If you knew me

If you knew me, you would know . . . 

dress, vest, leggings: old navy    boots: dsw 

. . . that boots, leggings and a cotton dress are the most comfortable outfit and I wear it at least half the time in the winter. 

. . . that Chris is the only boy I've dated, held hands with or kissed. 

. . . that I think about all the friends I've met through blogging that are still painfully waiting for a baby, and pray for them often that they will get their miracle soon. 
. . . that I will always buy the same Asic brand of shoes to work out/run in.

. . . that I set three alarms every morning because I'm worried I won't wake up, even though I've never overslept and been late to work.  

. . . that I have a tattoo of a "Jesus fish" (ichthys) on my back, which means Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior. I have no desire to take a picture of it right now, so trust me that it looks just like this: 

. . . that I recently got a brand new phone and love it!!  I love the big screen, the clear camera and that I get to give one away to one of my readers!  

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! 

Hope you had a great weekend!

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, HTC.

high five for friday

shirt: rue 21  pants: jcpenny  boots: dsw 

1. I got this polka dot shirt last weekend and love it. Someday I'll remember to take off my hair tie on my wrist before I take a picture.  
2.  This weekend I thought it would be a good idea to check out Goodwill to see if they had any maternity clothes.  But no such luck.  This was the kind of clothing I found. 

Maternity short overalls.  Just to make sure there isn't any confusion I didn't buy them. 

One of you thrifting masters needs to take me with you. 

3. I made my first craft for my baby last weekend.  A chevron stuffed animal elephant. And I love it. 

(I followed this tutorial.)

4. I made these chocolate chip cookie cheesecake bars last night and they were SO good.  I told myself I wouldn't eat any sweets today but I don't know what I was thinking with these sitting in my fridge. 

5.  I have some sponsor spots open for February and would love to help grow your blog or shop! You can take 20% of any ad size for the next week!  Check out more details here and email me at katiejvale@yahoo.com
Hope you have a great weekend!

A Target Steal and a Shopping Spree for you!

It's no secret that I love Target.  And that I could spend quite a lot of time (and money) there too. But I know that I am definitely not alone in that.  

To add to my love of Target, I found this coat for $18 last week.  They also had a lot of shoes and other winter clothes on super clearance.  Which comes at a great time for you, because one of you could win a lot of money to Target, as well as some other great prizes.  

Julep nail polish set & large ad space from Penniless Socialite

$15 Gift card to Target from Because Shanna Said So

Ad space from Read Eat Create

Lauren Conrad Earrings from Keeping up with the Cyperts

$10 Gift card to Target from Back East Blonde

Beaded necklace from Life as I Know it

$15 Shop Credit to Sara Montanas

$15 Target Gift Card from My Life, Laughs and Love

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner will be contacted after the 29th!  Thanks for entering!

Want to be part of next month's giveaway?  Check out my sponsorship options here!

Doubling Posting

sweater: kohls   jeans: gap   scarf: giveaway from    shoes: target

I don't know what I was thinking sharing two outfits yesterday in one post because I'm now left with nothing new to share with you today. So I am here, sharing the same outfits.  But that post really had nothing to do with my outfit, so I'm going to count it as acceptable. 
And I can't imagine letting a good outfit go to waste these days, as it is getting harder in the morning to find something that I am (a) comfortable in and (b) doesn't look awkward. 
Don't be fooled by these pictures.  My pants aren't buttoned in either one. 

blazer: tjmaxx    pants: kohls   boots: dsw

I am anxiously awaiting the cute pregnancy stage and not this awkward middle stage.  It took me an embarrassing amount of time to get dressed today and sadly my outfit was far from cute or impressive. 
I don't plan on sharing one of these every week, as I am thinking there may not be big differences each week, and while it does consume my hourly thoughts I don't want this blog to be overload on pregnancy updates.  But I will share one every few weeks.  Here's last weeks: 

Hope you are having a good week so far!


Linking up to: Random Wednesday & Pleated Poppy

A New Attitude

A part of me was hesitant to share this post, as I don't want to appear at ALL ungrateful or not thankful for this miracle that I have been given.  But I want to be truthful with how I've been feeling, and hope that sharing this will help me follow through.

There is still part of me that is scared.  Scared that something will go wrong.  

Scared that I won't be holding my baby in July.

The truth is that I have been continuing to give into my fears, failing to surrender and failing to embrace and enjoy this pregnancy.

I think a part of me felt that if I didn't take weekly belly pictures at the beginning, talk to my baby, buy maternity clothes, or didn't spend all day thinking about how excited I am to be a mom, then I wouldn't be as devastated if something went wrong.

But I know that no matter what I did or didn't do, I would be devastated if something happened to our baby.

A few people gave me the advice to not wish away the beginning of pregnancy or have it be consumed with fear and worries.  And I believed that advice and tried to live it, but failed quite miserably the first three months. Failed to live in constant excitement for our soon to be family of three.  And failed to dream of our future and our baby.

So many days, especially a day when I have cramps or some other pain that makes me nervous, I just wish I could see into the future and see myself holding my baby.  I wish I could know for sure what our life would look like and how healthy my baby will be.

But I know that if I could do that, then I wouldn't have the need to daily ask God for protection over my baby, and for comfort for my fears.  I wouldn't be putting things in his hands.

So today I am embracing everything about this baby.  Belly updates.  Nursery dreams.  Baby crafts.  

and embracing everything about this pregnancy.  

And this miracle that I've been given.