And the winner is....

Commenter number 13!! Dawn Hughes! Yay for free shutterfly!

Thank you to everyone who participated! :)

Shutterfly Cards AND a $50 givewaway to Shutterfly!

Can you believe that its already that time of year to make your holiday cards and get them in the mail?? I can't, but with the predicted snow forecasted for tonight and tomorrow I am slowly starting to believe it.

I've been browsing Shutterfly lately to try and decide which card I want to use, and the choice is SO hard!
Their collection this year is bigger and better! Check out their 2013 collection here! They have some new stuff this year including:

 New card design styles for 2013 - 5x7 folded tri fold & back of card designs

o   Classic: Traditional colors, iconic illustrations, aspirational sentiments, snowflakes, monogram

o   Contemporary: trend forward colors, texture and layering, water color techniques, shine, glitter, Instagram pictures are perfect for this style

o   Whimsy: humor and nostalgia meet, fun sentiments

o   Merry and Bright: all about color and having fun

o   Religious: metallic type treatments, incorporated story ideas

o   Photo Basics: multiple colors, vertical type, family name highlights

Pretty cool, huh? 



While I love the tri-fold cards, I really do love just a plain design.


I love the monogrammed style!
Or the styles that just have one big picture! (or several! :) )


But then, I come back to the tri-fold cards-they are just so cool!


I do think this one is my favorite one though!
 (with this one, they have a couple different versions. SO cute!!)

So go check out all their awesome cards! You won't regret it! And, while you're there, check out their other photo gifts they have! I've got my eyes on some cool canvas prints like this one.


I've never made a canvas print before-so that's on my list. 

Shutterfly is also having a Twitter Party :) So those of you who have twitter-check it out.  Twitter Party #PhotosYouLove on November 15 at 8 PM ET for Shutterfly with @ResourcefulMom. 


Now, onto the part you've all been waiting for, I am sure! :) The GIVEAWAY!

It's simple too, all you have to do is comment on this post telling me what your favorite holiday card was when you went out to Shutterfly's holiday card section. And once you've done that, you will be entered into a drawing for a $50 credit towards Shutterfly, and it includes FREE shipping! So, comment away and share with your friends!!
You have until November 27th to enter!

*disclosure-I am receiving a credit to Shutterfly for writing this review but my opinions are totally my own...it will just help me order the cards I intended on making anyway!

Isaiah and his best friend!

Azariah and Isaiah are about 3 1/2 months apart in age but they are so similar in build/look and they have SO much fun together!

(Even in jail!!)

I watch Azariah every once in a while and he is my favorite kid to watch so far. He and Isaiah play the ENTIRE time so quietly and well together! It's fantastic. And I can get stuff done around the house :)

His momma, Bethany, and I love to get together and go on walks or go running whenever we can. The boys are such troopers and do so well while we explore!

We are so thankful for Bethany and Azariah and I pray that their friendship grows over the years!

:)

Wearing my baby

Back in October was International Babywearing Week. The purpose was basically for making more people aware of the benefits of wearing your baby. Plus-it's becoming a very "trendy" thing to do-but that's not why I enjoy wearing Isaiah.

A while back, I think even before Isaiah was born, I came across an article called the 4th trimester and how important it is for babies to be close to their mommies for quite awhile after arriving earthside. I mean-they did just spend the last 9 almost 10 months snuggled inside your belly! So of course their need to be held constantly in your warm arms is important.

 http://babycalmblog.com/2012/07/06/the-fourth-trimester-aka-why-your-newborn-is-only-happy-in-your-arms-30/

I really got into the whole baby carrier thing after Isaiah was here. I started off with a moby wrap and an infantino. (Had an ergo baby carrier-but Isaiah couldn't fit into it til later) Since then, my knowledge on different carriers has grown and my awareness for "ergonomic" carriers has expounded. For which I am thankful for. Carriers like the infantino and baby bjorn are not ideal for babies especially when facing forward.

It can cause hip displacia because of the narrow seat of the carrier. It doesn't evenly distribute the baby's weight or properly position the legs which could lead to problems if worn for long periods of time; for baby and for mommy! It's not comfortable for the mom!

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/wearing-a-baby-what-to-do-and-what-not-to-do/

(Not putting anyone down! Just so you know! A worn baby-doesn't exactly matter how, is a good thing :))

(Even stuffed animals like to be worn by cute little boys :) )

I am by no means trying to be preachy! Sometimes the babies NEED to face forward because that's all that will make them happy :) Been there!

But let me tell you-I've loved discovering all the different baby carriers that are out there. I could easily spend hundreds of dollars on them (and people do! Crazy!!) but it's just not practical :)  Plus, carriers and babywearing can be addicting. Just like cloth diapering :)

Right now I own an ergo, a moby ( which is only good for small babies-they "out grow" it around 15 pounds and is not safe for back carries), a ring sling and a woven wrap( which is good from infancy to toddlerhood! And is safe for back carries :) )

I love all of them!

Back to my original post tho! International babywearing week came around and my local babywearing group had a contest for a scavenger hunt. There were 25 different things to do while babywearing and you were to get photos while doing them.

I actually won and got several great prizes! We had a fun time trying to get as many of these accomplished as possible :)

(I know...I'm such a nerd!!)

This was basically just a post to tell you how much I love wearing my baby close to me. Isaiah loves being worn and calms down almost instantly most times AND you can do things hands free. Win!!

:)

We even got to check off the "babywear near and alpaca" :D

So there you go. Go wear your baby. I promise you that you will love it and so will your baby:)

https://www.llli.org/nb/nbnovdec04p204.html

ThredUP

If you haven't already, you should sign up with thredUP. They are an online store that is similar to Platos Closet or Once upon a Child. They sell practically new clothes hat have been sent in from people all around the States. Everything I have received has been in perfect condition and is such good quality.

Their prices are so reasonable too. A lot of the items I've gotten have been as low as $3.49!! They have mostly women and kids clothes.

If you sign up and use this link, (posted below) 

you will get $10 off of your first order! It will be applied at check out. That means you could get something for free if you order something under $10! 

I got this shirt and cardigan as part of my most recent order.

Isaiah also loves his new jacket!

So, once again, if you haven't checked it out yet-here is the link to sign up under!!

(To get $10 off of your first order!)

http://www.thredup.com/r/L4N9T1

2 years!

It's been 2 wonderful years married to this guy. And it has been the best 2 years-more than I could ever have asked for.

I have definitely seen how we have grown together as one over time and it makes me so excited to see that unity happen even more as the years go on. The realization of how selfish I am as a human being has never been so clear to me and has been even clearer since having Isaiah.

God is so good and merciful and has given me a husband who loves me despite my selfishness and my CONSTANT failing. Just a wonderful, tangible way I can see God caring and loving me. 

To celebrate two years of marriage we were blessed to be able to have a weekend away. It felt like we had gone someplace far-but really we were literally only about 5 miles from our house. We decided to play tourist in our own town and we had a fantastic time.

We definitely missed our boy, but I knew he probably didn't even realize we were gone :)

I am *so* excited for the rest of our marriage together! God is so good.

So many more lessons to learn, I'm sure! :)

A birthday party!

Back at the end of September, cousin Asher turned 1! He had such an adorable farm animal themed birthday party. Complete with yummy food and real live horse rides!

Quite a smashing success if you ask me :)

Isaiah had a grand ole time eating lots of yummy food and playing with all of his wonderful cousins. He even got his first party favor :)

What acute 1 year old :)

The night ended with a warm bonfire and hot apple cider. So perfect!

Busy weekends!

Such cuties!!Last weekend we drove all the way down to NC for Brandon's grandma's 80th birthday celebration!

On the way there we had to drive thru TN a little bit. It was such a gorgeous drive!! A long drive, but a beautiful one! :)

We had a great time catching up with family and then we headed to Ashville, NC and walked around a bit before heading home. It was definitely a long day!

This weekend was Brandon's birthday.  I had planned a get together at a park for him but there was a 90% chance of rain for that afternoon so we had it indoors :)

It worked out great and we had a wonderful time talking and eating yummy food :)

We even had wagon rides and arm wrestles!

Isaiah's best buddy Azariah was there and they had a great time together-despite what this photo above depicts :)

Such cuties!!

And then! On Sunday we made the long 3 hour drive out to Richmond to watch my little sister try on WEDDING dresses!!

She actually found THE dress and it was beautiful. I can't wait to see her in it!

(Not her dress-it was a sample dress)

Going to that David's bridal brought back a lot of great memories from MY trip there 2 years ago! When I went, it was just my mom and I which was really special! 

After the appointment we headed to Trader Joes because I had never been to one and since we drove 3 hours, we might as well stop! :)

There happened to be a chocolate thief amongst us!

We drove back home the same day so needless to say today is catch up day from this busy weekend! :) but it's been a great past two weekends! With more fun ones to come!

Surprise!!

Saturday we had a surprise birthday party for Amy!!

It was great because my grandma and aunt were still in town so it was added time spent with them!

Amy Joy didn't have a clue as to what was coming and Zach even picked up the ice cream cake AND the food for dinner that afternoon with her IN the car! :)

Everyone was so sneaky and we were able to pull off a great party!

Happy birthday, Amy!!!

After the party, we stuck around and hung out with Zach and Amy and her siblings.

Asher and Isaiah had a great time playing and fighting together :) they are gonna be best buds :)

See what I mean?

Total adorableness :)

That day, Maddie asked me to be her bridesmaid!!!

(YES! by the way!! She is ENGAGED to be married next May!!!)

Such a great weekend!

More to come later! :) enjoy my posting spree!