the need to read

So I have to admit that one thing neither Justin or myself is very proud of is the fact that neither of us really read enough. I will go through my random teenage obsessions with the rest of the world and read the Twilight series and then progress to the slightly more trashy Sookie Stackhouse novels. Justin will read much better quality literature than myself, but he only reads in ten to fifteen minute increments (if you know what I mean) so he reads about two books a year.

Point is we both need to read more and with the arrival of our son nearing we finally decided to do something about it... something to encourage us to close the computer and open a book a little more often. So last night, after work, we drove down to the Clarksville Montgomery County Public Library and got ourselves shiny new library cards! (My mother, the librarian, will be so proud... and no, you don't have to point out how crazy it is that I don't read with a librarian as a mom; I'm aware...)

Our new library cards - 6.29.11

Since we were limited to only a couple books until they verify our address, we kept it light the first trip with a photography for dummies book and a couple birthing books, one of which was recommended to me by a sweet aunt of mine. It was fun to walk through stacks again and it brought back exciting memories of my childhood when we would take trips to the library quite often. I am so excited to be able to have such a great place to eventually take Tyson to where we can encourage him to enjoy reading the way we did when we were kids, and to hopefully never stop like we have in recent years. We'll probably just try to leave that part out and let him think we were super smart readers our whole lives... he'll never know.

Anyways, we also have to tell you about this incredibly amazing program offered in TN that Dolly Parton started (who doesn't LOVE her?!) that sends out a free book, once a month, to every child from the day they are born to when they turn five.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

We asked about it at the library and they gave us all the information about it but its really very simple; once Tyson gets here all we do it sign him up and boom, it's done! We will get a book in the mail every month that is age appropriate for him and its all free! The program is called Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and although it started in East TN, it is spreading all over the state and now to other areas and even other countries. Any of you with little kiddos should definitely check this out and see if it's in your area, and if it's not you could even look into how to get your community involved with it.

So now that Justin and I are going to be literary scholars again, do you have any good books you'd like to recommend to us?

Pregnancy Update - 32 Weeks

32 Weeks - 6.27.11

Its a new week for baby Tyson and we almost forgot to take a new bump picture! We actually got out of bed last night to take this one (this is why I'm not looking at the camera :) so we could be accurate with getting it on the same day of each week.

As far as fun things to update you on I am going to steal an idea from a friend's blog in which she fills out the same list of topics concerning the pregnancy each week. I think this is so fun so I wanted to try it out here... hope you like it!

How far along: 32 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: around 16 lbs. gained

Maternity clothes: I have one pair of maternity jeans and one pair of work pants but I still rock my pre-pregnancy shorts and jeans with my coveted belly bands. With my shirts I'm wearing about half maternity and half of my old clothes... some work and some don't!

Stretch marks: None yet! I've been lathering on the Vit. E oil almost every night and even though they say that lotions and oils really can't prevent stretch marks, I'm holding out hope!

Sleep: I'm pretty uncomfortable at night but since getting my heartburn a little more under control (thank you Zantac!) its been much better. Justin and I are still in the same bed too but I'll be very surprised if that lasts the whole time. We need a king size bed!

Best moment this week: Having my sister-in-law and her boyfriend surprise us on a family vacation this past weekend. This will be the only time she gets to see me really showing and pregnant so it was fun to talk with her about all the fun pregnancy symptoms and such...

Movement: Tyson has decided to start practicing football drills early. Its full on alien baby at night with my tummy rolling all over the place. I'm used to it now and I think its pretty cool but Justin still gets wide eyed and jittery when he sees it happening.

Food cravings: Not too much of cravings but I love sweets and give in more now than before pregnancy. Same with salt and butter but since I swell so easily now I've really been trying to avoid the salt.

Food aversions: Its not really aversions, but almost every time we try to think of something to eat I never can think of anything that sounds good. I'm not nearly as hungry as I thought I would be as a 32 weeks pregnant lady.

Labor Signs: I've only had one definite Braxton Hicks contraction so far and I have been slightly worried I should be having more by now but, who knows? Other times I'll feel cramps or things that almost feel like contractions but I think its just Tyson's big butt pushing himself all around the place.

Belly Button in or out? Still definitely in and I think there is a good chance I'll keep an inny the whole time... We'll see!

What I miss: This sounds terrible but this weekend I really missed being able to drink... At the cabin my father-in-law made his version of a John Daly which is made with rasberry lemonade and Firefly (did I seriously just add a link to a vodka company on a pregnancy update post?!) This is my all-time favorite summer drink and I found myself really missing it this weekend. I know... terrible Mommy...

What I am looking forward to: Being able to sleep more comfortably. Although I am actually getting used to falling asleep with terrible indigestion and body cramps, I do think it will be glorious when I can lay down and not feel all those things.

Weekly Wisdom: This wasn't from this week, but since this is the first one of these we've done I'll mention it now. Someone told me at some point to just be confident in what Justin and I decide is best for us because there is no one way to be a parent. Sometimes I get really sensitive and hurt when people give us a hard time for some of our decisions (i.e. cloth diapers or wanting to do natural birth) but I have to keep reminding myself that we are all different and it would be so stupid to try and parent the way others think is best for us. We love this child so much already and although I'm sure we will screw up plenty of times, that love will be enough and we will figure it out just fine.

Milestones: We bought our stroller and car seat set! That was a big item and one that was very very stressful for us to decide on, so bringing it home was a HUGE milestone for us.

If you have anything else you would like us to add into the weekly updates just let us know in the comments below and we'll be happy to answer anything! If you have been around us you know we are WAY open about anything to do with this pregnancy...

And for all of you that keep saying I'm not big enough to be 32 weeks along, I have included a pretty hilarious photo of the belly up close. I think my height must hide most of the size but when you see it like this, its definitely there! We also wanted to document my belly at this point because my skin feels like its about at its capacity and it might start getting all gross and funky looking soon... you know... with the dreaded stretchmarks. Oh well... it's ALL worth it and I honestly don't even care. We just can't wait to meet our baby boy!

the belly @ 32 wks. - 6.27.11

southern sunrise

This weekend we are heading up to the family cabin (I call it that but really its my in-laws rental cabin... if you want to rent it click here to check it out!) and I am so excited to be back in my happy place. We were just there two weeks ago with friends but I already miss it so much. Here we all are the morning after a late night of fun and about to go have pancakes in Gatlinburg!

From left: Fletcher, Arielle, Scott, Justin, Meg, Taylor, Matt, Susie & Baker
6.12.11

Justin's parents bought Southern Sunrise last summer and since then we have spent maybe four or five weekends up there. That doesn't sound like a lot when I write it out but it feels like a lot when I think about it. I keep describing it as a mental massage to be there... Looking out off that deck to see this:

2.26.11

Yeah... Its hard not to feel relaxed when you are there. One of the most special parts of the experience is the sunrise. I must admit I've only made it up in time for two of them... one of which was when I got locked out all alone at 6:30 am and everyone was asleep! Thank goodness I had brought a blanket and was in a place where its almost impossible to freak out. I mean I just sat out on that deck until someone woke up... it was amazing! But the other one I thankfully remembered to wake up some other people and I got some amazing pictures on my phone.This is one of my favorites:

4.24.11 - Easter Morning

So this weekend we are going back for what will be our last trip to Knoxville & the cabin before Tyson is born. I'm sure I will be all emotional thinking of that fact and also imagining all the memories we are yet to make with him up at Southern Sunrise. We will be there with Justin's parents, his grandparents (MeeMaw & Grandpa Welsh) and his Aunt Cindy so it will be a great family affair. I'm so excited and all that will be missing will be my sister-in-law, Megan, and our pups who aren't yet allowed to come stay with us there yet... the cabin has a strict no pet policy but I'm still scheming to see if we can eventually break that rule ;) Thank goodness my Mom is the best doggie grandma ever and has agreed to watch them for us!

Anyways, that is our big adventure for the weekend! We hope you all have something fun and relaxing planned as well. And just for fun I popped another belly picture in here that we took two weeks ago. What is it about these pictures that are just so amusing?!

30 weeks along - Pigeon Forge, TN - 6.12.11

sixteen candles

Today is my sweet little sister's 16th birthday and I must admit I'm a little uneasy about this! Being ten years apart in age will give you one of the best and most unique sibling relationships I think you can have... I mean that in a way that I feel half like a big sister and half like a mom in that I feel more protective and emotional over her life and well being than anyone else in this world. So watching her hit this milestone has me a bit more emotional than other birthdays. The other night when I was compiling pictures for this post I most definitely welled up with tears seeing how fast she has grown up into this absolutely beautiful young adult... You'll see how fast it happens when you scroll through the pictures below!

I love this girl more than words can explain and seeing her celebrate another birthday brings me so much happiness and excitement that she is probably actually happy that I live three hours away and cannot embarrass her with an obnoxious surprise super sweet sixteen birthday party... in fact she is really smart and got even further away from me on this day and went on a beach trip with her friend to Ft. Meyers, FL. So even though you are on a gorgeous beach with friends, know that Justin and I are thinking of you and wishing you the best birthday a girl can have. 

We love you Emma and Happy Sweet 16!!!

Boomsday 2009 - One of my favorite pictures of her ever.

Now for a trip down memory lane with the crazy Bailey sisters:

Stolen off Facebook so I'm not sure of her exact age here,
but this is how I think of her always... my cute, cute baby sister!!!!

Summer 2003 - Dollywood

Spring 2006 - Beaumont Field Day

Spring 2006 - Connor's Graduation

Summer 2006 - Emma's 11th Birthday Party
All the girls came to my college house and had a slumber party... it was
so adorable and all my roomates loved seeing young girls having the time of their
lives. It was a night full of nail painting, junk food and some old school Salt N Peppa!

6.23.07 - Emma's 12th Birthday, Justin and I took her and some friends on a
mini shopping spree... we obviously achieved the proverbial "shop till you drop" state...

Winter 2007

6.23.08 - Emma's 13th Birthday (officially a teenager!!!)

7.11.09 - Emma and me on my wedding day

7.11.09 - Having some photobooth fun at the wedding!

Christmas 2009 - Downtown Knoxville

Spring 2010 - at a good friend's wedding

Fall 2010 - With our beautiful madre.

Spring 2011 - Ft. Monroe, VA

I can't wait for all the pictures and memories to come... love you girl!

to: m ... from: j

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Digital Camera

These days a lot of men get gifts for their pregnant wives to somewhat thank them in a way I guess for bearing his child. They call it a "Push Present" and although it sounded kind of strange at first, once I started to feel the effects of pregnancy I was all about getting a gift as a reward for this crap! Well a gift aside from the obvious gift of life with Tyson... duh :) Anyways, after some thought, I told Justin that instead of something like jewelry, I would love it if he got me a new camera since the one we have now is pretty terrible and we both would love it if we had better images to document this crazy, emotional time in our lives.

Well, we did a ton of research, tried out our good friends' Leica D-Lux 4 for a couple weeks (the panasonic is VERY similar to the Leica), and in the end decided that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 was "the one" for us. It is small enough to keep with us at all times for random Tyson moments, simple enough for photography beginners like me but has enough manual capabilities for the professional photographer I want to be, and it flat out just takes awesome photos. I guess in a way its the best of the best of what we actually need, which is basically as badass point and shoot.

Justin ordered it earlier this week and I am beyond excited about it. Once we get it you can expect a lot more photos on this here blog as well as the beginnings of our home tour posts where we'll show you all the cool things we've been doing around the house, namely in the nursery! Woop woop its gonna be a good time!

Oh Mr. Panasonic, how I love you so! Get home to Momma soon please!!!!

thank you's

We (and by we I mean me, Meg, the executive administrator of Casa Wohlford) have been working away lately on tons of thank you notes to be sent out to so so many wonderful people. I have had two AMAZING baby showers thrown for me recently and we have received just so many wonderful and generous things to help us prepare for baby Tyson. Its overwhelming and so lovely all at the same time and I wish I could just travel to everyone of these homes and give a hug and a more genuine thank you in person. But hopefully these cards will do the trick and show our love and appreciation.

Once I am done with all of these, though, that will free up some time to create a post or two with some pictures from the showers and I'll get to gush over all the amazing details and the even more amazing hosts. I really am the luckiest momma-to-be on the planet...

Pregnancy Update - 31 wks

31 weeks

Today we are 31 weeks along with our little Tyson! Now that we have this little blog here, we'll try to do a weekly picture with the belly so you can see how much bigger I might get!

We had a checkup today with our wonderful OB and everything went really well. We talked about our ideas for a birth plan and Dr. Sawyer was completely on board with what we want and it feels so good to know we have such an amazing and supportive doctor. We love her! If I had to pick a favorite part of the appointment, though, it was when Dr. Sawyer felt my belly to figure out Tyson's position and she told us exactly where he was... even where his little tooshy is sitting! For some reason I just love that little butt already so knowing where it is just makes me smile ear to ear.

All in all I'm still feeling pretty great! I get tired really easily but thats about it and I'm really happy with how things are going. Hopefully we can keep this all going till Tyson decides to make his appearance!

Who's Awesome? You're Awesome!

www.crazydogtshirts.com

We got this in the mail yesterday and I can't stop staring at it. Justin ordered it and it just makes me smile... He is such a cool Dad already isn't he?!

hello from the Wohlfords

I don't know if its been the hormones or what, but for the last couple months I've been feeling the urge to start a little blog to help Justin and I share all of the great things we are constantly experiencing in our little life out here in Clarksville, TN. If you don't already know, and who am I kidding... the only people reading this will be my mother and maybe a few close friends so of course you all know, but just in case, Justin and I are expecting our first human kiddo this August. With all the changes and all the excitement, now just seemed like the time to start sharing our stories with anyone who cares to follow. On this blog we will show you all the fun stuff we are doing in our everyday lives from our DIY home projects to our Saturday bbq traditions and best of all, all the hilarity of being first time parents. Its pretty much gonna rock your socks off...

Anyways welcome to our blog and we hope you enjoy keeping up with the Wohlfords! (yeah that definitely isn't as cool sounding as the Kardashians...)