7 days

This past week has been the best week of our lives.

We never knew our hearts could love this much.

I love being a mother and John is an incredible daddy.

Our little girl is such a good baby and she is changing right before our eyes every day. She makes the funniest faces and we stare at her all of the time.  One of our personal favorites is one that we like to call "the Bill Cosby".  She purses her lips and raises her eyebrows like so.  She already has us laughing.  We are in awe of her every move.  I'm going for some serious snuggle time riiiiiiiiiiiiight now.

evaleigh joy is born

born in to this world on Tuesday January 17th at 1:19pm

7 pounds 11 ounces 18 3/4 inches

her daddy's lips

her mother's ears

the sweetest little spirit

we have never been more in love

about to POP + an incredible GIVEAWAY!! *giveaway closed*

Last weekend I was able to be photographed by the insanely talented Holly L. Robbins.  I can't say enough about how much these photographs mean to me.  When Holly sent them to me I was in tears looking through them as she captured so beautifully how I have felt being pregnant with this precious daughter of mine.  

As I go in to this very last day of being with child I am so thankful to have these photos to remember the special blessing I have had to bare a life.

***giveaway closed***

Now for the extremely exciting part for you guys!! 

Dear engaged friends

Dear singers who need headshots

Dear marrieds

Dear families

Dear preggie friends

Dear friends with new babies

Dear anyone who wants to have flawless beautiful photos,

To one lucky reader Holly is offering:

50% off any photo session with Holly L.Robbins Photography AND an additional 25% off of one of her amazing print collections!  That is an incredibly huge savings and awesome opportunity.  

Here is how to enter (leave separate comments for each entry):

1. You must be a follower of the Tunes & Spoons Blog

2. You must like her Facebook Fan Page

3. Comment on this post and leave your email address.

For additional entries:

1. Visit her website and tell me which kind of photo session you would like to have with her.

2. Follow her blog.

3. Post this giveaway to your blog or your facebook.

And because Holly is so wonderful she is also extending the 25% off of print collections to anyone who would like to book a photo session if you mention 'Tunes & Spoons' in your booking.  See why I love this lady so much.

This giveaway will be closed January 30th and the winner announced then. Good luck!

***anonymous comments are opened for this post only to those who do not have blogger accounts and would like to enter this giveaway. please leave your name and email as a way for us to contact you.***

The winner is comment number 34. Picked randomly by asking to husband, "Pick a number any number between 1 and 35."

Katy said...

I follow Holly's blog!

January 29, 2012 8:32 PM 

Congratulations Katy!!!!!  Email Holly at holly@hollyrobbins.com to get in touch about your prize!

tonight, i was that girl...

I swore I would never get to this point.

Tonight I went to grocery store for some serious necessities adorned in comfy gouchos and my husbands t-shirt.

I was passing by the milk and suddenly things were feeling a bit drafty.  I ran my hand down my very pregnant belly and when I reached the bottom, to my horror and complete oblivion, my very pregnant belly was exposing itself...with out my permission.

How could I be so completely unaware of my own body?

I quickly tried to snuff out the situation and cover up but it was too late, I had been spotted.

Face-palm.

You see, I have stretch marks.  I have one that I am particularly proud of.  It resides directly above my belly button (if it can still be called that nowadays).  It is an unmistakable lightening bolt.  A few weeks ago I was thinking, "How could pregnancy get any cooler?"  Then BAM...Harry Potter lightening bolt stretch mark on my tum.

After I procured all of the items on my list I went to the checkout and experienced my first REAL contraction.  Dang.  I had to completely stop walking and hold my shopping cart with a death grip.

Hold on baby girl...give your mama 2 more days.

I'm going to be a recluse and stay in til Tuesday, I can't be showing off my magical tummy marks anymore, I'm just not that girl.

evaleigh's nursery

Alas, our baby girl's room is done! And all with 4 days to spare. There have been countless DIY projects and re-DIY's that have gone in to this nursery.

the curtains (the fabric of which was used as table cloths at our wedding reception)

the couch (which was my great grandmothers. it is painted then recovered)

the bunting

the scrabble name frame

the changing table

all of the pillows (except for the red target one)

the chest of drawers

and the list goes on and on...

So, here we present:

Evaleigh Joy Murphy's Nursery

Now, all we are missing is a little girl!!!

Oh, and I need some nursing pads...

late night seranade

Last night after my mother and I finished making (adorable!!!) curtains for Evaleigh's room, John came in to her room to join us.  We all sat in there and marveled and dreamt about what the future holds and what that room will hold.  We said night time prayers together and then mother went down to bed.  After she left I asked John if he would get out Hannah and play some music for me and EJ.

This was my first request.

I love playing and singing music together, it is one of my favorite things about our marriage.

I sat and watched him in awe.  I wanted to soak in every thing about that moment through all of the pores of my body. I have very much enjoyed cherishing all of the last moments before 'we two' become 'we three'.  Part of me wanted to freeze that moment, but I know what is ahead will be ever sweeter.  The anticipation of all of the changes that are before us are a little scary and intimidating but John has never once seemed anxious.  I ask him if he has any fears and he always replies, "No, I'm ready!"

This man was made for fatherhood and I can't wait to see it on him.

John likes to make me cry sometimes.  He knows just how to get me.  Last night he played this song for me and I tried everything I could not to let the tears drop down my cheeks but that is just an irrational thing to expect from a pregnant woman when you play a song like that.  EJ and her daddy are going to be so close.  It's hard to believe that I will get to see them together in 5 days.  Be still my very pregnant heart...

little peach

There has been a little project going on around the homestead lately.  My mother and her....well we will call him "the gentleman emailer", have been busy putting in a beautiful orchard in the front yard.  It has been adorned with various fruit and nut trees.

We will have plums, cherries, blueberries, apples, pears, walnuts, pecans, and many many more.

They planted a special little tree for our EJ...a Redhaven Peach Tree.  

A peach tree for our little homemade Georgia peach. 

We love it.

Right now it has beautiful tiny buds that will try mightily for the next several years to bare fruit.  By the time Evaleigh is 3 we will be able to pick some of this fruit and make a delicious peach crumble together in her grandmomee's kitchen (one of her Daddy's favorite desserts).  I can imagine us in there fumbling around making messes and wearing colorful aprons and the air will be full of giggles.

We will make her picture next to the tree every year.  

I can't wait to watch her grow as it certainly will.

a baby shower brunch

On Saturday a few girls from my church, my sister, and mother got together and threw me and Miss Evaleigh a baby shower.  It was so much fun and it meant so much to me to be supported by all of these special ladies in my life, many of which have known me and my sister since we were pre-teens.  I am in awe of their generosity and creativity!

It was a lovely brunch filled with REAL life baby advice, birthing stories, and lots of laughter.

(i love that this glass jar says "Prego".  quite fitting for a baby shower don't cha think?)

The menu included:

Creamy Dreamy Grits Flying Biscuit Style

Breakfast Casserole

Susan Biscuits

Fresh Fruit

and

Waffle Skewers

She sure is!  

And we are more ready than ever...bring on that little girl so we can change her outfits 30 times a day.  Goodness knows we now have enough clothes to swing something like that!

Thank you so much to everyone who made it a perfect day.

evaleigh joy, i love you

Dear Evaleigh,

In a matter of days I will hold you in my arms for the first time. I have imagined that moment countless times but I know that nothing has prepared me for how I am really going to feel.  I have been holding you in my body for the past 9 months and it has been a privileged to share this body with you.  I have been honored to give you the things you have needed to grow and prepare your self to come in to this world.  

I have reveled in every kick, roll, and hiccup (those of which have been in the thousands).  Thank you for all of the little reminders that you are here and you are a living being.  I am going to miss having you all to myself, I hope your daddy will share you with me, because he can't wait to get his hands on you.  

I am so hopeful for our future together as mother and daughter.  You are about to make me something I have never been before.  Thank you for giving me this sacred role.  I think that our bond is already something pretty special and I can't wait for it to keep growing.  I am so excited to look in to your little face for the first time and have your daddy by my side.  We made you with a lot of love.  I want to examine every millimeter of you and talk about who you look like. We have such a great life ahead.  Thank you for being my daughter and giving me more joy than I ever thought possible.  I love you and I'll be seeing you soon.

love,

your mother

indian style

I guess one of the pros of having a breech babe are all of the extra ultrasounds you get to have.  I could never get tired of watching EJ do her thang in there.  Today she was just relaxing indian style with her bum down and her little baby hands up by her face.  We are still on a quest to turn this child.  I have been trying everything in the book.  

Want my list,my extremely effective list?

Although maybe I'm not one to be taking advice from...

round ligament massage

inversions (not too many of these, they make my head hurt...bad)

Webster adjustments (I go for round 3 this week)

cold stuff on baby's head

lots and lots of prayers and blessings

playing music near the exit...if you get my drift

a little bit of homemade acupressure (mr murphy squeezes my pinky toes and that is supposed to do something)

stretching and moving on my birthing ball to open up my hips more

What ever will be will be.  At least we know we have tried and tried.

Every day that passes is a day closer to us meeting our daughter.  And really that is all that matters. That idea keeps me going.  We are so excited.

road trips, martinelli's on my pants, and belly touching

We had a lovely New Years Eve.  

John, 4 of our friends, and I decided to take a spontaneous road trip to South Carolina to acquire some illegal fireworks.

You know...the dirty and exciting kind that leave the ground.

We drove squished in my moms car and listened to Ultimate Dance Party 1997, Ludacris, and old school Britney Spears.

When we got back we spent the rest of the evening having a jam sesh and a bon fire and shooting off enourmous amounts of roman candles, black cats, mighty thor's, mother gooses, and fireworks.  

Several minutes after midnight I spilled my Martinelli's on a very ironic place on my pants.  It looked like my water just went and broke.  

I didn't even move or care, towards the end of the night my bod felt like I had ridden a horse all the way to SC and back by my self to get the new years fireworks.  

I'm starting to feel pretty uncomfortable now which I don't mind so much considering things have been beautifully easy thus far.  Hubs and I purchased a birthing ball yesterday (which really is just a big bouncy exercise ball but I feel cooler and more productive calling it a birthing ball.)  I spent at least 3 hours on it today stretching and moving.  It is the best my body has felt in months.  I'm hoping that that combined with my Webster adjustment from this weekend that my cousin Brian suggested will help EJ to turn.  

THERE IS STILL HOPE!

The night ended with some serious belly rubbing and I didn't mind it at all.

Free rubs for anyone who'd like them...just consider me your lucky Buddha for 2012.