THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

THE MANY LOOKS OF MAX: Tee // Sunglasses // Denim // Sneakers

THANKFUL FOR: As of Monday around 9:29 pm, we officially welcomed Autumn. Hooray! Everyone's amped for PSLs, cable-knit sweaters, and the sound of crunchy leaves. In fact, our local weatherman has expressed his excitement by rattling on about the "cooler" Texas temps. Um, we're talking about a high of 85 degrees, my friends. I don't believe there's a chill in the air just yet; however, the change from triple digits is quite nice. I really hope it stays this way for awhile because the pups and I thoroughly appreciate the morning breeze. Watching Beesly's hair blow in the wind is kind of adorable.

EATING: I wouldn't say I'm horrible in the kitchen. I mean, I like to test various recipes from time to time, and for every flop there are usually a handful of successes. Yippee! That being said, it's taken me almost 29 years to master a grilled cheese sandwich. I know that sounds really basic, but I've never been able to get it quite right. Am I the only one with this problem? Paired with tomato soup, it's probably one of my favorite comfort foods EVER! This past July, I watched my aunt prepare a plate of grilled cheese sandwiches, and I couldn't help but observe her technique closely. I know that low and slow is the way to go, but I noticed that she put a lid on top of her pan, which concentrates the heat and coerces the cheese into a perfect melt. Ah-ha! I finally worked up the courage to test the method on Tuesday night, and it was dangerously successful. This could be the start of something b-e-a-utiful.

LISTENING TO: Being cornered by squirrely strangers is a Richardson rite of passage. For years, I've watched my parents learn the most intimate details from people they'd never met. Add a pregnant physique to this predicament, and I feel like I'm living in an episode of A Baby Story on TLC. Did you ever watch that show? Is it still on? Throughout high school, my sister and I would spend most of our summer vacay tuning in to watch expectant mothers sporting 90s hairstyles document the weeks leading up to their due date. Our reactions would alternate from tears of joy to "Eww, gross!" Anywho, over the past few weeks, I've logged in many hours listening to random birth stories, and it's slightly terrifying. Call me a glutton for punishment, but my brief stint as a reporter doesn't make the situation any better because I've been programmed to ask follow-up questions. Noooooo! Just nod, smile, and walk away, Ash. What's worse? Approximately 90 percent of these anecdotes end with the following: "I hope I haven't scared you." Nope, not at all. It just feels like I was there video recording the whole thing. Thanks! If I ever worried that taking Flyboy's last name would make me any less of a Richardson, I should fret no more. Once a squirrel magnet, always a squirrel magnet. It takes one to know one...

FEELING: Whenever I go to that scary place and I start worrying about all the uncertainties that come with having a child, I try replace those fears with something fun or uplifting. On Saturday, Flyboy was out riding his bike and I just knew the idle time alone could lead to silly and anxious thoughts—that's no bueno! So, I reverted to my inner child and pulled out some of Max's clothes. You would have thought I was in grade school playing with my beloved American Girl doll, Molly.  The boy part doesn't really lend itself to many plaid dresses or saddle shoes, but it was kind of fun to imagine the many looks of Max along with the personality that will someday accompany the slew of onesies and preppy button-downs that currently fill his closet.

THINKING ABOUT: I stopped by the hospital yesterday morning to pre-register. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but it's supposed to streamline the check-in process on D-Day and the planner in me gives that two thumbs up. At 37 weeks, it was the first time I'd stepped foot into the facility. Being the emotional roller coaster that I am, I wasn't entirely sure how I'd respond. I was fully prepared to feel overwhelmed and have my eyes well up with tears, but as the entrance doors opened, I smelled POPCORN. When I smell popcorn, I think of Target!! Suddenly a sense of calm came over me. But instead of browsing the dollar bin and adding Oh Joy! trinkets to my basket, I was being asked about heavy stuff like living wills and a medical power of attorney. Yeesh! As much as those details freak me out, the scent of freshly popped popcorn kept me at ease the entire time. When the day comes and I do go into labor, I might try to convince myself that I'm just taking a casual trip to Tarjay. No biggie! When it's all said and done, there will be a baby boy, a complimentary shopping spree, and bag of popcorn waiting for me. Oh, and I should probably confess that I've never actually had any of the popcorn at Target. It always smells delish, and we'll undoubtedly have a reason to celebrate!

WATCHING: I adore just about everything that includes Matthew McConaughey. In fact, a few weeks ago I watched one of his latest car commercials and proclaimed it was enough to make me want to buy a Lincoln MKC Crossover. WTF?! Where did that come from? Obviously, the VeeDub loyalist in me scoffed, but everything he does is so effortlessly chill. I can't help but get kind of mesmerized by him. Naturally, I loved the parody Ellen created to poke fun of the odd ball commercial. I was honestly worried her jokes and hilarious commentary would be enough to send me into labor. Watch the spoof here. It's SO good!

READING: I don't mean to bombard you with all of the preggo and motherhood chatter, but this space is where I share things that are relevant to me at this moment. It's a lifestyle blog where I discuss life as it's happening right NOW. As a result, my must-read blogs have changed a bit. Each morning, I check Camp Patton and Coffee + Crumbs to see if there's a new post. Both blogs are incredibly honest. I especially love Grace's writing because she's humorous and frank. I not-so-secretly want to be friends with her, and that's saying a lot for this introvert. Her posts make me laugh hysterically. I've also grown to appreciate the collaborative writing behind Coffee + Crumbs. The blog has helped me make sense of what I'm feeling now and what I can expect to experience soon.

LOVING: So I decided to buy myself a push present—a selfless act, I'm aware! After giving it a lot of thought, I decided on this papier-maché snail from Stray Dog Designs. I've lusted over it for quite some time. You may even recall it's made several subtle appearances on m' blog. Since I had a little bit of fun money stashed away, I thought it was time to hit the ol' treat yo self button.

Enough about me. How are you feeling today? What are you up to? Thanks for stopping by!!