For a not-so-fun reason I share below, I have Friday off this week. We have Monday off for a holiday too, which means I’ve had three shorter weeks to start off the semester. With this pregnancy starting to wear on me a bit, I’ll take any days off I can get! We have lots to look forward to this weekend and lots that I’m excited to share with you soon!
1) Best Friend Visits And Maternity Photos
My best friend Haley (aka professional photographer extraordinaire) is coming into town this weekend to visit, see our house, meet our puppy, AND take our maternity pictures. So much goodness! I miss this girl like crazy and am so excited for a long weekend of sitting on the couch, eating yummy food, and catching up on life. Oh yeah, and taking some gorgeous maternity pictures because she is a boss and SUPER talented. She’s photographed our proposal, our engagement, was the maid of honor in our wedding (so no pictures there), and then photographed our pregnancy announcement pictures. My life would be so poorly documented (and just pretty boring) without this girl!
2) Gestational Diabetes Test
Want a little life update I’m not too pumped about? I failed my glucose test by a slim margin of four points. MAJOR bummer (I blame the banana I had for breakfast that morning – woops!). I’m taking today off from work to go do the three hour version of the test, so if you’re reading this in the morning, there’s a great chance I’m sitting at the doctor’s office for the miserable extended gestational diabetes test that involves fasting from food and water, drinking the glucose solution, then having blood drawn every hour for several hours while still fasting. I am a total baby and absolutely dreading this, so feel free to shoot up some prayers/good thoughts if you remember! Here’s hoping I can report back next week with good news that it was a false alarm and I don’t have to cut out all things sweet and bready and delicious!
3) Blogger Love
I’ve loved being part of the blogging community and getting to know so many other women who pour their hearts and creativity into their online spaces. One of my favorites from this week was this post by my friend Summer about why it’s so important to take time to reflect, especially at the end or beginning of a season. This post by my friend Hannah about how to satisfy the travel bug when you can’t travel was perfect for a year where we won’t have quite as many foreign adventures. I also loved this post by my friend Kelsey about why people often fail at their goals and what it looks like to give ourselves grace in the midst of them. You should check these ladies out, y’all!
4) Basement Updates
Speaking of my hubby, he has ROCKED it with working on our basement these last few weeks! I’ve never shown you all this space but I am so excited to share it with you all as we get things more finalized in the next month or so. Maybe my favorite part are these faux deer heads Jordan made out of vintage bike seats and handles. They look so cool on our back wall by the pool table! Jordan might be embarrassed and deny it, but he has a great eye for decorations and I love having him as my partner in crime to make our house a home. Stay tuned for more pics in February when we get it all done!
5) Nursery Progress
I’ve been shopping, shopping, shopping over these last few weeks and we’ve started to stock up on some essentials like a changing pad, mattress protector, etc (aka what we call “unsexy” purchases -necessary but not too glamorous). My gallery wall for above the changing table is coming together, as is the wall with the beautiful sign from House of Belonging we finally picked up last week! I am hoping to finish this space and share it with you in about two weeks. For now, enjoy these adorable little pom-poms I made as one of the decorations and further evidence that my husband is a rock star when it comes to helping make my house dreams a reality. Can’t wait to show you the rest soon!
Happy Friday, friends! I’m looking forward to a slow weekend and lots of fun time with my friend Haley who will be in town from Nashville. Best friend time is the best, isn’t it? Have a wonderful weekend!
Lindsay says
I’m sorry about your test! I had to do that test as well, so I feel for you. Is anyone there with you? I love seeing glimpses into your home; I love your decor! Let us know how you’re feeling during or after the test. Thinking of you, Lauren.
Lauren says
Thanks, Lindsay! 🙂 It wasn’t as bad as I’d thought so that’s good!
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Maegan Dockery says
Praying for you! I have my gestational diabetes test next month, and I’m terrified! Basically all I’ve eaten during my pregnancy is carbs, so having to give those up makes me really scared! Good luck today, and hopefully it’ll be good news!!
Lauren says
Thanks, Maegan! It really wasn’t all that bad and I ended up testing negative, which is good. I hope you’re doing well and feeling okay!
Lauren recently posted…Womanly Wednesday: A Guest Post On Finding Worth After Sexual Abuse
Maddie Butterfield says
Oh my goodness. First, those bicycle deer heads are the most clever things! I love them. And I think my weekend is going to involve making some pom-poms! So cute! Good luck on your test!
Lauren says
Thanks, Maddie! 🙂 Aren’t they so fun? I was so proud of my hubby for making those! Pom-poms are the best!
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Katie {Always, Katie} says
Ugh, I’m sorry! If ever there was an upside to already being diabetic, not having to do that test would be it. Just sounds so unpleasant! I hope you have some good distractions and/or company!
“Unsexy purchases” made me smile 🙂 I so know what you mean… I hated using our shower gift cards on a bunch of waterproof pads (you’re getting a bunch, right?) when I wanted to over-stash cutesy clothes! But, everyone buys you clothes, and those pads have saved our sanity!
(Survival tip: put a flat pad over the fitted mattress pad, put a sheet over that, then another flat pad, then another sheet. You should be able to get 3-4 layers on at a time, and it makes middle of the night “he peed or spit up everywhere” changes SO much easier! Just pull off the top layer and put him back in!)
Lauren says
Hahaha unsexy purchases are the worst! Waterproof pads for what? For a changing table or mattress or what? Share the mama wisdom!
And yes, I’ve heard that idea and it is BRILLIANT! I will definitely have to try that!
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Lauren Jane says
Oh man, good luck with the three hour test!! I’ll be praying for the best possible outcome. And also, weird fact, my best friend is a professional photographer and did our engagement photos and my maternity pictures!! 🙂
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Lauren says
That’s so fun! I love having such beautiful pictures of us because of my friend. Best friend perks, for sure 😉
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Amberly says
Bummer about the blood glucose test! E-mail me if you do end up having gestational diabetes. I managed mine really well with diet and exercise and ended my pregnancy not even in the pre-diabetic range (I was pre-diabetic when I got pregnant).
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Lauren says
Thanks, Amberly. I ended up being negative, thankfully! I’m impressed you were able to handle yours so well with diet and exercise though! Go girl!
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Erin says
Sorry Lauren about your dreaded morning! No fun! But sounds like you have an exciting weekend to look forward too! Love your husband’s craft work – those faux deer heads rock! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
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Lauren says
Thanks, Erin! 🙂 Same to you!
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Kristin C says
I am incredibly jealous of your friend visit (in the most godly way possible, OF COURSE ;). I hope you guys have an amazing time. Best friends are so special!
And I hope your tests went well!
Kristin C recently posted…The Only People for Me Are the Mad Ones
Lauren says
Ha of course 😉 Thanks, Kristin! It was so much fun!
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Iryna says
Good luck with your glucose test!
I’m having the one in a couple of weeks. I also don’t like all these tests when they need to get your blood drawn, it always make me sick:)
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Lauren says
Thanks, Iryna! I agree, they’re no fun 🙁 Hope yours goes well!
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Liz Jo says
Cannot wait to see his nursey!!! Caleb will love it when he’s older. Sophie loves her room the most of all of them.
Can’t wait to see your maternity pictures either 🙂
And don’t stress about failing the glucose test, I failed four points the first time and passed with flying colors the next time. I don’t think the one hour is that accurate too.
P.S. I changed my blog name to J For Joiner from sundays with sophie.
liz @ j for joiner
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Lauren says
Thanks, Liz! That’s so fun that she loves her room. I hope Caleb loves it too! Or at least doesn’t destroy it too much 😉 I love that new blog name! I’m excited to pop over and check it out!
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Daisy @ Simplicity Relished says
Hooray for home decor and visiting friends! Those faux deer heads are so creative. And darn it about the gestational diabetes… pregnancy brings up all kinds of funky nuisances!
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Lauren says
Thanks, Daisy! I was pretty proud of my husband for making those. He’s a good one 😉
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Mattie says
Yay for happy life updates!! Don’t you love when friends come to visit?! It’s something that is so fun to look forward to. Those pom poms are so cute!!
~Mattie
http://www.mattiesmakings.com
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Lauren says
It’s the best! It was so fun to have her in town. I wish those trips could happen more often!
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Kelsie says
Look at you and your long hair 🙂 I love the pom poms. Sorry to hear about your test- hope it went well today!
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Lauren says
Ha I KNOW it was so long back then! I love looking back on old pictures like that!
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Julie Hood says
I failed my glucose test by a few points, too! (And then I wrote this post [http://www.ahopefulhood.com/2015/12/things-to-do-in-waiting-room-32-weeks.html?m=1] while I sat in the waiting room during the 3 hour one haha…. Hope you pass this one!)
Also, I love the little pompoms!
Julie Hood recently posted…from teacher to stay-at-home mom
Lauren says
Haha that post is so funny! Glad to know I wasn’t the only one trying to creatively fill those three hours. I just did TONS of grading, so I guess that’s good!
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Audrey White says
Can’t wait to see your maternity pictures! And your graduation picture is adorable!
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Lauren says
Thanks, Audrey!
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Hollie says
I cannot wait to see your maternity photos! I hope you have a wonderful weekend together <3
Oh Lauren, you are so not a baby at all! I am not looking forward to my GD test and I still have 11 weeks to go. Here in Australia, the standard one is what sounds like your extended one 🙁 Husband will come with me too when I get it done, mostly because of my allergy to surgical steel but also because he doesn't like to miss out on anything baby related.
I love, love, love the abstract deer heads! Did Jordan source the parts from various junk yards? It's such a clever use of the parts.
Can't wait to see your nursery come together too. I am looking forward to starting ours in a month or so. I have ideas in my head but need to assess the space, and the budget. I'm sure I'll make quite a lot myself too.
xo
Lauren says
That’s crazy you have to start with the longer test! No fun at all. My husband had to work and couldn’t be there with me but I filled the time with grading and reading, so it wasn’t too bad! I hope yours turns out okay!
Aren’t those deer heads so fun? He got most of them from thrift stores and Craigslist. He’s super thrifty and I always love to see what he can come up with!
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Kusum says
You guys are so adorable, the pics look great! I love the pom pom idea, gonna try it real soon myself. So sorry to hear about the test, hope all went well! Looking forward to more pics of you guys and the nursery 🙂
xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com
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Lauren says
Thanks, Kusum! I love those little pom-poms!
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Lindsay says
I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my first born and it was NOT fun at all! I had to eliminate pretty much all of my pregnancy comfort food. Thankfully my husband was really supportive so he also stopped eating sweets for the duration of my pregnancy.
I can’t wait to see how your little man’s nursery turns out. those pompoms look so cute!
Lauren says
Oh no, that’s no fun! That’s what I’d be worried about. I’d hate to have to be so careful about what I eat in these last few weeks where I just feel uncomfortable. Luckily I passed so we’re in the clear! Thanks for stopping by, Lindsay!
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