Baby Gender: Old Wives Tales

Our first ultrasound at 8 weeks

Hey out there! I haven't blogged in the longest. My last post was from a year ago! Sorry y'all. Between getting married, moving into a new apartment, working part-time at Bath and Body for most of last year, and then starting student teaching this year things have been a little busy!

I thought I would post a little baby update. Praise the Lord that for about the last month, I have been feeling much better. I think I have started to feel movement too! At 17 weeks it feels mostly like gas bubbles haha, but hey. That's movement from the little life growing inside of me!

The whole pregnancy I have had a feeling that it was a girl, and Samuel has said it's a boy. We're a split house until next month's doctor appointment when we find out. ;)

This post is a fun one. I saw another blog post like it a few weeks ago and knew I wanted to do my own. Honestly, most of the old wives tales are totally ridiculous! I chose seven that I for sure had an answer to or that people have already asked me in person.

So based on the many old wives tales, let's do a little Baby James gender prediction!

Body clues: If you have acne and skin blemishes, it's a girl. Dry hands and cold feet, it's a boy.
Both!

Heart rate: If it's under 140 bpm, it's a boy. If it's over that number, it's a girl.
Girl (150 at the last visit)

Cravings: If you are craving sweets, it's a girl. If you're craving salty, it's a boy.
Can't tell. I go back and forth every day!

Chinese Gender Predictor:
Girl

Morning sickness: A lot of sickness, it's a girl. No sickness, boy.
Girl (My sickness was from about 11-13 wks)

Sleeping on left or right side: Left side, boy. Right side, girl.
Boy

Craving protein: If yes, then it's a boy. If no, then it's a girl.
First trimester I wanted NO protein! Second trimester, I want a legit burger about once a week. Boy.

Totals
Girl: 3
Boy: 2
Not sure: 2

So based on those oh-so-informative totals, girl is barely in the lead! We will just have to wait and see, I guess. :)

Hello 2015 - When I forgot I had a blog.

I feel like the flaky friend who finally showed up to the hangout after you texted them ten times with no reply. I made it, finally! Ten "where r u?"s later. 

Tonight it is March 16, 2015. As I tried to remember how to even get to my drafts, I rediscovered this post I typed at the beginning of the year with full intentions to post! I wrote an entire post and didn't post it. Doh.

So here it is, unedited, and ready to catch you up on my first of the year thoughts (I know it's almost April already). 



***

It feels weird typing 2015.
Does it feel weird saying that in your head too?


Last year was one of big changes. Some happy, some not so happy.


In January my church life really changed. My best friend/boyfriend of two+ years, his family (some of my lifelong friends and mentors), and his father (our pastor) transitioned away from our church family. When you get used to worshipping with certain people over a 10 year period, it is a harder adjustment than you would imagine. Even though I continued to see some of these people outside of the church interactions that had come to an end, the week seemed less grounded without our Sunday mornings together. I'll admit that at first, I had to swallow feelings of guilt over how much this really affected me. True, some special people left, but my immediate family was still with me. Shouldn't that be enough? Does our not worshipping together anymore change who God is? Does my discomfort mean that I am not finding my joy in the Lord first and foremost? I questioned where my heart lied. I was bitter about it being so hard. I was upset that what I had known for my whole life wasn't the same anymore. Honestly, it felt like someone had died and no one around me wanted to talk about it.


But the Lord, over the next few months, reminded me of the Truth. First- His will is the ultimate good. Good doesn't mean comfortable. Good doesn't mean easy. Good doesn't mean convenient. Good doesn't always mean enjoyable or preferred, either. But it does mean right and pleasing to Him. "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21


He also reminded me that the closeness that develops with church membership and fellowship is a healthy thing. I didn't need to feel guilty about being sad that some of the church body I had known for many years had left. We are called to grow with and worship with other believers and it's totally normal and okay to be a little sad when that fellowship changes. 


And then I started this blog in April! I think that deserves mentioning. :)


Some of the better experiences of the year were the trips I took. First there was New England!! I road tripped to Cape Cod with Boyfriend's family for a big week of firsts: first time in Cape Cod, Plymouth, New York City!!, and my friend-since-age-eleven's engagement. Then my family went to Indian Shores, Florida. Oh my relaxation.

Later in 2014 my grandma moved into assisted living. Do I really need to say why this was hard? Moving a grandparent is physically, mentally, and emotionally tiresome. It just is. Things were going alright at first, but after getting a UTI (which, if you're not aware, is highly dangerous and seriously altering for elderly people) she then had to be moved into a full on memory care unit. Two moves later, she is where she is currently, and her house still sits full of boxes and furniture waiting to be dealt with.


In August, I turned the big 2-0 and started my first semester of the School of Education! This semester confirmed that 1) hard work will pay off and 2) I totally and completely love my major. I am so thankful that the Lord put elementary education on my heart. It is the most rewarding and fun thing you could possibly spend your college degree on.


I also opened an Etsy shop in August of last year! It has stretched and challenged me way more than I thought it would. It has made me go out of my comfort zone and work purposefully. And it has been a great side thing to be able to do while still in college. I hope to be able to invest in it more in the years to come! I have loved painting canvases for several years now and it is such a good feeling to be able to give my creations to others through Etsy. Check it out here: 
https://www.etsy.com/shop/AuntieEmArt





And then. The biggest and most surprising part of my 2014 came on a Saturday afternoon in October when Boyfriend and I took a trip to Huber's Orchard in Indiana.  The love of my life got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. (!!!!!) (You can read more about that here) The day was perfect. He planned it all out: first we had a "couple's photoshoot" at Huber's Orchard, in which he sweetly proposed, and then our families met up to celebrate with us at The Spaghetti Factory. Major props to him for making sure that a photographer (who happens to be one of my sweet friends) was there to capture the whole thing. I can't imagine spending my life without him beside me, and we are so excited to get married on May 30th of 2015!


Random fun/funny thing that happened this year: Ugly Betty. That's so 2007, I know. And you may not think this is deserving of a mention in my 2014 recap, but it does. Especially since I managed to hook two other friends on it too. *insert muscle arm emoji here* Check it out of Netflix if you like good shows. ;p


Bring it on, 2015. I've been waiting for you!

***

I feel like that was so TimeHop App in real life. I could probably blame being in school or planning a wedding while doing it for why I haven't blogged in a while. But actually...yep, I'm going to do just that. But I promise this blog isn't over yet!

With 75 more days until the wedding, and a whole new grand adventure ahead of me, I will surely return. Even if it is in three months or more. ;)


See you soon,

Emily

photo a day: september

Hey there. :)

Tomorrow begins another photo a day challenge throughout September! I had so much fun with the first challenge that I did back in May and I'm pumped to finally get back to it.

I picked September to bring it back because 1) summer went by insanely too fast and I was fumbling around every which way so these photos would have just been lame, 2) school is back in! so now I need a consistent thing to bring to the blog, and 3) 'cause I  missed it, that's why.

My momma has always been a big scrapbooker (kudos to her, because now my life from  birth to graduating high school is perfectly and adorably documented to keep for a lifetime;). I tried that once. Somewhere in my house is an unfinished scrapbook of Washington, D.C. from the fifth grade. hah.

I'd like to think this photo challenge is the modern, actually doable, version of scrapbooking. What with all the cool apps, filters, and overlays, I can make a whole deal out of one snapped picture. Date it, post it, share it. Photo journaled. 

If you wanna see more about where this challenge came from, the rules, and helpful tips from the creator, head on over here.

I'll be adding the photos from my Instagram to this post at the end of each week. Don't forget to check back (and do this on your Instagram too!)! 

Wanna follow along? 

Instagram: @empottsy

Twitter:  @empottsy

currently.

my current... 


drink: international delight iced coffee in the mocha flavor. I fill my cup with half of that and cut it with the other half of milk. It basically tastes like chocolate milk and coffee had a baby. yum!

tv show: ugly betty. hello 2007. I randomly decided to watch it on Netflix and it's really entertaining haha. i find it ironic, actually. she's the "ugly" one working in the fashion industry, but in reality she has the most beautiful heart and compassion that the "pretty" people she works with don't seem to understand.  but come the end of September, I will be all over the season premiere of once upon a time. if you don't watch it already, what are you doing with your life??

reads: harry potter and the deathly hallows and the book of hosea. i'm trying this new thing where I read a book (instead of look at social media/screen time) the last hour before i got to sleep. i feel like i'm sleeping better! i have also been loving the study on hosea over on SheReadsTruth. it's great and i am learning a lot about the character of God. 

anticipation: getting back into the schools next month!! I haven't gotten my placement yet, but i can't wait to be in a classroom each week. at bellarmine in my first year i completed over 50 hours of observing in classrooms, but the way ius does it is a little different and some of my classmates haven't even been in classrooms yet. i am thrilled to be back at it.

eats: i've been craving cottage cheese and rice cakes recently. (i know.) i'm the only one in my house who likes cottage cheese. and the rice cakes thing is kind of funny. I used to eat them more often at a friend's house, but haven't had them in yeeearrrrs. i eat them with peanut butter on top, of course.

new jam: the new Maroon 5 album, V. it has some fun ones on there (but also some that I would not recommend, so proceed with caution). my favorites are "leaving california" and "unkiss me."

planning: trips to Huber's and Brown County, Idiana. as Fall is upon us, i need my fall festival and pumpkin patch fix! hopefully those can happen in October before Halloween. it's almost time for pumpkin carving. :)

work: all that comes with taking 17 credit hours at school. and painting for my Etsy shop. you can help me spread the word about it by sharing it on your facebook pages! i would even love to do some custom things right now as i am working on expanding my shop items. there will for sure be a new personalized item coming soon (probably this week) for a little girl nursery! you're gunna love it.

september campout: ky horse park

Weeeellll, it's been a minute since I've talked with you guys! How's your life? Do you like that is finally starting to feel like fall? 

School is in full swing for me. It's been great being in the School of Education finally! During October and November I'll be back in a classroom observing alongside a teacher. I have been thinking a lot about what grade I'd like to observe in this semester. I have done some observing in 3rd and 4th grade classes, and this time I think I'd like to be in Kindergarten or 1st. I have a sneaking suspicion that those will be what my heart beats for. Older kids are great, hey, they can tie their own shoes, actually know how to blow their noses, and probably don't cry as much. But I don't think that's what I want. Anyways, I'll keep you updated. :)


CAMPING AT KENTUCKY HORSE PARK
This weekend my family went camping (for the first time all summer, I might add!).

Kentucky Horse Park is great. Lexington is great. You just feel away from it all there. We went to a cute little orchard that was a little bit aways from the campground on Saturday morning. Hay rides, caramel apples, a pumpkin patch - it all put me in such a fall mood!

AND THE WEATHER. Oh my pumpkin spiced latte, was the weather perfect. Warm in the sunshine, and still pleasant in the shade. Couldn't get enough of it.

Spiced apple cider from Evan's Orchard ohmyword.

Are double yolks supposedly good luck?

Homemade fried apples, y'all. We may be in a camping club but we still know how to do potluck.

Evan's Orchard

Evan's Orchard

Fresh peppers, yum! @ Evan's Orchard

Evan's Orchard

I resurrected my chucks for the first time since high school. It felt good.

I know that I'm a summer baby (birthday is in August), but Fall might really be my favorite season. <3

pinterest review: cinnamon roll waffles!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day! :)

Holidays with the family at home start off on the right foot with a yummy breakfast.

This is one I had seen on Pinterest before but wasn't sure how great it would be. Ya know, sometimes Pinterest ideas are big just flops.

These cinnamon roll waffles  had looked so so so good and mom really wanted to try them on our holiday morning when the family was all home. They were literally SO easy! We have the Black & Decker Belgian Waffle Maker. This method is better than making waffle mix and having to clean off a gooey mess on the waffle maker later.

I am not a huge syrup person, so this was a better alternative to regular waffles for me. Any excuse to put frosting on my breakfast gets a thumbs up.

They kind of fall short as a cinnamon roll. They were a little dry (just like waffles usually are), and I did kind of miss the best part of having a cinnamon roll: the gooey center.

So depending on what you're looking for, these could be a flop or a pass! I vote them as a pass. ;)
Let me know if you try these and how yours turn out!

summer doesn't have to end #mm

Summer has come and gone already. What.

This summer was a stinking B L U R. It was one of the best. But why did it have to go so fast? Major sad face.

My birthday, for me, is the clear transition to the season I like to call "all pumpkin everything." Fall is probably my favorite and, once my birthday is over and school is underway, bring it on baby.

As excited as I am for school time and pumpkin season, another summer ending is sad. I traveled to some really cool places this summer (Indian Shores and Cape Cod). I did so many family things - never something you regret doing. I took my first (and last) summer class. My room won't be depressing this Winter. Hey, I even started a blog!

Thanks for a good one, Summer 2k14.

Here's what my summer sounded like:

What did your summer sound like?
//Em