Exhausted

I'm not the kind that falls asleep on the couch.

I'm especially not the kind that falls asleep on the couch at 8pm.

I'm REALLY REALLY not the kind that falls asleep on the couch at 8pm WHILE WATCHING A MOVIE.

I'm either 85 years old, on Benadryl, or 32 weeks pregnant.

I even caught myself snoring.

Calling it a night and going to bed!
 

A String of Unrelated Thoughts

I LOVED the 20/20 special on the Queen last night! I wish they had gotten to interview Kate, but I was content with William and Harry. I do love me some royals and sincerely hope I get to go to London someday!

It's already really, really hot here in in Houston. REALLY hot. And I feel like it will only get hotter. I'm assuming I'll be spending a lot of time in my mom's pool. :)

I saw two movies last weekend. I saw "The Avengers" with Grantley and then I saw "What to Expect When You're Expecting" with my friend Tiffany. "The Avengers" was pretty good and was one of my better superhero movie experiences. "What to Expect When You're Expecting" was much funnier than I expected it to be. And I thoroughly enjoyed my Diet Coke and popcorn.

Last night I dreamed I went into labor. I was so excited. I was a little disappointed when I woke up that I don't get to meet my Ellie girl today! It's okay though, I know she has a little more cookin' to do.

I think my Moxie dog is pretty ready for Ellie to get here too. He always seems so irritated with me when I try to hold him like a baby.

We got a letter from our Compassion child yesterday. It makes my heart so happy. She's precious. She told us that she has lots of chickens and also that she is glad we're having a girl baby and she would like for us to "please tell me her name immediately". Well, then! Gladly. :) Our Compassion child's birthday is Ellie's due date. Isn't that awesome? I would love it if they shared a birthday.

Yesterday I went to vote in the primaries. I think it's hilarious that my precinct always votes in a Bus Barn. I just don't think it can get anymore American than that!!

I get to eat Mexican food today and I'm pretty excited about that.

On Saturday, I got a pedicure. It was lovely. However, of the 6 pedicure chairs in the salon, 4 of them had a man sitting in it. FOUR of the SIX! It was just me and one other lady! Don't get me wrong, I am glad that these men value the hygiene and appearance of their feet, but I was just so confused. I've seen men in there before, but there were just so many! Perhaps they were running a manly special of some kind. Maybe there was a Groupon. Who knows. I was just so perplexed.

I would like to take the time to share with you the albums that I have playing on repeat on my iTunes right now:

The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow
Audrey Assad: Heart
The Fray: Scars and Stories
Christy Nockels: Into the Glorious
John Mayer: Born and Raised
Jourdan Johnson: Rise
Kari Jobe: Where I Find You
Passion: White Flag
Sara Groves: Conversations
Sara Groves: Fireflies and Songs
Shane & Shane: The One You Need
Wilson Phillips: Wilson Phillips

You should download all of them and enjoy this lovely mix of music. It makes my heart happy and my workday go by quickly.

And this has been a string of unrelated thoughts.

Kristin Chenoweth and Other News

Things are busy and wonderful around here!

Last week, I was treated to a lovely evening out by my mom. Mom took me and Jaclyn to dinner and then to Jones Hall in downtown Houston to see the incomparable Kristin Chenoweth. 

Kristin Chenoweth is a broadway star, Tony award winner, Emmy award winner, opera singer, country singer, actress, dancer, and full-on powerhouse. She. Was. Amazing. 

Here we are at the concert:

My belly came along with us. 

Highlights of the show: 

1. Kristin lying down on the floor of the stage and saying "Ohhhhh, my spanks"

2. Kristin calling a girl out from the audience to sing Elphaba's part in "For Good". Made some girl's dream come true. Beautiful moment.

3. When she threw me for a loop and sang "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables instead of the usual "I Dreamed a Dream". It was hauntingly beautiful.

Also, before the show, the 3 of us had dinner at Cracker Barrel, and you can't go wrong with chicken and dumplins. You just can't. 

Otherwise, things have been good around here. I went swimming at my parents' house this weekend which was nice. I felt weightless. And let me tell you, I was looking GOOD in that maternity swimsuit. Seriously, I've never felt more secure in myself ever. (SENSE MY SARCASM, FOLKS.)

Yesterday was my dear husband's 28th birthday. I gave him some summer clothes from the Gap that I have to say he looks ridiculously handsome in. But he is always ridiculously handsome. 

Also, yesterday we picked up the rocking chair for baby girl's room. Once the room is complete, I'll post all the fun pictures. I can't believe she'll be here in about 60 days! How is this happening already?!

She's growing and kicking... a lot. It's so fun. I can't wait to meet her and see her. I am so curious about her coloring. Grant and I both come from dark-haired families, however I have red hair so we shall see what she turns out to be! 

I don't really care either way. I just know I'm going to love every bit of her. And squish her. And snuggle her. 

Oh, and in case you didn't know... her name will be Ellie. 

My sweet Ellie girl. 

Another Beautiful Shower

This past Saturday we were blessed (AGAIN!) to have another lovely shower for baby girl. This one was given by Cheryl and Laura, a terrific mother-daughter duo that have been a part of my life for my whooollleee life. Cheryl and my mom (also named Cheryl!) have been friends for probably about 30 years. And Laura was just "Cheryl's daughter" for YEARS and then I worked for her after college and we became buddies and then honest to goodness friends. And now we talk all the time and she gives me mama advice (SHE HAS THREE BABIES!) and I just love them to pieces.

They gave me the most beautiful shower full of amazing desserts and lovely gifts. Here's a few pics that Laura sent to me!

Everyone got to sit and visit. It was so nice and low key!

My niece, Grace Parker, was my little helper for the gifts. She helped me open each one. She's very excited about her new little cousin. 

The beautiful hostesses with the mostesses. Cheryl and Laura!

Me with the hostesses plus my mom :) 

Me and my Laura deary!

It really was so beautiful, and I left feeling pretty relieved since we got sooooo many things that baby girl truly NEEDS. Diapers, wipes, bathtub, high chair, jumper.... and some pretty gosh darn cute clothes!

Thank you, Cheryl and Laura, for such a perfect afternoon. It couldn't have been any more lovely and I felt SHOWERED with love  :)

99 Things

I saw this on another blog and decided to do it myself :) The things in BOLD are the things I have done/accomplished/experienced:

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii


5. Watched a meteor shower


6. Given more than you can afford to charity


7. Been to Disneyland
 (hopefully in the not too distant future!)

8. Climbed a mountain


9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo


11. Bungee jumped


12. Visited Paris


13. Watched a lightning storm


14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning


17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty


18. Grown your own vegetables


19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France


  20. Slept on an overnight train


21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort


25. Held a lamb


26. Gone skinny dipping


27. Run a Marathon


28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice


  29. Seen a total eclipse


30. Watched a sunrise or sunset


  31. Hit a home run


32. Been on a cruise


  33. Seen Niagara Falls in person


34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors


35. Seen an Amish community


36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person


  39. Gone rock climbing 


40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt


  43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant


44. Visited Africa


45. Walked on a beach by moonlight


46. Been transported in an ambulance


47. Had your portrait painted


48. Gone deep sea fishing

 
 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person


  50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling


  52. Kissed in the rain


  53. Played in the mud


54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

 
 56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business


58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen


61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies


62. Gone whale watching


63. Got flowers for no reason


64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma


65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy


  70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt


73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades


75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person


80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican


  82. Bought a brand new car


83. Walked in Jerusalem


84. Had your picture in the newspaper

  85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

86. Visited the White House


  87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating


88. Had chickenpox


  89. Saved someone’s life


90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Got a tattoo

94. Had a baby


95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit


98. Owned a cell phone


99. Been stung by a bee

Okay, now it's your turn :)

Wednesday Afternoon Ramblings

1. You know I'm going to have a lot of words to say when I start doing the numbered paragraph blog post. It means I have all sorts of thoughts on a variety of topics that have nothing to do with one another. BUCKLE. UP.

2. I forgot to mention Grey's Anatomy in my previous post about television shows. I can't handle all the emotional drama going on over there but I can't stop watching it. Also, after seeing the preview for this week's Season Finale, I am now certain that I wouldn't go to Seattle Grace Hospital for even a band-aid. They've got some serious bad luck over there.

3. Sometimes I still pinch myself and thank the Lord that I have the luxury and blessing of being able to work from home. I love the fact that if I'm uncomfortable I can work from the couch or from bed. Yesterday I got super exhausted around 2pm and realized that I can take a nap if I want to. And I did. I only slept 45 minutes but it was awesome.

4. My clothing options are dwindling. I really hate to spend more money on clothes that I'll only wear for a few more months, but I'm really running out of options and things are looking kinda funky on me.

5. The belly, IT IS GETTING BIGGER.

6. I know that that is what is supposed to happen but UM, HI, THAT THING IS BIG.

7. This morning my leg was asleep but simultaneously was overcome with a Charlie Horse that was out of this world. It was a strange sensation. And my toes were all crampy and turned different directions and I just sat at my kitchen table banging my leg into submission and I think Grant thought that I was having convulsions.

8. I really want to have another ultrasound. I miss my little girl. I haven't seen her since 19 weeks and I am now 30 weeks. I know she must have changed so much and gotten so big because SHE IS EVERYWHERE and I really want to know what she is doing in there. She camps out on the right side of my belly and I'd like to know if that is her feet or her arms. And also I'd like to see her sweet little profile again because it is just too darling for words.

9. The other day I was on the couch and Grant was in the kitchen. I hollered out to him, "Hey Babe, if you want to see a freak show, you can come in here and watch my belly move around entirely on its own". He replied, "No thanks, I'm good". I don't blame him.

10. I got an email the other day from Victoria's Secret advertising their summer swimsuits and I laughed and laughed and laughed.

11. We went to Dallas this weekend for Mother's Day. Well, we went because Scarlett and Juliet (WHO ARE ABOUT TO TURN SIX, SWEET MERCY) had an Irish Dance competition and we got to see those little twinkies do their thing. They had FOCUS and INTENSITY when they danced and I had to stop myself from smiling like a fool. They were all kinds of serious and it was just stinkin' adorable.

12. My niece Grace got a little confused regarding the phrase "What in the world?" because she is now loudly exclaiming "WHAT in the TOWN?!" when she sees something unbelievable.

13. "What in the town" is now a part of my catalog of phrases that I say on a daily basis. It's up there with "I'm hungry" and "I need to lay down" and  "Add Cheese".

14. I've been on an Etsy kick lately and I do believe that I'm going to get myself into trouble. Don't tell on me. But seriously how do I stop.

15. This blog must end.
 

We Haven't Talked About Television in Awhile...

It's been awhile since we've spent some time discussing the shows on the television. Some shows are wrapping up with their season finales. Some shows are gearing up for summer. Some shows are about crab fishing and your husband makes you sit and watch those with him and you find yourself getting invested in a show about crab fishing. 

But that is neither here nor there. 

Get ready, folks. JEN HAS GOT SOME OPINIONS COMING YOUR WAY.

Oh, Smash. How you have bursted into my life and taken over with your well written ballads and dramatic plot twists. 

Smash is a new show on NBC that has a lot going on. IT HAS A LOT GOING ON. There are casting changes and song changes and relationship changes and evil assistants that poison people with peanuts. But I can't stop watching. The music is amazing. Katharine McPhee is INCREDIBLE. Her voice is killer. Last night was the finale and apparently the new season won't start till MID-SEASON next year which typically means January which means THAT IS A LONG TIME. Until then, I'll be listening to the soundtrack :)

Grant and I L-O-V-E LOVE How I Met Your Mother. I really want to know who the mother is and they are taking their dear sweet time revealing that to us. 

Last night was the season finale of How I Met Your Mother or HIMYM. (In our home, we refer to this show as Him-Yim). The season finale was exciting but several things happened that I am not too thrilled about. We'll see how things unfold. I am not angry, just not sure that I like the direction things are going. Grant, however, was thrilled. SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT MEANT TO BE TOGETHER. And that's all I'm going to say about that. There was a scene referring to the movie "The Breakfast Club" in last night's finale that almost made me pee my pants. Seriously. LOVE THIS SHOW.

American Idol.

Why do you suck me in every year and never let me go?

Here's the problem with this year's final contestants. They are all really, really good. But I don't think any of them will have major success. I don't think they will make albums that will break records. I hope they prove me wrong. Joshua Ledet is amazing. His voice is over the top. Phil Phillips is great and super talented but he sounds exactly like Dave Matthews and we already have him. Jessica is good but I can't put my finger on what I don't like about her. We'll see what happens. I REALLY liked Colton and am looking forward to hearing big things from him on Christian radio stations in the very near future!

HELLO, MY NAME IS JEN, AND I WATCH THE BACHELORETTE. 

I watch The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. I do. Do not judge me.

Thankfully, I think this season might be kinda boring, but in a good way. Boring because I think Emily is too much of a lady to do a lot of inappropriate things and I think she has a daughter and isn't going to have too many hot tub scenes. Maybe I'm wrong. Who knows. But she is darling. And based on last night's show, she doesn't have too many good ones to choose from. There are some weirdos on this show. I'm talking about the ostrich egg guy. For reals. 

This isn't even a quarter of all the shows I'm invested in right now, but these are the ones I felt the need to talk about today. 

Please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions as well!

Baby Girl's First Shower

Me and my little girl are so blessed.

Her first baby shower was a giant success and an even bigger blessing. My two sisters and my best friend Lindsee honored me and my darling girl with the most beautiful baby shower. It was filled with yummy food, beautiful decorations, amazing cake, generous gifts, and family friends that I have known since I was a baby myself. It was so special and Grant and I are BEYOND thankful. Here are a few photos of the event which was hosted at Jaclyn's beautiful home!

The beautiful banner that my Lindsee Lou made! 

Another shot of the banner. Little touches of turquoise and pink were everywhere! :)

Some of the sweet gifts. That cute pillow is from Jaclyn... it's totally going on the chair in baby girl's nursery!

Oh. Be still my heart. Juliet, Scarlett, and Grace. All grown up. They'll be such sweet girls to their new little cousin!

I LOVE this picture. This is baby girl's first photo with her two grandmothers! It was so fun to have Grant's mom  and dad here for the weekend! 

The hostesses! Baby girl's Aunt Shannon, Aunt Jaclyn, and Aunt Lou!

Someone took a picture of me and my sisters, my mom, Grant's mom, and my sister-in-law Ronda who came all the way from Baton Rouge for the shower! If anyone reading this has that photo on their phone/camera please send it to me because I'd really like to have it :) 

So thankful for this friend who prayed over me and baby girl :) 

 Lindsee was writing down the gift list for me. After I unwrapped about 3 presents, she turns to me and says "YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A BABY." It just hits us every once in awhile!

Claire and Lindsee- how far we've come together!

The original Martin girls :) I love my mama and sisters

Lindsee got her this stinkin' adorable onesie. Those flowers are on the little booty part. And there's a matching hat. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE PHOTOS!!

This was the table. Those butterfly cookies were DELICIOUS!

I am just so beyond thankful for such a sweet shower! We're truly blessed! 

It's a Pregnancy Miracle

Y'all.

Last night heaven sent down a precious gift. 

I was sitting on the couch with my husband watching Deadliest Catch. It's a show about crab fishing. Yes, crab fishing. Of course, on other nights you might find us watching Wicked Tuna. It's a television show about catching tuna. HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO WATCH ANYTHING MORE?!

Anyhoo, during a commercial break for the crab fishing show, a special gift was dropped into my lap and I am so excited I just can't hide it. I'm about to lose control and I think I like it. 

You guys. Wendy's. Wendy's has a new item on their menu. 

DO YOU SEE IT?

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

WENDY'S. Is now offering MACARONI AND CHEESE. As a SIDE ITEM.

Unless you are JEN THE NEWLYWED and you will order TWO and call it a MEAL.

The commercial came on. They said "macaroni and cheese" and I sat up so straight that baby girl inside of me did a flip. And I gasped. LOUDLY.

And I froze there on the couch with my hands over my mouth as Grant was going, "No. No. NO. Babe... NO".

To which I replied "HUSH".

And then I ran to get my computer so I could proclaim to all of the world on Facebook and Twitter that WENDY'S HAS ADDED MACARONI AND CHEESE TO THEIR MENU.

Nuggets and mac and cheese? Glory, glory, hallelujah.

Honestly, I've been walking around my house singing "Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee... How Great Thou Art, HOW GREAT THOU ART!!!"

I will now continue with the happy dance.