Oh Baby!

Thursday April 11th. I took dinner to Chris at the office because he had the night shift. I left around 10:30pm and on the way home started thinking about things to put on my grocery list for the next day.

Bread, milk, tampons... Wait that was supposed to be here like last week.

I chalked it up to the stress we have been having due to an emergency remodel on the basement (it flooded). I mean there is no way we were actually going to be parents.

When I got home I took a test just in case and felt confused as I saw two pink lines appear on the test. We have had so many negatives this year while trying that I thought this was a fluke. I took another one.

Two pink lines.

I called mama. "Mom, I just got a positive. How accurate are these things? Should I take another?" She assured me it was probably pretty accurate. I sat there in shock.

It was 11:30 at this point. I hopped back in the car and went back to the office. Chris was in the lounge watching a movie. " Turn off your movie" I said. I handed him the test. We hugged. I cried.

He later told me the way I came in there so late and crying he thought  someone had died. Oops. Not the mood I was going for.

So yeah, we are going to be parents! We are due December 8th!

Why we work...

We work because he tells me I am gorgeous and I tell him he is a sexy man daily.

We work because he smacks my butt during house chores and I pretend to hate it. (We both know I don't.)

We work because he understands that I need a girly room in the house and I get that he wants part of the barn to be his workshop.

We work because he loves the fact that I am a child at heart, a free spirit and I love the fact that he is wise beyond his years.

We work because he loves my little southern sayings and ways and I find his Midwestern tendencies cute.

We work because he takes mama and I antique hunting and I go to the museums with him.

We work because he understands how much I need horse time and I understand that he needs his historical documentaries.

We work because we are content staying in and snuggling instead of going out some nights even though I am typically a social butterfly.

We work because when I crank up the country music he laughs when I get silly and belt it and sing all the words wrong and when he gets ghetto I try to video him throwing deuces leaned back in my charger.

We work because he thinks it is sexy when I am teaching lessons to the kiddos and I think it is so hot when he is in farmer mode.

We work because he spends time with my crazy family and I spend time with his.

We work because he puts up with my sister and I making him pose for the camera every chance we get and I know when he has had enough.

We work because our fights are intense but we both forgive and forget quickly. 

We work because we can sense when the other is a their breaking point at work and pick up each others slack and calm each other down. 

We work because he gets that occasionally I NEED to sleep late and I know that 5 AM is his wake up time no matter what day of the week it is. 

We work because we pray together.

We work because he sits in the pew at my little Baptist church at least one session during revival because he knows my roots are there and I go to his Catholic church with him. 

We work because we respect each other. 

We work because we realize we are different but we are the same. 

We work because we cherish one another. 

I took a leap

Think about that for a minute.
You miss 100%... if life were a test you would get a big fat zero. As in FAILING.
Life is about taking chances. Sticking your neck out there. Stepping into the unknown.

In May of 2013 I took a shot at something different.  I joined a company called It Works! I was so excited to take a leap that could change my life. I worked hard at it but hesitantly. I was proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and joining but I was still holding myself back.

Then July rolled around. I challenged myself to step it up. I told myself I would work this with all I had and see if I could buy my husband a truck by the time his birthday rolled around. You guys can read about how we accomplished that here! That really set a fire. I could do this! This was life changing! I took a shot and joined It Works and the opportunities it was giving me were amazing.

This year at conference they announced G.O.O.D (Get Out of Debt) bonuses were back! (This amazing company teaches us to strive to be debt free. They honestly care about us.) I was ecstatic! My goal is to get there! Can you imagine an extra $10,000? That is the bonus for reaching Diamond status.

So that is my goal! If you or anyone you know is interested in that crazy wrap thing or the products, check out my website at www.newyouwithmallory.myitworks.com !

Little Signs

Do you believe in little signs from above?

I do. Without a doubt.

Last night as I was wading through tax paperwork I got one of these signs. Weird timing and I first I didn't catch what was happening because I was so absorbed in numbers.

Background: My grandfather passed away 4 years ago. You can read my posts about it here , here and here. I miss him. His favorite singer was George Jones. They had a similar life and he related. So, when I am missing him or need to relax I listen to old Country. There is one time I remember George Jones sang "Amazing Grace" acapella. My grandfather loved it and after his death I searched for a version of it. I couldn't find it and gave up. George Jones always talked about how the song "Angel Band" brought him out of a dark point in his life. I sang that song at Papa's funeral. (all of that will be relevant in a minute)

So there I was, trying to figure out where the other receipt for travel went and I thought, " Why don't I put on some music?"  I picked up my phone and Facebook was open. Country music nation had just posted a link of George Jones doing a cover of "Hello Darlin'...".

I thought  Old country it is.

I flipped to Pandora and chose the Classic Country station. The first song on was Conway Twitty singing "Hello Darlin...". Hmm... odd coincidence.

 The second song was "Amazing Grace". The acapella version by George Jones. I got goosebumps and then tears.

There was a stupid Pandora commercial and then "One Piece at a Time" by Johnny Cash came on. Papa and I used to laugh at the thought of that car in the song when I was a kid.

I still didn't catch the sign.

The third song was my favorite George Jones song... "He Stopped Loving Her Today". It is about a man who only stops loving when he is dead. Really sad, I know, but I used to dance on Papa's feet to it in the living room at the farm when I was little. So sad song, good memories.

The fourth song was another George Jones. I thought that's weird that Pandora is playing the same artist back to back. It was a song I had never heard called "The Blues Man".

One of the lyrics says,


"I was sure sinkin' when she came alongI was alone in the spot light, not too much left in sightShe changed all that one night when she sang me this song"

He doesn't list the lyrics to Angel Band, but every Jones fan knows that is the song she sang him. He says he heard "I Love You". 

I cried. Maybe I am crazy, but I think Papa was leading me through the memories to say he heard my last "I love you" and he loved me too.

 My husband shrugs it off. He lets me cry and guess, but he doesn't really believe it was a sign. He doesn't get stuff like that. Either way,whether I am crazy or not, I took peace in it. 

Corvettes and Handbags make it all okay

So this week I managed to catch the stomach virus of all stomach viruses from my lovely co-workers. Y'all I thought it was the end. I could not even keep water down. The worst part was the next day when I was so dehydrated I felt hung-over and my body felt like my trainer had kicked my butt. Nope. Just recovering from the gift the office keeps giving everyone.

Yesterday I finally made it back to the office. I don't know why I bothered. I do not remember talking to anyone, I have no clue what I actually accomplished and my co-workers are giggling about some of the off the wall crap I said to clients. Great... On the upside dad felt bad that I had to be here sick so he let me drive his new 2014 Stingray Corvette.

 

I felt like a rock star.

 



Today, I feel a little better. I have managed to keep down a Chick-Fil-A biscuit so far. Success! Plus, my new Steve Madden bag arrived so now I have a brown casual bag to replace the one that died. And a couple of old friends that know me like no other have resurfaced.  I am thinking that this means this weekend has to be a good one. I can eat, I have a new bag and old friends? Bring on the weekend.

New Years Resolutions: Late I know

I know, I know late to the game. It wouldn't be from me if it wasn't late. Maybe I should that to my resolutions.

#1 I am going to try to be on time more. Seriously, don't laugh. I am going to try to schedule things and stick      to the time I schedule.

#2 Lose weight. I type that with sweet tea in one hand, so I might fail before I begin.

#3 Blog more. Again don't laugh. I really want to do better at this.

#4 Ride more. Work has really inhibited my riding and I miss my horses.

#5 Make more time for friends and relationships. We don't have forever here so we need to enjoy the loved      ones we have while we are here. I allow myself to get to busy.

#6 Spend more Sundays doing nothing with my husband.

#7 Actually landscape this place!

#8 Build up our savings.

#9 Build my It Works! team! 2014 is my year. I am determined!

#10 Have a baby... maybe?

#11 Mend broken bridges and get closure about some things. (Dreading this one)

#12 Drink more water. Sweet tea runs through my veins y'all.

#13 Wear something other than yoga pants to work. It is so hard when you own the place and really have no        one to impress. I am going to dress cute for myself though!

#14 Read a book a month. I miss reading. Maybe a book club will help :)

Now let's see if I can stick to any of these.

Brantley goes to Hearts and Flowers

As stressful as the holidays can be, the little traditions make it worth while. Every year we go to a little primitive decor store called Hearts and Flowers. We pick up Christmas decor and we each get an ornament.

We used to pack a picnic and go on a girls trip with our neighbors for a girl trip. They moved away and we decided to make it a family trip and the boys got to go. Sorry, Anne but you ditched! Come back!!

This year was baby Brantley's first trip. We decided to take a girl's day. I drove to mama's house and fed Brantley his bottle while everyone got ready. Then we were off!

We shopped and snacked on holiday cookies. We chatted with the owner's and shared that Brantley is the fifth generation to take part in the Hearts and Flowers tradition. They were thrilled! We picked out candles (my favorite is Cornbread and Honey) decor and ornanments and said our goodbyes promising to be back with all of the guys soon. We stopped on the bridge for a quick picture and then by the sign. Tradition!

On the way home we hit a few antique stores. I was a total nephew hog but hey, Anna gets to see him every day.We stopped at a little cafe on the way home and I didn't want the day to end. I cant wait to introduce him to more traditions, There is something so special about sharing them with the little ones.