Goal for the Week (link up #4)

I can't believe it's already Sunday. Time went by crazy fast with that birthday party looming.

But, now that it is over, I can hopefully get back into the swing of blogging regularly. I've missed it. I've missed you.

This week, my goal is to get caught up on everything that went nuts while I was party planning (um, the dishes, laundry...cleaning in general.)...I hope I can get it all under control quickly because the smell of disgusting dishes in the sink is kind of doing me in. So gross.

I also want to try and stay busy this week!
We have an early ultrasound on Wednesday afternoon, and I am kind of (REALLY!) scared. Please let there be a cute little heartbeat.

So, there you have it.
My goals for the week.

What are yours?
Feel free to link up or tell me allll about them in the comments.

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Dear Birthday Girl

Dear Baby Girl-

How are you one? It is blowing my mind.

This past year has been, hands down, the best year of my life. You bring so much joy into daddy and my lives. You bring so much laughter, and have taught us so much about the world in these short 365 (366 because of leap day?) days. You are our booma, and we are so glad to call you ours.

I just want you to know how much I love you. And how much I appreciate that fact that you made me a mama.

The first time I held you, I knew that you were special. But, the more I have gotten to know you, the more I realize just how special you really are. You are going to do amazing things one day. I see it in those bright blue eyes of yours.

I can't even put into words what an amazing spirit you have. You have the ability to make every thing in the world seem okay. You are able to make even the most broken hearted of people feel a little bit of hope. And, that is truly amazing.

I hope that as you grow up, you realize just how special you are. I hope that you will always know your true potential. But, most of all--I hope you never doubt how much I love you.

I know this next year is going to rock your world (um..new baby?)...But, I know that you are going to handle it beautifully. Just like you do with every thing else in your life.

I love you girlfriend. Happy birthday!

-Mama

Bloggers and Books (4)

Welcome to week three of the blog series here on T.E. and Baby titled "Bloggers and Books".

As an avid reader (I read about 3-4 books a week--But we can blame that on my inability to sleep!), I have learned that books have the power to change lives. They have the power to say things we didn't dare to say--And take our imaginations places they wouldn't have been otherwise.

Bottom line, every one should learn to love to read!
It doesn't matter how slow of a reader you are, or what genre you like, as long as you are reading.

So, to try to promote a love of books--I have rounded up some wonderful bloggers to share a little bit with us about their favorite books! Some you may have heard of before, while others are amazing books that you need to hear of.

If you would like to be a part of this series, please shoot me an email at erika.senneff(at)gmail(dot)com. I would love to have you!

Today Annie from Letters to Mo is here telling us all about her favorite book. But first, let me just tell you how much I adore Annie.

She is hilarious, a great writer, and one of my favorite people in Blogland. She is such a great mom, and her son Cash is the cutest around.

Go visit her blog and tell her hi!
___

Hi there! I'm Annie from Letters to Mo. It's a modern day baby book for my fourteen month old son, Cash Trenton (nope, his name isn't actually Mo!) with some thoughts on marriage and faith, adventure and sassiness thrown in! You can also find me over on Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest. I am currently working as a medical social worker, but I've also worked as both a teen librarian and a middle school Language Arts teacher, so books are in my blood! It also means more often than not, I'm the 32 year old sitting next to you reading teen books!

My awesome family. I promise I'm wearing a top in this picture....

I'll have to second what Kristy said and say in the bathtub. I have a fourteen month old son, so sometimes it feels like that is the only place I can get ten minutes to myself and read! I also love to lie in bed after the rest of the house has gone to sleep and curl up with a book for a bit before I fall asleep.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

From High Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond

One Year Off by David Elliot Cohen

A book that I keep coming back to is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I re-read this book at least once a year and truly love it. It's beautiful writing, well developed characters that you find yourself rooting for and a historical context that fills your imagination.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a coming of age story set in Brooklyn at the turn of the century. It follows 11 year old Francie Nolan as she deals with her brother (the family favorite), an aunt who is ahead of her time, her hard working mother and her free spirited father while the struggles of poverty and alcoholism tear at her family.

I end up reading this book over and over because it's like curling up on a rainy day with your favorite movie. Even though there are some heavy themes in the book- like poverty and addiction- it's still such a beautiful and pure story. You find yourself identifying with different characters in the book and rooting for their family!

One of the first books I ever remember falling in love with is The Giver, by Lois Lowry. Since then I love the dystopia genre. Accordingly, I love Life as We Knew It, The Hunger Games (this book deserves its popularity), The Feed Series and The City of Ember series (note- all of these books are considered young adult).

I also will devour anything by both Paulo Coelho or Haruki Murakami.

And the English major in me will tell you to check out some classics like The Great Gatsby, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit and Little Women.

Goal for the Week (link up #4)

Whoa, sorry I've been kind of absent on the blog.
I've just been feeling kind of "blah"about certain things...Plus, I have been in crazy psycho party planning mode and have been spending every spare second making something...Well, that, or sleeping.

But anyway!
I'm here now. And, I like it!

My fingers are happy to see my keyboard again, I'm thinking.

Since it's Sunday (for another hour!) we still have time for our goals for the week.
Thank you to every one who has been participating in the link up--I know it's not many, but it seriously makes my day reading your posts.

My goal for this week is to get caught up on everything. That includes laundry (I will never stay good at laundry, you guys), blog designs (I'm so happy about all the new orders filling my inbox. We are so so so blessed around here), and party crap.

This week is going to be really busy, but I am so excited because Tyler doesn't have work at all this weekend. We are just going to lay low and celebrate our baby girl. Plus, his parent's are in town, so of course we are going to party! :)

What's your goal for the week?

Link up below (or leave a comment)!

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A little secret (trigger)

I know I have been absent here on the blog (well, minus the usual weekly features)...But--I've kind of been at a battle with myself about whether this news is something I should share right away...or, if I should veer on the side of caution and save it a few months.

But, as I was talking to Tyler--He reminded me that I share everything on here, and that I wouldn't last months without spilling the beans. And he's probably right.

We're having another baby!
(well--I am! But, Tyler is going to be a dad again)

We just barely found out a few days ago, so anything could happen still and it is still super early to even be telling people about it...But, as always, we feel like it's our duty to be transparent on here. And, we believe that every baby is worth celebration, no matter what the outcome is.

Right now, I am kind of feeling a million different things. Shock, guilt (guilt is a huge one...I'll probably write a post on it here in the next few days), lots of worry, and, of course, extreme happiness (we were expecting this to take a lot longer, remember?)

Mostly, though...We are feeling complete gratitude. We needed a little bit of happy news after the last three months.
I hope my dad is up there right now hanging out with that little baby of mine. Eloise is a little jealous that he is spending more time with baby #2 than he did with her though.

Speaking of Eloise... She is the reason I took a pregnancy test in the first place. She has been hugging and kissing my belly non stop (WEIRD)...
When we told her the news (which she didn't understand but acted like she did) she squealed, kicked her legs, and clapped like crazy. We love that girl. She is going to make the cutest sister.

Bloggers and Books (3)

Welcome to week three of the blog series here on T.E. and Baby titled "Bloggers and Books".

As an avid reader (I read about 3-4 books a week--But we can blame that on my inability to sleep!), I have learned that books have the power to change lives. They have the power to say things we didn't dare to say--And take our imaginations places they wouldn't have been otherwise.

Bottom line, every one should learn to love to read!
It doesn't matter how slow of a reader you are, or what genre you like, as long as you are reading.

So, to try to promote a love of books--I have rounded up some wonderful bloggers to share a little bit with us about their favorite books! Some you may have heard of before, while others are amazing books that you need to hear of.

If you would like to be a part of this series, please shoot me an email at erika.senneff(at)gmail(dot)com. I would love to have you!

Today Eryka from abcde is here to share with us her favorite book! I'm excited.
___

Im Eryka. I blog over at abcde. I blog about my life as a wifey as well as post things I love//things that inspire me. I love meeting new friends, so feel free to stop on over and say hi! XO

Blog.Twitter.Facebook.

I love to read in bed or in the sun in our new lawn chairs. Bliss!

"Heaven Is Here" by Stephanie Nielson, "The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks and currently reading "Best of Me" by Nicholas Sparks 

Currently it is "Heaven Is Here" by Stephanie Nielson. It changed my life.

It is about Stephanie "Nie Nie" Nielson's life before and after her accident.

I have read her blog for years and it was so wonderful to be able really understand everything she went through during that time of her life. I haven't cried so much while reading. It really helped me be grateful for all I have and helped strengthen my testimony of the Gospel.

The Hunger Games, Matched, Clockwork Angel, Heaven Is Here, The Lucky One, and Dear John. Some of my all time faves. 

Goal for the Week (link up #3)

Hey everyone!

I'm just popping in real quick to talk a little about my goal(s) for this week before I head to bed (I'm exhausted for some reason).

This week, I am going to start couch 2 5k with my friend. I'm super excited about it and I want to make it my goal to go all three days (that's all that's required)...Wish me luck!?

I also really need to make it a goal to get my party plannin' on.
The party is a week from Saturday (okay, so that's a little less that two weeks away...But, I am so stressed!)...Plus, little booma's birthday is a week from Wednesday and I need to get things all prepared for her pictures. It's going to be busy around here.

Phew.
So there we go. My goal(s) for the week.

Any one want to join in?
Feel free to link up, or just leave me a comment letting me know the ins and outs of your very own goal for the week.

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