THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

A bundle of Ranunculus I picked up in San Antonio last Sunday.

THANKFUL FOR: As you already know, my mom and sister visited last week. They graciously showed up in Swell Rio and tackled every last task on my to-do list. It was a-mazing, and I'm incredibly grateful! This move was challenging in its own way, and there were times when Flyboy and I had a hard time envisioning our life in this new setting for the next three years. All of the love and support they showed us leaves me feeling hopeful and excited for what's to come. They planted bushes and flowers, emptied bags of mulch, rearranged knick-knacks and frames, shampooed our rugs, painted the baby's room, etc. It's just so nice to finally feel settled, and I owe it all to them. Things around here felt rather bleak, but now they look oh-so bright! Thanks Mom and Aub! xo

READING: On Wednesday, I had my first doctor's appointment in Swell Rio. We hit the 15-week mark on Sunday, and something inside me thinks that I should probably crack open some of the pregnancy and parenting books that I bought in a panic back in February. After initially receiving my Amazon order, I got overwhelmed by the information overload, silly illustrations, and poorly-designed covers. Eww! Why is it so hard to find a pregnancy book that isn't cheesy and smothered in pastel colors or patchwork?! Anywho, there's definitely a time and place for the nitty-gritty details, and I think I can finally handle the idea of reading my books with minimal sobbing and sweating. If I find that I'm STILL not ready, I'll just hide them in the baby's closet, grab the remote, and find comfort in the arms of Andy Cohen. Now that I think of it, does Bravo have a guide to babies?! Because I'd totally dig that.

THINKING ABOUT: I like to plan (duh!), but for some reason I tend to procrastinate when it comes to all this baby stuff (hence the book sitch). Weird, I know! Up until my mom and sister visited, I was content with letting the nursery be a room for staging and storing random knick-knacks and furniture. I guess a BIG part of me is still really afraid about how our life is going to change. Aside from being frustrated by my bloated midsection, it doesn't feel REAL yet, which made it perfect for me to avoid. Ha! Ha! While I'm sure this approach is normal and natural for some, it was time for me to face the next chapter head-on. Now that the room is all painted and we've placed a few frames and tchotchkes, I get a taste of what's to come. I'm not sure why it's so hard for me to allow myself to be excited, but I'm getting there. Reasons like this make me think we should find out the baby's gender. I'm definitely someone who needs time to digest all these ch-ch-changes. Also, I need time to plan the gallery wall... Hey, priorities!  

FEELING: We ordered a few new pieces for our house from West Elm, and I couldn't be more excited! I didn't expect our order to process so quickly, and it looks like our new table, Parsons Desk, and chair will be here NEXT week. It's going to look SO good!

EATING: Now that we're feeling settled and every thing's unpacked, I've found that I have more time to try new recipes. Hooray for pinning meal ideas and really making them! This week I made Pasta with Pesto Cream Sauce and Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa. Tomorrow night, I plan on trying the Cauliflower Pizza Crust that everyone's been raving about. Have you tried it? Thoughts? Tips?

WATCHING: Speaking of AC in the NYC, did you catch the Atlanta Housewives Reunion this past Sunday? Holy buckets, that was crazy cakes! And why was Nene so quiet and moody? She gave Andy NOTHING but shade to work with. While I don't condone Porsha's actions, I probably would have responded the same way if I was being taunted by Kenya's scepter and megaphone. That girl is nuts! In light of the episode, it looks as though props have been banned from any future reunion shows. Bye, Ashy! 

LISTENING TO: There's something else I should tell you about Swell Rio... The local country radio station (one of two stations total) plays a George Strait song on the top of the hour. Pretty great, huh?! Little things like this make the honky inside me beam with pride. Also, it makes it really easy to tell what time it is. Bonus points for being punctual in the name of King George!

LOVING: Awhile back, my sister sent me an article about Oil Pulling. Have you heard of it? I'm obsessed with the results—it not only whitens my teeth, but it has numerous other health benefits as well. Each morning, I put a spoonful of coconut oil in my mouth and swish it around for 20 minutes, which allows all the gross bacteria to dissolve. I know that 20 minutes might sound like a long time, but you get used to it, I promise! Read more about oil pulling here. Your pearly whites will thank you.

 

What about you? How are you feeling today? What are you up to?