be ready”. Daddy agreed. Mommy said that she had been getting that question a lot. She sighed as she thought about her to-do list in hear head. She seemed a little weary, but Alivia don’t you worry. Mommy and Daddy will be fine.

I am not an authority on parenting by no means. In fact, I’m only a mom of two, a boy and a girl who have long since been little babies like you. Believe me they have improved the science of baby care tremendously since those days. Rest assured your parents have been educating themselves in your baby growing process. And they have had all the normal feelings of being new parents for sure…excitement, anticipation, fear, peace….all those emotions along with the physical evidence that you will be here soon.

But Alivia, how do I know that your mommy and Daddy will be ready? Because they love and because they have love written on their hearts…for you!! That is one thing that you will notice right away. With every preparation they have made for you they have made it with love. With every brush stroke on your new nursery walls, with every baby accoutrement placed, with every thought, with every prayer, they have done it or said it with love in their Mommy and Daddy hearts for you. And listen little baby girl…love is all you need. Oh yeah there will be tears and fears for sure, but love will cover a multitude of mistakes. You will be great baby and they will be great parents, because of their love for you.

Now one last thing, Jesus loves you too. And He loved you before you were even a love thought in your Mommy and Daddy’s hearts. And His love, my soon-to-be-little-bundle-of-joy, will be the real love that you will seek. For now, rest…and know that you are loved.

Write love on your heart for someone today. J

The Entrepreneurial Dad-His World

Recently I read an article in a magazine, my initial reason for picking up the magazine was to read an article about Kevin Durant. As I started looking through the magazine I found a story about James E. McNellie's pub in Tulsa. I have never been to this pub but have wanted to due to others who have told me about it. Anyways the article was about the owner. Long story short, he went to school at Notre Dame and for a semester study abroad in Dublin. After graduation he decided to duplicate the pub atmosphere he experienced overseas, therefore creating McNellie's.

As I kept reading the article I found out he also has 8 other restaurants that he has created. I want to be this guy. I have always wanted to create a quaint, industrial atmosphere, wood fired pizza shack. Then come to find out this pub creating, restaurant developing, guy I am jealous of also has 3 kids. ARE YOU SERIOUS??? And is only 22 years old? WHAT!!! Can't be!!

So here I sit at the age of __ peddling coffee and about to have my first child with the woman I love. Just wait, I will have that pizza shack one day. You never know you might have one of my pizzas too.

Become Entrepreneurial today

Cankles

Well, yesterday was Miss Alivia Nicole's 32 week check up, and we got to hear the most beautiful heartbeat in the world. The-two-of-us. Brandon got to go to this appointment and I feel 100-percent better when he is there with me. Dr. K says she probably weighs about 4 pounds and she could double her weight before her grand entrance in approximately 8 weeks. :)

Yesterday was full of wonderful moments. I got to go to work with the most-handsome-coffee-smelling-man-in-the-world. We spent the whole day together, enjoying the nice weather and each other.

Yesterday was also full of not so wonderful moments. I guess my body has decided to rebel. Throughout my pregnancy I have experienced some swelling of my fingers and within the past few weeks if I spend a lot of time on my feet they would swell a-little too. Well, oh-my-gosh. Mid-morning I took a glance at my feet and my ankles had disappeared. They continued to grow all throughout the day. By the end of afternoon I couldn't even get my shoes back on.

Today, I would like to admit I have a problem. I, Megan Armstrong, have cankles...

Laugh at yourself today.

** A few things are coming up! Tomorrow is His World! Watch out for my amazing husband's blog, and Friday there will be a guest blogger!!! Also, I had to share this picture:

Manny already loves his sister! :) Enjoy Today!

Making

Forget what it was, imagine what it could be.

I got this quote out of a flea market magazine I picked up months ago. I don't remember what it was about the cover that made me pick it up, but when I opened the pages of this beautiful book I knew that I wanted to be apart of it. I wanted to build, redo, refinish, and create new ideas.

That magazine inspired our first visit to Canton, TX. Since then we have made another trip, and I am getting uneasy right now just knowing that we are not planning a trip down anytime in the near future.

The past few days the desire to create has rushed over me - again. I want to do things. I want to build things. I want to take a piece of junk and turn it into something bea-u-ti-ful. Good thing this week Alivia's changing table is getting a makeover. Other wise I might go creative crazy.

Create today.

Fresh Air

Yesterday's weather was a-mazing. Brandon and I opened every window in our house, turned off the heater and enjoyed the fresh air bringing a cool breeze into our house.

I love how simple Sunday afternoons are. There is so much beauty in spending an afternoon with people you love and enjoy being around. Simple bliss comes from going on a 2o minute walk with the world's-best-husband (even when my belly felt like it weighed 1,000 pounds and I had a cramp in my right calf so bad I could hardly keep going).

This week started off great! I know that things will continue going good, because today is Valentines day and tomorrow I get to spend the day with Brandon and we get to hear a heartbeat! :)

Enjoy the fresh air today.

Count Down

I am a huge fan of counting down to major life events. Let me be honest, it doesn't have to be a major life event, it can be as simple as a birthday, weekend, or a special day of the week. For as long as I can remember I have counted down to my birthday (which so happens to be 6 months from today).

When Brandon and I were engaged I made him a flip-book-calender counting down to our wedding day. It has 100 pages in it. Now here we are again, using the same calender for the birth of our first baby. Each morning I wake up in excitement knowing that I get to flip the calender and we are one day closer to Alivia's due date.

Today is lucky #56 and I can not believe how fast April 9th is going to arrive. I can't wait to count down to all of our major life events. Alivia's 1st birthday, her brothers & sisters arrival (one day), the day we send the last one off to college, our 30th wedding anniversary... Hopefully this flip book can withhold the test of time!!

Count down to something important today.

Snackers

At this very moment I am enjoying a snack. It is not just any snack, it is a snack that my husband has gotten Alivia and I hooked on. For those of you who know me personally, you will know that I do-not-like peanut butter. I will eat it, but it isn't my favorite thing in the world.

Well, the last few weeks I have given into one of Brandon's guilty pleasures. A bagel with peanut butter on it. Not just peanut butter, but also anything ranging from white chocolate chips, and M&M's on top.... This makes for a great second breakfast!

I am so glad I have a husband that has such amazing ideas.

Enjoy a yummy snack today!

The Corner Office-His World

In the business world the corner office is the location that everyone wants. It usually comes with a nice view from multiple angles. No I do not literally have a corner office, nor do I even have an office with four walls, desk and computer. My office runs on diesel(very expensive diesel), offers free massages, and wreaks of coffee. My office is a 26 foot box truck loaded down with 20K lbs. of coffee.

So what makes it a corner office, well my view is constantly changing and on the days that Megan rides with me I can always see her out of the corner of my eye. It has been such a blessing to have her with me on some long(14hr) days. I am sure she doesn't necessarily enjoy the hours but I do enjoy having her with me. If our child is born with problems due to shaking in the womb I will take the blame for that.

Enjoy your corner office today.

31 Weeks

31 weeks. 59 days. 9 weeks.

There is something special about having only 9 weeks left. When Brandon and I were 9 weeks pregnant we heard our little girls heartbeat and saw her for the first time. It was our first doctors appointment. That was also the day we told everyone we were having a baby. Now 22 weeks later we only-have-9-weeks-left.

You can read everything that is going on with Alivia this week here. From what I can tell she spends her days growing, dancing, and kicking. She is a very active little girl, taking after her dad! :) We can't wait to meet her!

Meet someone new today.

Food

I don't know what has gotten into me... but the last few days my body cannot get enough food. I am one-hundred-percent sure that Alivia is having a growth spurt. All I felt like I did yesterday was eat, eat, and eat some more.

Even though I know that I need to eat for my growing baby it is pretty hard to let myself go. I feel guilty for having my 4th snack of the day (okay, 6th snack of the day). It is such a struggle because for years I have worked so hard to be fit, and stay a "certain size". Don't get me wrong I love my belly. I love knowing Alivia is in there growing big and strong, and that she will be making her grand entrance around 60 days from now! Its the growing thighs that weigh heavy on my mind.

For the most part the things that are going into my month are healthy. Yesterday, I had a banana, apple, and orange (along with a snickerdoodle cookie, a bag of chips, grilled cheese, and the list goes on...) Until April I am going to have to face the facts: I will be eating a lot. 9 more weeks!

Eat a lot today.

2 Years

It is hard to believe that two-years-ago-today my brother got married. That day I gained a sister, and since then I have gained the cutest nephew a girl could ask for:
Our family has grown by leaps and bonds within the past two years. I love all of additions we are adding through marriages and babies. Brandon and I are so blessed by the family that surrounds us. They love us and support us no matter what. We hope Jeremy and Sarah enjoy their special day! Happy Anniversary!

Love your family today.

Stories

There are stories I hear/read from moms about having babies that do two things to me:

1. Scare the crap out of me.

2. Encourage me more than I ever expected.

Today my post will be short and simple. I just wanted to share a few links with you from two women that give me hope when I think I don't have the strength to follow through with this mom-thing. Neither of them I have met. I just read their stories as much as I can. They are incredibly strong women.

1st Angie Ward: Here is her story about the birth of her little girl, Parker.

2nd Kelle Hampton: Here is her story about the birth of her little girl, Nella.

Enjoy these stories today.

Winner Winner!

Well, sorry it has taken me so long to post today. Having a blog with no Internet excess at home is much harder than I thought it would be. After a serious game of enni-meeni-miney-mo Brandon and I have came up with a winner for the 1st First Friday give-a-way!

Congrats, Sasha!!!

You are the first official winner on: Our world. One day at a time!

You have 48 hours to contact me @ meg.armstrong@live.com with your mailing address! We hope everyone enjoyed the first give-a-way. Stay tuned, next month we will have another awesome gift to give-a-way!

Celebrate today.

First Friday #1

In honor of my wonderful husband's blog post from yesterday and the upcoming holiday this month (Valentine's Day) we have decided that the giveaway would be based on a date night. By-no-means does that mean you have to be in a relationship, married, or have to ask some stranger on a date to get this give-a-way! This give-a-way can be enjoyed with your special someone or a best friend! Anyone and Everyone has the chance to win!

First Friday Give-a-way is:

A $25 Darden Restaurant gift card!

This gift card can be used at any Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, and any other Darden restaurant.

Just leave a quick comment on this post about anything, and you will be entered to win. For the official rules refer back to this post. *Remember, Facebook comments do not count, the comment has to be left on this blog post before midnight tonight! The winner will be announced tomorrow!

Win something today.

Burger Box-His World

So when Megan and I first got married we had these great plans of trying to maintain a date night, well in the early months of our marriage that was simple and we were able to get out periodically and do something. Well here we are almost two years in and life snuck up on us quickly. Fortunately we are not in a rut and unable to get out. So we decided to look at what was simple and something we both really enjoyed. The two things that really stuck out were

1. Burgers

2. Movies

3. Ice Cream......ok thats three

The great thing about these pleasures is they are low exspense, so we decided to make Friday night a Burger Box night, which means we go to one of our favorite burger places (Sonic, or Braum's), then go to Red Box and rent a movie.....and of course we decided to include ice cream as dessert. All in all it was a great night out for the two of us and didn't hurt our budget either.

Plan a date night today.

Ice, Snow, and Everything Cold

Well, yesterday we did it. We got out in the freezing cold temperatures and got some work done. I was completely bundled up though. 4 pairs of pants, one long sleeve shirt, 2 hoodies, one jacket, 2 pairs of socks, and my UGGS (and my feet were still freezing).

We sat out in the back of a big coffee-smelling-truck doing inventory for a hour and 15 minutes, and it was wonderful. I got to watch my sexy-coffee-salesmen work in his Carhartt coveralls as I sat bundled up praying my feet wouldn't fall off from being frozen wrapped in 2 warm blankets.

Thank goodness for snow days today.

Aliva's 30 week update: Week 30 has brought on a few new factors! Just a few little things like leg pains and heart burn. Hope they don't stick around for too long. 10 weeks people! 70 days!

Mr. Fix It & Mrs. Crazy

Little did I know when I said "I do" one-year-and-8-months-ago I was marrying a man who can fix anything (so far). First the water heater, and now the garage door. He is a man with so much knowledge and wisdom, and turns out with a little manual reading he can fix everything wrong in our new little home.

Little did he know when he said "I do" one-year-and-8-months-ago he was marrying a women who is absolutely crazy. I am not sure if is my pregnant brain or what, but for the past 3 weeks we have been wondering were our first house payment has been.. turns out the week after Christmas we recieved it. I thought it was a credit card application and it has been sitting in the shred pile for weeks now, and it is due today-- oops!

Good thing my Mr. Fix It is understanding and promised to love his Mrs. Crazy through sickness and health, till death do us part.

Love the one you're with today.