baby blakley is on the way....

So, I admit, I may be the worst blogger ever. For some reason, I have just been out of the blogging loop lately (ok..the last 3 months). Hopefully any readers who have been gracious enough to stop by every once in a while to see if I have actually blogged will be forgiving and keep encouraging me to write. I've got a few ideas to catch you up on our (less than exciting life) over the next blogs.

Before you read any more about the everyday things that have been going on...those can wait...I have to share the big news (that my title probably already gave away)....we're expecting!!! I'm due around February 22nd, so I'm at 11 weeks right now. Unbelievable!! We had our first ultrasound on Thursday, so this whole pregnancy is beginning to feel a little more real. Check out Baby Blakley....

I haven't really been sick during this first trimester, so this whole pregnancy seems like it's just flying by before I even can take it all in. I've been exhausted, though, so I guess that's one excuse for not feeling like blogging. Other than that, I can count on being up at almost exactly 5:30 every morning, headed to the bathroom to relieve the bladder my little 1.5 inch baby is pressing on!

We feel so blessed right now and so excited for what lies ahead!!

i'm still alive!

Wow...I've been completely out of the blogging world for quite a while. I figured I had better post today so I can atleast get one post in for June! I wish I could tell you that I haven't been blogging because I've been working out every day, but...that could not be farther from the truth! I haven't stepped foot in the gym since May...unbelievable. And my stomach and thighs definitely know it. (ok...and the rest of my body!) I was on a roll at the gym and then comes the beach, VBS, and laziness...it all crept right up on me. There. I have confessed. Tomorrow is July 1st and I'm going back in. Good thing I paid for a whole year so I HAVE to go back!

To catch you up, in the month of June we did go to the beach and had a wonderfully relaxing couple of days with Justin's parents. Jazz turned 1 and we celebrated with cake and dog treats! We ate our first cucumber from the garden...yum. Justin is so proud of his "crop." It's amazing and I hope to share some pictures soon!

Also...I had LASIK eye surgery!! I've wanted it for YEARS and thanks to my wonderful parents...it's reality. The surgery was completely amazing. Each eye took 5 minutes and by the next morning my vision was 20/25. It hasn't been that good since 1st grade. Unbelievable. Justin watched the whole surgery and it was amazing. I can see the clock when I wake up! (At least if I squint through the clear eye patches I have to wear when I sleep for the next few days). I'm so thankful and hope that when I go back to the eye doctor in 2 weeks my vision will be 20/20. What a blessing!

Well...welcome back to our lives. Hopefully the month of July holds a few more blogs and a few more workouts!

fore!

So, I literally played golf 3 times last week! I haven't even played golf 3 times in my life before. I'm telling you, I'll do anything for my husband! Justin really did talk me into going to the driving range a few times and trying out golf, which I know he did not have to ask his wife to do! But, I'm thankful...so far I actually like it. And hopefully I'll continue to like it because we are now members at a local (cheap) golf course! I think that we will really enjoy the time spent on the golf course together. We have been much more "active" lately (aka: we really haven't been in front of the tv very much at all!) because Justin's been playing basketball with some guys and I've been going to the gym several times a week now. I definitely like this more "active lifestyle" we have going recently. It's much easier in the Spring to want to get out and do fun things.

On Saturday morning we had a final rehearsal for the children's musical (which went great on Sunday!), then we went and played 9 holes of golf. We hung out in the afternoon with Justin's parents, then after dinner we decided we wanted to go play some more golf since we are now "members." We walked 7 holes that night and I was so exhausted that I didn't make it to the early service on Sunday morning. I think this could be a fun new form of exercise!

I spent part of last night looking for some "girlie" golf clubs on ebay to match my girlie glove and pink towel (my only girlie golfing items I currently own!) Today, I realized that I guess I am now officially a golfer because 3 tees came out in the washing machine. All from my pockets!

I think Justin wondered what exactly he had gotten himself into when I told him I was going to store some lotion in my golf bag because my hand gets to dry in the glove! The things Justin puts up with! I love him!

quick update!

So...I think about things that I can blog all of the time, but by the time I get to a "stopping place" at night, I'm usually too tired or just uninterested in blogging at that point. I'm thankful, though, for faithful friends who give good bloggy updates, so here's an update from my week.

#1 - The garden's in....I'm so proud of Justin! We've got tons of tomato plants, squash, green beans, lettuce, corn(?!), cumcumbers and probably something else that I'm forgetting. I can't wait for all of these thing to grow and for us to enjoy them. I think some church members are excited, too, because half of our "crop" is between our house and the church. AKA: prime picking area on Sundays and Wednesdays. Hopefully we'll have an abundance of veggies, though, and we'll be eager to share. Here's a few pictures of Justin's hard work...

He's been so faithful to water and tend to his precious plants/seeds. Every time he's watered, though, it rains later that night! Oh, well...looks like things are ok because we saw some plants sprouting today. He was so excited!

#2 - I got in the planting mood and bought some beautiful plants to go in my pretty blue pots for the front porch. I was so proud of how they stood out and look so pretty!

Tonight, however, there was a huge storm that came through while we were in Mt. Airy. I promise, I am the worst at keeping plants alive and looking good. Here's how they look now....

How awful! The pretty blooms are ruined!

Flower petals were everywhere!

Oh well...hopefully they'll survive!

#3 - Our new "largest in the Southeast" Wal-Mart opened yesterday and I must say, I was very impressed. It felt so weird to be in "Little Elkin" shopping in such a nice store. Don't tell anyone this, but it secretly made me really want a Super Target here, too! But, I tend to spend more money at Target, so, overall the new Wal-Mart is awesome!

#4 - I'm now sporting some glasses. I got glasses in the 2nd grade, but I have worn hard contacts ever since the 5th grade. As long as I can remember I have always wanted to have the laser surgery done to hopefully correct my (terrible) vision. For graduation last year, my parents gave me the gift of paying for this surgery. I am just now starting the process, so I've got to wear glasses for 2 weeks, then have a consultation to see if I am a good candidate for the surgery. I'm not a fan of glasses and I feel SO weird in them right now. (Maybe I'll show you a picture one day....) Pray that I'll have wisdom whether or not to proceed with the surgery, if it is a possibility. I hope it will be! It would be so nice to see an alarm clock in the morning or something simple like that!

Welcome, May!

I can't believe it is the 1st of May already. We enjoyed this beautiful day by working in our yard, running some errands, and taking Jazz to the park. I just love that we can drive a few miles and let Jazz run on a trail and get in a river and play. It's so much fun to watch and so relaxing to spend some time together outside. Oh, we also went to the driving range this afternoon, and I must say, today was much better than the first. I actually enjoyed golfing. Well, here are some pictures of our recent life!

So, Jazz might be able to roll over, but somehow she still manages to get a clothes hanger stuck around her body. Go figure!

Justin and Jazz enjoying the freezing cold water.
My oh-so-adventurous husband! I just love him so much!
Us in front of the "waterfall"
I love it! So peaceful!